Charles Oppenheimer in The New York Times
Charles Oppenheimer, Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Oppenheimer Project and CEO of Oppenheimer Energy, was quoted in The New York Times’s article “Optimism About Nuclear Energy Is Rising Again. Will It Last?” When asked about Kairos Power’s small modular reactor project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Charles said he was hopeful for the project in which “They’ve been executing really well.” “[Companies] that are making more noise aren’t building as much. In this game it never counts until you’ve got it running.”
DOE Subsidizes Domestic Nuclear Fuel Enrichment
The Department of Energy picked three companies on January 5, 2026 to receive $2.7 billion for commercial uranium enrichment ahead of the 2028 deadline to cut off Russian imports of power plant fuel. Those chosen are the American companies Centrus Energy and General Matter, as well as the French enrichment giant Orano. Each will receive $900 million in congressionally appropriated funds.
China-South Korea Summit
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Chinese President Xi Jin-Ping during a state visit to China this week. Lee asked Xi to play a mediating role in the South’s efforts to diplomatically reengage their North Korean counterpart.
Meta Signs Nuclear Energy Deals
On January 9th, Meta announced agreements with three nuclear power providers – Vistra Corp., TerraPower, and Oklo. The arrangements will provide energy for Meta’s Prometheus supercluster computing system being built in New Albany, Ohio. These projects are expected to add 6.6 gigawatts of power by 2035.
Podcast of the Week – Lucas
This week, I listened to the newest episode of the Ones and Tooze podcast called “The Venezuela Conundrum.” In the episode, the hosts, Columbia University History Professor Adam Tooze and Foreign Policy Deputy Editor Cameron Abadi, discussed the recent American military operation in Venezuela which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Tooze and Abadi also interrogated U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that this effort was made to secure Venezuela’s immense oil reserves, and pondered what the “Donroe Doctrine” will mean for U.S. foreign relations in the Western Hemisphere and global peace and security.