Tonight's guest on The Daily Show is
Ernest Moniz and the panelist on The Nightly Show are
Susie Essman,
Nicolle Wallace, and
Holly Walker.
Ernest Moniz is a nuclear physicist and the United States Secretary of Energy, serving under U.S. President Barack Obama since May 2013. He has served as the Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President of the United States from 1995 to 1997 and in the United States Department of Energy, serving as Under Secretary of Energy, from 1997 to 2001 during the Clinton Administration.
Moniz is one of the founding members of The Cyprus Institute and the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, Director of the Energy Initiative, and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He has also been part of the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
Iran already has an advanced nuclear program, Moniz explained, having “developed a robust nuclear infrastructure, including uranium mining, milling, conversion and enrichment capabilities.
“Iran insists that its nuclear energy program is entirely peaceful, but the international community does not yet have confidence in this statement,” Moniz said.
He noted the most controversial aspect of Iran’s nuclear program is its effort to build up its uranium enrichment capabilities, which he said, “could be redirected to produce highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.”
Talks on limiting the program and requiring Iran to be transparent about its nuclear program took place between late February and early April in Switzerland and involved top diplomats and energy advisers from the U.S., Iran and five other countries, including Russia, Germany and China, a group of nations called “P-5+1.” In exchange, the U.S. and other countries would, in phases, lift economic sanctions that had long been imposed on Iran.
Moniz said the framework, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, blocks the country’s pathways to producing a bomb “for a substantial period.” A deal based on that framework needs to be reached by the end of June.
“The framework is based on hard-nosed requirements that would limit Iran’s nuclear activities while also ensuring vital access and transparency for verification,” he said. “It provides a technically sound path for certifying Iran’s nuclear program as peaceful, quickly determining if it is not and providing the breathing room needed to respond appropriately.”
It helps that Moniz was already familiar with his counterpart in the talks, Iran Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Salehi. Salehi was in MIT’s nuclear engineering doctoral program in the 1970s, when Moniz was teaching physics there.
“We didn’t know each other then, but that shared history really helped in terms of developing a personal relationship,” Moniz said.
“A very good relationship helps a lot in a negotiation with many tough issues. In our second meeting, Dr. Salehi’s first grandchild was born, a granddaughter, and I was pleased to give an MIT-logo beaver for her crib,” he said.
US energy chief Ernest Moniz, a Fall River native, plays key role in negotiating Iran nuclear deal
Susie Essman
is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer and television producer, best known for her role as Susie Greene on Curb Your Enthusiasm and the voice of Mittens in Bolt.
Nicolle Wallace
is an American author and political commentator. She previously served as communications chief during the presidency of George W. Bush and in his 2004 re-election campaign. In 2008, Wallace also served as a senior advisor for the McCain–Palin campaign. She is a co-host of the talk show The View.
Holly Walker
Ms. Walker made her acting debut at the tender age of 8 in For Spring is the Season of Happiness. She almost turned down the role of Mother Nature (she wanted the role of "Spring") until she found out Mother Nature had the most lines. On that day, a diva was born. Holly has traveled the world performing comedy. She has been to more than 40 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide. She is an alum of the improvisational companies Boom Chicago and The Second City. Holly currently works on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore as a writer and performer. She has been a part of the Rebel Storytellers family since 2009 and hopes to be with them for many years to come.
This Week's Guests
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
Th 5/7: Mumford & Sons
Next Week's Guests
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
Mo 5/11: John Legend
Tu 5/12: Tom Brokaw
We 5/13: Reza Aslan
Th 5/14: Rebel Wilson