The media is now advising people on how to survive a nuclear attack

It's not every day that you scroll through your Twitter timeline, see an article about what to do "in case of a nuclear attack," and think, Huh, that seems like it'd be useful and relevant information for my life right now. But after North Korea reportedly succeeded in miniaturizing a nuclear weapon to fit on its missiles and President Trump subsequently promised to rain "fire and fury" down on Pyongyang, you might be in a different state of mind than usual:
NBC News' well-timed tweet actually refers readers to an article written in April — aka a more innocent time — and suggests "sheltering in place, beneath as many layers of protection as possible." While that might actually not do much to protect you, it does encapsulate the media's ominous coverage of the recent turn of events between America and North Korea.
For the time being, at least, you might as well "sleep well," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday. "If we were really about to launch a massive, bloody war with North Korea that could potentially kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians in South Korea and elsewhere […] one would expect to see a major mobilization happening across the political, military, and diplomatic arms of the U.S. government," Vox points out. "We're not seeing anything like that. What we do have is a belligerent statement from President Trump that he made while on vacation in New Jersey."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Then again, you can always err on the safe side and befriend a prepper.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Properties of the week: residences for croquet enthusiasts
The Week Recommends Featuring homes in Devon, Dorset and Oxfordshire
By The Week UK Published
-
James Daunt picks his favourite books
The Week Recommends The founder of Daunt Books and managing director of Waterstones reveals his top five reads
By The Week UK Published
-
ABLE accounts: how they work and who can benefit from them
the explainer These state-administered accounts are available to people with disabilities
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published