What would happen if a nuclear missile were launched toward the United States? The short answer is: nothing good. The longer answer is explored by Pulitzer finalist Annie Jacobsen in Nuclear War, where she describes a scenario based on her extensive interviews with experts and government officials.
Living on the Edge
The nuclear winter that Jacobsen describes is terrifying—but how real is the threat? The US nuclear policy aims to prevent war while simultaneously preparing for the possibility of winning one. The primary rule is deterrence, but the major players include countries such as Russia (with outdated tech) and North Korea, which remains a black box. Jacobsen says the threat is more prevalent than most people want to think.
