CDC/NATIONAL SECURITY/NUCLEAR: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has decided to postpone its session on nuclear attack preparedness next week. Much attention had been drawn to the timing of the agency’s session, which was publicized just days after President Trump touted the size of his nuclear button compared with North Korea’s.
Late Friday afternoon, the C.D.C. announced that it had changed its mind about next Tuesday’s topic, making a last-minute revision to reflect concerns about cases of severe flu…
Kathy Harben, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the Tuesday session would now address guidance for health professionals on trying to reduce the spread of the flu and to help with shortages of antiviral medicines in some hard-hit areas.
The C.D.C.’s announcement that it was holding a nuclear preparation workshop drew widespread media coverage and embarrassed the public health agency. It also gave ammunition to administration critics who believe that the president is bringing the country closer to a nuclear Armageddon.
The agency did not address whether the publicity influenced its decision to switch topics next week, or whether its decision was discussed with anyone in the Trump administration… The C.D.C. said that the nuclear survival program would be rescheduled.”
-Sheila Kaplan, “C.D.C. Postpones Session Preparing U.S. for Nuclear War,” The New York Times online, Jan. 12, 2018