Ready to “duck and cover” to protect against a nuclear explosion?

North Korea recently tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which prompted the United Nations Security Council on Saturday to impose economic sanctions on that dark country for violating UN resolutions, with China and Russia voting with the United States. Those ICBMs have the capability of hitting Los Angeles, among other US cities.

Pissed off, North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Sunday warned the US to end its “hostile policy” against Pyongyang. “The US mainland will sink into an unimaginable sea of fire on the day when it dares to touch our country by stupidly causing mischief and brandishing its nuclear and sanctions clubs,” the commentary said.

The White House shrugged and went on vacation.

In a holding pattern, a White House source said “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out” banning open transgender service might be sent to Defense Sec. Mattis Tuesday, Aug. 8. There was some speculation that the expected uproar could serve as a distraction to the morning news that the White House is debating whether to send thousands of more troops to Afghanistan or pay mercenary Eric Prince—who has secretly advised Trump on covert actions— billions of dollars to send a privatized military force to the region.

Then came the breaking news from the Washington Post that North Korea has developed a miniaturized nuclear weapon that can fit on top of an ICBM. Other than a few minutes devoted to the opioid crisis, cable TV, and by extension the nation, have become consumed with the potential existential dilemma.

Trump and his advisors had been warned by President Obama and National Security Advisor Susan Rice that America’s biggest threat was North Korea’s irrational and unstable dictator, Kim Jong-un. Presumably, Trump was also briefed on North Korea’s nuclear program and how to respond if secret information leaked out about their nuclear capability. Instead of issuing a statement to keep the country calm, however, Trump spoke threateningly off the cuff at a briefing in his New Jersey vacation resort.

“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” warned Trump from his golf club in Bedminster. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening — beyond a normal statement,” Mr. Trump said of Kim Jong-un. “As I said, they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

A CBS News poll released Tuesday offered little comfort: “nearly three in four Americans are uneasy about the possibility of a conflict with North Korea, and most are also uneasy about Mr. Trump’s approach to the situation. Of those polled, 61 percent were uneasy about Mr. Trump’s ability to handle the North Korean nuclear situation, while 35 percent were confident in his ability,” CBS reported.

So far, the U.S. has failed to consistently protect against an ICBM.

No one at the White House or Pentagon is thinking about the transgender military ban at the moment, according to a source. Which means that while the Guidance is on hold—the estimated 15,000 trans servicemembers are still serving during this time of national need.

And that’s what the majority of Americans want them to do.