Ridiculous History That Time the US Government Brainwashed America into DIY Bomb Shelters
Dec 9, 2025
After World War II, the U.S. turned to bizarre strategies to make citizens feel safe from nuclear threats. The hosts explore how postwar anxiety sparked by events like Hiroshima led to the creation of the Federal Civil Defense Administration. They dive into odd propaganda, including the infamous Bert the Turtle and duck-and-cover drills. Eisenhower's national shelter policy bizarrely urged families to build their own fallout shelters, even as practicalities proved grim. The cultural legacy of this fear-driven campaign continues to echo in our media today.
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Soviet Test Forced A Policy Choice
- The Soviet 1949 test ended the U.S. nuclear monopoly and triggered urgent civil defense responses.
- That geopolitical shift forced U.S. agencies to choose between spending on infrastructure or mass messaging.
Civil Defense Materials Downplayed Radiation
- The FCDA produced educational materials that downplayed radiation and overstated simple fixes.
- Officials likely used calming misinformation to avoid panic despite serious risks.
Bert The Turtle And Duck‑And‑Cover
- The hosts discuss the Bert the Turtle duck-and-cover film made for kids to normalize nuclear drills.
- Bert's cheerful cartoon advice masked the absurdity of telling children such measures could protect them from atomic blasts.
