The hashtag "#DEFCON1" trended today on Twitter, but not because of imminent nuclear war or WW3. Instead, the phrase was in reference to a remark made by Fernand Armandi, a Democratic Party pollster in Miami, in response to the creation of a new Spanish-language conservative talk radio station called Americano.

In the original story, Armandi told NBC News that the creation of Americano was “a Defcon 1 moment. We should be worried.” Democrats in Florida (and nationally) have traditionally relied on Latino voters to win elections and Armandi’s fear is that the new radio station will increase the Republican Party’s sway in that key demographic … hence the "DEFCON 1."

‘Defcon 1 moment’: New national Spanish-language conservative network fuels fresh Dem fears over disinfo, Latino outreachhttps://t.co/LiYQFOF3LI

— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) March 7, 2022

DEFCON 1, the term used to describe an imminent nuclear attack, worked its way into the headline of an NBC News article that shocked many users who believed, for a split second, that a nuclear war had started.

Critics of NBC’s editorial decision to put “DEFCON 1” in a headline during the middle of a war in which the use of nuclear weapons had been threatened ended up producing more tweets than people discussing the article itself — and many people weren't pleased.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO USE DEFCON 1 IN A HEADLINE. https://t.co/aEbezosMcx

— Farnk L. (@Farnk101) March 7, 2022

For fucks sake NBC, now is not time to be throwing around terms like "Defcon 1" unless we're actually at Defcon 1.

Read the room.

— Jim, Cat Lord (@Zheng3_Jim) March 7, 2022

"I swear to god using nuclear Defcon 1 Terminology when a literally war is going on is the BIGGEST tone deaf shit you could do." pic.twitter.com/pBjWLsC3X1

— 🔞Zoketo🔞 (@OldLizardZoketo) March 7, 2022

What kind of a moron headlines an article with "Defcon 1" in the title during what could actually end up as a nuclear war. pic.twitter.com/cGwMbNcoYh

— Liani (Jaz) (@ThatGirlLiani) March 7, 2022

Conservative commentators argued that NBC was biased in publishing the headline, and celebrated the new radio station. Others theorized about what the trending hashtag represented for the culture and for political media, describing it as an example of sensationalism and tone-deafness. Discourse about the way the media is conducting political discourse ended up being as loud (if not louder) than the political discourse itself.

Top five DEFCON 1 moments

1. Nuclear war
2. Asteroid hitting earth
3. Hispanics hearing a different opinion
4. Mass floods
5. Zombie apocalypse

— Neal Varma (@Neo_Varma) March 7, 2022

Sleazy social media thing done today to garner attention? Using DEFCON 1 in the current climate of the world in your story to unironically to boost engagement. Have some fucking decorum.

— 🅼🆁. 🆅 (@ChaosMagickSite) March 7, 2022