[freeflight]

I wouldn't be too sure about that, the Cold War wasn't a one-sided affair where only the Soviets overreacted, that was a common theme for both sides due to the stakes at play.

I also wouldn't say a scenario like that has become less likely, depending on how you look at it, especially in the context of US nuclear force modernization [0], it could actually become much more likely.

Because irrational people exist everywhere and I have no doubt there are plenty of people around, some of them probably in very powerful positions, who are still busy "wargaming" a thermonuclear scenario in which they could end up as "winners".

[0] https://thebulletin.org/2017/03/how-us-nuclear-force-moderni...