I am sure we have effective EMP weapons.
As far as hardening our equipment I suspect it is better.
Early CMOS was extremely succeptible to static discharge. They are diode protected now. And LSI has reduced lead length which presents less to pick up the impulse.
Would there be significant damage to cars and home electrical systems? Probably, but the idea of frying all the cars for 500 miles with one nuke is nonsense.
Fiber optics has helped in hardening phone systems, but they are dependent on commercial power. In the old days they had batter backup. Not that much now. Backup AC generators are the reserve now, it is all computer switching.
I remember seeing the inside of the step x step phone banks in Las Cruces NM. It was amazing. Beautifully loomed wire harnesses with rows and racks of relay stations. Huge. But they worked.
My how things have changed.
So, our radios are better protected today than they were in 1990?
“but the idea of frying all the cars for 500 miles with one nuke is nonsense.”
You are walking back your original foolish conclusion that no electronics would be damaged outside of 500miles.
walk it back the rest of the way now.