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A ‘Black Monday.’ Stocks were falling so hard this morning in the face of coronavirus fears and an oil price war that the New York Stock Exchange halted trading.
■ A former Homeland Security assistant secretary writes for The Atlantic: “The U.S. isn’t ready for what’s about to happen.” (Cartoon: Keith J. Taylor.)
■ The White House is increasingly at odds with national health agencies.
■ The top Democrats in the House and Senate are calling on the president to back help for Americans —from paid sick leave to widespread and free testing—in the face of the virus.
■ The nation’s hospital capacity is in for a severe test.
■ Nursing homes are limiting visits.
■ Know your menace: The difference between outbreak, epidemic and pandemic …
■ … and why news organizations are opting for pandemic.
■ Not touching your face is harder than it sounds.
Chicago’s losses. The American College of Cardiology—which was to draw 18,000 people to the city—has become the fourth organization in a week to cancel a big McCormick Place conclave because of the virus.
■ The Tribune is updating a running list of coronavirus-related closings in the Chicago area.
And they still face another 14 days in isolation. California was bracing for release of thousands of people who’ve spent a week in limbo, quarantined on a cruise ship.
■ The U.S. State Department is officially advising people to stay off cruise ships.
Self-quarantined. At least two members of Congress—Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar—say they’re isolating themselves because they had contact at a conservative political conference with a man who’s tested positive for the coronavirus.
■ All those old guys in Congress are getting a little nervous.
■ The Atlantic: “The surprising number of Iranian government officials succumbing to COVID-19 offers a hint that the disease is far more widespread than the official statistics indicate.”
■ Asking for a friend: How long before “self-quarantine” makes this list (from May 2018)?
‘There is going to be a scorched-earth response aimed at all of the Trump children that is unlike anything they have experienced.’ That’s the threat from an adviser to ex-presidential candidate—and now Democratic cheerleader—Michael Bloomberg if Donald Trump’s campaign takes aim at Joe Biden’s son.
■ First lady Melania Trump is on the defense after a tone-deaf tweet.
■ A new frontier for Donald Trump: A clip posted by one of his staffers—and retweeted by the president—is the first to be flagged by Twitter as “manipulated media.”
■ Which of the remaining candidates will get Elizabeth Warren’s endorsement? Intelligencer reports: “Warren does not have a plan for this, and she’s in no hurry to develop one.”
■ New York Times media columnist Ben Smith: Bernie Sanders’ criticism of the media “has more merit than most reporters like to acknowledge.”
■ Did you vote early in Illinois—for a candidate who’s since dropped out? No do-overs.
‘Mostly false.’ PolitiFact dings a candidate in one of the most contested Illinois congressional contests for a tweet about the incumbent.
■ Key races could shape the Illinois state legislature next week.
One to watch. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is launching a last-minute race for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
■ From September: Why Bullock is the most important person on the planet.
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