TRUMP’S SPEECH: Good on substance — a laundry list of necessary proposals, followed by a call for unity. A travel ban to/from Europe (except UK) is sweeping, and the payroll tax cut will help a lot of working people. Other moves to reduce the economic shock, as well as efforts at boosting the health response. He’s right that we aren’t in a financial crisis; it’s a public health crisis with financial implications.

I hope they’ll encourage state governments to make unemployment compensation quickly available to people who aren’t working because of the virus or shutdowns, and to encourage employers to loosen sick-leave policies.

That said, Trump seemed kinda subdued, at least for Trump. Then again, I would be too.

UPDATE: Salena Zito comments on Facebook: “That was a dispassionate delivery of very grave news which will be assessed largely on tribalism & not on content. My personal reaction is to pray for our country & check on all of my elderly neighbors remotely obviously to offer to get them what they may be short on & share my old board games.” Well said.