Analysis

President Trump's approval rating has risen, but it's certainly not the kind of increase other presidents have seen in other rally-around-the-flag moments.

Politics & Government

Trump's Approval Hits New High, But A Rally-Around-The-Flag Effect Is Small

10:02am March 27, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

Amid the pandemic, President Trump's approval rating has risen, but it's not the kind of increase other presidents have seen in other rally-around-the-flag moments.

President Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the White House briefing room Wednesday.

FACT CHECK: Testing Should Take Place Wherever There Are Cases Despite Trump's View

7:57pm March 25, 2020

by Richard Harris

Trump said he doesn't think testing needs to happen in entire states in the Midwest. But there are cases in all 50 states, and to stop the spread, testing needs to take place.

Economists say helping the health care sector, including through emergency financing to states and cities, is one of the steps urgently needed to weather the coronavirus crisis.

How To Avert Economic Catastrophe: Ideas From 5 Top Economists

6:52pm March 24, 2020

by Uri Berliner

Avoid layoffs at any cost. Set up emergency financing for states and cities to help health systems. Cut regulations to speed medical response. Those are some recommendations from leading economists.

Trump Talks About Reopening America. Is It The Right Time?

7:31am March 24, 2020

How many weeks of social isolation is enough to fight the coronavirus? NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Ron Klain, who served as the Ebola response coordinator in the Obama administration, for his view.

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World News

U.S. To Cut Afghan Aid Over Failed Effort To Form Unity Government

7:28am March 24, 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan. NPR's Noel King talks to Laurel Miller of the International Crisis Group about the significance of the trip.

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Bailouts stir up images of businesses acting recklessly, enriching themselves, and then asking the government for money. That's not the case this time.

Let's Not Call It A Bailout; Businesses Didn't Cause The Coronavirus

5:40pm March 23, 2020

by Pallavi Gogoi

Bailouts stir up images of businesses acting recklessly, enriching themselves, and then asking the government for money. That's not the case this time.

Affordable Care Act Turns 10 Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

10:50am March 23, 2020

President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act 10 years ago. NPR's Noel King talks to Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation about whether the act is helping during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Economic ghost town: New York City's 1st Avenue was mostly deserted Saturday as New Yorkers responded to orders to stay at home.

Economy

Why We Are Deliberately Allowing Our Economy To Go On A Downward Spiral

1:33pm March 22, 2020

by Uri Berliner

Americans are collectively putting much of the economy on lockdown. The priorities are clear: to save lives. For now, that means America is an economic ghost town.

President Trump says he views the battle against the coronavirus through the lens of a wartime president.

Politics & Government

Trump Tries On The Mantle Of 'Wartime President'

11:53am March 22, 2020

by Ron Elving

Consider the experiences of "wartime presidents" since FDR, including Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and both Presidents Bush, before deciding you want to be a wartime president.

A customer waits for a takeout order as workers inside Rebelle Artisan Bagels in Providence, R.I., fill online orders to hand to waiting customers outside.

Coronavirus Crisis: Still Dividing Americans More Than Uniting Them?

12:02pm March 18, 2020

by Ron Elving

Most people have long since constructed their own method for sorting through competing sources of information and will rely on that method when deciding what to think and how to react in a crisis.