Where was the media in 2009? Clearly in Obama’s pocket!
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Sure, tension and anxiety under Trump has nothing to do with his leadership or with events 
I’ll take a “wait and see”, on how Trump (and the world’s leaders) - handle this pandemic. I’ll take my own measures of precaution, in the meantime. If Trump fails, then the Democratic presidential candidates - can elaborate on their solutions. I hope Trump wears the right costume! 
I thought Trump’s National Emergency press conference, still emphasized his superiority, but let his 1st real crisis grow him toward a more maturing and realistic leader, admitting we needed to finally get serious about providing testing, willing to share his platform with trusted figures, and genuinely striving for a good balance of reassurance and caution. I agree with the market, Good on him!
If he can sustain this balance by agreeing with the support for the ill that his Treasury Secretary agreed with Nancy Pelosi upon tonight, and make good on things that will make a difference, he will provide the kind of encouragement that can rally the nation, and solidify an incumbent’s strength for a second term.
What’s new in the BBC?
Let me quote, from the first paragraph.
The US government has come under fire for its response to the coronavirus - particularly because it has tested far fewer people than other affected countries.
Let me quote the first paragraph, from the last article.
As the coronavirus spreads across the US, tens of millions of Americans may not seek medical help either because they are uninsured or undocumented. That puts everyone in society at greater risk.
In the meantime, the scientists of the world - are doing their research and experimentation.
Kudos to Trump (& Mnuchin) for endorsing the Pelosi agreement aid package, even after trashing it earlier. This compromise will wisely allow the GOP to support help without a protracted fight.
Trump is, by everything I’ve been able to find out, doing a terrific job handling this so-called crisis; which is not much of a crisis at all compared to past epidemics that have claimed thousands of lives - we’re at what - 41 so far? I’m sure there will be more, but perhaps not as many as the 2009 flu that killed 12,000, and I’m glad the President is acting in a positive manner, unlike the slowpoke Obama in 2009. It’s all on the record.
And bottled water being sold out at Costco? Is the water contaminated? Gimme, I say, a break.
This guy’s perspective is interesting: the Asian Flu in 1957 killed 100,000 Americans
Snippet:
“Except, I’m not ready. In fact, even at my advanced 80-something age, I find the whole COVID-19 panic to be strange and troubling. I’ve lived through epidemics before, but they didn’t crash the stock market, wreck a booming economy, and shut down international travel. They didn’t stop the St. Patrick’s Day parade or the NCAA basketball tournament, and they didn’t drop the curtain on Broadway shows. Will these extreme measures have any real effect on the spread of COVID-19 in New York, or America? We’re about to find out.”
I agree with that. And hope you’re right that the spread and deaths will be minimal.
What’s the latest from the BBC?
Deaths are not really the big problem here because the mortality rate in So Korea is under 1% & headed lower but the contagious impact of Coved 19 flooding the hospital system particularly the IC units is what is dangerous.
I’m not sure all these restrictions like closing restaurants & malls is necessary as opposed to smart regulations limiting the number of people in a certain area might be more intelligent.
I’m starting to think these reactions are bordering insanity like closing restaurants & nail salons & movie theaters. I understand bars because people are on top of each other.
I believe it’s better to err, on the side of caution. So I don’t judge any action, by either states, US, business, schools, religious organizations, or world leaders - to deal with this pandemic.
My sense is that Trump has turned the corner from similar instincts and telling us to relax, to listening to those with expertise on infectious diseases, and now urging that this is a lengthy crisis requiring long term “sacrifice,” and urging that we avoid commerce and gatherings with any number of people.
I believe the president is right. His earlier reaction was politically understandable, but I commend him for not muzzling professionals responsible for assessing this, and for maturing toward facing the truth. His strong ability to give serious leadership in this may well solidify his reelection.
From a horse’s mouth:
" Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addressed restraints on the testing process for the Wuhan coronavirus, saying neither President Donald Trump nor the CDC are to blame for shortcomings.
In an interview with political commentator Hugh Hewitt on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” Tuesday, Fauci said a “technical glitch” slowed the production of tests at the outset of the pandemic.
“It was a complicated series of multiple things that conflated that just, you know, went the wrong way. One of them was a technical glitch that slowed things down in the beginning. Nobody’s fault. There wasn’t any bad guys there. It just happened,” Fauci said.
At a congressional hearing on coronavirus test kits last week, Facui admitted, “The system is not really geared to what we need right now.”
Hewitt asked Fauci, who has advised presidents since 1984, whether “anything about the production of the test [is] President Trump’s fault” or if any other president would have run into the same problem.
“Oh, absolutely. This has nothing to do with anybody’s fault, certainly not the president’s fault,” Fauci said.
Hewitt also asked Fauci, “What is it like working with the president? You’ve worked with a lot of presidents.”
“It’s an interesting experience,” Fauci replid. “You know, each president has their own unique character. He’s somebody who is very active, a lot of things going on, very direct, very decisive.”
In late February, the New York Times reported that Fauci “has told associates that the White House had instructed him not to say anything else without clearance.”
At a press conference shortly following the report, Fauci denied the claim, saying he had never been “muzzled” by the president.
“I’ve never been muzzled, and I’ve been doing this since Reagan,” Fauci responded. “That was a real misrepresentation of what happened.”
Easy for you to say well if these people must lose their jobs & if those people must lose their businesses that’s just the sacrifice we must all make. Most restaurants could seat a limited amount of people in a safe manner instead of the govts whether State or Local or Fed just taking a meat axe to them & other service businesses.
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An actual expert - one among many of course. Wise words of comfort and of preparedness concerning the coronavirus.
https://vimeo.com/chadwickschool/review/398099202/65f879bf09
I’m glad the two of them are working together.
Sure for me, and you can second guess endorsing the president here. For my point in this presidential thread is that it’s not so easy for him to call for sacrifice. He doesn’t want to hurt business people or the economy, it is a political selling point for him. But courage is what good leaders display when the facts and saving lives appear to warrant sacrifice, and I think citizens will be grateful.
So kudos to him. I think this is not a time to be sniping at him, but for Americans to unite. And I think Trump will try to help businesses hurt by this unique challenge that he is innocent of creating.
More BBC news, folks. 
P.S. I hope Trump doesn’t follow Israel’s lead. But he might if Putin does.