Stick a fork in the Iowa caucuses

[Bloomberg]( Follow Us //link.mail.bloombergbusiness.com/click/19353500.47711/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ib3Bpbmlvbg/582c8673566a94262a8b49bdB2c5a3bfc This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a caucus of Bloomberg Opinion’s opinions. [Sign up here](. Today’s Agenda - It’s time to rethink this whole [Iowa caucus thing](. - The coronavirus will help [China’s auto industry](, the [stock market]( and [Trump’s protectionism](. - Britain’s [high-speed rail project]( is a disaster waiting to happen. - Alphabet still [isn’t transparent enough]( about its business. Enough, already. Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg Io-what on Earth Is Going On? In these deeply polarized times, it’s refreshing to see a nation come together as one and yell, like we’re in some kind of infomercial, “There’s got to be a better way!” For nearly 50 years, America has kicked off presidential elections in Iowa, where the parties hold “caucuses” to select nominees. The true origin of the word “caucus” has been lost to time, but scholars believe it is derived from the Latin term for “goat rodeo.” People gather in small groups to repeatedly play musical chairs, followed by arguments over who will cut the most lawns. The winner’s favorite candidate wins one (1) delegate. Or something. Again, no one really knows. This year’s caucus was made extra complicated and weird by the introduction of an app — called “Shadow,” of all things — that was supposed to quickly tabulate results but instead kept sending Hawaiian pizzas to Pete Buttigieg headquarters. The South Bend mayor [declared]( himself the winner of the caucuses, but as of this writing we are still [awaiting]( results — any results, even partial ones — from the state. It’s a colossal omnishambles that follows lesser Charlie Foxtrots in Iowa’s 2012 and 2016 caucuses, notes Jonathan Bernstein. For some reason, America holds Iowa’s status as the first-in-the-nation voting state holy. President Donald Trump, while mocking the Dems for their failings, [promised]( to keep Iowa first. But this latest fiasco makes a strong case, Jonathan writes, for [revisiting either Iowa’s primacy](, or at least that wacky caucus system. And some change has already come of this: Nevada will [not be using]( Shadow for its caucus on Feb. 22. Further 2020 Reading: Trump’s growing popularity is a [far bigger problem for Dems]( than any Iowa troubles. — Ramesh Ponnuru Deadly Virus Has Silver Linings It’s been almost a fortnight since China ordered 50 million people not to leave town, trying to stop the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. That’s roughly how long it takes for symptoms to appear, meaning we’ll [soon know]( if this mega-quarantine worked. Along with the travel freeze has come a slowdown in business, including automobile production. This sounds bad until you realize China was [making far too many cars](, writes Anjani Trivedi. Lots are full of millions of autos that will never be sold, and yet Beijing kept letting factories crank them out. The virus has been a gift to the industry. [Stock markets]( have fully embraced the disease’s upside, too. Sure, it’s scary, but it also means even more easy money from central banks, so we [might as well buy stocks](, writes John Authers. The Trump administration apparently also sees opportunity here; Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross claimed, [wrongly](, it will bring factory jobs to America. Trump wouldn’t be the first to use an epidemic as an excuse for protectionism, notes Stephen Mihm. It’s a not-so-proud tradition going all the way back to the [bubonic plague in the Middle Ages](. Bonus Virus Reading: Even after the virus peaks, [oil will still struggle]( from oversupply and lack of demand. — Clara Ferreira Marques Boris vs. the High-Speed Rail Part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pitch for both Brexit and for his own premiership is the promise that wealth will spread to the U.K.’s economically struggling north. On paper, the massive HS2 high-speed rail project, which promises to make north-south travel fast and easy, would seem to help with this promise. In reality, the project is [turning out to be an expensive boondoggle]( that won’t help the highlands any time soon, writes Chris Bryant. Johnson, who clearly does not know the [First Law of Holes](, needs to put his shovel down before the U.K. is in too deep. Further Brexit Reading: Brexit has [brought the EU closer together](, giving it negotiating power against the U.K. — Lionel Laurent Telltale Charts This chart of Alphabet Inc.’s revenue breakdown seems to have plenty of detail, until you realize there are many billions of dollars in those pie slices, along with [too much mystery about their composition](, writes Tim Culpan. Google’s parent is still leaving investors in the dark. Trump is banning immigration from Nigeria, but Nigerians are among [America’s most successful immigrant]( groups, writes Justin Fox. We need more of them. Further Reading For history’s sake, it would be better for Republican senators to explain their Trump acquittal by [falsely saying they don’t believe]( the evidence than by saying they think his misdeeds aren’t impeachable. — Noah Feldman After promising to fight corruption, Mexican President [Andres Manuel LopezObrador is breeding it](. — Shannon O’Neil America must help fight [Georgia’s slide into authoritarianism](. — Eli Lake BP can afford to spend more to [shrink its carbon footprint](. Rival Royal Dutch Shell is doing more. — Chris Hughes ConocoPhillips is being [punished for missing earnings]( when it should be rewarded for managing its balance sheet. — Liam Denning Mike Ashley’s gamble on [luxury bag-maker Mulberry]( looks like a good one. — Andrea Felsted Big green bond funds are favoring [performance over purity]( to attract converts. — Brian Chappatta ICYMI Tesla Inc. out-of-the-money call [options rose 10,000%](. Tesla has [doubled this year]( and is now more [overbought than peak Bitcoin](. America may soon have the world’s [oldest nuclear power plants](. Kickers Taiwan claw machines are offering [hand sanitizer and masks]( instead of toys. (h/t Mike Smedley) Scientist gets brain [implants to cure his alcoholism](. (h/t Scott Kominers) Nervous cheetah gets an [emotional support dog](. Rare cave salamander, which is not dead, sits [immobile for seven years](. Note: Please send support dogs and complaints to Mark Gongloff at mgongloff1@bloomberg.net. [Sign up here]( and follow us on [Twitter]( and [Facebook](.  Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal. Find out more about how the Terminal delivers information and analysis that financial professionals can’t find anywhere else. [Learn more](.  You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Bloomberg Opinion Today newsletter. 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