On Politics: Bearing With the Present While Recalling the Past

Parts of the country are starting to reopen even though the government is projecting a much higher [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P4Q1AWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcHJvZHVjdENvZGU9Q04mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXJpPW55dCUzQSUyRiUyRm5ld3NsZXR0ZXIlMkZmMzY3YjgzMC0yZmQ2LTQ5NjYtYTNhOC1kNjE3ZTQ2MjVkMTUmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjExJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [On Politics](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9wb2xpdGljcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) May 4, 2020 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcmVpZC1qLWVwc3RlaW4_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) By [Reid J. Epstein](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcmVpZC1qLWVwc3RlaW4_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Hi. Welcome to [On Politics](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L29uLXBvbGl0aWNzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), your guide to the day in national politics. I’m Reid Epstein. Lisa Lerer is off today. Photo illustration by The New York Times; photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images I got a call last week from a D.C. number I didn’t recognize. “Hi, this is Michelle Obama,” the recorded voice of the former first lady said. [She was robo-calling](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TfaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NYXlvckJvd3Nlci9zdGF0dXMvMTI1NDc5NjgyMzc0NDcwODYxMT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) to let me (and thousands of other residents of the District of Columbia) know about free coronavirus testing in the nation’s capital. Mrs. Obama’s voice, seemingly imported into my phone from a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away, signaled an important truth in our current politics: As much as elections are always said to be about the future, the campaign we’re all living through right now is very much about the past and immediate present. Even before the coronavirus shut down most aspects of American life, the Democratic presidential campaign was won not by any of the candidates looking to usher in a new era of politics, but by the guy [who tells odes of Senate collegiality](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNi8yMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1kZW1vY3JhdHMtcmFjZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) with long-dead former colleagues like [Mike Mansfield](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMTk3Ni8wOS8xOC9hcmNoaXZlcy9taWtlLW1hbnNmaWVsZC1kZXBhcnRzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and [Jesse Helms](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAwOC8wNy8wNC93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy8wNGlodC1vYml0LjQuMTQyNDkxNjYuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). But now that most of the country is stuck in their homes without any idea of when any semblance of normal life can begin, it’s hard to make major life decisions when no one knows if schools will be in session come September or when or if jobs will return for the millions of Americans out of work. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RsaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MzMzNTEmbGk9Q04mbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOXzIwMjAwNTA0VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NDUyODUwJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTgzOTIwJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Sure, parts of the country are starting to reopen restaurants, hair salons and retail establishments, but there has been no indication that normal life will be safe to resume without either mass testing or a vaccine or both — a prospect that remains [months if not years away](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy92YWNjaW5lcy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1yZXNlYXJjaC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), especially if, as the federal government privately forecasts, [the daily death toll will nearly double by the end of the month](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wNC91cy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyNsaW5rLTdiNDJkMGY1VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Given this reality, who can think much about the future? Tens of thousands of people are [dying from the coronavirus right now](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMC8wMy8yMS91cHNob3QvY29yb25hdmlydXMtZGVhdGhzLWJ5LWNvdW50cnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), and millions of others are out of work with no prospect of going back. For now, the major presidential campaigns are stuck in the past. President Trump cannot ever stop rewriting the history of how the federal government he oversees bungled various aspects of the coronavirus response. Sometimes he says [businesses should reopen and put people back to work](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8xNy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1nb3Zlcm5vcnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), and [sometimes he says the opposite](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yMy91cy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1rZW1wLXRydW1wLWdlb3JnaWEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Every day is [a new reality in this White House](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMy8yMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy10cnVtcC13YXJ0aW1lLXByZXNpZGVudC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), without regard to the future or the past. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjA4JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjA5JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTY0NzIzJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Joe Biden, after campaigning against the liberal political revolution by arguing that people need help now, has [seen his campaign swallowed by an accusation](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yOS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90YXJhLXJlYWRlLWpvZS1iaWRlbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that he sexually assaulted a former aide in a Senate hallway in 1993. His regular references to his time in the Obama administration and senators of decades’ past are hardly the stuff of Bill Clinton’s “[build a bridge to the future](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P4QSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzE5OTYvMDgvMzAvdXMvY2xpbnRvbi1zLXNwZWVjaC1hY2NlcHRpbmctdGhlLWRlbW9jcmF0aWMtbm9taW5hdGlvbi1mb3ItcHJlc2lkZW50Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA).” Mr. Biden has described himself as a “[transition candidate](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9qb2UtYmlkZW4tdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnQtcGljay5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~),” someone to stabilize the country until an unnamed successor can chart the nation’s new course. That brings us back to Mrs. Obama. Without an exciting vision of the future to sell, Democrats are left with pitching voters on their ideal of the past. The Obamas remain the most popular figures in Democratic politics, their admiration so universal that everyone from Bernie Sanders to Mike Bloomberg [used the former president in TV advertisements](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMi8yOC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9vYmFtYS1zb3V0aC1jYXJvbGluYS1wcmltYXJ5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). On Monday “The Committee to Draft Michelle Obama” for vice president [announced its formation](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TfaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ESkp1ZGQvc3RhdHVzLzEyNTczOTYyNzk4MzI4NzA5MTI_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImcz0yMCZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). The question for Mr. Biden, with six months to go before Election Day, is whether remembering what things were like before Trump and a pandemic will be enough. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzIzMjk3JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzIzMjk4JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzIzMzAwJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDIwMDUwNFcDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Drop us a line! We want to hear from our readers. Have a question? We’ll try to answer it. Have a comment? We’re all ears. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. Monday Mailbag Where is Joe Biden, anyway? President Trump is a regular feature on our TV screens, with his sometimes hourslong late afternoon coronavirus briefings from the White House. But it takes work to find Joe Biden — you usually have to look for him on a livestream somewhere. Margaret Ashley of Canandaigua, N.Y., writes: I appreciate that campaigning has become a whole different animal. But, with President Trump filling the airwaves for hours each day, he is taking advantage of his ability to put himself in front of voters, even when many wish he would stop. However, Joe Biden seems to have pretty much disappeared, and that concerns me … a lot. Why is he, his election team and the Democratic Party not doing everything they can think of to get Joe in front of a camera and a mic? And I am also frustrated that news outlets are not seeking Mr. Biden out more and giving him opportunities to be seen and heard. Rest assured, every news outlet in America, including this one, is seeking out Mr. Biden. How much or little you see him is purely a function of his team’s decisions about how visible he should be in this moment. (And there are [many, many Democrats](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P4RKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9saWZlc3R5bGUvc3R5bGUvdGhpcy1pcy1qb2UtYmlkZW5zLWJpZ2dlc3QtbW9tZW50LXdoeS1kb2VzLWhlLWZlZWwtc28tc21hbGwvMjAyMC8wNC8xNC9kYjc0NDIyYy03ZDkxLTExZWEtODAxMy0xYjZkYTBlNGEyYjdfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) who think [he should be seen and heard from a lot more](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P4QaAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDUvMDQvb3Bpbmlvbi9heGVscm9kLXBsb3VmZmUtam9lLWJpZGVuLmh0bWw_YWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm1vZHVsZT1PcGluaW9uJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZwZ3R5cGU9SG9tZXBhZ2UmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~).) There’s only so much Mr. Biden can do from the basement of his Delaware house. Like most of us, he can’t leave his house. Unlike the president and governors, he doesn’t have a real job to do. His podcasts and video chats have been of limited news value, but they are taking place for those who care to tune in. Do keep in mind that all this may not be so bad for the former vice president. Mr. Trump’s approval ratings are terrible. Mr. Biden leads in head-to-head polling in nearly all the key battleground states. Each day seemingly brings more evidence that Mr. Trump has alienated more of the suburban voters who helped him win in 2016 but have rebelled against Republicans since. Maybe, given all of that, it’s not such a bad idea that you don’t see that much of Mr. Biden. WHAT TO READ TONIGHT [[Article Image] Matt Rourke/Associated Press](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wNC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9qb2UtYmlkZW4tdGFyYS1yZWFkZS1zZXh1YWwtYXNzYXVsdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)   [Senate Office Says It Can’t Release Records Biden Requested Joseph Biden, promising transparency, has asked for any potential records related to a sexual assault allegation against him by Tara Reade to be released. A Senate office says it is legally unable to do so. By Sydney Ember](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wNC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9qb2UtYmlkZW4tdGFyYS1yZWFkZS1zZXh1YWwtYXNzYXVsdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [[Article Image] Grant Hindsley for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2FtYXpvbi1wcmFtaWxhLWpheWFwYWwuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)   [One of Amazon’s Most Powerful Critics Lives in Its Backyard Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington tried to keep her concerns about the company private. Now she’s going public. By David McCabe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2FtYXpvbi1wcmFtaWxhLWpheWFwYWwuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) … Seriously Finally, we have live sports to watch again, so long as you’re willing to stay up until 1 a.m. tonight to [catch some Korean baseball](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNS8wNC9zcG9ydHMvZXNwbnMtbGl2ZS1zcG9ydC1zYXZpb3Ita29yZWFuLWJhc2ViYWxsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Go NC Dinos! Were you forwarded this newsletter? [Sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvcG9saXRpY3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) to get it delivered to your inbox. Thanks for reading. On Politics is your guide to the political news cycle, delivering clarity from the chaos. Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-3) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0ToaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TnaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for On Politics with Lisa Lerer from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TYaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VnL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlL0NOLzA1MjIzOGJlNGIyZTU3ZjJmMTVjMjdjNTMyODY2ZTdkNDQ2YTFlYTZmMWQwYmM0Njc4Y2M2N2ExYjc2YThmZWI2ZGMzNWNmNGNiYzJjNTQwOWUxOTliOTMwNDMwNDY5Yz9lbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImc2VuZF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xVwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) or [manage your email preferences](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0ThaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9lbWFpbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1DTiZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9N0Y5ODkmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) |[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TWaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zZXJ2aWNlcy9tb2JpbGUvaW5kZXguaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Connect with us on: [facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL255dHBvbGl0aWNzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TEaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRwb2xpdGljcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRpbWVzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0TxaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyMDA1MDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTgyMTcmbmw9Q04mbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1saXNhLWxlcmVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjYwMSZ0ZT0xJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAG_6TsF7cSCY3Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)|[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P4QSAWh0dHA6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9oZWxwL3JpZ2h0cy9wcml2YWN5L3BvbGljeS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjAwNTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE4MjE3Jm5sPUNOJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzLXdpdGgtbGlzYS1sZXJlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjY2MDEmdGU9MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKABv-k7Be3EgmN1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgkxj-P0T5aHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDIwMDUwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xODIxNyZubD1DTiZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcy13aXRoLWxpc2EtbGVyZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2NjAxJnRlPTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAb_pOwXtxIJjdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018