Opinion Today: How America lost 200,000 lives

And why our pandemic playbook didn't save us. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP4QnAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGZDIyMjQyODctNjdmYi01NjVkLTllNWUtNjY1ZGNmZThmZmM3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0SvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) October 1, 2020 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWRhbS1iLWVsbGljaz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) By [Adam B. Ellick](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWRhbS1iLWVsbGljaz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Executive Producer, Opinion Video President Trump graded his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic recently as worthy of an A+, characterizing his own response as “phenomenal.” It was widely regarded as an, er, generous grade, considering more than 200,000 Americans have died on his watch so far. Americans account for just 4 percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of Covid-19 deaths. How did this happen? Under George W. Bush’s leadership, the United States literally wrote the pandemic playbook, creating a response plan complete with early testing, contact tracing, masks, social distancing and communications protocols. These approaches were well known and proved to be effective during other epidemics, including the SARS and MERS outbreaks. So how did the richest country in the world, the one arguably most prepared to deal with a pandemic, end up with so many preventable deaths? Who is responsible? Did China conceal information? Did New York City’s leaders mess up? Did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blow it? And what about Trump? The New York Times Back in April, the media critic Jay Rosen [tweeted](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TXaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qYXlyb3Nlbl9ueXUvc3RhdHVzLzEyNDkxNzgyOTk4ODE5NzE3MTY_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnM9MTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that “The battle to prevent Americans from understanding what went down January to April will be one of the biggest propaganda and freedom of information fights in modern U.S. history.” The fight over the narrative of Covid-19 took center stage during Tuesday’s [presidential debate](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP4QSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDkvMzAvb3Bpbmlvbi9wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwtZGViYXRlLXRydW1wLWJpZGVuLmh0bWw_YWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm1vZHVsZT1PcGluaW9uJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcGd0eXBlPUhvbWVwYWdlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), when Trump claimed that millions more would have died if not for his leadership. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjAxMDAxVwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NDUwODUxJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTgxOTIxJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ We journalists are in the accountability business. So we’ve published [a short film tracking how the United States bungled Covid-19](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLXVzLXJlc3BvbnNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), looking as far back as 2003 and culminating in the summer of 2020. We hope it helps you understand the backdrop of this national failure and offers context for the competing narratives. Most of all, we hope it helps establish a measure of accountability. To assemble this video, I paired two very different journalists: our Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nick Kristof and Johnny Harris, one of the pioneers of the Vox video explainer format ([like this one about the Syrian civil war](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9TktiOUdWVThiSEVXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)) who began his career as a visual storyteller at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It’s always a challenge to explain a long-running news story while it’s still unfolding. We hope [this video](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLXVzLXJlc3BvbnNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) offers some clarity in the face of so much tragedy, chaos and misinformation. As Nick says in the video, some of us at The Times have covered mass deaths in the developing world — but we never imagined witnessing such a tragedy in our own country. [[Article Image]  ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLXVzLXJlc3BvbnNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)   [How America Lost 200,000 Lives to Covid-19 The U.S. spent 15 years preparing for the coronavirus. Why did we handle it so badly? By Johnny Harris, Nicholas Kristof and Adam B. Ellick](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLXVzLXJlc3BvbnNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NDI2MDE5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTU3MDg5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIwMTAwMVcDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Forward this newsletter to friends … … to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can [sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheW5sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Do you have feedback? Email us at [opiniontoday@nytimes.com](mailto:opiniontoday@nytimes.com?subject=Opinion%20Today%20Newsletter%20Feedback) Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks [A Debate That Can’t Be Ignored Americans need to face the man who is their president. By The Editorial Board](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWJpZGVuLWRlYmF0ZS0yMDIwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWJpZGVuLWRlYmF0ZS0yMDIwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Alexander Vindman Knew Trump Would End His Career He spoke out anyway. A key witness in the impeachment investigation speaks to Kara Swisher about what that decision cost him.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMC8wMS9vcGluaW9uL3N3YXkta2FyYS1zd2lzaGVyLWFsZXhhbmRlci12aW5kbWFuLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Weird Al Presents: ‘America Is Doomed, the Musical’ Weird Al Yankovic’s take on the weird debate. By the Gregory Brothers and Weird Al Yankovic](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdmlkZW8vb3Bpbmlvbi8xMDAwMDAwMDczNzAxMzMvcHJlc2lkZW50aWFsLWRlYmF0ZS13ZWlyZC1hbC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdmlkZW8vb3Bpbmlvbi8xMDAwMDAwMDczNzAxMzMvcHJlc2lkZW50aWFsLWRlYmF0ZS13ZWlyZC1hbC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) On Politics [Can Mike Espy Make History, Again? If the Democratic Party claims to value Black support, then they should work harder to make it happen. By Charles M. Blow](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL21pa2UtZXNweS1lbGVjdGlvbi0yMDIwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL21pa2UtZXNweS1lbGVjdGlvbi0yMDIwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Anyone Else Want to See Trump ‘Shut Up’? Our president as a terrible toddler. By Gail Collins](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3ByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1kZWJhdGUtdHJ1bXAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3ByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1kZWJhdGUtdHJ1bXAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Trump Calls on Extremists to ‘Stand By’ Instead of condemning violent groups, the president marshals them. By Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWVsZWN0aW9uLWRlYmF0ZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWVsZWN0aW9uLWRlYmF0ZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [For the Sake of Democracy, Cancel the Trump-Biden Debates The president is maneuvering to steal the election. Why help him? 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Edsall](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMC8wMS9vcGluaW9uL2FteS1jb25leS1iYXJyZXR0LXN1cHJlbWUtY291cnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMC8wMS9vcGluaW9uL2FteS1jb25leS1iYXJyZXR0LXN1cHJlbWUtY291cnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [A Brief History of the Taxpayer in Chief From Lincoln to Trump, the president’s attitude toward his taxes has shaped the public’s attitude toward theirs. 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You’re in Good Company A lot of families are going to need restructuring by the time this is over. They probably needed it before. 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By Regina Ip](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMC8wMS9vcGluaW9uL2hvbmcta29uZy1jaGluYS1zZWN1cml0eS1sYXcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMC8wMS9vcGluaW9uL2hvbmcta29uZy1jaGluYS1zZWN1cml0eS1sYXcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKAB9DxXVfPLTNHlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Trump’s Tax Avoidance Is a Tax on the Rest of Us The majority of taxpayers can’t afford the expensive professional advice on which successful tax-avoidance strategies depend. By Brooke Harrington](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRheGVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRheGVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Vote in Person, New York After the recent absentee ballot debacle, anyone who is able ought to take advantage of early in-person voting. By The Editorial Board](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL25ldy15b3JrLWJhbGxvdHMtZWFybHktdm90aW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL25ldy15b3JrLWJhbGxvdHMtZWFybHktdm90aW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) What You’re Saying [‘The More I Watched, the More Unsettled I Felt’ Readers rate President Trump and Joe Biden after their first (official) debate. By Rachel L. Harris and Lisa Tarchak](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3ByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1kZWJhdGUtaGlnaGxpZ2h0cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3ByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1kZWJhdGUtaGlnaGxpZ2h0cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [letters ‘An Embarrassment’: Trump, Biden and the Debate Fiasco Readers express their consternation, calling the debate a disaster and urging a mute button.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvdHJ1bXAtYmlkZW4tZGViYXRlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvdHJ1bXAtYmlkZW4tZGViYXRlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Mzk1MzYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [letters Ideas for Transforming American Theater Readers object to one writer’s idea, relaxing theater etiquette, and suggest subsidizing theater and selling virtual seats.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvYnJvYWR3YXktdGhlYXRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wOS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvYnJvYWR3YXktdGhlYXRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjAxMDAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyNjk1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Contact Us If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our [Help Page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP4QFAWh0dHBzOi8vaGVscC5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8zNjAwMDE0ODgyNjYtTmV3c2xldHRlcnM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAxOTA2MjcmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMDEwMDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjI2OTUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0zOTUzNiZ0ZT0xJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAH0PFdV88tM0eUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) or [contact The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhWEpDP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vaGVscC5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8xMTUwMTUzODU4ODctQ29udGFjdC1Vcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDE5MDYyNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIwMTAwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yMjY5NSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTM5NTM2JnRlPTEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAfQ8V1Xzy0zR5SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). 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