Trump: "Wouldn't it be great?" Epidemiologists: No.

Trump wants the US to go back to work; Israel still hasn't formed a government. Tonight's Sentences was written by Cameron Peters. TOP NEWS Trump is eager to reopen the economy; public health experts disagree Drew Angerer/Getty Images - President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that he wants to see the US economy — large sectors of which are currently shuttered in response to the coronavirus pandemic — “open by Easter,” with “packed churches all over our country.” [[CNBC / Kevin Breuninger](] - Many experts, however, say that’s exactly the wrong thing to do: In order to successfully “flatten the curve” and prevent a wider outbreak, it’s important to keep social distancing measures in effect, likely well past Easter Sunday on April 12. [[NYT / Annie Karni and Donald G. McNeil Jr.](] - The idea that it might be better to reopen the economy sooner rather than later has gained traction in conservative circles this week, though. On Monday, Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick argued that it was important not to “sacrifice the country” in the name of protecting vulnerable populations. [[NBC News / Jamie Knodel](] - Not every Republican is on board with the idea: House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney tweeted Tuesday that “there will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed… because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus.” [[Twitter / Liz Cheney](] - And it’s unclear how much Trump could do to reopen the economy by mid-April in any case: While the CDC issued a set of national guidelines to limit the spread of the virus early last week, shelter-in-place and stay-home orders have been implemented at the state and local level. [[ABC News / Ben Gittleson and Jordyn Phelps](] - Nonetheless, as Vox’s Nicole Narea points out, “Trump can advise states to reopen for business as usual, and at least some of them will likely heed his advice, despite what medical professionals may say.” [[Vox / Nicole Narea](] - And the potential repercussions of such a move, backed up by epidemiological models, are clear: more cases of the coronavirus, and consequently more deaths that could have been prevented. [[Vox / German Lopez](] - For now, though, a stimulus bill to help the beleaguered, still-closed American economy is in the works. In the early hours of the morning Wednesday, the Senate reached a deal on a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package. [[Washington Post /]([Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, and Paul Kane](] Israel's political stalemate continues as the speaker of the Knesset resigns - On Wednesday, the speaker of Israel’s parliament, Yuli Edelstein, resigned rather than comply with an order from the country’s supreme court to reopen the Knesset for legislative business. Edelstein is a prominent ally of current caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [[The Guardian / Oliver Holmes](] - By refusing to reconvene the parliament, Edelstein had effectively blocked any legislation that might imperil Netanyahu’s chances to retain power. Currently, Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz holds the upper hand in the struggle to form a functional governing coalition in the Knesset. [[NYT / David M. Halbfinger](] - Edelstein’s resignation is just the latest development following Israel’s third election in less than a year on March 2; currently, Gantz has the support of a narrow majority in the Knesset, but that might not translate into a government. [[AP / Aron Heller](] - Another option on the table as Israel faces a coronavirus outbreak is an emergency unity government between Gantz’s Blue and White Party and Netanyaku’s Likud; for now, though, it’s unclear what resolution there will be to the crisis. [[Washington Post / Steve Hendrix and Ruth Eglash](] MISCELLANEOUS Coronavirus fears are driving prisons to release thousands of inmates. [[Washington Post / Kimberly Kindy, Emma Brown, and Dalton Bennett](] - Ignoring social distancing could be a “formula for disaster.” But many have trouble seeing that. [[Vox / Eleanor Cummins](] - Sir Patrick Stewart reciting Shakespeare and other online content to keep you going during quarantine [[The New York Times](] - And the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Cam, featuring adorable adopted otter pups [[Twitter / Monterey Bay Aquarium](] VERBATIM "I just feel really sad for humanity. Because all of this is really indicative that no matter how American you are, no matter how much you contribute… as long as there’s an overt reason to hate you, otherize you to make you a foreigner, people will [latch] onto that." [[A victim of anti-Asian American racism on her experience / Vox](] LISTEN TO THIS [How the tech giant is responding to the pandemic, and what it says about Amazon as a company.]( How the tech giant is responding to the pandemic, and what it says about Amazon as a company. [[Spotify / Arielle Duhaime-Ross and Jason Del Rey](] [Read more from Vox](#) [The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision that bodes ill for the future of civil rights]( [Why you’re getting coronavirus emails from every brand you’ve ever interacted with]( [Building a movement to preserve silence as a natural resource]( [Why Trump’s goal to end social distancing by Easter is so dangerous]( [“The babies keep coming”: What the coronavirus pandemic means for people giving birth]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences](, or [unsubscribe]( to stop receiving all emails from Vox. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.