Politics Daily: Joe Biden Wins Florida and Illinois

—Saahil Desai

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« SNAPSHOT »

(Getty Images / Reuters / AP)

Millions of people are now living under varying degrees of lockdown in Italy, France, and the United States.

Our photo editor Alan Taylor compiled images of usually bustling public spaces that now stand empty.

See the new collection here.

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« ARGUMENT OF THE DAY »

(DREW ANGERER / GETTY)

As far as the Bernie Sanders campaign is concerned, he’s still running for president.

But now, Joe Biden has amassed a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead—winning three states outright last night. The remaining primaries look hostile to Sanders (they’ll take place in states where Biden’s support runs deep, and the COVID-19 outbreak may further suppress turnout).

Now would be the time for Sanders to drop out yet keep his influence on the race, our Ideas staff writer Conor Friedersdorf argues.

“As Congress weighs emergency relief measures, Sanders could exert more influence focusing on policy in Washington, in his capacity as a sitting senator, than in debates with Biden, repeating calls for a democratic socialist future as the public is focused on the next year … or week.”

Read the rest.

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« THE CORONAVIRUS READER »

(THE ATLANTIC)

As the U.S. federal government struggles with a proper response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our writers are analyzing the virus’s effect on society.

When the history of this virus is written, we’ll have to include the many, many warning signs the country missed. We were warned every year since at least 2014, our national security and global affairs staff writer Uri Friedman reports:

When the National Commission on the COVID-19 response materializes, it will differ from the 9/11 Commission in that it will conclude that “the system was blinking red” not just in the inner sanctum of the U.S. intelligence community but out in the open, as well. For years.

You can keep up with all of The Atlantic’s most essential coronavirus coverage here.

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Today’s newsletter was written by Saahil Desai, an editor on the Politics desk, and Christian Paz, a Politics fellow. It was edited by Shan Wang, who oversees newsletters.

You can reply directly to this newsletter with questions or comments, or send a note to [email protected]

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Saahil Desai is an associate editor at The Atlantic, where he covers politics and policy.

Christian Paz is an editorial fellow at The Atlantic.

Shan Wang is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where she oversees newsletters.