This is really grim reading, but useful to understand where the statistics (especially the US statistics) are coming from.

from 4 April: “nine Georgia counties, most of them also in the southern part of the state, not only lack hospitals but have no practicing physicians at all”

“Department of Homeland Security was still considering redirecting our PPE. Only some quick calls leading to intervention by our congressional representative prevented its seizure.” Wow.

from @fivethirtyeight, which has been very good on the US statistics.

Scathing from @anneapplebaum.

Race and class and history.

David Frum was right, and the rest of the GOP was wrong.

Paul Krugman writes.

Douglas Coupland and the USA's excuse for a health care system.

@LizHand writes.

Harry Reid: “It is a sad day when we cannot pass a treaty that simply brings the world up to the American standard for protecting people with disabilities because the Republican Party is in thrall to extremists and ideologues."

"As Americans, we’re brought up our entire lives being taught that we’re the best, we did everything first and that the rest of the world follows our lead. Not only is this not true, but people get irritated when you bring it to their country with you. So don’t."

"The debate over American decline is missing the point. All this talk about projecting U.S. power abroad means nothing if we can't fix our severe problems at home."

I do hope he does well in Iowa.