Live from Lockdown! This felt like the fastest Free-Rider Friday we’ve ever done. The topics just cruised by. Enjoy!
“House passes $2.2 Trillion ‘Stimulus Package,’’ National Review, March 27, 2020.
Jonah Goldberg of The Dispatch points out it should not be called a “stimulus package” but rather a life-support package, like the difference between oxygen and cocaine.
JP Morgan on the history and economic impact of COVID-19, and similar economic impacts from natural disasters and war. It projects a 14% decline in GDP in the second quarter of 2020, the largest decline since 1947. Next largest was a 10% decline in the first quarter of 1958. Goldman Sachs is forecasting a 24% drop, and Morgan Stanley sees a 30% decline.
“How Do We Flatten the Curve on Panic?, Ann Coulter, Townhall, March 26, 2020.
“Oxford-Based Group Stops Using WHO Data for Coronavirus Reporting, Citing Errors,” FEE, March 25, 2020, John Miltimore.
From Ed to Baseball fans: How many games constitute a season for Major League Baseball? There is no right answer. 114 games per team in 1994 was the lowest. Ed thinks 81 is right. It's half a full season (162), and it’s a good baseball number 3 (outs to an inning)^2 is 9 and 9 (innings in a game)^2 is 81.
“James Dyson designed a new ventilator in 10 days. He's making 15,000 for the pandemic fight,” CNN Business, Nada Bashir, March 27, 2020.
Ford, GM, Tesla start to produce ventilators. And entrepreneurs in Ireland have made an open-source ventilator prototype using 3-D printed parts.
“A Government Monopoly Led to Botched COVID-19 Test Kits, but Private Labs Are Now Saving the Day,” FEE, March 16, 2020, Ben Johnson.
Ron’s mea culpa: The REAL lagging indicator in times of crisis is not the barbershops, it’s the FEMA Waffle House Indicator. They are the termites and twinkies of nuclear Armageddon. They never shut down. Until they do.
Excellent reporting from Jim Geraghty’s “Morning Jolt,” National Review, March 23, 2020: “The Comprehensive Timeline of China’s COVID-19 Lies.”
Bonus Content is Available As Well
Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.
Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits.
Here are some of the topics and links Ron and Ed discussed during the bonus episode this past week:
Banter on why the COVID-19 crisis will spur even more folks to move to subscription and doubling down on relationships
Unbeknownst to us, Tien Tzou published a Subscribed newsletter on why you should…wait for it…double down on relationships