Why are Tory politicians speaking about the pandemic as if it’s just a natural disaster? Will the borders close for good – and what happens where they’re already locked shut? Plus, Dominic Cummings in the room: does it matter?

From 5G to bioweapons to “globalism”, the pandemic provides ample material for conspiracy theorists. James Butler asks: why? And does it tell us anything about the nature of politics?

Keir Starmer took on his first PMQs yesterday: Ash Sarkar asks what we learned about his strategy. What’s changed since Corbyn? Plus, experts and NHS workers ask you to #ChantforPPE

Aaron Bastani asks: what does the pandemic reveal about Britain’s real position in the world? Plus, James Butler takes a look at the European tussle over how to pay for the recovery.

How bad could the economic crisis get? Who will it touch? What hope of recovery – and what shape will it take? And does political leadership really matter?

An explosive story over the weekend exposed exposed just some of the government’s failures in dealing with the pandemic. James Butler asks: what did they know? And what do we know? Pasolini: ‘I know’ (tr. Giovanni Tiso): https://overland.org.au/2012/03/what-is-this-coup-detat-i-know/

The lockdown is set to continue for three weeks more: but what does the new Labour leader think we should do about it? And is he right? Plus we hear from the lockdown in New Zealand.

The lockdown is about to be renewed – but what do we actually know about the scientific group advising on it? Plus, why is dystopia in such easy reach in responses to the pandemic?

James Butler asks: what would a tech-led exit from lockdown look like? James Meadway tells us what we should make of the OBR’s ‘bouncing ball’ scenario on the economic shock. Ross Anderson: Contact tracing in the real world: https://www.lightbluetouchpaper.org/2020/04/12/contact-tracing-in-the-real-world/

Ash Sarkar tackles the weekend’s leak of an internal Labour dossier and what it reveals about what was going on at the top of the party Plus, we speak to leading thinkers on the left about how the UK should really be responding to the coronavirus crisis. With Clive Lewis MP, Maya Goodfellow, Carys Roberts, Kojo Koram and Andrew Fisher. More on the Labour dossier at the website:...

James Butler asks: can Covid-19 tell us anything about climate change? Vincent Bevins brings us the lowdown on the crisis in Brazil. And Michael Walker delivers a verdict on the UK government’s handling of the pandemic.

Sunak drops some cash on charities: but what’s his long term plan? Austerity? Plus, do tech companies see something to exploit in the crisis? And where next for the American left? Tectonix video: https://twitter.com/tectonixgeo/status/1242628347034767361?s=21

How are decisions made without a Prime Minister? Aaron Bastani takes us inside the politics of ageing – about to explode under the pressure of the coronavirus – and also asks: by the end of this, will anyone buy a print newspaper? And should we care? James Butler on the politics of the coronavirus crisis in the LRB: https://lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n07/james-butler/follow-the-science

Boris Johnson is in intensive care: so how does the government now run? And shouldn’t we have known earlier? What are the politics of the new Labour top team? Plus, Georgia Anderson speaks to an NHS worker involved in setting up the training for the new Nightingale hospitals about the front line of the crisis. James Butler on the politics of the coronavirus crisis in the LRB: https://lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n07/james-butler/follow-the-science

Jeremy Corbyn finishes his term, and Keir Starmer takes the reins. But he comes to power in the midst of a deepening crisis: what will he do? And what will the left in Labour do?

Who’s worth what? That’s the question put by the hard right about the costs of the lockdown – but what are the real issues at stake? We take a lightning-quick tour through the states of emergency that have been declared – or, in one case, avoided – across Europe. Didier Fassin on the last state of emergency in France: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v38/n05/didier-fassin/short-cuts The Hungarian laws in English:...

As the papers wake up to the testing crisis, we ask what an inquiry might eventually do. Plus, Sarah Jaffe dials in from Philly to tell us about the reaction to the crisis in the US. Jacques Attali, Que naîtra-t-il?: http://www.attali.com/societe/que-naitra-t-il/

Why can’t the government give a straight answer on testing? Plus, Michael Walker talks to Tom Hancock, the FT’s China correspondent, about what’s really been happening there.

Craig Gent delves deeper into logistics and production during the crisis – as the market scramble reveals the failures in preparedness and resilience in the NHS. Will ‘just in time’ logistics leave us empty-handed in the face of a pandemic? Plus, Rosa Gilbert brings us more from Italy – including how to keep it together during the lockdown.

Who gets the blame? The right-wing press have set their eyes on China, but where should we really be looking? Plus, Rosa Gilbert answers your questions from lockdown in Italy. Harry Davies on NHS PPE: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/advice-on-protective-gear-for-nhs-staff-was-rejected-owing-to-cost BPAS on early medical abortion:...

As Rishi Sunak issues yet another huge intervention into the economy, James Butler wonders if it will really be enough. And who doesn’t get caught by it – and why? Plus, some of the Novara Media team talk about what you should read on lockdown. And, over the weekend, a plea for stories of social solidarity. >SUBSCRIBE – and leave us a review! – on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-burner/id1503705844 Caroline Molloy on universalism and the safety net:...

Yesterday was Corbyn’s last day at the despatch box: but what will his successor face? Should we fear a government of national unity? Plus, we speak to Aviah Day about the mutual aid groups which have sprung up around the country and their future. >SUBSCRIBE – and leave us a review! – on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-burner/id1503705844

Just how big could the Covid-19 crisis get? Is the left ready for a crisis? Plus, what we get wrong about bare shelves in supermarkets. ACFM on Utopia: https://novaramedia.com/2020/03/24/acfm-trip-9-utopia/ Craig Gent on logistics: https://novaramedia.com/2020/03/23/when-logistics-run-out-of-time/ UNISON NW Care Workers survey: https://www.surveygizmo.eu/s3/90223476/careworkersvsCOVID19 >> Subscribe and leave us a review here:...

Boris Johnson finally takes measures to enforce a partial lockdown. But will it be enough? Plus, what should we do while we’re at home? Check out the Virtual Social Centre: https://virtualsocialcentre.org.uk/ Get in touch: [email protected] See you tomorrow!

A bumper edition to kick off the new series: the scale of the crisis, the measures taken – and not taken – in response, plus an update from Rosa Gilbert in Italy. Get in touch: [email protected] See you tomorrow!