Your Thursday Evening Briefing

March 12, 2020

Your Thursday Evening Briefing

By Remy Tumin and Marcus Payadue

Good evening. It feels like a year has passed since last night. If you’d like to jump to the fun section, head to the seventh item. Here’s the latest.

Nina Westervelt for The New York Times

1. Life is starting to look very different in major cities across the country.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned most gatherings of more than 500 people, including Broadway shows, to curb the spread of the coronavirus; Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency in New York City; and the Archdiocese of New York will close its elementary schools next week, affecting more than 19,000 students.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will temporarily close its Fifth Avenue flagship, among other cultural institutions.

California joined other states in imposing new measures aimed at containing the virus, telling residents to postpone or cancel gatherings of more than 250 people through the end of March. In Ohio, the governor said a ban on large events was imminent.

President Trump said domestic travel restrictions could become a possibility.

The N.BA., N.H.L. and M.L.S. suspended their seasons. Baseball said it would delay its opener by at least two weeks. The N.C.A.A. canceled its March Madness tournament; major organizers suspended concerts. Here’s the latest.

The Times is providing free access to our most important updates and guidance on the global coronavirus. Here’s our full coverage.

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George Frey/Reuters

2. Emergency rooms across the country are preparing for a crush of cases, but with limited capacity and supplies, administrators fear they will not be ready. Above, screening tents at the University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City.

Staffing shortages could hinder care if doctors and nurses become infected. There may not be enough ventilators or bed space for an influx of seriously ill patients.

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In less than three weeks, the virus has overloaded hospitals in much of Italy despite the country’s well-regarded health care system. It may be a glimpse of what other countries could face if they cannot slow the contagion.

Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

3. It was the worst day for stocks in more than 30 years.

Investors were disappointed by President Trump’s plan to beat back the coronavirus by barring travel to the U.S. from most European countries for 30 days. European leaders condemned the decision — a move they said was made “unilaterally and without consultation.”

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 10 percent and the S&P 500 was down about 9.5 percent at closing — the worst drop for both since the 1987 “Black Monday” stock market crash. The Federal Reserve, which said it would offer at least $1.5 trillion in short-term loans to banks, was also forced to inject cash when it saw “highly unusual disruptions in Treasury financing markets.”

Hannah Yoon for The New York Times

4. “We are not ready yet, and the clock is ticking.”

Joe Biden sharply rebuked President Trump’s coronavirus response, saying it “laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration.” Bernie Sanders also delivered remarks on the coronavirus crisis and its economic effects.

Mr. Trump assailed Democrats hours after he implored lawmakers to “stop the partisanship.” His national address on Wednesday night failed to unify or reassure a nation on edge, our chief White House correspondent writes in an analysis.

Separately, the Senate canceled a planned one-week recess to consider a coronavirus relief bill.

Yuri Gripas/Reuters

5. “All options are on the table” for retaliatory strikes following a deadly missile attack on a joint U.S.-Iraqi base, said Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Mr. Esper said that Iranian-backed militias were behind the attack, which killed two American service members and a soldier from Britain on Wednesday.

“Let me be clear: The United States will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests or our allies,” Mr. Esper said.

What comes next remains unclear. In December, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran was accused of launching a rocket strike that killed an American contractor, setting off a series of events that led the U.S. to the brink of war with Iran.

Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports, via Reuters

6. U.S. Soccer says it’s sorry.

Carlos Cordeiro, president of the United States Soccer Federation, apologized for the “offense and pain” caused when lawyers for the organization argued in court filings that female players just aren’t as skilled as the men.

The remarks prompted protests from the women’s national team and major sponsors like Coca-Cola. Midfielder Megan Rapinoe, above right, called the filings “blatant misogyny and sexism.”

A court will begin hearings in May in a gender discrimination and equal pay lawsuit brought by the women’s team.

Arielle Bobb-Willis for The New York Times

7. You’ll want to turn your volume up for this one.

From the mindbogglingly popular to the obscure, The Times Magazine selected 25 songs that matter now for its annual music issue. They include “Earfquake” by Tyler the Creator, “Hot Girl Summer” by Megan Thee Stallion, above, Sleater-Kinney’s “The Center Won’t Hold,” and yes, even a song from “Cats.”

But almost all these songs have something in common: the willingness to simply be what they are, and to let things fall where they may. Have a listen.

Dina Litovsky for The New York Times

8. And now for a different kind of tune.

Stephen Sondheim, theater’s greatest songwriter, is turning 90 this year. And despite his accolades — eight Tony Awards, five Oliviers, an Oscar, a Pulitzer Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom — our theater critic thinks he is still underacknowledged.

It’s not just the music: Mr. Sondheim is also one of theater’s greatest playwrights, our critic argues. He’s also everywhere in pop culture.

In honor of the milestone birthday, our critics created a guide to all things Sondheim, from “Company,” above, and “West Side Story” to “Into the Woods.”

Dale Robinette/Disney Plus

9. If a movie is available only to stream, should we lower our expectations?

As more films skip theaters and head straight to streaming, we asked our critics to talk openly about what many whisper about: that many of these films, like “Timmy Failure: When Mistakes Were Made,” above, are just good enough.

And on the topic of online entertainment, a variety of new internet talk shows like “Hot Ones” and “Red Table Talk” are allowing celebrities to have control over their personas like never before. The shows do what they can to soothe — or rattle — stars into a state resembling authenticity.

Illustrations by Charlot Kristensen

10. And finally, maybe not something old, something blue.

Weddings have evolved, and so have the rituals that were once rooted in archaic or sexist practices: Why wait for him to ask? Nix “obey” from vows. Brides, don’t hesitate to deliver a toast.

And tossing the garter — borne from a centuries-old superstition when guests believed tearing the bride’s wedding dress and ripping off a piece would bring good luck and fertility — is largely a thing of the past, much like dowries.

“It’s seen as outdated, sexist and inappropriate,” one event planner said. “In fact, brides don’t even wear them anymore.”

Have an unconventional night.

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