The British public are being patient over the coronavirus crisis, but they will not forgive governmental confusion for ever

The US president has been exposed by the coronavirus crisis. The only small comfort for the rest of the world is that he’s not their leader

It’s too early to say whether the country is united but the cracks are beginning to show

‘No edicts, please, we’re British,’ is the message as PM tries to convince in newly serious role

Such is the reverse Midas touch of Donald Trump, that his attempt last night to face facts, steady nerves and reassure the public succeeded in spreading panic, sowing confusion and ratcheting up the anxiety.

Suddenly being the experienced Washington insider who was number two to Obama could be more of an asset than a liability

The coronavirus crisis is a war against a disease, but it’s also the most serious battle yet in the war on truth. That much was clear from the start, as China moved to hush up the first outbreak and gag the doctor who had spotted it. It was a classic case of what we might call Chernobyl syndrome: the tendency of authoritarian systems to react to disaster by rushing to downplay or cover up the problem, focusing more on shifting blame than tackling the threat head on. Viewers of last year’s TV dramatisation of the Chernobyl nuclear accident could recognise the pattern immediately, as the priority of those in charge becomes avoiding embarrassment rather than saving lives.

Some Democratic observers fear their party is following the British left’s road to defeat

The biggest, most electrifying event in the closing days of campaigning in New Hampshire was not staged by Bernie Sanders or Pete Buttigieg or even the surprise third-place finisher, Amy Klobuchar. No, the candidate who filled a 12,000-seat arena, and had devotees queueing up for several blocks on a frigid Monday evening, was the man those others are battling to take on in November, the man who is shaping the Democratic presidential race and who is inside the heads of Democratic voters: Donald Trump.

5.09am GMT