Your Wednesday Briefing - The New York Times

I.R.S. might delay tax deadline

The Treasury Department is considering delaying the April 15 filing deadline, according to a person familiar with the plans, as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the financial fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.

Here are the latest updates on the virus and a map of where it has spread.

President Trump and lawmakers began talks on Tuesday for an emergency economic relief package. Mr. Trump suggested temporarily eliminating payroll taxes, which could cost nearly $700 billion, but members of both parties were cool to the idea.

In other developments:

Testing delays set back U.S. response

When the first U.S. case of the coronavirus was confirmed in late January, scientists tried to repurpose a research project on the flu to test for the new virus.

But federal and state officials wouldn’t allow it, saying the researchers did not have explicit permission from the study’s subjects.

The episode illustrates how regulations often designed to protect privacy and health have impeded the national rollout of testing. Even now, states like New York and California are struggling to test widely, making it impossible for officials to get a true picture of the outbreak.

“The Daily”: Today’s episode is about what went wrong with testing in the U.S.

Go deeper: We’ve produced an illustrated look at the virus, including how it enters the body and infects cells.

Joe Biden takes control

The former vice president is now the Democratic Party’s likely presidential nominee, after defeating Senator Bernie Sanders in at least four of the six states that voted on Tuesday, including the big prize of Michigan.

Mr. Sanders has not been mathematically eliminated in the delegate race, but his path to success has narrowed to a sliver. Here are five takeaways from the voting and the full results so far.

Only 10 days after his first victory, in South Carolina, Mr. Biden moved to unify a fractured party on Tuesday with an appeal to Mr. Sanders’s supporters. “We share a common goal,” he said, “and together we’ll defeat Donald Trump.”

News analysis: “So thorough is Mr. Biden’s hold on the party now that any collapse would probably require a political U-turn as sharp as the one that precipitated his rise,” our reporters write.

What’s next: Both Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders canceled big election night events, citing concerns about the coronavirus, and there will be no live audience at Sunday’s debate between the two candidates. Vice President Mike Pence said that the future of President Trump’s rallies would be decided on a “a day-to-day basis.”

If you have 4 minutes, this is worth it

Working from home is overrated

Our tech columnist Kevin Roose used to be a proponent of avoiding the office and the commute required to get there.

Snapshot: Above, the village of Langar, Tajikistan, on what was the Silk Road, a vast network of ancient trade routes from China to the Mediterranean. Our writer spent 12 days following the path through Central Asia. There were “frequent incidents of abject, often hilarious, transactional chaos,” she writes, adding, “We hoped it would never end.”

Late-night comedy: “Today, ‘Wheel of Fortune’ filmed without an audience as a protective measure against the coronavirus,” Jimmy Fallon said. “Things are so bad over there, Vanna is now turning all the letters with her elbow.”

What we’re reading: This Tampa Bay Times investigation of GardaWorld, a company that took shortcuts while building an armored truck empire. It “reveals, with one jaw-dropping and horrifying detail after another, the wreckage and carnage left behind,” says Matt Apuzzo, our investigative correspondent in Brussels. “Brilliant investigative journalism.”

Now, a break from the news

Cook: Pastelón, a lasagna-like casserole of plantains, cheese and picadillo from Puerto Rico, is “a dish to dream about,” says our Food editor, Sam Sifton.

Listen: On the latest Popcast, our critics discuss how Kevin Parker built and sustained his psych-rock project, Tame Impala.

Eat: When Pastrami Masters, a new deli, moved into its space in Brooklyn, it kept the previous tenant’s Lebanese menu. Read Pete Wells’s review.

Smarter Living: Sweat can’t transmit the coronavirus, but that doesn’t make the gym risk-free. Here’s what experts say.

And now for the Back Story on …

Stocking your pantry

Melissa Clark, a Food columnist, wrote last week about stocking up against uncertainty. We talked to her about cooking in stressful times.

The federal government recommends storing a two-week supply of water and food. How should people be thinking about buying food right now?

It’s always a good idea to have a stocked pantry, whether you feel anxiety about the world or just about the fridge being empty. There’s an extra layer of security and control — whatever happens, you’ll eat well.

What should be first on the list?

Start with your favorite starch — it could be pasta, or rice. Next: protein. Beans are great — if you’re going to be home for a long time, you might as well simmer up some dried beans, which have the best flavor, though canned beans are among my favorite convenience foods. That’s the sort of skeleton of the meal, then you need flavor: so stock up on aromatics like garlic and onions, and spices. If you like to bake, buy butter, yeast, sugar, salt.

Should we think about food as more than just calories and nutrition at a time like this?

People stress eat, that’s a real thing. So you might as well eat really well. But feeding yourself, your family and your neighbors is going to give you a great sense of calmness and joy. That’s how we get through hard times.

That’s it for this briefing, which has been written from the confines of my guest room.

See you next time.

— Chris

Thank you
Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford provided the break from the news. Adam Pasick, of the Briefings team, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach us at [email protected].

P.S.
• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is about testing for the coronavirus in the U.S.
• Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Available to hang out (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.
• Stephanie Preiss, who has been helping lead our efforts to imagine a bigger audio business, has been named The Times Company’s vice president, audio and TV.