The Real Number of Jobless Americans, What the Restaurant Industry Needs, and More

April 4, 2020

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An empty restaurant is pictured during the COVID-19 crisis.

Official jobless figures will miss the economic pain of the pandemic

For the first time since 2009, the U.S. economy lost jobs. The March jobs report indicates that 701,000 jobs were lost, but that number fails to encompass the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jonathan Rothwell estimates that over 46 million Americans have already been laid off or seen a reduction in hours as a result of the virus.

Why the internet didn't break

Between January 29 and March 26 there was a 105% spike in Americans active online at home between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler writes about internet connectivity during the pandemic and says work remains to provide access to the many households that are trying to make do without high-speed connections.

How the restaurant industry is responding to COVID-19 relief

Annelies Goger and Tracy Hadden Loh spoke with servers, managers, and restaurant owners in the Washington, D.C. metro area to understand how COVID-19 is affecting the industry and to learn what forms of support would be most helpful. A new report organizes their responses into areas for policymakers to focus on.

Must-listen podcasts

The Iranian Revolution's enduring impact on the world. On the Brookings Cafeteria podcast, Suzanne Maloney discusses the startling events of 1979 and what they continue to mean for the Middle East and the rest of the world.

What cities and states are doing about the coronavirus. As the federal government and Congress work to address the economic and physical shocks of the coronavirus pandemic, what are state and local governments doing to respond? Amy Liu and Mark Muro examine.

The latest developments in Afghanistan. Vanda Felbab-Brown was a guest on the Middle East Focus podcast to discuss the recent U.S.-Taliban agreement, the power struggle over the presidency, and other pressing challenges facing Afghanistan.

A power grab in Hungary. This week, Hungary's parliament granted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party open-ended, broad-reaching emergency powers. On The Current podcast, James Kirchick says this is the latest step in the country's democratic decline.

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