In speeches during the 1960 presidential campaign, John Kennedy addressed Americans’ anxiety about national lassitude at the end of eight years under Dwight Eisenhower by mildly saying: “I believe we can do better.” Joe Biden, responding to national embarrassment about the least presidential president, can campaign on a modest theme: “Is this really the best we can do?” This question ...

Eventually the lockdowns will ease and public life will become somewhat safer, even though a vaccine will still be a ways off. At that point a species that has been in hibernation will begin to emerge: namely, the tourist. I have visited about 100 countries over the past few decades, and when this outbreak subsides I am looking forward to ...

Barclays Plc’s traders are helping Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley just when he needs them most. Buttressed by a surge in revenue that dwarfed even its bigger Wall Street peers, Barclays was able to take a big charge for the inevitable buildup of bad loans during the worst economic contraction in living memory, and still post a decent profit. Staley’s ...