President Biden’s $1.9 trillion covid stimulus plan has been greeted enthusiastically by investors as the U.S. stock market has set record highs. The attitude of many appears to be “the more stimulus, the better”. The reason: They see stronger economic growth boosting corporate profits.

Wouldn't it be nice if there were a $5 test that works in minutes, and can find asymptomatic people who might transmit covid? Imagine how many schools, businesses, restaurants, weddings, churches, and so forth could safely open with such a thing. Imagine how much the reproduction rate of the virus could be crushed.

Poet and author Dana Gioia talks about his book Studying with Miss Bishop with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. They talk about the craft of being a poet, the business world, mentorship, loss, why poetry no longer seems to matter, and how it might begin to matter again.

China’s establishment intellectuals are not widely known beyond its borders. These professors, journalists, writers, and artists try to shape public debate and state policy and more or less play by the Chinese Communist Party’s rules while not acting as spokespeople for it.