Well, I think the goal from the beginning was the right one.

How do we shore up the economy during a period of shutdown?

As you likely know, last week, Congress passed and the President signed the CARES Act

that's coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security at a cost of $2 plus trillion.

This is not familiar territory for many politicians who normally think about, quote, stimulus

packages. Rather, it's an economic, I don't know how you would say, a freeze frame package.

What does it take to keep the economy simulating as normal while we work out the health problem?

The health problem, as you also know, is that the US has become a global hot zone for

COVID-19.

Look, the first rule of virus economics is that only by slowing the spread of the virus

can you do anything to fix the economics.

How well can the economics be fixed?

Today on Freakonomics Radio, we try to answer all your questions about the CARES Act with

the help of seven guests.

They include one US Senator, a Democrat from New Jersey, a former senior adviser to President

Trump, and five economists, each of whom has worked in the White House, two under Republicans

and three under Democrats.

All the economists had crisis experience during their White House tenures.

For some, it was the global financial meltdown.

The consequences of doing the wrong thing just feel absolutely enormous.

For others, it was the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Obviously, it's a human tragedy.

...