Trump’s ‘Evidence’ Linking Virus To China | Heart-Pumping Market Rally | $13 Million Amazon Shopping Cart

Plus: Virtual Parties: We’re Bored And Struggling To Entertain Ourselves

Know Now

• Ryanair, Europe’s Biggest Budget Airline, Is Cutting 3,000 Jobs To Survive The Coronavirus Crisis

• Trump Claims To Have Seen Evidence Linking Coronavirus To Wuhan Lab After Intelligence Chief Says Virus Not Man-Made

• Armed Protesters Storm Michigan State House Over COVID-19 Lockdown

• Mitch McConnell’s Idea To Let States Go Bankrupt Set Off A Debate That Engulfed Washington

Top Take-Aways

Business closures and layoffs have forced a staggering 30 million people to file for unemployment benefits in just six weeks. Let’s put that number into perspective (Hint: it’s bigger than the population of Texas and not quite 280 full Michigan football stadiums). 

PPP Problems? The Federal Reserve just expanded the scope of its highly anticipated Main Street Lending Program to include more companies and more types of loans. Here’s everything we know so far, including how much money is up for grabs.

In the list of shocking market events of 2020, add the current stock market rally. It’s not just a relief rebound—it’s a heart-pumping S&P 500 valuation.

In one of the biggest Amazon orders of all time, the White House ordered $13 million worth of infrared thermometers. Following an order straight from the president’s office, FEMA confirmed the purchase was to prep for Trump’s grand reopening of the country.

Sweden has controversially eschewed stay-at-home orders and measures like public mask-wearing. As a result of this more-relaxed approach, the country is hard-hit by coronavirus, with a rising infection rate above 26%—New York’s high is 21%.

Smugglers in the Middle East and North Africa are taking advantage of coronavirus lockdowns to pillage archeological sites and sell their finds on online black markets. With security focused on public safety, museums and archaeological sites are more vulnerable than ever.

California is closing Orange County beaches after photos of packed beaches caused outrage. Gov. Newsom called the beach crowds an example of “what not to do.” MORE: See the photos of CA beaches during last weekend’s heat wave. 

Today's Must-Read

“First, I noticed the llamas—a handful of farms early in lockdown had started offering virtual visits with their animals, and screenshots of those parties had gotten shared a bit on social media,” says Senior Editor Abram Brown. “It occurred to me then that these llamas were the next step in the evolution of lockdown culture.”

We’re really, really bored and struggling to entertain ourselves. “At first, sitting down with drinks chatting with friends over FaceTime added a lot, but we’re getting increasingly diminished returns on that,” says Brown. “Or at least I’m feeling like that.”

Now, everyone from Google executives to bored parents are hiring illusionist, barnyard animals and other gig entertainers for virtual parties during the pandemic. Magicians are one go-to genre of performer and, with the world ill at ease, comedians are especially popular. Other top acts include mind readers, illusionists, jugglers and ventriloquists.

“From the customer point of view, this is great,” says Brown. “But looking at it from the entertainers’ perspective, it’s kind of tragic.” They’re charging a lot less for these virtual events than their in-person ones, and so they’re scrambling to make up for lost income by doing as many as of these as they can. “I was talking to Penn the other day—of Penn and Teller—and he goes, ‘You know this changes everything, right?’” recalls one juggler Brown interviewed. “I don’t think we’re gonna be on a stage for another 12 months or something.”

Across Forbes

Forbes Advisor: Were you denied for a credit card even though you don't have poor credit or a low income? Calling the credit card reconsideration line may help. Here's what you need to know.