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Guest—Jessica Lepler—Associate Professor of History at UNH and author of The Many Panics of 1837, explains why knowing—even bad news—is always better than not knowing. In 1837, the fact that American cotton growers and merchants did not know whether London banks had dropped the price of cotton led to anxiety akin to today’s COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump’s late responses, obfuscations, and ignorance have resulted in widespread not knowing and resultant feelings of panic.
By Dr. Christopher Thurber4.5
66 ratings
Guest—Jessica Lepler—Associate Professor of History at UNH and author of The Many Panics of 1837, explains why knowing—even bad news—is always better than not knowing. In 1837, the fact that American cotton growers and merchants did not know whether London banks had dropped the price of cotton led to anxiety akin to today’s COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump’s late responses, obfuscations, and ignorance have resulted in widespread not knowing and resultant feelings of panic.