Good morning. When I went to sleep last night, I had compiled a list of insane news stories to cover this morning, because over the course of about 6 hours last night, things went completely nutty. When I woke up, all of those insane stories had been diminished by one very big story: Donald Trump and the First Lady have tested positive for the Coronavirus.

What does it mean? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

I guess it depends on the severity of his infection, right? The best-case scenario for the President, and the worst-case scenario for the rest of the country is that he does not develop symptoms, and he continues to downplay the virus, and the rest of the country relaxes more than they already have and that second (or third) wave wallops us.

Given his age and his comorbidities, however, the infection could pose a grave danger to the President, who will quarantine for at least 14 days, essentially putting his campaign on hold in its last month. The fact that he has tested positive -- at least for now -- will make it much more difficult to downplay the disease. The Times doesn't think this benefits him politically:

Mr. Trump had already been trailing in the polls to Joseph R. Biden Jr., in part because of his mishandling of a virus that has unsettled the day-to-day lives of voters for over six months. He compounded his difficulties by disregarding and at times belittling the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, that his health advisers were urging Americans to take to protect themselves.

Now, though, his personal indifference toward the virus could threaten his own health, the stability of the country and his already dimming hopes for re-election.

As stock futures fell overnight Friday, strategists in both parties and even senior aides to Mr. Trump said the president would face a harsh judgment from voters for throwing the country into greater uncertainty after one of the most trying years in American history.

The Washington Post characterizes the situation similarly:

The virus could further challenge Trump's reelection bid, because advisers were hoping to close the gap in upcoming weeks with an aggressive travel schedule and a message that the coronavirus had largely passed.

The Times also adds:

"Even if Mr. Trump remains asymptomatic, he will have to withdraw from the campaign trail and stay isolated in the White House for an unknown period of time. If he becomes sick, it could raise questions about whether he should remain on the ballot at all."

Axios also thinks it could hurt Trump's prospects:

I'm usually the more optimistic one around here, but I think that the Times and the Post underestimate the hold Donald Trump has on his party and his voters. They also underestimate the reservoir of empathy some have for even the worst among us in times of crisis. I know that this is not a very apt comparison, particularly given the fictional nature of The West Wing, but when President Bartlett hid his M.S. from voters, it didn't make me upset or angry. I felt deep sympathy for the man, who -- granted -- is a fictional character from a different era. It would not have changed my vote.

I also see Boris Johnson over in the UK, who was infected with the virus after downplaying it and had to be hospitalized, and yet, when he recovered, he seemed to have accrued a lot of goodwill from his country, even if it was short-lived. I don't know how that plays in America, however, where -- again -- there is only a month until arguably the most important election in this democracy's history. Given Biden's comfortable lead, I am not exactly thrilled with the volatility and uncertainty that the President's diagnosis throws into the race. I prefer that he not have gotten it.

On the other hand, you'll pardon me if I can't shine it on for the President like Rachel Maddow has done here:

God bless the president and the first lady. If you pray, please pray for their speedy and complete recovery -- and for everyone infected, everywhere.

This virus is horrific and merciless -- no one would wish its wrath on anyone.

We must get its spread under control. Enough.

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 2, 2020

Look: 207,000 people are dead, in large part because of the very irresponsibility that has led to the President's own infection. I would not wish coronavirus on my worst enemy, but if my worst enemy taunts the virus -- and enables its spread through misinformation -- I will reserve my thoughts and prayers for someone more deserving. The President's health is not my immediate concern here; the future of our Democracy -- and how Trump's health plays into that -- is very much is top of mind.

Meanwhile, if you're curious -- and I know you are -- Fox News is downplaying the news, reporting that Trump is "fine," and singling out those on social media who are mocking and/or lecturing the President. So, you know: business as usual at Fox News.

Fox News is discussing hydroxychlorquine.

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) October 2, 2020

It is worth noting a few things here: The White House tried to keep Hope Hicks' diagnosis a secret (until it was leaked to Bloomberg); no one around the President wore a mask on Air Force One while returning from the debate, so a number of other senior officials could have it; and even though Kayleigh McEneny was in the vicinity of Hope Hicks, and even though Kayleigh McEnany was aware of Hope Hicks' diagnosis yesterday afternoon, she still held a press conference without wearing a mask in front of reporters, potentially endangering them knowingly. Trump, of course, has also repeatedly mocked Biden for wearing a mask. Meanwhile, his entire family refused to wear a mask during the debate, despite local regulations that demanded it, and that could have put the family of Joe Biden (and Biden himself) at risk. Trump also continued to meet with people after he knew of Hicks' diagnosis.

... "trump was in close contact with dozens of other people, including campaign supporters, at a roundtable event."https://t.co/KLBnccN7Vw pic.twitter.com/pYwtP4zH8W

— fake nick ramsey @ 🏡 (@nick_ramsey) October 2, 2020

I was gonna go to bed but then trump got covid and i had to make this pic.twitter.com/EnckBxvck0

— Benno von Archimboldi (@cameronpIauche) October 2, 2020

It's hard to have a ton of sympathy for the President when you're feeling so angry about his carelessness, and the very real danger that his carelessness has posed to the country, and to himself. The stock markets are tanking right now because Donald Trump couldn't be bothered to wear a f**king mask.