CBS provides an overview of some of the coronavirus-related restrictions announced by state and local leaders this week. And the Washington Post reports that, as escalating outbreaks threaten to overwhelm hospitals across the country, Republican governors are among those implementing stricter public-health measures. PBS Newshour spoke with former national security adviser H.R. McMaster about the Trump administration’s announcement that it is to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. And the L.A. Times spoke with young Afghans who have only known their country with an American military presence, and worry a withdrawal will mean the return of Taliban rule. Jill Lepore writes for the New Yorker about how U.S. presidents have avoided making some of their papers and files public record — and what we might be able to expect from the current president. Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov was consulted with for Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit. He talks with Slate about what the show got right.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.