In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans everywhere huddled in their homes, awaiting the latest news and directives from their elected officials and medical experts. Especially on the East Coast, daily briefings on the governmental response to the pandemic became an established genre, as TV networks and local stations went live to broadcast what their national and state leaders had to say. From a rhetorical standpoint, says Bill FitzGerald, it was striking to see how these leaders differed in both style and substance. To read the full story.