Mark Halperin’s Three Things

Mark Halperin's three things to watch for in politics for Tuesday, April 28.

1. Watch what happens to the swine flu. If many more cases pop up in the United States and around the world, watch to see how health officials track the virus around the world and handle the public’s concerns. Also watch for the broader effects on public health policy and the global economy.

2. Watch how the Obama administration addresses the flu crisis today. The press is already micro-analyzing the White House’s handling of the illness. Watch to see how much of a public presence the administration has on this issue today and whether what they say seems to be reassuring. Also watch to see how much of the flow of news coverage on swine flu is driven by what the administration says.

3. Watch to see the effect of the spread of swine flu on coverage and evaluation of President Obama’s first 100 days in office, a milestone he hits tomorrow. Watch to see if the entire three months is judged through the prism of how the administration is dealing with this current crisis or if analyses look at the more than 90 days Obama spent without the flu issue on his plate.