Right now here in the US, TV news coverage of the coronavirus is book-ended by two daily press conferences.

Right now here in the US, TV news coverage of the coronavirus is book-ended by two daily press conferences.
The Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo normally gives his media briefing in the morning, typically around 11am.  The US President Donald Trump usually takes to the podium in the evening, at around 5pm.
Of course there are a lot of other press conferences and media briefings throughout the day from various governors, mayors and health officials but these two are by far the most closely watched.
New York remains the epicentre of the US outbreak and in recent weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo has had the grim task of updating the world on the soaring numbers of cases and deaths in his state.
The figures are rapidly changing and so too is Andrew Cuomo’s relationship with Donald Trump. 
Some days, the governor will praise the US President and the efforts of the federal government but on other occasions his frustrations have shown.
In one memorable news conference last month, Governor Cuomo attacked the White House for its failure to address the dire shortage of medical supplies in New York.
“The president said it’s a war… then act like it,” he said.
He also warned that without additional ventilators thousands would lose their lives.
“You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die!”
At another recent media briefing however, Andrew Cuomo praised Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
“We’re fighting the same war… we’re in the same trench,” he said.
“He is fully engaged on trying to help. He’s being very creative and very energetic and I thank him for his partnership.”
President Trump has also flip-flopped on his view of Andrew Cuomo.
At times he has praised him.
“The governor is doing a very good job,” President Trump said at a recent press briefing. 
But Donald Trump has also attacked the New York Governor claiming he failed to buy adequate stocks of ventilators when he had a chance to do so five years ago.
He has also accused Andrew Cuomo of exaggerating the amount of supplies required and has even suggested that some equipment was being stolen and being taken “out the back door” of hospitals. 
Despite these clashes, Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo have a lot in common. They have known each other for decades and are both tough-talking New Yorkers.  
Both have emerged from the shadows of powerful fathers.  Andrew Cuomo is the son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.  His brother is the CNN presenter Chris Cuomo, who himself was recently diagnosed with Covid-19.
In the past, Donald Trump has contributed financially to the campaigns of both Andrew Cuomo and his father.
In more recent years, Governor Cuomo has become a fierce critic of Donald Trump but those past political donations became an issue during his reelection campaign in 2018.
Under attack from rivals, he was asked if he would return the $58,000 he had received from Mr Trump between 2006 and 2009.
“No, not at all,” Andrew Cuomo said. “I will be deeply critical of him and keep the contributions.”
There has been lots of talk of political campaigns of a different kind for Governor Cuomo in recent weeks.
He has won widespread praise for his handling of the Covid-19 outbreak in New York and it has led to calls for him to enter the race for the White House and replace Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate.
Donald Trump recently claimed that Governor Cuomo would be a stronger opponent.
“I wouldn’t mind running against Andrew. I’ve known Andrew for a long time. I wouldn’t mind that, but I’ll be honest, I think he’d be a better candidate than Sleepy Joe,” President Trump told Fox News.
While they have criticised each other at various times throughout the coronavirus crisis, the attacks have been tame and accompanied by praise and compliments on both sides.
The governor and the president know it is mutually beneficial to temper their dislike of each other right now.
Andrew Cuomo has received a lot of federal aid for his virus-stricken state and secured the deployment of a US navy hospital ship to help in the fight.
Donald Trump knows it would be politically damaging to attack a popular governor dealing with the epicentre of the outbreak.
In the unlikely scenario that the two men end up in a battle for the White House, presumably all niceties would be set aside and normal service would resume.