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Philip Zelikow, former Executive Director of the 9/11 national commission, has for the past year directed the Covid-19 Commission Planning Group. He visited with us to explore where that effort stands, should a national commission move forward? How and why? It is \u201cabsolutely essential to take account of this sprawling crisis.\u201d Our performance to date, despite our \u201cmagnificent edifice\u201d of science and modern health tools, has been far worse than during the 1918 Spanish flu. A national commission can counter polarization, offer an alternative that unites citizens. It can avoid the \u201cgotcha blame game\u201d and construct choices made \u2013 the values, tools, and information that shaped critical decisions. Most of the story of what happened is in fact not yet well known or understood. A commission is \u201ca bridge to rethink the American health system.\u201d \u201cDoes anyone think the American health system is fine?\u201d There is an urgency to act in 2022, while pain and memory are fresh before we turn our attention elsewhere.\xa0We cannot wait until a pause: \u201cthe disease is going to run for a while.\u201d\xa0The political momentum behind a commission is rising:\xa0we see a bipartisan Senate effort behind new legislation, and a recent strong endorsement from Dr. Anthony Fauci.\nPhilip Zelikow, White Burkett Professor of History at the University of Virginia, directs the Covid-19 Commission Planning Group. He previously was executive director of the 9/11 commission