Zeros

There are many ways to measure success in America: chart positions, streaming numbers, the ability to get a table without a reservation . And then there’s the quieter metric—claiming credit for things you had absolutely nothing to do with. In that category, the mafia may be having a moment. Recent headlines tell us that John Gotti’s grandson managed to swipe about $1 million in COVID relief funds, which is less a heist and more a nostalgic tribute act. While the rest of us were baking sourdough and figuring out how to unmute ourselves on video calls, someone out there was apparently thinking, “You know what this crisis needs? A callback.” And like any good comeback tour, it doesn’t stop with one hit. If you listen closely— preferably in a dimly lit back room with a plate of something marinara —you can almost hear the broader claim being made: that the mafia, yes, that mafia, had a hand in the whole pandemic situation . Not just the relief funds. The whole thing. It’s a ...