The COVID-19 shock prompted an economic collapse unrivalled in peacetime. Using a large survey conducted during the pandemic’s first wave, this column measures the impact of the crisis on socio-political attitudes in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. The results show severe drops in interpersonal and institutional trust, as well as in support for the EU and a tax-financed welfare state. But they also suggest a rallying effect around scientific expertise and incumbent governments that – together with populist positions losing ground – hints at a growing demand for competence.