Schools are closing. Workplaces are sending people home. The stock market is going berserk. Conferences and festivals are being cancelled. The coronavirus is already a major disruptive force as the disease spreads. But it didn't stop the Conservative Political Action Convention (CPAC) from hosting more than 19,000 attendees in late February. On March 7th day, organizers announced that one of those attendees had tested positive for the coronavirus. Many CPAC attendees have gone into self-quarantine, including five members of congress. Also under self-imposed distancing is Stephanie Mencimer, a Mother Jones reporter who was covering CPAC. Mencimer joined Jamilah King on the Mother Jones Podcast to talk about her experience, not only of the conference's aftermath, but of the swirl of coronavirus disinformation coming out of the White House. Also on the show: Mother Jones readers and listeners called into the Mother Jones Podcast to tell their coronavirus stories: total lockdown in Milan; cancelled college classes; struggling small businesses; and worries about the most vulnerable people in their communities. Touching stories from you, our listeners: thank you for sharing them.

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