Welcome to Axisprorata, where we get you smarter on the collision of tech, business, and politics.

I'm Dan Pramak. On today's show, the for-profit prison industry's most toxic asset in Kobe Bryant's

other career. But first, the next global pandemic. As of this morning, China has

confirmed over 2,700 cases of coronavirus, a respiratory illness that has caused at least 81 deaths.

There are also now five confirmed cases in the U.S. plus instances in Canada, Japan, and South

Korea, with widespread fears that there are many unreported cases

because of some, still unverified, reports that the virus could be contagious before people

become symptomatic. China has effectively quarantined tens of millions of people, shutting all

travel in and out of the Wuhan region, and the entire country seems to be wearing face masks.

But the outbreak has caused global stock markets to fall as travel in and out of the Wuhan region and the entire country seems to be wearing face masks. But the outbreak has caused global stock markets to fall as travel in and out of other areas

of China continues unabated, including regular flights to the U.S.

The big questions now are how wide coronavirus has spread, what we should be doing to stop it,

and how we treat those affected.

We'll dig into all of that in 15 seconds

with Ron Clayne, who served as the so-called Ebola czar under President Obama. But first, this.

Axios chief technology correspondent, Enah Freed, shares breaking news and analysis on the

most consequential companies and players in tech from the valley to DC. Subscribe to

get smarter faster at signup.axios.com. And now back to the pro rata podcast. We're

joined now by Ron Clayne, who oversaw the federal government's response to the Ebola outbreak

in 2014. Let's start here, I guess. Given your experience in watching Ebola spread several years ago, what stage would

you say we are now at in the coronavirus outbreak, kind of in terms of how quickly it's

moving and if it seems to be slowing or accelerating?

...