Pushkin.

It's hard to read the news these days without asking yourself, how did we get here?

Fiasco is a history podcast for the co-creators of Slow Burn.

In our first season, Bush v. Gore, we examine an unmistakable turning point in American

politics, the 2000 election, which resulted in a high-stakes stalemate, ended with one of the most

controversial rulings in Supreme Court history. So if you're trying to make sense at the present

moment, check out Fiasco, Bush v. Gore. Listen on the Iheartart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

From Pushkin Industries, this is deep background, the show where we explore the stories behind the stories in the news.

I'm Noah Feldman.

Here in the U.S., coronavirus seems to be spreading steadily.

Now, I know we cover this in a special episode last week with Mark Lipsich, but for me,

this whole pandemic issue is still very much front of mind, and it feels like most people

I've talked to over the last few days are thinking pretty much the same thing.

As of my taping this on Monday night, 10 states have now reported cases.

Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and New York.

With its geographical spread, that list tells you that pretty shortly it'll be all 50 states

that have cases.

But in China, where the epidemic first erupted, the outbreak, at least for the moment, appears

to finally be slowing down.

About a week ago, as that process was beginning, I spoke to Ian Johnson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning

journalist who's based in Beijing.

I asked him, what life is like in a city where everybody is sheltering in place, all 20

...