The Daily

What Went Wrong in Brazil

Jul 2, 2020

Ernesto Londoño, The Times’s Brazil bureau chief, delves into Brazil’s unexpected struggle with COVID-19, contrasting its past public health successes. He illustrates how the festive spirit during the carnival collided with governmental denial regarding the virus's severity. The discussion highlights the impact of political populism on public health responses, revealing how leadership decisions diverted resources and thwarted effective crisis management. Londoño provides insights into the societal divisions exacerbated by these failures, painting a harrowing picture of the pandemic’s toll in Brazil.

27:24

Creator website

Episode guests

Ernesto Londoño

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

COVID-19 and Leadership in Brazil

7min

Denialism and Populism: Brazil's Pandemic Response

3min

Political Turmoil and Public Health in Brazil

13min

COVID-19 Crisis and Public Health Measures

6min

Brazil has a long, distinguished history of successfully navigating public health crises. But in recent weeks, it has emerged as one of the world’s most severe coronavirus hot spots, second only to the United States. What went wrong?

Guest: Ernesto Londoño, The Times’s Brazil bureau chief

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily

Background reading:

Here’s an overview of what you need to know about the coronavirus in Brazil.
The country’s pioneering responses to past health crises, including AIDS and Zika, won global praise.

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