Flu into a rage: Brazil’s Bolsonaro inquiry
Economist Podcasts
The Economist
4.3 • 5K Ratings
🗓️ 22 October 2021
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
President Jair Bolsonaro’s early dismissal of the pandemic as “a little flu” presaged a calamitous handling of the crisis. We ask how a congressional investigation’s dramatic assessment of his non-actions may damage him. China’s test of a hypersonic, nuclear-capable glider may rattle the global weapons order. And our obituaries editor reflects on the life of level-headed American statesman Colin Powell.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist. |
| 0:06.8 | I'm your host, Jason Palmer. |
| 0:08.8 | Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world. |
| 0:17.2 | China has reportedly tested not once but twice a terrifying combination of technologies, |
| 0:23.6 | a faster than sound glider and nuclear-capable craft that can go into orbit. |
| 0:28.6 | We ask how the tech works and what it says about China's nuclear ambitions. |
| 0:33.6 | And for all the firsts that Colin Powell racked up as he rose in America's halls of power, |
| 0:40.6 | he never defined himself by his race. |
| 0:43.3 | Our obituaries editor reflects on his unfailingly cool head |
| 0:46.9 | and the Iraq war hawkishness that haunted him. |
| 0:57.0 | But first... Few countries have been struck harder by COVID-19 than Brazil has. |
| 1:06.0 | The pandemic ravaged the country from early on, particularly in the Amazon region, |
| 1:11.9 | even as President Jair Bolsonaro shrugged off the risk. |
| 1:15.8 | He railed against social distancing measures and lockdowns. |
| 1:19.3 | He called COVID a little flu. |
| 1:21.6 | He clashed with his health ministers who resigned or were sacked one after another. |
| 1:27.4 | A televised inquiry into Mr. Bolsonaro's actions, led by the country's Congress, |
| 1:32.3 | began in April and has gripped the country since. |
| 1:35.3 | The CPI have to be the fact that's |
| 1:37.3 | a situation that is indubbitable. |
| 1:41.3 | We are the second country of the planet that most |
| 1:45.0 | the most of people for COVID-19. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Economist, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Economist and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.