The politics of India’s Covid crisis

Worldly

Vox Media Podcast Network

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.4 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2021

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the political implications of the ongoing Covid-19 catastrophe in India, where cases are skyrocketing, overwhelming the country’s health care system. They look at how much Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is to blame for the crisis and the degree to which it’s creating political problems for Modi both at home and abroad. In the second half, they talk about the recent local election in West Bengal, how it does and doesn’t relate to the Covid-19 outbreak, and the complex story it tells about the direction of Indian politics right now. References: Here’s Zack’s piece for Vox on the West Bengal elections. Vox’s Jen Kirby and Umair Irfan wrote about what more the world could do to help India. And this is Alex’s Vox story on what seemed like a looming India crisis last year. The New Yorker had an excellent piece on India under Modi back in 2019. The Diplomat reports on Modi’s political predicament. The Associated Press notes how India’s outbreak is ruining Modi’s image. Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House reporter, Vox Consider contributing to Vox: If you value Worldly’s work, please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts More to explore: Subscribe for free to Today, Explained, Vox’s daily podcast to help you understand the news, hosted by Sean Rameswaram. About Vox: Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Follow us: Vox.com Newsletter: Vox Sentences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The COVID-19 outbreak in India is probably the world's worst humanitarian crisis right
0:13.1	now.
0:14.1	Cases are soaring beyond control.
0:16.0	Official statistics seem to dramatically understate the number of cases that are going
0:20.1	on.
0:21.1	There's not enough oxygen to go around.
0:24.3	Crematoria are full.
0:26.2	It truly could not be worse.
0:29.9	Except, there's some evidence it's about to get worse.
0:33.0	The situation is dire, and it's presenting a serious challenge for Prime Minister Narendra
0:37.1	Modi, who has worked in the past few years to solidify his control in basically authoritarian
0:42.0	fashion over the Indian political system.
0:44.2	But now, with this incredible high-profile failure, what does that say about his grip
0:49.6	on power?
0:50.6	And what does that say in conjunction with a recent election in the really important
0:53.9	state of West Bengal, where his party's attempt to take over the local government was
0:57.6	decisively rebuked by voters?
0:59.7	That's what we're going to talk about today on Worldly Part of the Vox Media Podcast
1:02.3	Network.
1:03.3	I'm Zach Beach.
1:04.3	I'm here with Jen Williams and Alex Ward.
1:05.6	Hey.
	...

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