The Daily cover logo

China’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’

23m · The Daily · 17 Jan 10:45

The New York Times New York City Xi Jinping China

For nearly three years, China had one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world, thanks to its strict yet effective “zero Covid” approach.

But last month, the government suddenly abandoned the policy. Since then, there have been millions of coronavirus cases across the country.

Guest: Alexandra Stevenson, the Shanghai bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading:

  • After micromanaging the coronavirus strategy for nearly three years, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has suddenly left people to improvise.
  • China said that it recorded nearly 60,000 fatalities linked to the coronavirus in the month since the country lifted the “zero Covid” policy.

For more information on today’s episode, visit

nytimes.com/thedaily

. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

The episode China’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’ from the podcast The Daily has a duration of 23:42. It was first published 17 Jan 10:45. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.

More episodes from The Daily

Guilty

Former President Donald J. Trump has become the first American president to be declared a felon. A Manhattan jury found that he had falsified business records to conceal a sex scandal that could have hindered his 2016 campaign for the White House.

Jonah Bromwich, who has been covering the hush-money trial for The Times, was in the room.

Guest: Jonah E. Bromwich, covers criminal justice in New York for The New York Times.

Background reading:

  • Here’s the verdict, count by count.
  • This is what happens next.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

The Government Takes On Ticketmaster

Over recent years, few companies have provoked more anger among music fans than Ticketmaster. Last week, the Department of Justice announced it was taking the business to court.

David McCabe, who covers technology policy for The Times, explains how the case could reshape America’s multibillion-dollar live music industry.

Guest: David McCabe, a technology policy correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

  • The government is accusing Ticketmaster’s corporate parent, Live Nation Entertainment, of violating antitrust laws.
  • Here’s a guide to the emails at the heart of the government’s case.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

The Closing Arguments in the Trump Trial

On Tuesday, lawyers for the prosecution and the defense delivered their final arguments to the jury in the criminal case of The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump.

Jonah Bromwich, one of the lead reporters covering the trial for The Times, was there.

Guest: Jonah E. Bromwich, who covers criminal justice in New York for The New York Times.

Background reading:

  • A fine blade and a sledgehammer: Read more about the style and content of the closing arguments.
  • Watch Jonah Bromwich recap the day outside the courthouse.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

The Alitos and Their Flags

The discovery that an upside-down American flag — a symbol adopted by the campaign to overturn the 2020 election result — had flown at the home of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. elicited concerns from politicians, legal scholars and others. And then came news of a second flag.

Jodi Kantor, the Times reporter who broke the stories, discusses the saga.

Guest: Jodi Kantor, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

  • An upside-down American flag, a symbol adopted by Trump supporters contesting the Biden victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as the Supreme Court was considering an election case.
  • The justice’s beach house displayed an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, a design carried on Jan. 6 and associated with a push for a more Christian-minded government.
  • The displays renew questions about the Supreme Court’s impartiality.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

'The Interview': Ted Sarandos’s Plan to Get You to Binge Even More

Netflix won the streaming battle, but the war for your attention isn’t over.

Every Podcast » The Daily » China’s Abrupt Reversal of ‘Zero Covid’