Why the Amazon Is Burning

More than 26,000 fires have been recorded inside the Amazon rainforest in August alone, leading to global calls for action. But Brazil’s government has told the rest of the world to mind its own business. Guest: Ernesto Londoño, the Brazil bureau chief for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 

Background coverage: Brazil began a military operation to battle the fires after European leaders threatened to cancel a trade deal and calls to boycott Brazilian products spread on social media.In many parts of Brazil, there is strong support for President Jair Bolsonaro’s Amazon policy, which prioritizes economic development over environmental protections.Here’s what we know about the fires.