A Crisis Inside the Navy

<p><em>Note: This episode contains strong language.</em></p><p>The upheaval and anguish caused by the pandemic led to a series of actions that cost both the captain of an aircraft carrier and the head of the Navy their jobs. Today, we explore how the coronavirus has created a crisis inside the service.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Eric Schmitt</a>, who covers terrorism and national security for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>In a letter that leaked to the news media, Capt. Brett E. Crozier described what he said were the Navy’s failures to provide the resources to combat the virus<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/magazine/navy-captain-crozier-positive-coronavirus.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> spreading aboard his aircraft carrier</a>. Now the captain himself has<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/magazine/navy-captain-crozier-positive-coronavirus.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> tested positive for Covid-19</a>.</li><li>Thomas B. Modly, acting Navy secretary,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/magazine/modly-crozier-coronavirus.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> condemned the ousted captain</a> to his former crew on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/coronavirus-navy-captain-firing.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> Days later, Mr. Modly resigned</a>.</li></ul>