Explaining Brazil

While rainfall continues to ravage Brazil's southernmost state, authorities warn about the plague of disinformation — which they say is hindering rescue operationsSupport the Show.

A new series featuring authors talking about Brazil. The Brazilian Report's To Be Read will be a space for conversations about books that translate the country's history and contemporary political life. In its first meeting, "The Brazilian Report's To Be Read" book club will talk to Adriane Sanctis about the slave trade in the Atlantic,[...]

Brazil's southernmost state is underwater after days of severe heavy rains, with the human and material tolls mounting by the hour. We examine the extent of the crisis in Rio Grande do Sul Support the Show.

The relationship between farmers and the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration is by no means a warm one. The government is trying to change that with shedloads of creditSupport the Show.

In the last episode of our special series about the Brazilian military dictatorship, we tell the story of how the country dealt with its authoritarian past and recently returned to the brink of a coup d'état. Support the Show.

Credited with turning JBS into the world's largest meat-packing company, billionaire brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista are now seeking a return to the firm's board of directors after years of legal troubles. An international advocacy group seeks to stop that.Support the Show.

House Speaker Arthur Lira and the Lula government's Congress liaison Alexandre Padilha are engaged in a very public disagreement. But what does that mean for the administration going forward? And for Lira's 2025 succession plans? Read show notes.Support the Show.

In the third episode of our special series about the Brazilian military dictatorship, we fly over South America, dominated by authoritarian rule in the 1960s and 1970s. We tell the story of how Brazil supported coups in the region and how it operated internationally to persecute exiles. While you're at it, we have prepared a[...]

Musk has stated that Brazil is on the verge of becoming an Orwellian dystopia in which one man — Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — decides what can be said online. Read show notes.Support the Show.

In the second episode of the special series about the Brazilian military dictatorship, from within to abroad, we are starting our dive into the international connections of the regime, beginning with the U.S. We tell the story of how it participated in the coup, as well as how bilateral relations were conducted from then on.[...]

Negotiations with the U.S. and the opposition had led to hopes that Venezuela would hold clean elections in 2024. But the Maduro administration stopping adversaries from competing has put that optimism to rest. Read show notes.Support the Show.

In 1964, in the midst of Cold War tensions, Brazil's President João Goulart was overthrown under pressure from both civil society and the Armed Forces, leading to 21 years of authoritarian rule in Brazil. In this episode, we'll explore the Brazilian military dictatorship in its social, economic, and institutional aspects. Read show notes.Support the Show.

A new report maps and details the activities and ideologies of more than 20 far-right extremist groups operating in Brazil. Read show notesSupport the Show.

President Lula's approval ratings have fallen sharply in recent months. We asked a senior Brazil analyst whether it is already time for him to hit the panic button. Show notes.Support the Show.

Radical far-right politicians were chosen to be the heads of some of the most important standing committees in Brazil's House, showing some frailties in the Lula government's position in Congress. Read show notes.Support the Show.

The Cerrado has a strategic significance beyond Brazil: no other biome has such a key role to play in furthering food security while continuing to protect such rich biodiversity. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro got thousands of supporters on the streets of São Paulo. But the rally, although big in size, was no game-changer for him. Euan Marshall, Isabela Cruz, and Cedê Silva explain why. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Brazil's president created a diplomatic uproar for his latest comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, but why would Lula take such a strong anti-Israel stance? Read show notes.Support the Show.

 More farmers in Mato Grosso are filing for bankruptcy; climate conditions are set to reduce crop yields this year … But is the Brazilian agro sector really facing a crisis? Read show notes.Support the Show.

The 2024 congressional year has plenty of pitfalls in store for President Lula and his administration. We explain what to look out for over the coming 12 months. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Charged with carrying out the 2018 murder of city councilor Marielle Franco, ex-cop Ronnie Lessa has taken a plea deal. And press reports say the gunman has given up the name of the man in charge of ordering the assassination. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Facial recognition tools, using AI-powered algorithms, have been used extensively in Brazilian law enforcement. But there is heated debate on whether these algorithms carry racist bias and propagate existing inequalities. Read show notes.Support the Show.

The January 8 riots were proof of how polarized Brazilian society was. One year later, it might be even more polarized — so two experts believe. Read show notes.Support the Show.

In the last podcast of 2023, we analyze the tax reform approved by Congress. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Brazil pledged to launch a global alliance against hunger during the year it will hold the G20 presidency. Read show notes.Support the Show.

In Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro seems hell-bent on annexing a large (and oil-rich) part of Guyana. Brazil has mobilized armored vehicles to its northern border. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Lula's choice of Justice Minister Flávio Dino to sit on the Supreme Court has attracted criticism from both sides of the aisle. Read show notes.Support the Show.

With Argentina now undergoing the transition toward a Milei government, many questions remain about what to expect from the controversial rookie administration. Read show notes. Support the Show.

The Federal Police have arrested three men suspected of links to Hezbollah. They would be recruiting Brazilians to carry out extremist acts in the country. Read show notes.Support the Show.

São Paulo faced a massive power outage in recent days. The shortcomings of a private electricity provider rekindled debates about the privatization of public services. Read show notes.Support the Show.

The Senate finally has a draft tax reform, but it includes several changes to the version approved by the House in July and creates even more exceptions to benefit specific sectors. Show notes.Support the Show.

If Javier Milei were to win the presidential race in Argentina, his government is bound to be anything but business as usual for Brazil. Marina Pera, the Southern Cone political risk analyst at Control Risks, explains why. Show notes.Support the Show.

Congress decided to investigate the January 8 riots in Brasília. The investigation promised to identify those who ransacked government buildings, as well as the people who incited and financed these actions — but it is ending in a damp squib. Show notes.Support the Show.

The latest intensification of violence between Israel and Palestine poses a threat to Brazil's diplomats, as the country is temporarily heading the UN Security Council. We look at Brazil's Middle East track record. Show notes.Support the Show.

After the primary win of Javier Milei, Argentina's final presidential elections are coming into view — and the madcap libertarian economist is still the clear favorite. We look at what to expect from the vote over the border in Argentina. Show notes.Support the Show.

In the largest Amazon state, officials expect all but one municipality to declare a full state of emergency in the coming weeks. With rivers drying up, the region risks ending up isolated. Show notes.Support the Show.

While Jair Bolsonaro's UN speeches were aimed at a domestic audience, Lula brought his foreign policy agenda to the stage.  Show notes.Support the Show.

On September 11, Chile remembered the 50-year anniversary of the military coup that ushered in nearly three decades of authoritarian rule under Gen. Pinochet. We look at the role of Brazilian agents in helping unseat the socialist President Salvador Allende. Show notes.Support the Show.

Bolsonaro's supporters are calling for their own #StayAtHome campaign for this year's September 7 Independence Day celebrations. Euan Marshall and Amanda Audi explain how the holiday took on new significance in recent years and the motives behind the Bolsonarista boycott. Show notes.Support the Show.

Brazil's Supreme Court and Congress are separately debating a legal argument that could render indigenous land claims completely unfeasible. Editor Euan Marshall speaks to Adriana Ramos from NGO Socioambiental to find out what's at stake. Show notes.Support the Show.

This week's BRICS summit in Johannesburg could see the bloc expand for the first time since South Africa's membership in 2010. How might that affect Brazil's role? How powerful might the BRICS become? Euan Marshall and Cedê Silva break down the latest. Show notes.Support the Show.

The government and Petrobras want to drill near the Amazon estuary. But an unprecedented discovery shows the area is still largely unstudied. Show notes.Support the Show.

Separatist tensions in Brazil more often than not come from fringe and ridiculed groups, but comments by a prominent right-wing politician have brought this discussion back to the fore, albeit in sensational terms. Show notes.Support the Show.

Almost eight years ago, Brazil suffered its biggest environmental disaster in history, when the Fundão dam in Mariana burst and spilled an untold torrent of toxic sludge into the Rio Doce. Now, a gigantic class-action suit in England seeks proper reparations. Show notes.Support the Show.

We speak with Ivi Casagrande, head of performance at Brazil's national women's football team, in an exclusive interview straight from Australia, where she discusses Brazil's World Cup chances, Marta's last dance, and the history of the women's game in Brazil. Show notes.Support the Show.

Petrochemical giant Braskem announced that it has reached a settlement with the city of Maceió to pay compensation for the destruction of entire neighborhoods, caused by abusive salt mining by the company. Show notes.Support the Show.

Meta's new social media Threads is already one of Brazil's most downloaded apps. But privacy experts in Brazil are concerned that the new network is less than compliant with the country's data protection laws. Show notes.Support the Show.

Corruption has become less of a top-of-mind issue in Brazil, but a study from AS/COA and Control Risks suggests the country's anti-corruption tools are stronger with Jair Bolsonaro out of office. Show notes.Support the Show.

The Superior Electoral Court banned Jair Bolsonaro from electoral politics for eight years. But other cases could extend that period. Show notes.Support the Show.

Less than a week after issuing a hawkish statement on its latest policy decision, the Central Bank changed its tone, and made markets anticipate imminent interest rate cuts. Show notes.Support the Show.

The EU and Mercosur reached an agreement on a trade deal back in 2019. But since then, nothing much has happened — and the window of opportunity may be closing. Show notes.Support the Show.

YouTube’s recommendation algorithm might have been a key weapon for the far-right to firehose public discourse with disinformation. Read show notes.Support the Show.

Ten years after Brazil's June 2013 protests, we look back and analyze what they meant, where they came from, and what legacy they have left us. Show notes.Support the Show.

For foreign observers, Lula's environmental promises were among the most important facets of his campaign. And less than six months in, there are fears that many of these pledges may have been empty words. Show notes.Support the Show.

Wars, pandemics, and global inequalities show that countries need to work together in order to thrive. We explore how to achieve effective multilateralism, and where Brazil fits into the global equation. Show notes.Support the Show.

Since mid-2016, Petrobras had pegged fuel prices in refineries to international fluctuations. That policy is gone four and a half months into the Lula administration. Show notes.Support the Show.

As the world debates social media regulation, Brazil's Congress and Supreme Court are tackling the issue as we speak. We discuss why the world should be paying notice. Show notes.Support the Show.

This week, The Brazilian Report has been on the ground at Web Summit Rio, one of the world's biggest tech events, being held outside of Europe for the first time. Over four days of panels, lectures, and events, Web Summit Rio has its full capacity, attracting more than 21,000 attendees from 91 countries. Show notes.Support[...]

Congressional inquiries make up for their limited powers with their very public nature, being more suited to political point-scoring than real accountability. Show notes.Support the Show.

Brazilian allies saw Lula as a man who would recover Brazil's international clout. Three months, several statements, and a visit to China later, they may no longer be so sure. Show notes.Support the Show.

The Brazilian Report and the Wilson Center's Brazil Institute hosted an event to discuss Lula's first 100 days in office. What can we make of the start of the new government? Read our special report on the government's first achievements and challenges.Support the Show.

This week, Brazil's top electoral court reaches the final stage of a trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of abusing his political power to sow disinformation in the voting system. If convicted, he will lose his political rights. Show notes.Support the Show.

The heads of the House and Senate are locked in a cold war over how Congress should appraise provisional decrees submitted by the federal government. Show notes.Support the Show.

Markets are patiently waiting to hear the Lula government's proposal for a new fiscal anchor to replace Brazil's lame-duck spending cap. We discuss what the plan may look like and how it would be received. Show notes.Support the Show.

We still don't know who ordered the 2018 assassination of Rio de Janeiro Councilwoman Marielle Franco. Now, it seems the federal government wants to solve the case once and for all. Show notes.Support the Show.

Andrade Gutierrez, a major Brazilian construction conglomerate operating in 11 countries, has suffered a massive security breach. And we have all the details. Read the full report by Amanda Audi here.Support the Show.

Following the January 8 Brasília riots, the Lula administration on Wednesday created a working group to present strategies and policy solutions to fight extremist acts and hate speech online. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The meeting between Lula and Joe Biden laid bare the points on which the two leaders share common goals, such as the environment and the fight against the far-right … and also those on which they disagree. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Our team revealed that the man who broke into the Telegram accounts of federal prosecutors working in Operation Car Wash also tried to hack his way into obtaining personal data from Alexandre de Moraes, head of Brazil's electoral court. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil's House and Senate choose their new leaders today. But don't expect the levels of drama of the election in the U.S. House of Representatives, where 15 rounds of voting were necessary for Kevin McCarthy to win the speakership.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Brazilian government has called the humanitarian catastrophe in the northern Yanomami indigenous land a "genocide." Read show notes.Support the Show.

The Chinese economy has posted one of its worst economic performances in 50 years. Meanwhile, its population has shrunk for the first time since the Great Leap Forward. For Brazil, which depends on sales to China, that doesn't bode well in the long term.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

So much for a "honeymoon period." One week into his term, Lula, Brazil's new president, has to deal with a massive national security threat and a full-blown attack on democracy and its symbols. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

During his inaugural speech, Lula painted a scorched-earth picture of the government he takes over from, repeatedly using words such as destruction, disorganization, dilapidation, and ruin to describe the legacy he inherits. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Pelé — the greatest player in the history of football — was admitted to hospital last week. We remember how he became the "King" of the world's most popular sport. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A recent study by Brazilian researchers shows that the social ladder offers little mobility in Brazil. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro have continuously staged anti-democratic protests. The World Cup will be the ultimate test of these demonstrations' endurance. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Foreign observers were following the Brazilian presidential election due to climate worries. Jair Bolsonaro lost — what climate legacy will he leave behind?Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2022/11/09/cop27-bolsonaro-climate-legacy/Support the Show.

Almost 48 hours after losing the presidential election, Jair Bolsonaro broke his silence. But he stopped short of explicitly conceding to Lula.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

With only days to go until the runoff election, President Bolsonaro has gone to great lengths to suggest electoral authorities are pushing the needle in favor of his opponent, Lula. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

It's been exactly five years since The Brazilian Report went on air! Editor Euan Marshall sits down with editor-in-chief Gustavo Ribeiro and CEO Laura Quirin to hear the full story. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazilian candidates have been in a race for endorsements from regional political leaders. Still, social media misinformation campaigns could turn Baphomet, a deity in various occult traditions, into 2022's biggest kingmaker. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro outperformed his polling numbers, proving he put the far-right in the Brazilian political mainstream. Brazil's presidential runoff may be the tightest ever.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

We've reached the home stretch of the Brazilian 2022 election. On Sunday, October 2, Brazilians will hit the polls. Here's what you should keep an eye out for.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Bolsonaro has hinted that he could try to stage a coup if he loses the upcoming election. If he really pulls that trigger, then what? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Former Environment Minister Marina Silva, who until recently was highly critical of Lula and his Workers' Party, has just endorsed the former president. For her, democrats' main goal should be unseating Jair Bolsonaro. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Just a month shy of the elections, pro-Bolsonaro protesters will hit the streets on Independence Day to show their support for the current president. But could this September 7 impact the results at the ballot box? In a special live taking place in Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, our very own Gustavo Ribeiro[...]

SPECIAL SERIES: In this fourth and final episode, we shed light on the multiple "Independence Days" across Brazil, each with its own significance. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

SPECIAL SERIES: In the third episode of our series, we look at Brazil's wars of independence, showing that constituting this new country was not as bloodless as many believe. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

SPECIAL SERIES: In this second episode, we look at the real story of what happened on September 7 — not the one taught in school textbooks. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

SPECIAL SERIES: In this special mini-series, we walk you through the eccentricities and myths of this period, its legacies in the country 200 years later, and how Brazil became Brazil. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The much-anticipated confrontation between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro ended up being underwhelming. But besides that, have we really learned anything from Sunday's debate? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The election four years ago led many to believe that TV and radio ads had become a thing of the past. But have they? This week we will talk about TV and radio ads, then and now. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil registered 0.68-percent deflation in July, suggesting that prices are easing. But a look beneath the headline numbers makes for some sobering findings. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

As President Jair Bolsonaro's anti-democratic antics grow in volume, banks and tycoons become vocal in their defense of democracy. A coup, after all, is bad for business. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has over 1,300 confirmed cases of monkeypox. With the exception of Peru’s 275 confirmed cases, no other Latin American countries have hit the 100-case mark, making Brazil the region's monkeypox hotspot. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The main candidacies in Brazil's presidential election in October have been made official by their parties. We discuss what that changes in the race. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Arguably Brazil's biggest pop star of the moment, singer Anitta has endorsed former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — and is even giving him campaign advice.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The murder of a Workers' Party official spells a bad omen for Brazil's upcoming general election. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Brazilian president wants to sidestep election laws to jack up spending ahead of the election. Columnist Beatriz Rey warns of the risks of giving him such powers.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The opposition failed to remove Bolsonaro from office with last year's Covid hearings. They want a new congressional investigation to hurt him at the ballot box. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

While the price of gas isn't exactly the best metric to understand the economy at large, the ubiquity of fuel and its direct impact on people's monthly budgets make it an easy shorthand for the broader economic scenario — especially when prices are going up. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

It has been 11 days since journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were reported missing. The police are yet to find the two. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A deflated Summit of the Americas won't bring many noteworthy resolutions, though it will be interesting to see what transpires from a bilateral meeting between Presidents Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Joe Biden of the U.S. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil thought the economic growth of the 2000s had rid the country of hunger. But this ghost of the past has returned to haunt the country. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The final spot in the presidential runoff in Colombia remains up for grabs. The dispute between populist Rodolfo Hernández and establishment conservative Fico Gutiérrez will be decided by a razor-thin margin. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

April economic data from China came worse than expected. Given the sheer importance of the Asian giant to Brazil, that is something for President Jair Bolsonaro, who seeks re-election in October, to worry about.  Read show notes. —Support the Show.

Former President Lula officially began the race for an unprecedented third presidential term. The challenges he will face are far greater this time around. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A group of researchers from the U.S.-based Washington Brazil Office believes the threat of democratic rupture in Brazil is very real, and they want Joe Biden to react.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

When the holder of the highest office in the land openly challenges judicial decisions, it spells a bad omen for the endurance of democratic institutions. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After over two years and more than 660,000 deaths in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro is claiming "victory" over Covid-19 — but the government deserves no credit after its hapless pandemic response.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After years of economic debacle, President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela has adopted more pragmatic economic policies. And the results are showing.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Unpopular politicians, no unifying candidate, and erratic moves have scuppered the chances of Brazil's democratic right in the 2022 election.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2022/04/07/third-way-crashes-burns/Support the Show.

With inflation weighing down his chances of winning a second term, President Jair Bolsonaro has nixed the CEO of Petrobras. Again. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

It was more than a ban of the messaging app, courts wanted to draw a red line in the sand, which Telegram should not cross. But how Brazil will handle the app going forward remains murky — both legally and politically.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The ghost of inflation continues to haunt President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running out of ways to hold prices down. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Bolsonaro declared Brazil would be "neutral" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mentioning a crucial facet of the war for Brazilian interests: fertilizers.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Officers in the state of Minas Gerais have called a strike. How this crisis unfolds will send a message to other law enforcement agencies around the country. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

Leading all the polls, Brazilian center-left icon Lula is seeking a blockbuster alliance with a bonafide conservative. But the move is far from a guaranteed success.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Messaging app Telegram has been a thorn in the side of Brazil's electoral courts. But authorities are struggling to come up with ways to curb misinformation. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine or prolonged tensions between Moscow and the West could disrupt agricultural production and push inflation even further up.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Washington has tried to get Brazil to condemn "Russia aggression" in Ukraine. But Bolsonaro has his reasons to keep a safe distance from the current geopolitical crisis.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Jair Bolsonaro's demeanor has made Brazil's South American neighbors hit the pause button on multilateral initiatives. That could have terrible consequences for the region. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Federal civil servants threaten to go on strike next week, which could cause a government shutdown just months from the presidential election. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

As 2021 draws to a close, our newsroom is about to launch a new report laying out the main trends for Brazil’s economy, politics, and the environment in the year to come. Support the Show.

After much comings and goings, Bolsonaro has found a new party, in an arrangement that will help shape Brazil's political landscape for 2022 and beyond. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

This time last year, Brazilian citizens were unsure if they would ever get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Now, the country has immunized 80 percent of its adult population. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Javier Milei is a vaccine skeptic, climate change denier, libertarian economist … and now, one of the biggest political stars in Argentinian politics. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil showed up in the west of Scotland ready to listen and compromise with the international community. But were its commitments enough? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Seen as Chile's answer to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, José Antonio Kast has been consistently rising in polls since early in September. Could he win on November 21?Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2021/11/04/chile-kast-election/Support the Show.

The writing is on the wall: the government is about to obliterate the federal spending cap. One economist believes it is now time for damage limitation, at best.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Members of the Covid hearings committee disagree on whether to indict President Jair Bolsonaro for genocide against indigenous groups and murder.  Read show notes. — This episode used the music "Infados" by Kevin MacLeodSupport the Show.

A deal between Brazil and Argentina breathes new life into the Mercosur trade alliance. At least until the next crisis, that is.  Read show notes. — This episode used the music "Infados" by Kevin MacLeod and "Lurking" by Silent Partner, from the YouTube Audio Library.Support the Show.

Brazil's consumer price index is set to hit the 10-percent mark this week. And historical data shows that high inflation and a poor economic outlook are bad omens for incumbent presidents. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Two major Brazilian HMOs are accused of treating Covid patients as guinea pigs, administering chloroquine and other drugs without their knowledge — and allegedly at the behest of the Bolsonaro government. Read show notes. — This episode sampled the song Infados by Kevin MacLeod, from the YouTube Audio Library.Support the Show.

Last week's midterm primaries in Argentina delivered what was arguably the worst electoral defeat Peronism has ever suffered. But the problem goes beyond short-term woes. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The government has delivered very little and has been a source of instability for the Brazilian economy. So what keeps market agents from turning on Bolsonaro? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Bolsonaro is threatening to disregard Supreme Court rulings from now on. So how should the political system react to a president who doesn't want to play by the rules? (This episode was recorded live on Tuesday, Sep 7.) Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In six days, pro-Bolsonaro supporters will stage demonstrations in multiple cities. The unfolding of Brazil's political crisis depends on how big the turnout will be. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Many fear September 7 could be Brazil's own version of the January 6 U.S. Capitol riots. Given the scenario in Brazil, a similar movement could have much bloodier consequences. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

While President Jair Bolsonaro seems to have very little interest in foreign affairs, serving in peacekeeping missions is a badge of honor for the Brazilian military — which holds enormous influence with Bolsonaro. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazilian data protection watchdog ANPD, the National Data Protection Authority, is now able to punish companies who mishandle customer data. But many questions around regulators still linger. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

With sparse transport infrastructure and precarious health services, getting medical supplies to Brazil's Amazon population is a huge challenge — something laid bare by Brazil's coronavirus vaccination push. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Struggling in the polls, President Jair Bolsonaro has threatened to ignore next year's election results. But is the risk of democratic rupture real? Or is the far-right simply crying coup? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Bolsonaro has recently been discharged from the hospital. While he was in, however, conflicting reports about his health made the Brazilian public suspicious.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro is using a Supreme Court nomination to rally his base. We explain the effects of his appointment on Brazilian justice and politics. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul came out as gay. But don't expect him to be a Brazilian Harvey Milk. Instead, he might be closer to Pete Buttigieg.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In an ironic twist, the Jair Bolsonaro administration is facing its most severe crisis — not over the vaccines it did not pursue, but over the ones it did. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Detractors of President Jair Bolsonaro are now taking to the streets to pressure him, but doing so means creating massive gatherings that are health hazards in themselves. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In Brazil, the remote work solution was never easy, as the country has an extremely informal economy. This week, we discuss the future of work in Brazil.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Under pressure from President Bolsonaro, the Army refused to punish active general Eduardo Pazuello for taking part in a political demonstration, causing uproar and stoking fears of military interference in the 2022 election. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Jair Bolsonaro is battling multiple domestic crises — but one dispute across the Atlantic could cost him the support of a valuable ally. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

As vaccine rollouts stumble in multiple Brazilian regions, health officials confirm the country's first cases of the Indian variant. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro has seen his popularity dip in recent months, now polling behind Lula. But he has an even more immediate concern: the president needs to find a party.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Covid hearings have exposed a laundry list of malfeasance by the Bolsonaro administration during the pandemic. Will that be enough to bring him down, though?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

When Latin American countries received their first vaccines, they didn't get them from Western powers — but from China and Russia instead. But these deals often came with strings attached. Guests: Flávio da Fonseca (Brazilian Virology Society) and David Fidler (Council on Foreign Relations).Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A new exposé shows how one of Brazil's biggest business success stories may have covered a child sexual abuse ring, in a case with eerie parallels to that of notorious American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The next few weeks are packed with the definition of the 2021 budget, the start of the Covid hearings, and Biden's climate summit. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Elections in Ecuador and Peru were filled with surprises. Latin America correspondent Lucas Berti breaks down what they mean for the region. Read show notes. — // Music in this podcast: Infados by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0 license), Fall of the Solar King by Twin Musicom (CC BY 4.0 license).Support the Show.

With coronavirus deaths on the rise, a massive vaccination campaign seems to be Brazil's only way out of the pandemic crisis. President Jair Bolsonaro and São Paulo Governor João Doria are in a race toward the first coronavirus vaccine fully produced in Brazil. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro carried out a massive cabinet reshuffle on Monday, raising fears that his administration could take an undemocratic turn. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Lula has regained his political rights and is set to face off against Bolsonaro next year. What can we expect from this clash of titans? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Supreme Court ruled that Sérgio Moro — the former judge who led Op. Car Wash — was biased in his trial of former President Lula. The judicial achievements of the anti-corruption task force are being undone, but what legacy does it leave behind?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

President Jair Bolsonaro has changed Health Ministers for the third time since the start of the pandemic. Army General Eduardo Pazuello is out, cardiologist and ally Marcelo Queiroga is in. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has become something of an open-air laboratory, showing how new variants can develop when left to spread unchecked. Most, if not all states are inching closer to a health collapse, but far-right President Jair Bolsonaro continues to speak out against lockdowns and vaccines. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Mining giants have been let off scot-free from the consequences of environmental disasters. Brazilians are going after them on their own turf.Guest: Pedro Martins, partner at law firm PGMBMRead show notes. — Support the Show.

Markets backed Bolsonaro in 2018 hoping for a libertarian president. Facing a sluggish economy and rising inflation, the president decided to intervene in the economy. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In Latin America, only three countries qualified as “full democracies.” As many as those qualified as “authoritarian regimes.” Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Our podcast is back! This week, how the Brazilian government is using the country's upcoming 5G auction as a bargaining chip to receive more coronavirus vaccines. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil's "Big Center" were the big winners of this year's municipal elections, despite being regularly demonized by the population. We explain who they are and how they work. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Just as Brazilians were starting to get used to their so-called new normal, a second wave appears to be on the horizon. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After weeks of gloating about its fast and efficient vote count  system, Brazil's election authorities were hacked during Sunday's vote, raising cybersecurity fears.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/11/18/explaining-brazil-podcast-who-tried-to-hack-the-brazilian-election/Support the Show.

The U.S. election process took days to confirm a winner. Were it to have taken place in Brazil, the entire vote count would have been wrapped up within a couple of hours. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil's Central Bank has launched PIX, its new instant payment system. We analyze what changes this brings to the country's financial landscape. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In a huge majority, Chile voted to scrap its 1980 constitution, the last remaining legacy of the Pinochet dictatorship era. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro and São Paulo Governor João Doria are using the race for a vaccine as a sparring match before the 2022 election. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Almost two years since his election, President Jair Bolsonaro has cozied up to the establishment politicians he campaigned against — and his core supporters are incensed. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Municipal elections have a significant impact on national politics. And what happens in November 2020 will ripple over until 2022. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Some Latin American countries have been called out for not enacting social distancing rules during the pandemic. Others, for using them to repress specific populations. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the second time on Tuesday — we analyze how he fared. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A new Chief Justice takes the reins of Brazil's Supreme Court in a moment when it faces a crisis of legitimacy and attacks from President Jair Bolsonaro. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Every single living former governor of Rio has been jailed at some point, and the incumbent governor looks set to face the same destiny. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil's second-quarter GDP results have been released and it's official: the country is back in recession. We analyze how Brazil can recover. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Latin America had its first confirmed Covid-19 case on February 26. Six months later, the region is the world's coronavirus epicenter. How have things gotten so out of control? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Álvaro Uribe is arguably the most powerful politician in Colombia, but he has been placed under house arrest for a fraud scandal. What does this mean for the country?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has rushed its national football championship into a hasty return, and already there are Covid-19 cases popping up all over the league. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Ironically, Brazil's mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis may lead to the country cutting the line in the race for a vaccine. This episode was supported by AMEC, the Brazilian Association of Investors in Capital Markets.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Everyone predicted that the pandemic would plummet Jair Bolsonaro's approval rates. It hasn't. And now the president sees his re-election prospects grow more realistic.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/07/30/explaining-brazil-podcast-bolsonaros-ticket-to-re-election/Support the Show.

Few elections worldwide influence Brazil as much as the U.S. presidential race. Joe Biden seems poised to beat Donald Trump, but what would a change in the White House mean for Latin America's biggest country? Read show notes. —Support the Show.

Deforestation is on the rise during the Covid-19 pandemic, and now international investors have threatened to remove their money from Brazil, forcing the government to act. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After months of reckless behavior, President Jair Bolsonaro has been infected with the coronavirus. And is trying to make lemonade out of it. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The pandemic is set to cost millions of jobs in Brazil, which can cause a number of troubling knock-on effects in society. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In this final episode of our series, we look back at the legend of that final, and then try and frame the legacy of the 1970 World Cup, both in Brazil and abroad. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Pelé is the greatest footballer of all time, and the 1970 World Cup in Mexico is seen as his crowning achievement. But just months before the tournament, people in Brazil thought he was finished. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

Fifty years ago, the greatest national football team of all time won the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. We tell the full story in this three-part series. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The coronavirus has made regular meet-and-greet campaigns impossible. And that will favor political fake news rings. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

As anti-racist protests break out around the world, we pick apart at the deep racial divides in Brazilian society and take a look at our own heritage. Read show notes. —Support the Show.

Brazil saw anti-Bolsonaro protests this weekend. Does it mean that opposition to the far-right leader has finally come out of hibernation? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The world has abandoned chloroquine as a possible cure against the coronavirus. But Brazil's Bolsonaro is doubling down on his bet. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

If Covid-19 is a war, then heads of state must choose the fighting lanes that will cause the least casualties. Which is best? Enacting a lockdown, or reopening the economy? These economists believe they know the answer. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro fought tooth and nail to keep his Covid-19 tests a secret. Johns Hopkins professor Filipe Campante explains what was at stake in this case.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Links to paramilitary mafias, poor economic results, controversial cabinet firings … and a botched pandemic response. None of this has dented Jair Bolsonaro's core group of supporters. Until now. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Sergio Moro's resignation has left the Bolsonaro government in a delicate situation: it has lost its anti-corruption poster boy, and Moro's revelations could lead to a presidential indictment. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

While not a perfect nickname, Bolsonaro has often been referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics”, a comparison that he's always welcomed and fueled himself. And Covid-19 has made the two far-right leaders even more alike. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Despite Brazil releasing updated figures on Covid-19 cases and deaths every day, inconsistencies in the data have left policymakers in the dark over the real spread of the virus. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Amid the worst pandemic in a lifetime, President Jair Bolsonaro has gone after his own Health minister, stopping just shy of sacking him. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil's employment rates will be decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

While the world goes into self-isolation and governments pass stimulus packages to save their economies from collapse, the Brazilian president resists such moves, and wants "business as usual." Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has recorded its first Covid-19 death, and cases are growing exponentially. Authorities warn it will get much worse before it gets any better. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The coronavirus outbreak is cooling off the global economy—but the Brazilian government resists the use of stimulus packages. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

By asking supporters to take to the streets and ask for the shutdown of Congress and "the end of the Supreme Court," Jair Bolsonaro may finally have gone too far.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The implementation of 5G in Brazil still has many obstacles in its way, not least pressure from the country's two leading trading partners.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

New revelations show the CIA sold encryption tools which allowed them to spy on South American dictatorships during some of the most brutal and deadly periods of the continent's recent history.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Heavy rains and other extreme weather events have become the norm in Brazil, with much of the blame lying with climate change and poor urban planning.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/02/12/explaining-brazil-podcast-95-brazil-climate-crisis-already-begun/Support the Show.

The start of the legislative year kicks off the political calendar in 2020. And President Bolsonaro has plenty on his plate: pressing reforms, a Supreme Court vacancy, and much intrigue.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The risks of a coronavirus outbreak in Brazil are less substantial for the country's public health, and more for its struggling economy.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The PCC has just staged a Hollywood-esque prison escape in the Brazil-Paraguay border. We explain how a union of prisoners founded by eight men has become Brazil's (and South America's) biggest drugs gang.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil is inaugurating a new research base in Antarctica. The country's top researcher in the field explains to us why the South Pole is as important for Brazil's climate as the Amazon rainforest.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Taking stock of the first 12 months of the Jair Bolsonaro government, we speak to two experts to break down what has gone right, and what has gone wrong. Guests: Carlos Goes (Ph.D. researcher at UCSD, formerly at IMF) and Claudio Couto (Fundação Getulio Vargas).Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, but there are still thousands of modern slaves working around the country. Guests: Camilla Costa (BBC), and Augusto de Arruda Botelho (Human Rights Watch).Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Recent crises in Latin America show how the Armed Forces remain key power brokers in the democratic game. But using the Army as a legitimizing force brings back old demons from Latin America's not-so-distant past—when most of the region was ruled by military dictatorships. And this puts civilian leaders in an immensely fragile position.Read show[...]

President Jair Bolsonaro has broken away and launched the only overtly far-right party in Brazilian politics. This week we look at the rise of extremism and polarization in Brazil's political arena.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Brazilian Republic is 130 years old. The democratic dream remains not entirely fulfilled, but Brazil has made many strides. So we ask: what is the state of our union?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Love him or hate him, there's one thing you can't take away from Brazilian former President Lula: his story epitomizes Brazil more than any other politician. Guest: André Pagliarini, a lecturer at Dartmouth College. Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/videos/2019/11/18/explaining-brazil-85-how-lulas-story-explains-brazil/Support the Show.

Brazil is known for its mammoth bureaucratic system. But blockchain could help business in Latin America's top economy.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

From Chile to Catalunya, Lebanon to Hong Kong … it seems like we're seeing protests erupt everywhere. But one region seems to have been hit harder than others by this massive wave of disgruntlement: Latin America. It seems that Latin America's veins are as wide open as they've ever been.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Back in 2008, Brazil formulated its National Defense Strategy, selecting the construction of a nuclear submarine as one of its priorities. To find out more about this mission, we spoke to Anne Bianchi, who oversees the construction of Brazil's first nuclear submarine.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In just a couple of weeks, Brazil will hold the largest oil auction in its history. This week, we look back at how the country rose to become a key player in offshore drilling.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Brazilian construction group admitted to paying USD 29 million in bribes over a decade in Peru. And it has caused the downfall of four former presidents—and potentially a fifth.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

With references to God, socialism, and gender issues—not to mention skirting the blame for Amazon deforestation—Jair Bolsonaro's speech at the United Nations General Assembly made people all over the world cringe.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/videos/2019/09/25/explaining-brazil-podcast-79-bolsonaro-flips-off-the-world/Support the Show.

The world's largest retailer has just improved its position in Brazil. What will be the impact on local players?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella is staged a homophobic crusade against an Avenger comic. It is part of a calculated move to get him re-elected. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil celebrates its independence day on September 7. This week, we explain how former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was influential to this process.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Ranchers in Northern Brazil used WhatsApp to coordinate massive—and simultaneous—Amazon fires. The worst part? The government knew beforehand.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has hit the headlines worldwide thanks to Jair Bolsonaro's inflammatory statements and lack of environmental policy, but there are deeper origins to Brazil's image problem abroad.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A Harvard professor believes that international powers could start pressuring (and even threatening) Brazil due to its environmental shortfalls. Guest: Stephen M. Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After six months of constant power struggles with the government, what can we expect from Congress in the second half of 2019?Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Since the turn of the year of 2016 to 2017, over 200 inmates were killed within government-run prisons. In other countries, this would spark outrage, protests, and public disgust. Not in Brazil, a country where more and more people believe that the only good criminals are dead criminals.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazils new data protection law will only come into force next year, but businesses should already start adapting to the new rules. The burden is expected to fall harder on small companies... and penalties can be quite hefty.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

On October 27, Argentinians are heading to the polls to choose who will lead their nation for the next four years. And, based on what we have seen so far, the race to the Casa Rosada will be extremely hard-fought and polarized. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Political scientist Maurício Santoro takes The Brazilian Report to discover Little Africa, the center of black resistance in Rio authorities tried to bury.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Economist Monica de Bolle (Johns Hopkins University) talks to The Brazilian Report, breaking down the blockbuster deal between Europe and South America's biggest economies.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has elected an open and proud homophobe as president. As São Paulo hosted its first Pride Parade under his government, we take a look at what it means to be gay in Bolsonaro's Brazil.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

A look into the billion-dollar gospel market. With sociologist Paul Freston and journalist Amin Guedara.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Operation Car Wash's weapon of choice has been used against its members. Thousands of messages exchanged between prosecutors and Sergio Moro—who is now Jair Bolsonaro's Minister of Justice—cast doubt on the legality of several convictions.Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After five months of squabbles with Congress, President Jair Bolsonaro wanted to show his political strength. A massive crowd would corner lawmakers into bending to his will. A flop, however, could spell the ruin of his administration.Before Mr. Bolsonaro, Brazil wasn't exactly a perfect example of how to protect the rainforest. Now, it is on[...]

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's recent call to arms is a strategic bet on polarization. The pro-Bolsonaro protests gave him breathing room—but for how long? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

The Brazilian government has suggested reducing the number of questions in the 2020 Census as a way of cutting public spending. Will this compromise the results? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Brazil has 138 federally-owned companies—and the government wants to privatize every single one of them. But only 17% of Brazilians support the idea. Guests: Sandro Cabral, head of the Master's Degree in Public Policies at São Paulo's Insper Business School; and former Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles.  Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Deemed the country's "national sport," Brazilian football remains amateur on the business side of it—which interferes with on-the-pitch action. Guest: Fernando Monteiro, managing director and partner in L.E.K. Consulting’s São Paulo office. He produced a study on Brazilian club's financial woes. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

It is no wonder Brazilians call their tax authority the "Lion," due to its ferocious pursuit of tax dodgers. Guests: Fundação Getulio Vargas professors Linneu de Albuquerque Mello and Antonio Carlos Porto Gonçalves. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro has been ambivalent towards China, the Asian juggernaut that is—by far—Brazil's top trading partner. But that could change soon. Guests: Charles Tang (head of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and Mauricio Santoro (Head of the Department of International Relations at the State University of Rio de Janeiro). Read show notes. — Support[...]

The Church's efforts to protect the Amazon and indigenous people led Brazil's intelligence agency to spy on Catholic priests. Guests: journalists Rubens Valente, Mauricio Savarese, Paula Schmitt (and voice-over of Alex Hochuli). Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After a year in jail, how does Lula still fit into the Brazilian political landscape? What does the future hold for him, or his Workers' Party—and for the Brazilian left? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

For decades, political elites and the military have tried to sweep Brazil's recent authoritarian past under the rug. It was a time in which kidnappings, torture, and rape became state policy. Now, Brazil's ultra-right wing is trying to rewrite history. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

After five years, Operation Car Wash's gravitational center has shifted from Curitiba to Rio, where investigators have opened up a sordid bottomless pit of corruption in that state. How will the anti-corruption probe look like moving forward? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

For the first time, we were able to witness the bromance between Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump on full display. Has the Brazilian president come out strong from his visit to Washington? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Marielle Franco was assassinated in March 2018. Investigations stalled and were filled with missteps by the police. One year later, though, a breakthrough appears to have happened. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

Carnival is such a focal point of the Brazilian calendar that often locals say nothing gets done in the new year until Ash Wednesday. But, in actual fact, a huge amount of work goes into producing Carnival, and that's what we are going to take a look at this week.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2019/03/06/50-business-carnival-rio/Support the[...]

The Jair Bolsonaro administration has submitted a reform proposal of its own. And it is the most ambitious we've seen — or the harshest, depending on how you see it. Will his administration be able to succeed where so many others failed? Read show notes. — Support the Show.

In politics, we usually say a new head of state enjoys a sort of grace period of 100 days. Popular support is still fresh from the campaign, the opposition still doesn't have much ammo against the new administration, and there hasn't been enough time for internal disputes to create unsolvable problems for the government. But,[...]

In 2018, law enforcement agents in Rio de Janeiro admitted to killing over 1,400 people — mostly in drug-related incidents. That's more than the number for the entire USA. That cannot be considered a success by any standard. Read show notes. — Support the Show.

On February 4, Justice Minister Sergio Moro presented his first bill after taking office. His anticrime plan, as the set of proposals was called, includes several measures against organized crime. And, for the first time, it singles out urban militias as one of the targets of the state. It may seem ludicrous, but urban armed[...]

On January 25, an iron tailings dam near the town of Brumadinho, in the Southeastern state of Minas Gerais, spilled the equivalent of at least 12 hundred Olympic-sized pools of mud onto the surrounding region. - How did this happen? - Who is to blame? - What will be the lasting environmental consequences? - And,[...]

If you live in or have even been to São Paulo, it is likely that you’ve walked over a waterway without even noticing it. There are between 300 and 500 of them in Brazil’s biggest city, running through pipes extending from 1,500km to 4,000km. And the fate of the city’s main rivers doesn’t have a[...]

Imagine you are a Brazilian soybean producer located in the state of Mato Grosso, deep in midwestern Brazil, neighboring Bolivia. And you have clients waiting for your products in China. So, how do you get your soybeans to your Chinese customers? What would you say if I told you that the drive between your silos[...]

When he left office, Michel Temer's administration was evaluated as good or great by only 7 percent of Brazilians. 62 percent thought his government was either bad or terrible. While these are far from positive figures, they actually represent an improvement. At one point, only 3 percent approved Temer, while 73 percent didn't care for[...]

Reporter Raphael Ferreira was at the Ministries Esplanade and covered Jair Bolsonaro's inauguration up close for The Brazilian Report. Find out what it was like at the ceremony. Read show notes. Support the Show.

At the end of November, Brazil's Ministry of Health signed an agreement with leaders of the food and drink industry to reduce the amount of sugar in their products by 144 thousand tonnes by 2022. But is it enough? Read show notes. Support the Show.

To discuss the successes and shortcomings of the Brazilian version of the consumerism fest that is Black Friday, we spoke to Nilton Kleina, editor at Tecmundo, one of Brazil's main tech news websites. This week's podcast is supported by Voom, an Airbus company. Voom is an on-demand helicopter booking platform that allows its passengers to[...]

One arena where racism is still apparent today is football, Brazil's national sport and so often a reflection of society as a whole. Despite the majority of players being non-white, they are often treated in stereotypes. While the white players of European origin are strong-willed leaders, black players are seen as tricky, inventive, but ultimately[...]

Political turmoil seems to be the rule rather the exception in Brazil. In 2010 Lula became the only democratically elected president who was handed power by another democratically elected president, and who then passed the torch to a third consecutive democratically elected president - without any coups, deaths, impeachments, or resignations getting in the way.[...]

To discuss the environmental challenges facing Brazil's soon-to-be president, we spoke with Gustavo Faleiros, coordinator of the organization Info Amazônia, a network of organizations and journalists which deliver updates from the nine countries of the Amazon rainforest. Read show notes. Support the Show.

President-elect Jair Bolsonaro's future administration has started to take shape. What will be the main issues that the president-elect will have to tackle? Read show notes. Support the Show.

Jair Bolsonaro will, on January 1st, become Brazil's 38th president. What does his victory mean? And how will his presidency be like? That's what Gustavo Ribeiro, Euan Marshall, and Alana Rizzo (Albright Stonebridge Group) debate. Read show notes. Support the Show.

the conservative wave that swept across the country marks a major rupture. Or, instead, a critical transition - a concept developed by professors Carlos Pereira, of Fundação Getulio Vargas, Bernardo Mueller, of the University of Brasília, Marcus Mello, of the University of Pernambuco, and Lee Alston, of Indiana University in their book Brazil in Transition:[...]

It is common to point out the problems with Brazil's failed public security system. We've talked to an institution that is proposing possible solutions for the violence crisis. Read show notes. Support the Show.

We analyze the reasons for the conservative tsunami that swept Brazil's 2018 election. Three main factors come into play. Read show notes. Support the Show.

In the last episode of our special podcast about Brazil's Constitution, we will talk about how the Constitution has endured the test of time. Read show notes. Support the Show.

In the third episode of our special podcast about Brazil's Constitution, we will talk about its biggest lasting legacies: human rights for all - and a unified healthcare system. Read show notes. Support the Show.

In the second episode of our special podcast about Brazil's Constitution, we will talk about the institutional framework created in 1988. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Brazil's Constitution is 30 years old today. We have prepared a podcast mini-series to discuss how this document came to be, its impact on the Brazilian people, and its legacy to our present - and future. Read show notes. Support the Show.

The race heads to the final days before Brazilians cast their ballots. What are the moves each candidate must make to raise their stock? Read show notes. Support the Show.

In the 1990s, the center-right seemed to be Brazil's dominating political force - embodied by the Social Democracy Party (PSDB). Now, many of the party's leaders are either tarnished by corruption or have fallen into irrelevance. Read show notes. Support the Show.

As Brazilians head to the polls in two and a half weeks, we've got to ask: What's the state of Brazilian democracy? Read show notes. Support the Show.

After Jair Bolsonaro's stabbing and the substitution of Lula as the Workers' Party official candidate, Brazil's presidential race has turned another corner. We explain what should happen next. - Part 1: The attack on Jair Bolsonaro - Part 2: Fernando Haddad, the new Lula? Read show notes. Support the Show.

On Sunday (September 3), the National Museum’s decay took a dramatic turn, with the building becoming consumed – and almost entirely destroyed – by flames. We have talked to the museum's deputy director, Luiz Fernando Dias Duarte, who joined us from Rio de Janeiro. Read show notes. Support the Show.

While 70 percent of the population has access to the Internet, 63 percent still get their news from television, will social media remain this much of a factor as we approach election day? The Brazilian Report talks to Fernando Vega, the Latin American Social Solutions Manager at comScore, a company specialized in gathering and analyzing[...]

Now, eight years after the end of his second term, Lula is in prison, serving a 12-year sentence for passive corruption and money laundering. His Workers' Party suffered major defeats in the 2016 municipal elections, losing in many key municipalities, including their crown jewel - São Paulo. Barring the legal equivalent of a miracle, Lula[...]

Brazilians will elect a new president, 27 new governors, 513 congressmen, and over 1,000 state lawmakers. But how exactly do Brazilian elections work?  Read show notes. Support the Show.

We have reached out to presidential campaigns and requested interviews with all candidates. Our first sit down was with Guilherme Boulos, of the Socialism and Liberty Party (Psol). As we were not in our regular studios on Rua Augusta, in São Paulo, audio quality was not optimal at certain points and we apologize for any[...]

In two months, Brazilians will choose a new president. This past weekend, though, it was our candidates' turn to choose their running mates. We explain why that matters. Of Brazil’s 37 presidents, eight of them took the job after being elected vice president – for various reasons: death, resignation or impeachment. Read show notes. Support the[...]

As Brazil prepares to analyze the issue of abortion rights, we talk to the Center of Reproductive Rights about the possible impacts of legalizing abortions in Brazil.  Read show notes. Support the Show.

This week, the leaders of the five countries meet in the 10th BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg. This summit is taking place at a pivotal time, with Brazil struggling to recover from its worst recession on record, Russia facing accusations of meddling in the American 2016 election, and China waging a trade war with the U.S.[...]

Two years after the World Health Organization declared the Americas free of measles, the disease could be about to make a comeback. To discuss the issue, Explaining Brazil hosts Dr. Rosana Richtmann, an infectious disease specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute, in São Paulo. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Sunday was a day that killed any argument that Brazil's institutions are working properly. Appellate judge Rogério Favreto tried to release former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from prison at all costs, while the judges who convicted Lula worked tooth and nail to keep him behind bars, despite being on vacation. Read show notes. Support[...]

We shed light on initiatives that fight for the social inclusion of gays, lesbians, and trans individuals. Explaining Brazil hosts Paolo Capistrano, an English teacher who founded English to Trans-form, which helps trans people to improve their skills for the workplace, trying to curb the segregation so often imposed by society.  Read show notes. Support the[...]

Between 1999 and 2015, opioid consumption in Brazil has jumped by 465 percent, according to a study recently published by the American Journal of Public Health. Tthat should be cause for concern, say experts. Read show notes. Support the Show.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14. One week later, Brazil still doesn't seem to be in the mood for football. Unlike other editions of the event, you don't see many Brazilian flags waved out from windows, nor many people dressed up in yellow and green. Why is that? That's what we[...]

In 2012, Brazil established nuclear power as a priority. Since then, however, Brazil's economy took a nosedive, power company executives were convicted for corruption, and projects on nuclear energy have stalled. So, what's the state of Brazilian nuclear as of now? That's what we will talk about this week with the president of Eletronuclear -[...]

During the Environmental Week, The Brazilian Report discusses Brazil's energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Over the past week, roads have been blocked and truckers, who are responsible for 60 percent of cargo transportation in Brazil, have not worked. Fuel and food supplies are lacking in most urban centers. São Paulo has declared a state of emergency. Over 270 flights were cancelled because there was simply no fuel left for[...]

Created in 1991, Mercosur is formed by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Venezuela has been suspended, and Bolivia will soon join. What do these economies have in common? As it turns out, not much – and that is one of the reasons why the free trade agreement remains highly dysfunctional. Read show notes. Support the Show.

In 2013, anthropologist Lilia Schwarcz published a book about race relations. She conducted a poll that revealed 97 percent of those surveyed said they were not racist – but 98 percent said they know someone who is racist. How can a country be racist ‘without’ having racists? Read show notes.  Support the Show.

Brazilians might be creative, but can they innovate? Latin America’s top economy has not ranked well in the latest innovation rankings. However, there are initiatives in Brazil certainly worth noting. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Venezuela has been haunted by multiple interconnected crises. The country’s inflation is expected to close this year at 679.73 percent. Meanwhile, President Nicolás Maduro has only focused his efforts on keeping himself in power. What does the future hold for Brazil's northern neighbor? We host Rosario Hernandez, a political analyst from Venezuela and a member[...]

Skewed facts are probably a well-established part of the agenda in any election campaign. But there’s no denying that social media has accelerated misinformation’s speed and extended its reach. Brazil has 122 million Facebook users, making it the social media giant’s third largest market. Read show notes. Support the Show.

On Saturday, April 7th, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began serving a 12-year-one-month prison sentence. In a span of 8 years, Lula went from the most popular leader in Brazilian history, a man who distributed revenue like no other president and was approved by 80% of Brazilians, to the first former president ever to be[...]

A lot has happened in Brazil since The Economist used an image of a rocket-powered Christ the Redeemer statue poised to shoot skywards. Brazil’s international reputation has suffered over the last few years, with both national and international coverage often zeroing in on corruption, crime and political instability. Read show notes. Support the Show.

This is the fifth episode of Explaining Brazil, a weekly podcast created by The Brazilian Report. This week, we’re talking about Flávio Rocha, Forbes’ 39th wealthiest man in Brazil and now the Brazilian Republican Party’s presidential candidate. With the backing of the Free Brazil Movement (MBL), he’s doing his best to put forward the image[...]

This week, we’re discussing the murder of Marielle Franco, Rio de Janeiro’s extraordinary city councilwoman. Black, queer, and hailing from the Maré favela in the North Zone, Marielle had been a vocal human rights advocate and was one of the city’s most treasured politicians. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Despite the federal government’s expectations of a 3 percent GDP growth for 2018, the OECD says that isolationist policies and trade barriers – plus market demands for a pension reform that seems increasingly unlikely – may continue to obstruct Brazil’s economic growth. Read show notes. Support the Show.

By declaring a federal intervention in Rio de Janeiro, President Michel Temer hopes to improve his electoral chances. But polling at 1%, his reelection dream might be just that... a dream. Read show notes. Support the Show.

Brazilian President Michel Temer announced on February 16 that national Armed Forces would intervene in Rio de Janeiro's security system. The intervention plan has several political implications - and multiple question marks hang over the motives behind the measure. Journalists Gustavo Ribeiro, Diego Iraheta, and Ciara Long comment on what happens to Rio and Brazil[...]