Explaining Brazil
323 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 121 ratingsNews from Brazil, by The Brazilian Report — an independent media outlet uniquely positioned to offer an insider’s view of current affairs in Brazil.
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Episodes
Electoral gears start to heat up
July 27, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBThe 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.
Anitta enters the presidential race
July 20, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBArguably 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.
Fears of political violence grow
July 13, 2022 13:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBThe murder of a Workers' Party official spells a bad omen for Brazil's upcoming general election. Read show notes. — Support the Show.
Bolsonaro is throwing money at his problems
July 06, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBThe 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.
A second swing at Bolsonaro
June 29, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBThe 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.
The president v. Petrobras
June 22, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWhile 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.
Where are Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira?
June 15, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBIt 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.
Is the Monroe doctrine dead?
June 08, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBA 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.
Hunger haunts Brazil again
June 01, 2022 13:00 - 14 minutes - 9.97 MBBrazil 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.
Who will face off against Petro in Colombia?
May 25, 2022 13:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBThe 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.
China raises red flags in Brazil
May 18, 2022 11:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBApril 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.
Lula launches lunge for legacy
May 11, 2022 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MBFormer 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.
Warning Biden
May 04, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBA 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.
Bolsonaro rattles institutions. Could they break?
April 27, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBWhen 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.
Jair calls time on the pandemic
April 20, 2022 13:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBAfter 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.
Why Venezuela will lead the world in growth
April 13, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBAfter 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.
Brazilian 'third way' crashes and burns
April 07, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBUnpopular 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.
Petrobras merry-go-round spins again
March 30, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWith 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.
What the (brief) Telegram ban means in Brazil
March 23, 2022 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBIt 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.
Gas prices put Bolsonaro in a bind
March 16, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBThe 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.
Brazil depends on Russia's fertilizer faucet
March 09, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBPresident 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.
What happens when the police go on strike
February 23, 2022 14:00 - 25 minutes - 17.2 MBOfficers 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.
How dreamy is Lula's dream team?
February 16, 2022 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBLeading 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.
Brazil's Telegram problem
February 09, 2022 13:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBMessaging 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.
Brazil's risk of imported inflation
February 02, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBA 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.
Between Moscow and Washington
January 26, 2022 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBWashington 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.
Bad Neighbor policy
January 19, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBPresident 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.
Bolsonaro picks a dangerous fight
January 12, 2022 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBFederal 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.
Teaser: What to expect from 2022 Brazil
December 08, 2021 13:00 - 4 minutes - 3.35 MBAs 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.
A new home for Bolsonaro
December 01, 2021 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBAfter 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.
Brazil's vaccination success
November 24, 2021 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBThis 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.
Argentina's far-right lion
November 17, 2021 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBJavier 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.
No longer a climate outlaw?
November 10, 2021 00:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBBrazil 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.
Will Chile get Kast away?
November 04, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBSeen 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.
An obituary for Brazil's spending cap
October 27, 2021 13:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBThe 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.
The extent of Bolsonaro's pandemic crimes
October 20, 2021 15:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBMembers 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 MacLeod Support the Show.
Saving Mercosur
October 13, 2021 14:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBA 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.
A president's worst enemy
October 06, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBBrazil'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.
Brazil's own Tuskegee Study
September 29, 2021 13:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBTwo 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.
Peronism facing an existential crisis
September 22, 2021 13:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBLast 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.
Bolsonomics
September 15, 2021 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBThe 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.
How to react to Bolsonaro?
September 08, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBBolsonaro 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.
A nation holding its breath
September 01, 2021 14:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBIn 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.
Will Brazil have its own January 6 riots?
August 25, 2021 13:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBMany 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.
Should Brazil reengage in Haiti?
August 18, 2021 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MBWhile 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.
Companies face fines for data protection misdeeds
August 11, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBBrazilian 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.
Getting vaccines to the heart of the Amazon
August 03, 2021 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBWith 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.
Coup or No Coup
July 28, 2021 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBStruggling 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.
Little transparency around presidents' health
July 21, 2021 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBPresident Bolsonaro has recently been discharged from the hospital. While he was in, however, conflicting reports about his health made the Brazilian public suspicious. Support the show
Little transparency around presidents' health
July 21, 2021 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBPresident 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.