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
The Mercosur-EU trade deal, explained
July 03, 2019 13:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBEconomist 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.
Being LGBT in Bolsonaro's Brazil
June 26, 2019 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBBrazil 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.
Faith is a profitable business in Brazil
June 19, 2019 11:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBA look into the billion-dollar gospel market. With sociologist Paul Freston and journalist Amin Guedara. Read show notes. — Support the Show.
You can't spell Car Wash without leaks
June 12, 2019 10:00 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MBOperation 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.
Earth v. Bolsonaro
June 05, 2019 11:00 - 22 minutes - 10.5 MBAfter 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 its way to becoming one of the world's biggest cautionary tales. Today is World Environment Day, but does Brazil have anything to celebrate? Read s...
How to make a bad political climate worse
May 29, 2019 12:00 - 24 minutes - 11.5 MBBrazilian 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.
Brazil's census controversy
May 22, 2019 11:00 - 19 minutes - 9.04 MBThe 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.
Is privatization the answer for Brazil's economy?
May 15, 2019 13:00 - 19 minutes - 9.07 MBBrazil 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.
The business of Brazilian football
May 08, 2019 13:00 - 21 minutes - 9.9 MBDeemed 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.
A look into Brazil's super-complex tax system
May 02, 2019 12:00 - 19 minutes - 8.78 MBIt 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.
How should Brazil deal with China?
April 24, 2019 11:34 - 21 minutes - 10.1 MBJair 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 Show.
Why is the Brazil spying on Catholic priests?
April 17, 2019 08:47 - 17 minutes - 8.23 MBThe 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 1 year in jail, what will become of Lula
April 10, 2019 11:15 - 20 minutes - 9.31 MBAfter 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.
How Brazil deals with its past of torture and repression
April 03, 2019 03:13 - 20 minutes - 9.48 MBFor 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.
The new face of Brazil's Operation Car Wash
March 27, 2019 12:58 - 20 minutes - 9.28 MBAfter 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.
When Jair met Donald
March 20, 2019 12:54 - 23 minutes - 10.6 MBFor 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.
Marielle Franco, one year of impunity
March 13, 2019 11:18 - 19 minutes - 8.87 MBRio 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.
The business of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
March 06, 2019 03:30 - 13 minutes - 6.31 MBCarnival 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 Show.
How to reform Brazil's pension system
February 27, 2019 03:58 - 20 minutes - 9.34 MBThe 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.
Bolsonaro: Crisis Mode ON
February 20, 2019 02:44 - 19 minutes - 8.83 MBIn 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, boy, the start of the Jair Bolsonaro administration has been anything but smooth. Read show notes. — Support the Show.
Brazil's war on drugs failed. What next?
February 13, 2019 12:43 - 15 minutes - 7 MBIn 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.
The rise of urban militias in Rio de Janeiro
February 06, 2019 07:42 - 13 minutes - 6.34 MBOn 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 militias were once well-regarded in Rio de Janeiro. Many politicians defended these militias. And yes, including President Jair Bolsonaro. Read show notes. — Support t...
How to recover from the Brumadinho dam collapse
January 30, 2019 00:55 - 23 minutes - 10.7 MBOn 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, most importantly, how can we prevent this from happening again? Read show notes. — Support the Show.
How São Paulo killed its rivers
January 23, 2019 12:10 - 14 minutes - 6.54 MBIf 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 happy ending. They’ve become ugly and polluted – not at all fit for a São Paulo postcard. Read show notes. Support the Show.
Brazil's infrastructure woes
January 16, 2019 13:53 - 16 minutes - 7.73 MBImagine 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 and Santos will be more expensive than the ship taking your grains all the way to the other end of the world to China? It sounds ridiculous, but it is true. Read show notes. Suppor...
Was Michel Temer that bad of a president?
January 09, 2019 13:20 - 12 minutes - 5.91 MBWhen 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 him. Was he as bad as most Brazilians seem to think? And what is the legacy he leaves behind? That's what try to answer this week. Read show notes. Support ...
What was Jair Bolsonaro's inauguration like?
January 02, 2019 12:30 - 13 minutes - 6.3 MBReporter 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.
Brazil's crackdown on sugar
December 12, 2018 10:06 - 22 minutes - 10.1 MBAt 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.
Were you scammed during Brazil's Black Friday?
November 28, 2018 14:14 - 16 minutes - 7.65 MBTo 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 fly between nine different helipads in the city of São Paulo from Monday to Saturday for less than BRL 500. Read show notes. Support the Show.
Racism in football
November 20, 2018 12:12 - 17 minutes - 8.21 MBOne 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 unintelligent and untrustworthy. Read show notes. Support the Show.
Coups and revolutions throughout Brazilian history
November 14, 2018 09:52 - 16 minutes - 7.47 MBPolitical 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. Read show notes. Support the Show.
Brazil's challenges for the environment
November 07, 2018 11:36 - 19 minutes - 8.93 MBTo 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.
The first challenges ahead of Bolsonaro
October 31, 2018 11:02 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MBPresident-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.
Special: Brazil elects Jair Bolsonaro (live podcast)
October 30, 2018 01:31 - 1 hour - 30.3 MBJair 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.
Brazil's critical transition
October 24, 2018 10:51 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MBthe 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: Beliefs, Leadership, and Institutional Change. Read show notes. Support the Show.
Solving Brazil's violence crisis
October 17, 2018 11:19 - 25 minutes - 11.9 MBIt 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
Brazil's political system in shatters
October 10, 2018 10:59 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MBWe 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.
Special: Brazilian Constitution #4
October 05, 2018 14:28 - 9 minutes - 4.29 MBIn 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.
Special: Brazilian Constitution #3
October 05, 2018 14:28 - 7 minutes - 3.55 MBIn 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.
Special: Brazilian Constitution #2
October 05, 2018 14:27 - 10 minutes - 4.8 MBIn 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.
Special: Brazilian Constitution #1
October 05, 2018 14:27 - 13 minutes - 6.07 MBBrazil'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 final stretch of Brazil's presidential election
October 03, 2018 11:36 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MBThe 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.
The downfall of Brazil's center-right
September 26, 2018 09:09 - 17 minutes - 7.85 MBIn 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.
The state of Brazilian democracy
September 19, 2018 08:33 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MBAs 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.
A whole new presidential campaign starts now
September 12, 2018 11:15 - 19 minutes - 9.16 MBAfter 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.
The destruction of Rio's National Museum
September 05, 2018 10:26 - 18 minutes - 8.43 MBOn 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.
The role of social media in Brazilian politics
August 29, 2018 10:32 - 20 minutes - 9.2 MBWhile 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 data about audiences on several media platforms, especially the internet. Read show notes. Support the Show.
What has happened to the Brazilian left?
August 22, 2018 11:27 - 22 minutes - 10.2 MBNow, 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 will not be on the presidential ballot. So, where will the Brazilian left go in 2018 - and beyond? Read show notes. Support the Show.
How do elections work in Brazil?
August 15, 2018 13:12 - 21 minutes - 9.78 MBBrazilians 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.
Interview: Guilherme Boulos, presidential candidate for Psol
August 15, 2018 12:22 - 28 minutes - 13.2 MBWe 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 sound issues. Here are the main takes Support the Show.