Explaining Brazil

A major social security scandal causes a government headache. Brazil's beef sector needs major changes to hit emissions goals. And Lula is off to Rome for the pope's funeral, but who's going with him?Support the show

In this Explaining Brazil Plus episode, Lise Tupiassu of the Federal University of Pará gives us her on-the-ground perspective on what should be in the spotlight regarding COP30 in the AmazonSupport the show

Rio's mayor looks to El Salvador for inspiration on public security. Brazil's agro jobs are less and less done on farms. And Bolsonaro goes under the knife again in a 12-hour surgery.Support the show

Trump and the US become less popular in Brazil. Embraer wades into the aerial arms race. And the pro-gun caucus wants to take firearms away from Lula's security teamSupport the show

Brazil learns its tariff fate amid Trump's Liberation Day announcement. Major demand for a new loan program offers hope for Lula's popularity. Brazil and Paraguay get into a tangle over espionage revelations. This episode refers to the newsletters:

US President Donald Trump promises a significant tariff announcement on April 2. We gathered a team of experts to discuss how the looming threats of tariffs from the Trump administration may affect Brazil and reshape relations between the United States and Brazil — not just in the short-term future but also in the long run. Panelists:Tony Harrington, former US ambassador to Brazil. Founding Principal of Albright Stonebridge. He was previously Chair of the President's Intelligence Oversight Board and currently serves as Chair of the Wilson Center Brazil Institute. Kellie Meiman Hock, senior counselor at McLarty Associates and a board member of the Inter-American Dialogue. A former US Foreign Service Officer, she served in Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Recife in Brazil, as well as at the Office of the US Trade Representative in the Executive Office of the President as Director for Brazil and the Southern Cone.Welber Barral, founding partner of BMJ, is an expert in international trade and investment with over 30 years of experience. He served as Brazil's Secretary of Foreign Trade between 2007 and 2011 and has acted as an arbitrator in Mercosur and WTO disputes. He currently advises Fiesp and presides over IBCI, the Brazilian Institute of Foreign Trade.This episode is exclusive for premium subscribers and subscribers of Explaining Brazil Plus on Apple Podcasts.Support the show

The Supreme Court decides that Jair Bolsonaro will face trial over coup-plotting allegations. Brazilian producers are exporting eggs to the bird flu-hit US. And Brazil wants to chart its own course in purchasing defense tech. This episode refers to the newsletters:

Lula announces major income tax exemptions. The Central Bank hikes interest rates once more. And one of Bolsonaro's sons flees to the US. This episode refers to the newsletters:

Inflation data shows little in the way of good news for Brazil. The country's planned digital currency moves through testing phases. And Trump's metal tariffs kick in — how is Brazil going to respond? This episode refers to the newsletters:

We're launching Explaining Brazil Plus — a premium service bringing you exclusive content every month. As a subscriber, you'll get access to special episodes and expert interviews, offering deeper insights into Brazil's biggest stories. Subscriptions are just USD 1.99 a month on Apple Podcasts. But here's the best part: If you're already a subscriber to The Brazilian Report, you get it for free!This week: Reporter Isabela Cruz sits down with Rubens Barbosa, Brazil's former ambassador to the United Kingdom (1994-1999) and the United States (1999-2006), now a business consultant.Support the show

Brazil bags its Carnival Oscar glory with “I'm Still Here.” Consumers get rattled as “fake coffee” makes its way onto supermarket shelves. And a court precedent could spell trouble for Big Four auditors in Brazil.Support the show

Carnival is here, and it's big business. Lula pulls the trigger and sacks his health minister. And STEM degrees are becoming less and less common in Brazil.Support the show

Bolsonaro faces criminal charges for coup plotting. Trump's media group is suing a Brazilian Supreme Court justice. And Brazil's organized crime groups are expanding far beyond the drug trade.Support the show

How Trump's steel tariffs are expected to affect Brazil. A year after historic floods, Rio Grande do Sul now suffers from drought. And how Brazil's evangelical shift is changing national politics.Support the show

As Trump's trade threats reshape global commerce, Brazil grapples with a mounting yellow fever outbreak ahead of Carnival. Meanwhile, controversial Amazon oil drilling plans gain momentum under new Senate leadership, testing the country's environmental commitments.Support the show

Our podcast is back! For our first episode of 2025, we bring you a crucial topic for Brazil's political landscape: the upcoming elections for the leadership positions in Congress and how they will affect Brazil's political landscape, the tensions between the Lula administration and the far right, as well as how the new congressional outlook will affect landmark projects such as the tax reform.Support the show

The EU had approved a law demanding that products exported to the bloc would have to prove they are deforestation-free. After much adaptation and preparation, the implementation of that law has been delayed for an extra year, which will benefit Brazilian commodity exporters.Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies - The Beltway BriefingListen for of-the-moment insider insights, framed by the rapidly changing social and...Support the show

The Brazilian real is plummeting, borrowing costs are climbing, and market confidence has been in free fall.Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies - The Beltway BriefingListen for of-the-moment insider insights, framed by the rapidly changing social and...Support the show

Many thought the tax reform regulations would clear Congress before the October elections. With just a few weeks left in the 2024 calendar, many wonder if it will pass at all this year.Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies - The Beltway BriefingListen for of-the-moment insider insights, framed by the rapidly changing social and...Support the show

With the G20 Summit and Brazil's presidency of the group now at an end, we look back at the results of the major international gathering in Rio de Janeiro, and Lula's date with XiSupport the show

In our book club, journalist Marcos Colón talks about the existential crisis that criminals, multinational companies and also the State have historically imposed to the AmazonSupport the show

As the U.S. selects its next leader, the choice will reverberate through Latin America, influencing political and economic landscapes across the region.Support the show

Jair Bolsonaro is working to reshape Brazil's Liberal Party into a political vehicle firmly under his influence — much like Donald Trump has redefined the Republican Party in the U.S. as his MAGA party.Support the show

A particularly harsh wildfire season in Brazil's Pantanal has caused major impacts on the population of jaguars, the biome's most emblematic species. We speak to a big cat expert to find out moreSupport the show

Seemingly from nowhere, the online sports betting market has swept across Brazil like a tsunami, and the pernicious effects of gambling addiction are already having clear signs on society. Support the show

Brazilians in almost 5,600 municipalities went to the polls to pick new mayors and city council members. The dispute was settled on Sunday in all but 52 cities. This week, we will discuss what conclusions can be drawn from the results, the key races still in play, and the effects of these local races on national politics.Support the show

For Lula's third term as president, international prominence and influence was set out as a priority — but a Pew survey shows that things are moving in the opposite directionSupport the show

X has been banned in Brazil for more than three weeks now, with billionaire CEO Elon Musk refusing to comply with Supreme Court demands. He seems to now have backed down, but what of the future of the platform in Brazil?Support the show

Smoke-filled skies, wildfires, lack of rain, and scorching heat that have lingered for weeks offer a glimpse of what's in store for Brazilian cities as climate change takes hold in the coming years.Support the show

Pablo Marçal, a candidate for mayor of São Paulo who has become a hot name within Bolsonarism — despite not being endorsed by Bolsonaro. Marçal defends many of the values espoused by Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. More importantly, he deploys a social media strategy that seems to be a version of the Bolsonaro campaign on steroids. Support the show

In our book club, economist Alysson Portella discusses the figures that unravel the structures of racial inequality in the country and points out ways to overcome it.Support the Show.

Brazil's Central Bank has enjoyed political autonomy since 2021, and Congress is analyzing a bill to make it financially independent, too. But this freedom has not come without controversySupport the Show.

After months of feuding between tech mogul Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the billionaire announced the closure of X's Brazil operationsSupport the Show.

Over the past five decades, Brazil and China have forged a complex and dynamic partnership, evolving from cautious diplomatic ties to becoming key economic and political allies on the global stage.Support the Show.

A look at Brazil's big medal wins, prospects for the final days of the Games, and how Brazilian athletes are funded.Support the Show.

Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in Venezuela's presidential election on Sunday, but the opposition and a long list of observers find the announced results difficult to believeSupport the Show.

In our book club, professor Carlos Pereira argues that certain institutional features ensured that Bolsonaro's authoritarian initiatives never became a credible threatSupport the Show.

Despite strategic moves to distribute cabinet positions to center and center-right parties, this has not guaranteed Lula a stable coalition. Some in the president's camp are calling for a reset in negotiations with Congress — but is that possible?Support the Show.

Debates about gun rights and regulations are becoming more and more common in 21st century Brazil, and we explore the forces behind the most prominent arguments.Support the Show.

The Brazilian real turns 30 next week. But the currency is reaching the landmark amid an incredible rout, caused by fiscal concerns.Support the Show.

Since returning to the Brazilian presidency, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has shown something of a preference for foreign policy, potentially to the detriment of domestic politics. He's traveled the world, appearing at almost every international summit that will have him, with the articulated goal of "repositioning" Brazil on the world stage.Support the Show.

Why disgruntled civil servants are a risk to Brazil's environmental goalsSupport the Show.

A family left Brazil for Afghanistan in the 2000s, aiming to convert Muslims to Christianity. @Adriana Carranca talks to @Isabela Cruz about this story and the political dynamics surrounding it, as she explained in her work "Soul By Soul." Watch the full interview on Patreon for free!Support the Show.

A bill pending in the Senate proposes transferring control of coastal land to state governments, municipal authorities, or private interests, raising fear about the future of Brazil's beaches.Support the Show.

Shein, AliExpress, and Shopee have become ubiquitous in Brazil, causing much controversy along the way. Now, a bid from domestic retailers to bump up taxes on these platforms seems to have taken hold.Support the Show.

Swapping out the head of state-controlled oil firm Petrobras, it seems that the Lula government is going full steam on intervention to push through its developmentalist goalsSupport the Show.

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, based on her work "Seeking Capture, Resisting Seizure."Support the Show.

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.