Explaining Brazil

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 airplanes. How did it get so bad, and what will happen now?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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 of the website Young Diplomats, a partner institution of The Brazilian Report.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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 put behind bars. What does it mean for Brazil’s already tumultuous political landscape?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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 of Brazil’s ‘reasonable’ right-wing. But what does he stand for, and how far will he get?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)

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 moving forward. Read more on https://brazilian.report/2018/02/16/rio-de-janeiro-intervention-security/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brazilianreport)