Explaining Brazil

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. Support the show

Bolsonaro's supporters are calling for their own #stayathome campaign for this year's September 7 Independence Day celebrations. @euanmarshall and @amandafaudi explain how the holiday took on new significance in recent years, and the motives behind the Bolsonarista boycott. Support the show

Brazil's Supreme Court and Congress are separately debating a legal argument that could render indigenous land claims completely unfeasible. Editor @euanmarshall speaks to Adriana Ramos (@naosoumaismess) from NGO @socioambiental to find out what's at stake.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? @euanmarshall and @cedesilva break down the latest.Support the show

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

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

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