Explaining Brazil

Just a month shy of the elections, pro-Bolsonaro protesters will hit the streets on Independence Day to show their support for the current president. But could this September 7 impact the results at the ballot box? In a special live taking place in Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, our very own Gustavo Ribeiro and Euan Marshall will discuss the demos and their significance with Beatriz Rey, SNF Agora fellow and columnist at The Brazilian Report. Special live appearances by Cedê Silva, in Brasília, and Constance Malleret, from Rio de Janeiro.Watch the full video — Support the show

SPECIAL SERIES: In this fourth and final episode, we shed light on the multiple "Independence Days" across Brazil, each with its own significance. Read show notes. — Support the show

SPECIAL SERIES: In the third episode of our series, we look at Brazil's wars of independence, showing that constituting this new country was not as bloodless as many believe. Read show notes. — Support the show

SPECIAL SERIES: In this second episode, we look at the real story of what happened on September 7 — not the one taught in school textbooks. Read show notes. —Support the show

SPECIAL SERIES: In this special mini-series, we walk you through the eccentricities and myths of this period, its legacies in the country 200 years later, and how Brazil became Brazil. Read show notes. — Support the show

The much-anticipated confrontation between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro ended up being underwhelming. But besides that, have we really learned anything from Sunday's debate? Read show notes. — Support the show

The election four years ago led many to believe that TV and radio ads had become a thing of the past. But have they? This week we will talk about TV and radio ads, then and now. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil registered 0.68-percent deflation in July, suggesting that prices are easing. But a look beneath the headline numbers makes for some sobering findings. Read show notes. — Support the show

As President Jair Bolsonaro's anti-democratic antics grow in volume, banks and tycoons become vocal in their defense of democracy. A coup, after all, is bad for business. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil has over 1,300 confirmed cases of monkeypox. With the exception of Peru’s 275 confirmed cases, no other Latin American countries have hit the 100-case mark, making Brazil the region's monkeypox hotspot. Read show notes. — Support the show

The 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

Arguably 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

The murder of a Workers' Party official spells a bad omen for Brazil's upcoming general election. Read show notes. — Support the show

The 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

The 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

While 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

It 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

A 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

Brazil 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

The 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