Explaining Brazil

The Brazilian Report

News 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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391 episodes
Updated July 24

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Episodes391

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Apr 22, 2020 · 24 min
Pandemic power plays in Brazil and the U.S.
While not a perfect nickname, Bolsonaro has often been referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics”, a comparison that he's always welcomed and fueled himself. And Covid-19 has made the two far-right leaders even more alike. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Apr 15, 2020 · 15 min
Do Brazil's coronavirus numbers even mean anything?
Despite Brazil releasing updated figures on Covid-19 cases and deaths every day, inconsistencies in the data have left policymakers in the dark over the real spread of the virus. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Apr 8, 2020 · 13 min
Shopping for a new Health Minister
Amid the worst pandemic in a lifetime, President Jair Bolsonaro has gone after his own Health minister, stopping just shy of sacking him. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Apr 2, 2020 · 16 min
Brazil facing a job apocalypse
Brazil's employment rates will be decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Mar 27, 2020 · 26 min
Brazil's public health enemy #1
While the world goes into self-isolation and governments pass stimulus packages to save their economies from collapse, the Brazilian president resists such moves, and wants "business as usual." Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Mar 18, 2020 · 13 min
20 rough weeks ahead
Brazil has recorded its first Covid-19 death, and cases are growing exponentially. Authorities warn it will get much worse before it gets any better. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Mar 11, 2020 · 26 min
Is recession inescapable?
The coronavirus outbreak is cooling off the global economy—but the Brazilian government resists the use of stimulus packages. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Mar 4, 2020 · 22 min
Should Congress impeach Jair Bolsonaro?
By asking supporters to take to the streets and ask for the shutdown of Congress and "the end of the Supreme Court," Jair Bolsonaro may finally have gone too far. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Feb 26, 2020 · 19 min
For Brazil, 5G can mean more than just fast internet
The implementation of 5G in Brazil still has many obstacles in its way, not least pressure from the country's two leading trading partners. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Feb 19, 2020 · 25 min
Human rights abuses, powered by CIA technology
New revelations show the CIA sold encryption tools which allowed them to spy on South American dictatorships during some of the most brutal and deadly periods of the continent's recent history. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Feb 12, 2020 · 19 min
Brazil’s climate crisis has already begun
Heavy rains and other extreme weather events have become the norm in Brazil, with much of the blame lying with climate change and poor urban planning. Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/02/12/explaining-brazil-podcast-95-brazil-climate-crisis-already-begun/ Send us your feedback Support the show
Feb 5, 2020 · 24 min
Bolsonaro, season 2 begins
The start of the legislative year kicks off the political calendar in 2020. And President Bolsonaro has plenty on his plate: pressing reforms, a Supreme Court vacancy, and much intrigue. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Jan 29, 2020 · 18 min
Coronavirus: the real risks for Brazil
The risks of a coronavirus outbreak in Brazil are less substantial for the country's public health, and more for its struggling economy. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Jan 22, 2020 · 27 min
PCC, Brazil's uber-powerful criminal brotherhood
The PCC has just staged a Hollywood-esque prison escape in the Brazil-Paraguay border. We explain how a union of prisoners founded by eight men has become Brazil's (and South America's) biggest drugs gang. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Jan 15, 2020 · 20 min
Antarctica, Brazil's icy Amazon
Brazil is inaugurating a new research base in Antarctica. The country's top researcher in the field explains to us why the South Pole is as important for Brazil's climate as the Amazon rainforest. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Dec 18, 2019 · 26 min
One year of Jair Bolsonaro, explained
Taking stock of the first 12 months of the Jair Bolsonaro government, we speak to two experts to break down what has gone right, and what has gone wrong. Guests: Carlos Goes (Ph.D. researcher at UCSD, formerly at IMF) and Claudio Couto (Fundação Getulio Vargas). Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Dec 11, 2019 · 20 min
Some humans still own other humans
Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, but there are still thousands of modern slaves working around the country. Guests: Camilla Costa (BBC), and Augusto de Arruda Botelho (Human Rights Watch). Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Dec 4, 2019 · 24 min
Latin America's dangerous game
Recent crises in Latin America show how the Armed Forces remain key power brokers in the democratic game. But using the Army as a legitimizing force brings back old demons from Latin America's not-so-distant past—when most of the region was ruled by military dictatorships. And this puts civilian leaders in an immensely fragile position. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Nov 27, 2019 · 23 min
Brazil's age of extreme politics
President Jair Bolsonaro has broken away and launched the only overtly far-right party in Brazilian politics. This week we look at the rise of extremism and polarization in Brazil's political arena. Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show
Nov 20, 2019 · 25 min
The turbulent path of Brazil's republic
The Brazilian Republic is 130 years old. The democratic dream remains not entirely fulfilled, but Brazil has made many strides. So we ask: what is the state of our union? Read show notes. — Send us your feedback Support the show

Explaining Brazil

Support the show

Pandemic power plays in Brazil and the U.S.

Do Brazil's coronavirus numbers even mean anything?

Shopping for a new Health Minister

Brazil facing a job apocalypse

Brazil's public health enemy #1

20 rough weeks ahead

Is recession inescapable?

Should Congress impeach Jair Bolsonaro?

For Brazil, 5G can mean more than just fast internet

Human rights abuses, powered by CIA technology

Brazil’s climate crisis has already begun

Bolsonaro, season 2 begins

Coronavirus: the real risks for Brazil

PCC, Brazil's uber-powerful criminal brotherhood

Antarctica, Brazil's icy Amazon

One year of Jair Bolsonaro, explained

Some humans still own other humans

Latin America's dangerous game

Brazil's age of extreme politics

The turbulent path of Brazil's republic