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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Sep 26, 2018 · 17 min
The downfall of Brazil's center-right
In the 1990s, the center-right seemed to be Brazil's dominating political force - embodied by the Social Democracy Party (PSDB). Now, many of the party's leaders are either tarnished by corruption or have fallen into irrelevance. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Sep 19, 2018 · 23 min
The state of Brazilian democracy
As Brazilians head to the polls in two and a half weeks, we've got to ask: What's the state of Brazilian democracy? Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Sep 12, 2018 · 19 min
A whole new presidential campaign starts now
After Jair Bolsonaro's stabbing and the substitution of Lula as the Workers' Party official candidate, Brazil's presidential race has turned another corner. We explain what should happen next. - Part 1: The attack on Jair Bolsonaro - Part 2: Fernando Haddad, the new Lula? Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Sep 5, 2018 · 18 min
The destruction of Rio's National Museum
On Sunday (September 3), the National Museum’s decay took a dramatic turn, with the building becoming consumed – and almost entirely destroyed – by flames. We have talked to the museum's deputy director, Luiz Fernando Dias Duarte, who joined us from Rio de Janeiro. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 29, 2018 · 20 min
The role of social media in Brazilian politics
While 70 percent of the population has access to the Internet, 63 percent still get their news from television, will social media remain this much of a factor as we approach election day? The Brazilian Report talks to Fernando Vega, the Latin American Social Solutions Manager at comScore, a company specialized in gathering and analyzing data about audiences on several media platforms, especially the internet. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 22, 2018 · 22 min
What has happened to the Brazilian left?
Now, eight years after the end of his second term, Lula is in prison, serving a 12-year sentence for passive corruption and money laundering. His Workers' Party suffered major defeats in the 2016 municipal elections, losing in many key municipalities, including their crown jewel - São Paulo. Barring the legal equivalent of a miracle, Lula will not be on the presidential ballot. So, where will the Brazilian left go in 2018 - and beyond? Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 15, 2018 · 21 min
How do elections work in Brazil?
Brazilians will elect a new president, 27 new governors, 513 congressmen, and over 1,000 state lawmakers. But how exactly do Brazilian elections work? Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 15, 2018 · 28 min
Interview: Guilherme Boulos, presidential candidate for Psol
We have reached out to presidential campaigns and requested interviews with all candidates. Our first sit down was with Guilherme Boulos, of the Socialism and Liberty Party (Psol). As we were not in our regular studios on Rua Augusta, in São Paulo, audio quality was not optimal at certain points and we apologize for any sound issues. Here are the main takes Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 8, 2018 · 20 min
Picking the right vice president in Brazil
In two months, Brazilians will choose a new president. This past weekend, though, it was our candidates' turn to choose their running mates. We explain why that matters. Of Brazil’s 37 presidents, eight of them took the job after being elected vice president – for various reasons: death, resignation or impeachment. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 1, 2018 · 16 min
Abortion rights in Brazil
As Brazil prepares to analyze the issue of abortion rights, we talk to the Center of Reproductive Rights about the possible impacts of legalizing abortions in Brazil. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 25, 2018 · 23 min
Brazil and the BRICS
This week, the leaders of the five countries meet in the 10th BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg. This summit is taking place at a pivotal time, with Brazil struggling to recover from its worst recession on record, Russia facing accusations of meddling in the American 2016 election, and China waging a trade war with the U.S. We're joined by Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil's leading think tank, and author of The BRICS and the Future of Global Order. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 18, 2018 · 18 min
Diseases that could make a return in Brazil
Two years after the World Health Organization declared the Americas free of measles, the disease could be about to make a comeback. To discuss the issue, Explaining Brazil hosts Dr. Rosana Richtmann, an infectious disease specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute, in São Paulo. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 10, 2018 · 19 min
Brazil's judicial system is a mess right now
Sunday was a day that killed any argument that Brazil's institutions are working properly. Appellate judge Rogério Favreto tried to release former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from prison at all costs, while the judges who convicted Lula worked tooth and nail to keep him behind bars, despite being on vacation. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 4, 2018 · 17 min
LGBTQ inclusion in Brazil
We shed light on initiatives that fight for the social inclusion of gays, lesbians, and trans individuals. Explaining Brazil hosts Paolo Capistrano, an English teacher who founded English to Trans-form, which helps trans people to improve their skills for the workplace, trying to curb the segregation so often imposed by society. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 27, 2018 · 16 min
Brazil's silent rise in opioid consumption
Between 1999 and 2015, opioid consumption in Brazil has jumped by 465 percent, according to a study recently published by the American Journal of Public Health. Tthat should be cause for concern, say experts. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 20, 2018 · 21 min
Brazil's relationship with its national football team
The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14. One week later, Brazil still doesn't seem to be in the mood for football. Unlike other editions of the event, you don't see many Brazilian flags waved out from windows, nor many people dressed up in yellow and green. Why is that? That's what we debate with Brazilian historian - and football fanatic - Matias Pinto. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 13, 2018 · 19 min
Brazil's nuclear program
In 2012, Brazil established nuclear power as a priority. Since then, however, Brazil's economy took a nosedive, power company executives were convicted for corruption, and projects on nuclear energy have stalled. So, what's the state of Brazilian nuclear as of now? That's what we will talk about this week with the president of Eletronuclear - Brazil's state-owned nuclear power company. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 6, 2018 · 17 min
Alternative energy sources in Brazil
During the Environmental Week, The Brazilian Report discusses Brazil's energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
May 30, 2018 · 24 min
Brazil's truckers' strike
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? Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show
May 23, 2018 · 26 min
Brazil and Mercosur
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. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show

Explaining Brazil

Support the show

The downfall of Brazil's center-right

The state of Brazilian democracy

A whole new presidential campaign starts now

The destruction of Rio's National Museum

The role of social media in Brazilian politics

What has happened to the Brazilian left?

How do elections work in Brazil?

Interview: Guilherme Boulos, presidential candidate for Psol

Picking the right vice president in Brazil

Abortion rights in Brazil

Brazil and the BRICS

Diseases that could make a return in Brazil

Brazil's judicial system is a mess right now

LGBTQ inclusion in Brazil

Brazil's silent rise in opioid consumption

Brazil's relationship with its national football team

Brazil's nuclear program

Alternative energy sources in Brazil

Brazil's truckers' strike

Brazil and Mercosur