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 11, 2024 · 36 min
The post-Bolsonaro Bolsonaro?
Pablo Marçal, a candidate for mayor of São Paulo who has become a hot name within Bolsonarism — despite not being endorsed by Bolsonaro. Marçal defends many of the values espoused by Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. More importantly, he deploys a social media strategy that seems to be a version of the Bolsonaro campaign on steroids. Send us your feedback Support the show
Sep 4, 2024 · 30 min
Brazil’s hidden racism: the truth behind the numbers
In our book club, economist Alysson Portella discusses the figures that unravel the structures of racial inequality in the country and points out ways to overcome it. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 28, 2024 · 43 min
Cutting the Central Bank's cord?
Brazil's Central Bank has enjoyed political autonomy since 2021, and Congress is analyzing a bill to make it financially independent, too. But this freedom has not come without controversy Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 21, 2024 · 32 min
X marks the spat
After months of feuding between tech mogul Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the billionaire announced the closure of X's Brazil operations Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 14, 2024 · 34 min
50 years of Brazil-China relations
Over the past five decades, Brazil and China have forged a complex and dynamic partnership, evolving from cautious diplomatic ties to becoming key economic and political allies on the global stage. Send us your feedback Support the show
Aug 7, 2024 · 34 min
Brazil's Olympic fever
A look at Brazil's big medal wins, prospects for the final days of the Games, and how Brazilian athletes are funded. Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 31, 2024 · 30 min
Venezuela's vexed vote
Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in Venezuela's presidential election on Sunday, but the opposition and a long list of observers find the announced results difficult to believe. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 24, 2024 · 41 min
Brazilian democracy: stronger than we thought? - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil
In our book club, professor Carlos Pereira argues that certain institutional features ensured that Bolsonaro's authoritarian initiatives never became a credible threat Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 17, 2024 · 21 min
Can Lula fix his relationship with Congress?
Despite strategic moves to distribute cabinet positions to center and center-right parties, this has not guaranteed Lula a stable coalition. Some in the president's camp are calling for a reset in negotiations with Congress — but is that possible? Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jul 3, 2024 · 41 min
Gun debate becoming ubiquitous in Brazil's Congress
Debates about gun rights and regulations are becoming more and more common in 21st century Brazil, and we explore the forces behind the most prominent arguments. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 26, 2024 · 38 min
Markets give Lula a Real reality check
The Brazilian real turns 30 next week. But the currency is reaching the landmark amid an incredible rout, caused by fiscal concerns. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 19, 2024 · 16 min
Global ambitions, domestic neglect?
Since returning to the Brazilian presidency, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has shown something of a preference for foreign policy, potentially to the detriment of domestic politics. He's traveled the world, appearing at almost every international summit that will have him, with the articulated goal of "repositioning" Brazil on the world stage. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 11, 2024 · 18 min
Strike as an environmental risk
Why disgruntled civil servants are a risk to Brazil's environmental goals. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 7, 2024 · 36 min
The Brazilians evangelizing the Middle East - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil
A family left Brazil for Afghanistan in the 2000s, aiming to convert Muslims to Christianity. Adriana Carranca talks to Isabela Cruz about this story and the political dynamics surrounding it, as she explained in her work "Soul By Soul." Watch the full interview on Patreon for free! Send us your feedback Support the show
Jun 5, 2024 · 18 min
Privatizing Brazil's beaches?
A bill pending in the Senate proposes transferring control of coastal land to state governments, municipal authorities, or private interests, raising fear about the future of Brazil's beaches. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
May 29, 2024 · 19 min
Taxing the tops
Shein, AliExpress, and Shopee have become ubiquitous in Brazil, causing much controversy along the way. Now, a bid from domestic retailers to bump up taxes on these platforms seems to have taken hold. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
May 22, 2024 · 18 min
Lula switches on intervention mode
Swapping out the head of state-controlled oil firm Petrobras, it seems that the Lula government is going full steam on intervention to push through its developmentalist goals. Read show notes LINKS: New series - To be Read - video interview Send us your feedback Support the show
May 15, 2024 · 27 min
When tragedy becomes a culture war
While rainfall continues to ravage Brazil's southernmost state, authorities warn about the plague of disinformation — which they say is hindering rescue operations. Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
May 12, 2024 · 25 min
Brazil, Britain and the slave trade - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil
A new series featuring authors talking about Brazil. The Brazilian Report's To Be Read will be a space for conversations about books that translate the country's history and contemporary political life. In its first meeting, "The Brazilian Report's To Be Read" book club will talk to Adriane Sanctis about the slave trade in the Atlantic, based on her work "Seeking Capture, Resisting Seizure." Read show notes Send us your feedback Support the show
May 8, 2024 · 22 min
The Rio Grande do Sul floods
Brazil's southernmost state is underwater after days of severe heavy rains, with the human and material tolls mounting by the hour. We examine the extent of the crisis in Rio Grande do Sul. Read show notes. Send us your feedback Support the show

Explaining Brazil

Support the show

The post-Bolsonaro Bolsonaro?

Brazil’s hidden racism: the truth behind the numbers

Cutting the Central Bank's cord?

X marks the spat

50 years of Brazil-China relations

Brazil's Olympic fever

Venezuela's vexed vote

Brazilian democracy: stronger than we thought? - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil

Can Lula fix his relationship with Congress?

Gun debate becoming ubiquitous in Brazil's Congress

Markets give Lula a Real reality check

Global ambitions, domestic neglect?

Strike as an environmental risk

The Brazilians evangelizing the Middle East - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil

Privatizing Brazil's beaches?

Taxing the tops

Lula switches on intervention mode

When tragedy becomes a culture war

Brazil, Britain and the slave trade - To Be Read: Where authors translate Brazil

The Rio Grande do Sul floods