Explaining Brazil

House Speaker Arthur Lira and the Lula government's Congress liaison Alexandre Padilha are engaged in a very public disagreement. But what does that mean for the administration going forward? And for Lira's 2025 succession plans? Read show notes.Support the show

In the third episode of our special series about the Brazilian military dictatorship, we fly over South America, dominated by authoritarian rule in the 1960s and 1970s. We tell the story of how Brazil supported coups in the region, and how it operated internationally to persecute exiles.Support the show

Musk has stated that Brazil is on the verge of becoming an Orwellian dystopia in which one man — Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — decides what can be said online.Support the show

In the second episode of the special series about the Brazilian military dictatorship, from within to abroad, we are starting our dive into the international connections of the regime, beginning with the U.S. We tell how it participated in the coup, as well as how bilateral relations were conducted from then on. Support the show

Negotiations with the U.S. and the opposition had led to hopes that Venezuela would hold clean elections in 2024. But the Maduro administration stopping adversaries from competing has put that optimism to rest.Support the show

In 1964, amidst the Cold War tensions, President João Goulart, under pressure from both society and the military, was ousted, leading to a 21-year military regime in Brazil. In this episode, we'll explore the Brazilian military dictatorship: its inception, key events, and conclusion.Support the show

A new report maps and details the activities and ideologies of more than 20 far-right extremist groups operating in Brazil.Support the show

President Lula's approval ratings have fallen sharply in recent months. We asked @mariosbessa whether it is already time for him to hit the panic button.Support the show

Radical far-right politicians were chosen to be the heads of some of the most important standing committees in Brazil's House, showing some frailties in the Lula government's position in CongressSupport the show

The Cerrado has a strategic significance beyond Brazil: no other biome has such a key role to play in furthering food security while continuing to protect such rich biodiversitySupport the show

Jair Bolsonaro got thousands of supporters on the streets of São Paulo. But the rally, although big in size, was no game changer for him. @euanmarshall, Isabela Cruz, and @CedeSilva explain why.Support the show

Brazil's president created a diplomatic uproar for his latest comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, but why would Lula take such a strong anti-Israel stance?Support the show

More farmers in Mato Grosso are filing for bankruptcy; climate conditions are set to reduce crop yields this year … But is the Brazilian agro sector really facing a crisis?Support the show

The 2024 congressional year has plenty of pitfalls in store for President Lula and his administration. We explain what to look out for over the coming 12 monthsSupport the show

Charged with carrying out the 2018 murder of city councilor Marielle Franco, ex-cop Ronnie Lessa has taken a plea deal. And press reports say the gunman has given up the name of the man in charge of ordering the assassination.Support the show

Facial recognition tools, using AI-powered algorithms, have been used extensively in Brazilian law enforcement. But there is heated debate on whether these algorithms carry racist bias and propagate existing inequalities.Support the show

The January 8 riots were proof of how polarized Brazilian society was. One year later, it might be even more polarized — so two experts believe.Support the show

In the last podcast of 2023, we analyze the tax reform approved by CongressSupport the show

Brazil pledged to launch a global alliance against hunger during the year it will hold the G20 presidency.Support the show

In Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro seems hell-bent on annexing a large (and oil-rich) part of Guyana. Brazil has mobilized armored vehicles to its northern border.Support the show