Explaining Brazil

The Covid hearings have exposed a laundry list of malfeasance by the Bolsonaro administration during the pandemic. Will that be enough to bring him down, though?Read show notes. — Support the show

When Latin American countries received their first vaccines, they didn't get them from Western powers — but from China and Russia instead. But these deals often came with strings attached. Guests: Flávio da Fonseca (Brazilian Virology Society) and David Fidler (Council on Foreign Relations).Read show notes. — Support the show

A new exposé shows how one of Brazil's biggest business success stories may have covered a child sexual abuse ring, in a case with eerie parallels to that of notorious American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.  Read show notes. — Support the show

The next few weeks are packed with the definition of the 2021 budget, the start of the Covid hearings, and Biden's climate summit. Read show notes. — Support the show

Elections in Ecuador and Peru were filled with surprises. Latin America correspondent Lucas Berti breaks down what they mean for the region. Read show notes. — // Music in this podcast: Infados by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0 license), Fall of the Solar King by Twin Musicom (CC BY 4.0 license).Support the show

With coronavirus deaths on the rise, a massive vaccination campaign seems to be Brazil's only way out of the pandemic crisis. President Jair Bolsonaro and São Paulo Governor João Doria are in a race toward the first coronavirus vaccine fully produced in Brazil. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro carried out a massive cabinet reshuffle on Monday, raising fears that his administration could take an undemocratic turn. Read show notes. — Support the show

Lula has regained his political rights and is set to face off against Bolsonaro next year. What can we expect from this clash of titans? Read show notes. — Support the show

The Supreme Court ruled that Sérgio Moro — the former judge who led Op. Car Wash — was biased in his trial of former President Lula. The judicial achievements of the anti-corruption task force are being undone, but what legacy does it leave behind?Read show notes. — Support the show

President Jair Bolsonaro has changed Health Ministers for the third time since the start of the pandemic. Army General Eduardo Pazuello is out, cardiologist and ally Marcelo Queiroga is in. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil has become something of an open-air laboratory, showing how new variants can develop when left to spread unchecked. Most, if not all states are inching closer to a health collapse, but far-right President Jair Bolsonaro continues to speak out against lockdowns and vaccines. Read show notes. — Support the show

Mining giants have been let off scot-free from the consequences of environmental disasters. Brazilians are going after them on their own turf.Guest: Pedro Martins, partner at law firm PGMBMRead show notes. — Support the show

Markets backed Bolsonaro in 2018 hoping for a libertarian president. Facing a sluggish economy and rising inflation, the president decided to intervene in the economy. Read show notes. — Support the show

In Latin America, only three countries qualified as “full democracies.” As many as those qualified as “authoritarian regimes.” Read show notes. — Support the show

Our podcast is back! This week, how the Brazilian government is using the country's upcoming 5G auction as a bargaining chip to receive more coronavirus vaccines. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil's "Big Center" were the big winners of this year's municipal elections, despite being regularly demonized by the population. We explain who they are and how they work. Read show notes. — Support the show

Just as Brazilians were starting to get used to their so-called new normal, a second wave appears to be on the horizon. Read show notes. — Support the show

After weeks of gloating about its fast and efficient vote count  system, Brazil's election authorities were hacked during Sunday's vote, raising cybersecurity fears.Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/11/18/explaining-brazil-podcast-who-tried-to-hack-the-brazilian-election/Support the show

The U.S. election process took days to confirm a winner. Were it to have taken place in Brazil, the entire vote count would have been wrapped up within a couple of hours. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil's Central Bank has launched PIX, its new instant payment system. We analyze what changes this brings to the country's financial landscape. Read show notes. — Support the show