Explaining Brazil

It was more than a ban of the messaging app, courts wanted to draw a red line in the sand, which Telegram should not cross. But how Brazil will handle the app going forward remains murky — both legally and politically.  Read show notes. — Support the show

The ghost of inflation continues to haunt President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running out of ways to hold prices down. Read show notes. — Support the show

President Bolsonaro declared Brazil would be "neutral" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mentioning a crucial facet of the war for Brazilian interests: fertilizers.Read show notes. — Support the show

Officers in the state of Minas Gerais have called a strike. How this crisis unfolds will send a message to other law enforcement agencies around the country. Read show notes. —Support the show

Leading all the polls, Brazilian center-left icon Lula is seeking a blockbuster alliance with a bonafide conservative. But the move is far from a guaranteed success.Read show notes. — Support the show

Messaging app Telegram has been a thorn in the side of Brazil's electoral courts. But authorities are struggling to come up with ways to curb misinformation. Read show notes. — Support the show

A Russian invasion of Ukraine or prolonged tensions between Moscow and the West could disrupt agricultural production and push inflation even further up.  Read show notes. — Support the show

Washington has tried to get Brazil to condemn "Russia aggression" in Ukraine. But Bolsonaro has his reasons to keep a safe distance from the current geopolitical crisis.Read show notes. — Support the show

President Jair Bolsonaro's demeanor has made Brazil's South American neighbors hit the pause button on multilateral initiatives. That could have terrible consequences for the region. Read show notes. — Support the show

Federal civil servants threaten to go on strike next week, which could cause a government shutdown just months from the presidential election. Read show notes. — Support the show

As 2021 draws to a close, our newsroom is about to launch a new report laying out the main trends for Brazil’s economy, politics, and the environment in the year to come. Support the show

After much comings and goings, Bolsonaro has found a new party, in an arrangement that will help shape Brazil's political landscape for 2022 and beyond. Read show notes. — Support the show

This time last year, Brazilian citizens were unsure if they would ever get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Now, the country has immunized 80 percent of its adult population. Read show notes. — Support the show

Javier Milei is a vaccine skeptic, climate change denier, libertarian economist … and now, one of the biggest political stars in Argentinian politics. Read show notes. — Support the show

Brazil showed up in the west of Scotland ready to listen and compromise with the international community. But were its commitments enough? Read show notes. — Support the show

Seen as Chile's answer to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, José Antonio Kast has been consistently rising in polls since early in September. Could he win on November 21?Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/podcast/2021/11/04/chile-kast-election/Support the show

The writing is on the wall: the government is about to obliterate the federal spending cap. One economist believes it is now time for damage limitation, at best.Read show notes. — Support the show

Members of the Covid hearings committee disagree on whether to indict President Jair Bolsonaro for genocide against indigenous groups and murder.  Read show notes. — This episode used the music "Infados" by Kevin MacLeodSupport the show

A deal between Brazil and Argentina breathes new life into the Mercosur trade alliance. At least until the next crisis, that is.  Read show notes. — This episode used the music "Infados" by Kevin MacLeod and "Lurking" by Silent Partner, from the YouTube Audio Library.Support the show

Brazil's consumer price index is set to hit the 10-percent mark this week. And historical data shows that high inflation and a poor economic outlook are bad omens for incumbent presidents. Read show notes. — Support the show