Explaining Brazil

From Chile to Catalunya, Lebanon to Hong Kong … it seems like we're seeing protests erupt everywhere. But one region seems to have been hit harder than others by this massive wave of disgruntlement: Latin America. It seems that Latin America's veins are as wide open as they've ever been. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Back in 2008, Brazil formulated its National Defense Strategy, selecting the construction of a nuclear submarine as one of its priorities. To find out more about this mission, we spoke to Anne Bianchi, who oversees the construction of Brazil's first nuclear submarine. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

In just a couple of weeks, Brazil will hold the largest oil auction in its history. This week, we look back at how the country rose to become a key player in offshore drilling. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

The Brazilian construction group admitted to paying USD 29 million in bribes over a decade in Peru. And it has caused the downfall of four former presidents—and potentially a fifth. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

With references to God, socialism, and gender issues—not to mention skirting the blame for Amazon deforestation—Jair Bolsonaro's speech at the United Nations General Assembly made people all over the world cringe. Read show notes. — https://brazilian.report/videos/2019/09/25/explaining-brazil-podcast-79-bolsonaro-flips-off-the-world/ Send us your feedback Support the show

The world's largest retailer has just improved its position in Brazil. What will be the impact on local players? Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella is staged a homophobic crusade against an Avenger comic. It is part of a calculated move to get him re-elected. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Brazil celebrates its independence day on September 7. This week, we explain how former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was influential to this process. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Ranchers in Northern Brazil used WhatsApp to coordinate massive—and simultaneous—Amazon fires. The worst part? The government knew beforehand. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Brazil has hit the headlines worldwide thanks to Jair Bolsonaro's inflammatory statements and lack of environmental policy, but there are deeper origins to Brazil's image problem abroad. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

A Harvard professor believes that international powers could start pressuring (and even threatening) Brazil due to its environmental shortfalls. Guest: Stephen M. Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

After six months of constant power struggles with the government, what can we expect from Congress in the second half of 2019? Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Since the turn of the year of 2016 to 2017, over 200 inmates were killed within government-run prisons. In other countries, this would spark outrage, protests, and public disgust. Not in Brazil, a country where more and more people believe that the only good criminals are dead criminals. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Brazils new data protection law will only come into force next year, but businesses should already start adapting to the new rules. The burden is expected to fall harder on small companies... and penalties can be quite hefty. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

On October 27, Argentinians are heading to the polls to choose who will lead their nation for the next four years. And, based on what we have seen so far, the race to the Casa Rosada will be extremely hard-fought and polarized. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Political scientist Maurício Santoro takes The Brazilian Report to discover Little Africa, the center of black resistance in Rio authorities tried to bury. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Economist Monica de Bolle (Johns Hopkins University) talks to The Brazilian Report, breaking down the blockbuster deal between Europe and South America's biggest economies. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Brazil has elected an open and proud homophobe as president. As São Paulo hosted its first Pride Parade under his government, we take a look at what it means to be gay in Bolsonaro's Brazil. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

A look into the billion-dollar gospel market. With sociologist Paul Freston and journalist Amin Guedara. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Operation Car Wash's weapon of choice has been used against its members. Thousands of messages exchanged between prosecutors and Sergio Moro—who is now Jair Bolsonaro's Minister of Justice—cast doubt on the legality of several convictions. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

After five months of squabbles with Congress, President Jair Bolsonaro wanted to show his political strength. A massive crowd would corner lawmakers into bending to his will. A flop, however, could spell the ruin of his administration. Before Mr. Bolsonaro, Brazil wasn't exactly a perfect example of how to protect the rainforest. Now, it is on its way to becoming one of the world's bigge...

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's recent call to arms is a strategic bet on polarization. The pro-Bolsonaro protests gave him breathing room—but for how long? Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

The Brazilian government has suggested reducing the number of questions in the 2020 Census as a way of cutting public spending. Will this compromise the results? Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Brazil has 138 federally-owned companies—and the government wants to privatize every single one of them. But only 17% of Brazilians support the idea. Guests: Sandro Cabral, head of the Master's Degree in Public Policies at São Paulo's Insper Business School; and former Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles.  Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show

Deemed the country's "national sport," Brazilian football remains amateur on the business side of it—which interferes with on-the-pitch action. Guest: Fernando Monteiro, managing director and partner in L.E.K. Consulting’s São Paulo office. He produced a study on Brazilian club's financial woes. Read show notes. —  Send us your feedback Support the show