Brazil on Fire

The Real News Network

A podcast with journalist Michael Fox about one country’s descent toward fascism under President Bolsonaro ... and how the United States helped push it along. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

Episodios

  1. Introducing: Stories of Resistance

    27/07/2025

    Introducing: Stories of Resistance

    Hi folks, this is Michael Fox, the host of Brazil on Fire. It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch on this podcast feed, and I’m here to bring you good news. If you liked Brazil on Fire, I have another podcast that I think you will enjoy… This year, I’ve been writing, producing, and hosting a podcast called Stories of Resistance. It’s investigative journalism, prose, poetry, historical memory, and above all — story. Think vignettes… Eduardo Galeano-style, for a new Trump era. For a few minutes each week, I transport you to another place, in another time, where others also stood up, resisted, and planted seeds of hope, despite the circumstances. A little bit of hope and inspiration in these dark times.  In Stories of Resistance, I dive into Brazil often. So today, I’m bringing you episode 14 of Stories of Resistance. We released it on March 31st, the anniversary of Brazil’s 1964 U.S.-backed military coup. And it looks at the Brazilian musicians and music that made up the soundtrack to the resistance against the Brazilian dictatorship.  And it’s only 6 minutes long. I know you’ll like it.  Follow Stories of Reistance on: Apple PodcastsSpotifySpreaker Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.  Sign up for the newsletter to follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network Become a member and join the Supporters Club for Brazil on Fire Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Follow us on: Bluesky: @therealnews.com Facebook: The Real News Network Twitter: @TheRealNews YouTube: @therealnews Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork

    7 min
  2. Update #3 — An autopsy of Bolsonaro's failed coup

    24/01/2023

    Update #3 — An autopsy of Bolsonaro's failed coup

    On Jan. 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's capital in a failed attempt to spark a military coup. In scenes that drew instant comparison to the events of Jan. 6th, 2021 in the US, Bolsonaro supporters smashed windows, destroyed artwork, and even climbed on the roofs of government buildings before being rounded up and arrested en masse by security forces. In this update to Brazil on Fire, Michael Fox examines the significance of the failed coup in scattering pro-Bolsonaro forces and uniting the country behind Lula, who has already embarked on an aggressive agenda to undo his predecessor's legacy. While Lula may be triumphant for now, the battle for Brazil's future is far from settled. As Bolsonaro licks his wounds in exile in Florida, the question remains as to how he might scheme with his US-based allies in the future. Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez returns to the show to delve deeper into the links between Brazil and the US's evangelical right and neofascist movements. Sign up for the newsletter to follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network Become a member and join the Supporters Club for Brazil on Fire Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Follow us on: Bluesky: @therealnews.com Facebook: The Real News Network Twitter: @TheRealNews YouTube: @therealnews Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe

    47 min
  3. Update #2 — Lula Presidente

    17/11/2022

    Update #2 — Lula Presidente

    Brazil has a new president-elect. Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the Brazilian presidency on October 30th. He defeated far-right president Jair Bolsonaro by just over 2 million votes. Tens of thousands of Lula supporters descended on Sao Paulo’s Paulista Avenue for huge celebrations. Brazil on Fire host Michael Fox was there and he takes us to the streets. But Bolsonaro supporters were also mobilizing. They shut down highways and called for the military to intervene. In this second update to Brazil on Fire, we look at Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro’s disinformation campaign that is keeping Bolsonaro’s supporters in the streets, Bolsonaro’s ties to Donald Trump’s former White House strategist Steve Bannon, and how Bannon is trying to spread a fake news fraud narrative to bolster Bolsonaro and divide Brazil, like the United States after Trump’s 2020 defeat. We hear from UFSC International Relations professor Camila Feix Vidal about the shared tactics of the international far-right and University of Virginia Media Studies professor David Nemer about Bolsonaro's unprecedented use of fake news and disinformation in the election. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. We look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    30 min
  4. Elections update with BrasilWire’s Brian Mier

    14/10/2022

    Elections update with BrasilWire’s Brian Mier

    The first round of Brazil’s elections has come and gone. As expected, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was the big winner, with 48%. But he fell short of winning outright. Current President Jair Bolsonaro exceeded expectations and came in just a handful of points behind the former president. And it’s going to mean weeks of intense campaigning as Bolsonaro has now become a real contender for the second-round election at the end of the month. In this first update to Brazil on Fire, we look at what it all means and how things stand ahead of the runoff election on Oct. 30. In particular, we analyze the media spin in the wake of the first-round vote in an in-depth interview with Brian Mier, editor of the English-language news site BrasilWire. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    26 min
  5. Episode 6: Amazon up in Smoke

    27/09/2022

    Episode 6: Amazon up in Smoke

    The Amazon is a place that both Brazil’s former military regime and President Jair Bolsonaro have eyed with dreams of development, looking to take advantage of bountiful resources. It’s a place where Bolsonaro’s deconstruction of state institutions is wreaking havoc. Where illegal and armed actors are pushing into formerly protected areas and plundering the land to make a quick profit. Where Indigenous people are constantly under threat, whether staring down the barrel of a gun, fires, or COVID, and their territories and their way of life are under attack — the invaders slowly eating away at the forests that have given them life for generations. And where Bolsonaro has been empowering those behind the devastation. There is no other place in Brazil that better symbolizes the destruction that Bolsonaro has wrought on the country. The Amazon is under attack. The fires are just the most visible sign. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido. Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    42 min
  6. Episode 5: Ghosts of the Past

    20/09/2022

    Episode 5: Ghosts of the Past

    Read the transcript of this podcast: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-episode-5-ghosts-of-the-past Brazil’s military dictatorship was a dark time in the country’s history. Hundreds were killed. Thousands jailed and tortured. And it is an era that President Jair Bolsonaro remembers with nostalgia—It's where he got his start, and a thing he has long championed as being worthy of returning to. As president, Bolsonaro has called for the closure of Congress and the Supreme Court, marched with supporters to demand military intervention, and appointed more military officials to his government than any leader since the end of the dictatorship. In this episode, we will dive head-first into Brazil’s military regime, which ran the country from 1964 through to 1985. We’ll look at the country’s failure to reckon with the past, and Bolsonaro’s steps to push Brazil back in that direction. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido. Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    38 min
  7. Episode 4: Nazis on your Street

    13/09/2022

    Episode 4: Nazis on your Street

    Brazil has a long and complicated history with fascism, going back to the early 20th century. Far-right and white supremacist groups have been emboldened by President Jair Bolsonaro—with some members of his own cabinet openly sporting Nazi tattoos. They’ve unleashed online attacks, pushed fake news and misinformation in favor of Bolsonaro, and they’ve threatened Brazil’s Supreme Court and its justices. But the country’s top court is pushing back. In this episode, we look at Brazil’s troubled past of reactionary fascist forces, and how Bolsonaro’s rise unleashed them anew. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Sound design by Gustavo Türck: @coletivocatarse Theme music by Monte Perdido: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa?si=jo6-l1wiSrGmDkxyCA_cow Portions of today’s episode were previously aired in a series on nationalism and religion produced by Michael Fox for PRI’s The World. You can find that, and more, at https://theworld.org/categories/sacred-nation Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    32 min
  8. Episode 3: God Above Everyone

    06/09/2022

    Episode 3: God Above Everyone

    Read the transcript of this podcast: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-episode-3-god-above-everyone Jair Bolsonaro could not have won the presidency without the support of one very important group: Evangelical Christians. There is, perhaps, no other group that Bolsonaro has so vocally courted, or that has been so loyal to the president—And they remain key for Bolsonaro’s hopes of recapturing the presidency this year. In this episode, we visit those spreading the gospel for Bolsonaro and look at how Bolsonaro and his allies are pushing a religious war of good versus evil, with dangerous repercussions. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Sound design by Gustavo Türck: @coletivocatarse Theme music by Monte Perdido: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa?si=jo6-l1wiSrGmDkxyCA_cow Portions of today’s episode were previously aired in a series on nationalism and religion produced by Michael Fox for PRI’s The World. You can find that, and more, at https://theworld.org/categories/sacred-nation Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    30 min
  9. Episode 2: Free Lula

    06/09/2022

    Episode 2: Free Lula

    The election of president Jair Bolsonaro was never a foregone conclusion. For most of that electoral season, someone else was ahead in the polls. But that opponent was jailed on supposed corruption charges by a biased judge, six months out from the election, and blocked from running. In this episode, we look at the fight to free former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from prison, the corruption investigation that jailed him, the role of the United States, and what it all means ahead of the 2022 election, as Lula again leads in the polls. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Sound design by Gustavo Türck: @coletivocatarse Theme music by Monte Perdido: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa?si=jo6-l1wiSrGmDkxyCA_cow Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    29 min
  10. Episode 1: Violence and the Culture War

    06/09/2022

    Episode 1: Violence and the Culture War

    As candidate Jair Bolsonaro neared the presidency in 2018, violence rippled across Brazil, mostly perpetrated by Bolsonaro supporters. Hundreds of threats and attacks, including several killings, were reported in the weeks and months leading up to the election. Bolsonaro's hateful rhetoric and fake news machine spurred on the violence, painting the election as a battle for the soul of the country. Targeting right wing fears over 'family values' and 'security,' Bolsonaro tapped into a growing culture war aimed not at winning a democratic debate, but eliminating opponents. This episode looks at Bolsonaro’s most ardent supporters, and how a culture war born from the United States inspired a wave of political violence that forced people to flee Brazil in fear for their lives. This is Brazil on Fire, a podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over these six episodes we look at Bolsonaro’s far-right government that has set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. We’ll visit the birthplace of Brazilian Nazism, evangelical churches, and Indigenous villages in the Amazon. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Sound design by Gustavo Türck: @coletivocatarse Theme music by Monte Perdido: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa?si=jo6-l1wiSrGmDkxyCA_cow Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    34 min
  11. Introduction: Democracy and Dictatorship

    16/08/2022

    Introduction: Democracy and Dictatorship

    Read the transcript of this podcast: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-democracy-and-dictatorship The Jair Bolsonaro presidency has been a disaster for Brazil. Over 650,000 dead from COVID-19. Amazon deforestation. Rising fascism. Budget cuts. Fake news. Threats to democracy. Journalist Michael Fox sets the scene for Brazil’s critical October 2022 presidential elections by looking back on the last four years. This is Brazil on Fire, a new podcast about Brazil’s descent toward fascism under President Jair Bolsonaro. Over the next six episodes we’ll look at how Bolsonaro’s far-right government set the country ablaze, and how the United States helped him do it. Featuring host Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Theme music by Monte Perdido Follow Brazil on Fire at The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com/brazil-on-fire-pod Help The Real News Network continue producing stories like Brazil on Fire by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: https://www.therealnews.com/donate-pod-brazil-on-fire Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.therealnews.com/signup-brazil-on-fire Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Subscribe to updates from NACLA: https://nacla.org/subscribe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    15 min

  12. 26/07/2022

    Coming soon: Brazil on Fire

    Jair Bolsonaro's rise was unimaginable just a few years before his election to Brazil's presidency. With an impending showdown between the incumbent Bolsonaro and popular left-wing former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, many fear Bolsonaro may resort to a January 6-style coup to retain power. In this special limited podcast series from Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox, we’ll take listeners on a journey to understand Brazil’s turn toward fascism: Bolsonaro’s rise, his government that set the country ablaze, and how the US helped him do it. Produced in partnership by The Real News Network and the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA). The Real News Network: https://therealnews.com NACLA: https://nacla.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

    5 min

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A podcast with journalist Michael Fox about one country’s descent toward fascism under President Bolsonaro ... and how the United States helped push it along. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brazil-on-fire--5630445/support.

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