🇧🇷 Brazil Episodes

Guest: Rafael Barros Barbosa, Professor of Economics at the Federal University of Ceará and researcher at FGV - IBRE. This Tuesday (13), the Federal Police launched the 9th phase of Operation Overclean – the first phase was carried out in December 2024. Under investigation are suspicions of bidding fraud, misuse of public funds, corruption, and money laundering involving parliamentary amendments. In a decade, parliamentary amendments have grown by over 1,200%. In this year's Budget, more than R$ 60 billion is allocated for parliamentary amendments. Today, this money already exceeds the annual budget of entire ministries. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Rafael Barros Barbosa, Professor of Economics at the Federal University of Ceará. He explains where the critical points are for diversions of part of the money allocated to parliamentary amendments to occur. A researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Economics of Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Ibre-FGV), Rafael discusses which public bodies are responsible for tracking and overseeing the path of the amendments. He analyzes how the current format of this money influences the implementation and maintenance of public policies.

Guest: Roberto Azevedo, former Director-General of the WTO and president of 9G Consultoria. The first minutes of an agreement between the European Union and Mercosur were signed in 1995. After several attempts and three decades of negotiations, the countries of the European Commission gave the green light for a final agreement between the two blocs. The expectation is that the final signing will be next Saturday, January 17. A historic treaty, from which the world's largest economic zone is born. The pact involves 27 European Union countries and 4 Mercosur countries, including Brazil. Together, the countries involved account for 25% of all wealth produced on the planet. This is a market of 720 million consumers. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Roberto Azevêdo, a Brazilian who directly participated in the negotiations that began in the 1990s. Former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Azevêdo explains what unlocked the agreement at this moment and how Brazil, and Brazilians, will be affected. For him, who led the WTO between 2013 and 2020, it is a "win-win" agreement between the two parties. Azevêdo also explains what changes, in practice, for Brazilian agribusiness and for the country's consumers. Finally, he assesses how this is a chance for Brazil to reposition itself in world trade.

Guest: Filipe Figueiredo, a historian from USP, columnist for the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, and creator of the Xadrez Verbal podcast. With the largest military structure on the planet, for decades the United States has transformed its military power into an instrument of foreign policy. In the name of national security and strategic interests, Washington acted – directly or indirectly – to intervene in the politics of other countries around the globe. The results left traces of instability and lasting crises. For example, what happened in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, where the American occupation lasted two decades. Now, US President Donald Trump states that the intervention in Venezuela has no end date – and will last until a process of power transition. In this episode, Victor Boyadjian talks with historian Filipe Figueiredo. A columnist for the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo and creator and host of the Xadrez Verbal podcast, Filipe recalls what led to the invasions of countries in Latin America and the Middle East – and explains how the MAGA movement gives a new guise to the process of American interventionism. He explains what went wrong in a series of intervention processes and, finally, draws a parallel between the invasions of Iraq and Venezuela.

Guests: Carol Prado, g1 reporter; and Isabela Boscov, journalist and film critic. In 2026, Latin American culture is expected to further expand its space in global entertainment. The forecast comes from the British magazine "The Economist," which points to Latin America as one of the main drivers of the cultural industry this year. This, after Latin music and cinema gained prominence in global showbiz in 2025. Artists like Bad Bunny and Karol G lead global rankings, and cultural sector companies announce billions in investments in the region. All driven by a numerous, young, and highly connected audience, which has transformed local productions into international phenomena. Meanwhile, Brazilian cinema is experiencing a moment of greater visibility outside the country. 'The Secret Agent' and four other Brazilian films are on the Oscar 2026 shortlist. Kleber Mendonça Filho's film also holds records at the Golden Globes: it received 3 nominations, in the categories Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, with Wagner Moura. In this episode, Natuza Nery welcomes g1 reporter Carol Prado to explain how Latin music ceased to be niche and became a global protagonist. Carol details the numbers of this market and how the movement has a political dimension. Afterwards, Natuza speaks with film critic Isabela Boscov. She is the one who analyzes the current state of Brazilian and Latin American cinema and discusses the importance of permanent incentive policies.

Guest: Guilherme Casarões, political scientist and professor at Florida International University. In early December 2025, the United States announced its new National Security Strategy — a document that redefines the priorities of American foreign policy. The text focuses less on the Middle East and Europe and points to greater attention to Latin America, Asia, and the dispute with China. A month after the announcement, the US invaded Venezuela and captured Nicolás Maduro. Subsequently, Donald Trump once again claimed control over Greenland. And, earlier this week, the State Department published an image of the American president with the words: “This is our hemisphere.” Highlighted, the word “our.” In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Guilherme Casarões to explain how American foreign policy is the key piece in redesigning a new world map, in which zones of influence matter more than national borders – and where the great powers, according to the White House's vision, would be the US, China, and Russia. Political scientist and professor at Florida International University, Casarões explains the status of China and Russia's influences (in Asia, Europe, and Latin America) and the status of Europe and the Middle East. He also analyzes the situation of regional powers, such as Japan, India, and Brazil.

Guest: David Zylbersztajn, former director-general of the National Agency of Petroleum and professor at the Energy Institute of PUC-Rio. Venezuela today concentrates about 17% of all known oil reserves in the world, according to OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) — more than any other country. This abundance has always attracted external interests and shaped internal decisions of Venezuelan governments. Local production, which reached 3.7 million barrels in 1970, plummeted and today barely reaches 1 million barrels per day. Since the rise of Chavismo, with Hugo Chávez and in recent years with dictator Nicolás Maduro, multinationals were pushed out and exploration became concentrated in the state-owned PDVSA. It is in this scenario of decline that Donald Trump anchors his argument to justify his offensive in Venezuela. In his speech after Maduro's capture, Trump said the word oil 18 times. For the US president, the Venezuelan oil industry needs to be resumed — this time, under American command. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with David Zylbersztajn, former director-general of the National Agency of Petroleum (ANP) and professor at the Energy Institute of PUC-Rio. He recalls Venezuela's rise as an oil-exploring power and explains why the country's historic reserves have not been converted into wealth for the Venezuelan population. Finally, Zylbersztajn analyzes what could happen to the price of oil amid Maduro's deposition and uncertainties about the political future of the Caribbean country.

Guests: Brian Winter, political analyst and editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly magazine. Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Greenland... Since invading Venezuela and capturing Nicolás Maduro last Saturday (3), Donald Trump has indicated in several statements what his new ambitions and targets might be. In just over 48 hours, Trump stated that Colombian President Gustavo Petro "needs to worry," said that Cuba is "a bankrupt nation," spoke of a Mexico "controlled by cartels," and that the U.S. "needs" Greenland for national security reasons. This Monday (5), the U.S. State Department made a social media post with the statement: "this is our hemisphere," saying that the U.S. will not allow threats to the country. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Brian Winter, political analyst and editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly magazine. Brian explains the situation in Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Greenland, U.S. interests in each of these countries, and the political particularities of each of them. Brian also analyzes how the relationship with Brazil will stand after Trump's rapprochement with President Lula.

Guests: Leonardo Trevisan, professor of International Relations at ESPM; and Oliver Stuenkel, professor of International Relations at FGV and researcher at Harvard University and the Carnegie Endowment. NOTICE: O Assunto returns with a new episode on Tuesday, January 6. Saturday, January 3, 2026. Still in the early hours of the morning, an operation with US elite troops captured Nicolás Maduro inside a military complex in the capital Caracas. Maduro, who had governed Venezuela for 12 years, was caught along with his wife and later taken to the US, where, according to local authorities, he will be tried for narcoterrorism and three other crimes. Trump's attack was launched after months of escalating tension in the Caribbean. Since August, the US had conducted maritime operations near the Venezuelan coast, and Trump had repeatedly threatened the now-deposed regime. The US president's action was criticized by the Brazilian government and several countries but received support from some leaders, such as Argentina's Javier Milei. In this special episode, Natuza Nery hosts Leonardo Trevisan, professor of International Relations at ESPM, and Oliver Stuenkel, professor of International Relations at FGV and researcher at Harvard University and the Carnegie Endowment. Leonardo explains which international agreements Trump disrespected by invading Venezuelan territory, capturing Maduro, and taking him to the US. The ESPM professor assesses Trump's real interests in Venezuela, starting with oil – for him, Maduro served as a "trophy" for Trump. Leonardo answers what might happen from now on. Oliver analyzes how Brazil's relationship with Trump will be after the US invasion of a Latin American country and the position of the world's great powers and their areas of influence. He also explains why it is possible to consider that the events unfolding this January 3 usher in a new era in the history of geopolitics.

Guest: Fernando Gomes, neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, and associate professor at the USP School of Medicine. In this first episode of 2026, O Assunto answers a question: what is the importance of doing a “mental cleanse” and giving your brain time to rest? In conversation with Natuza Nery, neuroscientist Fernando Gomes answers this and other questions related to the main organ of the human nervous system. Fernando details how the human brain works – and what our real capacity is for doing more than one task at a time. The doctor explains what happens when there is overstimulation – although our brain can switch its focus of attention, “multitasking” mode can lead to problems such as stress, anxiety, and memory loss, in addition to changes in blood pressure. In the conversation, Fernando discusses the cultural belief that women are, naturally, more adept at performing several tasks simultaneously. The neuroscientist evaluates that the act of doing many things at once is a "great fallacy" from a biological point of view. Finally, Fernando emphasizes the importance of leisure and maintaining sleep quality for brain health.

Guest: Ana Maria Gonçalves, author of "A Color Defect". 2025 marked a historic chapter for Brazilian culture: writer Ana Maria Gonçalves arrived at the Brazilian Academy of Letters. It was the first time in 128 years that a Black woman took a seat at the ABL. This Tuesday, December 30, O Assunto reruns Natuza Nery's conversation with Ana Maria Gonçalves, recorded days before the writer's inauguration at the ABL. The author of the book that became a landmark of our contemporary culture discusses the place of Black women in Brazilian literature. Ana Maria tells how the protagonist Kehinde was created, an African woman who survived the Atlantic crossing and the violence of slavery in Brazil. Kehinde was inspired by the life of Luísa Mahin, mother of the poet and lawyer Luiz Gama – a key figure in Brazilian abolitionism. In the conversation, Ana Maria discusses the differences between Brazil in 2006 – the year her main novel was published – and the country today. "A Color Defect" won the Casa de las Américas Prize in 2007, one of the most important in Latin America. In 2024, the book was the theme of the samba-enredo of the Portela samba school. Throughout the episode, excerpts from "A Color Defect" are read by journalist Maju Coutinho and actor Lázaro Ramos – he gives voice to stanzas from Luiz Gama's poem "My Mother" and letters written by the author.

Guests: Poliana Casemiro, g1 reporter; and Renata Paparelli, Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the Work Clinic at PUC-SP. Every year, mental health-related illnesses keep 500,000 Brazilians away from work. Anxiety, depression, and stress are among the diagnoses. This is a global crisis with impacts also on the economy. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that mental health-related issues cause losses in the order of US$1 trillion per year globally. This Monday, December 29, O Assunto reruns an episode that discusses what is behind the explosion of absences due to mental health-related issues. And analyzes what this says about the work environment in Brazil and other countries. Natuza Nery speaks with Poliana Casemiro, a g1 reporter who conducted the survey based on exclusive data obtained from the Ministry of Social Security. Poliana provides an X-ray of the numbers that reveal the existence of a mental health crisis among Brazilian workers. She recounts what she heard from workers and reports how companies act to mitigate the problem. Afterward, Natuza speaks with psychotherapist Renata Paparelli. A Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the Work Clinic at PUC-SP, Renata also coordinates the Worker's Health Actions Nucleus. She is the one who analyzes what is behind the explosion of work absence cases due to problems such as depression and anxiety.

Guests: César Tralli, Globo and GloboNews presenter, and Bruno Tavares, Globo reporter. In August 2025, the mega-operation Hidden Carbon exposed a complex scheme involving the criminal faction PCC, the fuel sector, and the heart of the Brazilian financial system: Faria Lima. The investigation showed how the PCC infiltrates agents into fintechs and investment funds to hide dirty money from organized crime. According to the federal revenue, R$ 52 billion was moved in four years. It was from this operation that new layers of organized crime began to be unveiled, revealing an even deeper and more sophisticated network. This Friday, December 26, O Assunto reruns the most listened-to episode of the year. "Fintechs have become a black hole," César Tralli summarizes in conversation with Natuza Nery in this episode. Globo presenter, Tralli reports what he heard from investigators and tells how the investigation against organized crime reached the country's financial heart. Before that, Natuza talks with Bruno Tavares, the Globo reporter who first revealed the mega-operation against the PCC. He explains how this investigation originated and answers why the fuel sector is so attractive for the practice of crimes.

Guest: Oliver Stuenkel, professor of International Relations at FGV and researcher at Harvard University and the Carnegie Endowment. On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump reassumed the presidency of the USA. And, in this first year of his second term leading the White House, he governed with all eyes on him, generating practically daily headlines. Throughout 2025, Trump made controversial statements and live-streamed announcements. Everything designed to make an impact. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Oliver Stuenkel, professor of International Relations at FGV and researcher at Harvard University and the Carnegie Endowment, who analyzes Trump's strategy of governing like a "showman". He explains what Trump's relationship with Lula – and the US's with Brazil – looks like after a rollercoaster involving massive tariffs and the accusation that the Brazilian government and Judiciary were promoting a "witch hunt" against Jair Bolsonaro. Oliver comments on Trump's strategy of positioning himself as a "peace agent" in global geopolitics and points out the prospects for the US president in domestic politics – and what he can expect from the 2026 midterm elections. Oliver also assesses signs that Trump might attempt a third term, which is prohibited by the American Constitution.

Guest: Vera Magalhães, columnist for O Globo newspaper, anchor at CBN radio, and presenter of the Roda Viva program on TV Cultura. One of the last projects approved by the Senate this year was the one that reduces sentences for those convicted of the January 8 coup acts: the Sentencing Bill. One of the beneficiaries is former president Jair Bolsonaro, held at the Federal Police Superintendence since November. President Lula said he would veto the text, a measure that could be overturned by Congress and still be challenged by the Supreme Federal Court. It is a long process that exposes the clash between the Powers seen throughout the year. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with journalist Vera Magalhães to take stock of what 2025 was like in politics. Vera analyzes why Congress advanced on sentence dosimetry so soon after the convictions determined by the Supreme Court. She also evaluates the stance of the Chamber, which ended the year under the weakened leadership of Hugo Motta, amidst low legislative productivity and unprecedented scenes of violence. Finally, Natuza and Vera discuss what to expect from 2026. Vera outlines the electoral scenario after the arrest of Jair Bolsonaro, the anointing of Flávio Bolsonaro as the political heir of Bolsonarism, and Lula's recovery after facing the massive price hike. What are the fragilities and trump cards of each camp on the eve of a new election year?

Guest: Thomas Traumann, GloboNews commentator. In the US since March, Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) had his term as congressman revoked this Thursday (18). In addition to him, Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) also lost his position in the Chamber of Deputies. The decision came from the Chamber's Board of Directors and was signed by the House Speaker, congressman Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB). For different reasons, the two former Bolsonaro-allied congressmen who are in the US lost their mandates. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks to Thomas Traumann to recall what led to the revocation of Eduardo's and Ramagem's mandates – and why this decision was made by the Chamber's leadership now, one week after the House Plenary had disregarded a decision by the Federal Supreme Court and acquitted fellow Bolsonaro-ally Carla Zambelli (PL-SP) from revocation. Arrested in Italy, Zambelli ended up resigning days later. Thomas explains Eduardo's political and legal situation – without a mandate and without privileged forum, Jair Bolsonaro's son also lost support from US President Donald Trump. Thomas also answers what could happen to Ramagem, who fled to the US before being sentenced to prison for attempted coup d'état and and is considered a fugitive from Brazilian justice.

Guests: Léo Arcoverde, GloboNews reporter; and Joísa Dutra, FGV do Rio professor and former Aneel director. More than 2.2 million properties lost power in São Paulo after a storm with winds of over 90 km/h hit the city. Hundreds of trees fell and hit the power grid, under the responsibility of Enel - the concessionaire providing energy to the capital and cities in Greater São Paulo. The episode brought to light an old problem – since 2020, Enel has already received R$ 374 million in fines applied by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) due to poor service provision. After yet another episode in which millions of people lost power and hundreds of millions of reais in losses, a meeting between federal, state, and municipal governments decided to initiate the process of terminating the contract with Enel. In a conversation with Natuza Nery, GloboNews reporter Léo Arcoverde explains how the company reached a critical point in service provision in São Paulo. He recalls the November 2023 blackout, when millions of people lost power – in some areas, the lack of supply lasted a week. He details the difference between intervention and forfeiture processes and explains what Enel claims to justify the blackouts. Afterwards, Natuza welcomes Joísa Dutra, FGV do Rio professor and director of the Center for Regulation in Infrastructure at the same institution, FGV CERI. Joísa, who was an Aneel director between 2005 and 2009, explains how contract termination processes with energy concessionaires work. She also answers what could happen to Enel and what guarantees customers have with the prospect of the concession ending.

Guest: Marco Antônio Martins, g1 Rio reporter. The arrest of federal judge Macário Ramos Júdice Neto this Tuesday (16) exposed another layer of the TH Joias case. Arrested in September, the now ex-state deputy TH Joias (MDB) is being investigated for involvement with criminal factions. Earlier this month, deputy Rodrigo Bacellar (União Brasil), then president of Alerj, was also arrested on suspicion of leaking confidential information from Operation Unha e Carne, precisely the operation that led to TH Joias' arrest. In the 2nd phase of the operation, carried out this Tuesday, the Federal Police have indications that Macário helped Bacellar leak information to TH Joias. The judge was the rapporteur of the TH Joias case in the second instance of the Rio de Janeiro Judiciary. Documents and message exchanges obtained by investigators show the closeness between the judge and the now ex-president of Alerj. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Marco Antônio Martins, g1 Rio reporter. Marco Antônio recalls who TH Joias is and the suspicions surrounding the former deputy. He recalls how Bacellar was arrested and released days later, and the indications that the judge arrested this Tuesday helped leak information about the case. Finally, Marco Antônio answers what makes this case different from others involving politicians in RJ, a state where five of the 11 governors elected since redemocratization have been arrested – and where even oversight bodies have been targets of corruption investigations.

Guest: Demétrio Magnoli, GloboNews commentator and columnist for O Globo and Folha de S.Paulo. José Antonio Kast was elected president of Chile with a significant advantage: he received over 58% of the votes, defeating left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara in the second round. During the campaign, Kast promised to strengthen public security and tighten immigration rules. Aligned with the conservative right, Kast moderated his discourse in recent months. Having been elected, he met with current left-wing president Gabriel Boric and began the transition process - his inauguration will be in March 2026. Kast's victory reinforces a recent movement of the right's advance in South America. In October, Bolivia — a country traditionally governed by the left — broke a cycle of nearly two decades. To analyze the result of the Chilean election and explain the status of the South American continent's ideological map, Natuza Nery welcomes Demétrio Magnoli, GloboNews commentator and columnist for O Globo and Folha de S. Paulo newspapers. Demétrio assesses which changes by Kast – and the electorate – led to his victory in his third presidential race. He analyzes the logic of "rejection election" and answers whether this phenomenon is repeated in other countries on the continent. Finally, Demétrio concludes on the state of right and left-wing forces in South America – and what common traits exist among countries governed by presidents from both political specters.

Guests: Regina Célia Almeida, co-founder and vice-president of the Maria da Penha Institute; and Amanda Sadalla, co-founder and executive director of Serenas. Tainara was dragged. Daniele, stabbed to death. Alane and Layse, shot. Catarina, raped and strangled. Maria Katiane, assaulted and found dead after falling from the 10th floor. All of them, victims of a recurring crime in Brazil: femicide. In the first six months of 2025, there were 718 cases: on average, four women are killed every day in the country. A crime that continues to grow, despite its penalty being stiffened since last year. Under current law, those who commit femicide can be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. In this episode, Natuza Nery speaks with Amanda Sadalla, co-founder and executive director of Serenas, an organization that works to prevent violence against women and girls; and also hears from Regina Célia Almeida, co-founder and vice-president of the Maria da Penha Institute. Amanda explains how prevention and the guidance of public agents are fundamental in combating femicide and violence against women. She also talks about the importance of educating boys and girls to break cycles of aggression and cites the United Kingdom as an example of good practices to prevent this type of crime. Regina responds about what type of public policy needs to exist to assist victims of domestic violence and highlights how the so-called shelters are essential for assisting women and girls. Finally, Regina emphasizes the importance of women recognizing when they are victims of violence and abuse.

Guests: Fernanda Vivas, journalist and producer for TV Globo in Brasília; and André Trigueiro, TV Globo journalist and commentator and editor-in-chief of Cidades e Soluções, on GloboNews. Two years after the Supreme Court ruled that the temporal framework is unconstitutional, the Senate approved a PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment) that includes the thesis in the Constitution. According to the text, indigenous peoples will only be able to claim possession of areas they permanently occupied on October 5, 1988. In practice, if communities cannot prove they were on the lands on this date, they may be expelled. The senators' analysis of the text was rapid: the two-round vote occurred in just one night – the House's rules stipulate a five-business-day interval. In parallel, at the Federal Supreme Court, ministers resumed analysis of four lawsuits related to the temporal framework and indigenous land rights. To explain in detail what the temporal framework is, what was approved in the Senate, and the proposal's path from now on, Natuza Nery speaks with Fernanda Vivas, a TV Globo journalist in Brasília. Afterwards, Natuza speaks with André Trigueiro, GloboNews commentator and editor-in-chief of the Cidades e Soluções program. Trigueiro assesses the constitutionality of the temporal framework and points out the consequences of its eventual definitive approval for indigenous peoples and for sectors of agribusiness.