🇧🇷 Brazil Episodes

Guest: Vera Magalhães, columnist for O Globo newspaper and anchor and commentator for CBN radio. The affiliation of Ronaldo Caiado, governor of Goiás, with the PSD, reinforces the discourse of the party's president, Gilberto Kassab, that the party will have its own presidential candidacy. Caiado joins Ratinho Júnior, governor of Paraná, and Eduardo Leite, governor of Rio Grande do Sul, on the list of aspirants to the Palácio do Planalto. The prospect of the PSD launching a presidential ticket grows as the possibility of Tarcísio de Freitas, governor of São Paulo for the Republicans, being a candidate diminishes. He, who is Kassab's dream candidate, repeats at every opportunity that he is a candidate for re-election in SP. This Thursday (29), Tarcísio visited Jair Bolsonaro at Papudinha, in Brasília, and reinforced that he will work to elect Flávio president. In this episode, Rafael Colombo talks with Vera Magalhães, columnist for O Globo newspaper and anchor and commentator for CBN radio, to analyze who wins and who loses with the latest movements of pieces on the right and center-right. Vera projects Kassab's plans for this election and also assesses the government's strategies to win more seats in Congress.

Guest: Luiz Augusto Campos, professor at the Institute of Social and Political Studies at UERJ and co-author of the book "The Impact of Quotas." The Santa Catarina Court of Justice suspended, by preliminary injunction, the law sanctioned by Governor Jorginho Mello that prohibits racial quotas and other affirmative actions in universities and companies that receive state funds. The measure interrupts, at least temporarily, the application of the norm approved by the Legislative Assembly at the end of 2025. In addition to the suspension by the TJ-SC, Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court, gave a 48-hour deadline for the Santa Catarina government and Alesc to provide clarification on the law. The episode occurs more than a decade after the approval of the Quota Law in 2012, which changed the profile of Brazilian universities, as explained by Luiz Augusto Campos, professor at the Institute of Social and Political Studies at UERJ. In a conversation with Natuza Nery, he, who is co-author of the book "The Impact of Quotas," analyzes the constitutionality of the law and states: it is an "affront to the Brazilian federative pact."

Guest: Sérgio Vale, economist, researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies at USP and chief economist at MB Associados consultancy. For the first time, the price of gold reached the US$ 5,100 mark - in January last year, the quote was US$ 2,730 per ounce, a measure equivalent to 31 grams. The surge reflects the increase in global uncertainties, especially those caused by the foreign policy of United States President Donald Trump. Since Trump's return to the White House, a combination of factors has increased the price of gold: the trade dispute with China, tariff policy, geopolitical and military crises, and rising tensions between the United States and Europe over Greenland. To explain the gold surge and why the metal's price rises during economic instability, Natuza Nery speaks with Sérgio Vale, a researcher in the area of economics and international politics at the Institute for Advanced Studies at USP. Chief economist at MB Associados consultancy, Sérgio Vale also explains how US fiscal and monetary policies stir the markets. The economist compares the escalation in the price of the precious metal to a "fever," a sign that the global economy is going through a period of severe instability.

Guest: Guga Chacra, commentator for TV Globo and GloboNews, and columnist for O Globo newspaper. 50 minutes. This was the duration of the conversation between presidents Lula and Donald Trump this Monday (26). The long phone call is another sign of rapprochement between the governments of Brazil and the United States – and helps explain the current status of the relationship between the countries. During the conversation, the two presidents agreed on a visit by Lula to Washington later this year, but without a confirmed date. The “Peace Council” created by Trump was also a topic of the call – Brazil was invited to join the group. Lula has not yet responded to the invitation, but conditioned Brazilian participation on changes to the group's format, focusing on solutions for the Gaza Strip and the inclusion of Palestine in the debates. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Guga Chacra to explain the current state of the relationship between Lula and Trump (and between Brazil and the USA). A commentator for Globo and GloboNews and a columnist for O Globo newspaper, Guga points out the risks and opportunities opening up for Brazil with Lula's in-person visit to the US capital. He also analyzes the “non-response” given by the Brazilian president to the American invitation to join Trump's Peace Council.

Guest: Kleber Mendonça Filho, director and screenwriter of “The Secret Agent”. On March 15, Kleber Mendonça Filho will walk the red carpet of the most important film award ceremony in the world, in Los Angeles (USA). At the Oscar ceremony, he might see “The Secret Agent”, a film he wrote and directed, take home up to four statuettes – it competes in the categories Best International Feature Film, Best Ensemble, Best Actor (with Wagner Moura), and Best Picture. Already in January, he won two Golden Globes, in the categories Best International Feature Film and Best Actor. In total, his feature film has garnered over 50 awards at festivals worldwide. In Brazil, the production has already drawn 1.5 million people to cinemas. In this special episode of Assunto, Kleber Mendonça Filho talks with Natuza Nery about what makes “The Secret Agent” a film that has been captivating audiences and specialized critics worldwide. He goes back to the year 2020, when he began writing this screenplay, which from the very first moment was intended for Wagner Moura to be the protagonist. The filmmaker also explains the process of choosing actors and actresses who would give form to the more than 60 characters in the feature. In this interview, Kleber looks at various aspects of his artistic identity. He explores his deep connection with Recife, a city that is a character in his films and a source of cultural and political inspiration for him. And he comments on what it was like growing up “hearing stories about History” – he who is the son of historian Joselice Jucá. Finally, he reflects on the aspect of memory in his work.

Guest: Waldemar Dalenogare, film critic, PhD in History, and the first South American to join the Critics Choice Association, the largest organization of film and television critics in the USA and Canada. The 2026 Academy Awards register a record for Brazilian cinema: five nominations at the awards. "The Secret Agent," a film written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, competes for four statuettes. And cinematographer Adolpho Veloso was nominated for "Train Dreams" – a work filmed almost entirely with natural light, which has been highly praised by international critics. "The Secret Agent" is the Brazilian film with the most nominations of all time, tied with "City of God" in 2004. The feature film competes in the categories Best Ensemble Cast (created by the Academy this edition), Best International Feature Film (the same one "I'm Still Here" won in 2025), Best Actor (with Wagner Moura, who is the first Brazilian actor to make the final list), and in the main category, Best Picture. With this, Brazil reinforces its position as a rising force on cinema screens and at international awards – earlier this year, Kleber Mendonça Filho's feature film had already won two Golden Globe statuettes. In an exclusive report for O Assunto, the filmmaker talks about the power of memory in his work. Regarding Brazil's chances of winning at the Oscars, Natuza Nery speaks with Waldemar Dalenogare, film critic and PhD in History. He, who was the first South American to join the Critics Choice Association, also comments on why Brazilian films have started to attract international attention and assesses what needs to be done for our film industry to take advantage of this moment.

Guest: Ludhmila Hajjar, cardiologist and intensive care physician and full professor of Emergencies at USP. This week, the Ministry of Education released the results of the first edition of the National Examination for the Evaluation of Medical Training, Enamed. Of the 351 courses analyzed, 107 received scores considered below ideal – in other words, more than 30% of medical schools failed. The worst evaluations were recorded in courses at municipal public institutions and for-profit private institutions. It is a result that calls into question the rampant expansion of medical courses in Brazil. In the last decade, more than 2,500 new places per year were opened, on average. Today, there are 494 medical schools in operation – only India, the world's most populous country, has more than that. To discuss the fragility of medical training in Brazil, Natuza Nery talks with Ludhmila Hajjar, a cardiologist and intensive care physician. She, who is a full professor of Emergencies at USP, evaluates the results of Enamed and proposes new evaluation models to ensure the quality of medical students. Ludhmila also warns about the risk of hospitals being occupied by poorly trained doctors: "It's a lottery with a greater chance of losing."

Guests: Pedro de Abreu Gomes dos Santos, professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, in Minnesota; and with Gabrielle Oliveira, professor of Education and Immigration at Harvard University and author of the podcast "Uma Estrangeira" (A Foreigner). A family with six children, including a six-month-old baby, was caught in the middle of a confrontation between protesters and agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, in Minneapolis. The car was surrounded, grenades were launched, and a tear gas canister rolled under the vehicle, causing the airbags to explode and filling the interior with smoke. The incident occurred amidst a wave of protests following the death of 37-year-old American Renée Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent in early January. Since then, videos show violent approaches, arrests without explanation, and the use of force against protesters and ordinary families. To explain how ICE emerged and expanded, Natuza Nery interviews Gabrielle Oliveira, professor of Education and Immigration at Harvard University. Author of the podcast Uma Estrangeira, Gabrielle also discusses how the American government increased the recruitment of agents, reduced training time, and began deploying these teams in cities and states without authorization from local governments. Previously, the conversation is with Pedro de Abreu Gomes dos Santos, professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, in Minnesota. He explains why the state became a target for Trump and recounts his experience encountering ICE agents. Finally, he, who is a naturalized American, is married to an American, and has American children, speaks of his fear of being separated from his family.

Guest: Vitelio Brustolin, professor of International Relations at UFF (Federal Fluminense University). Strategically located between the Arctic and the North Atlantic, Greenland is the largest island in the world. It spans over 2 million sq km, a territory rich in rare minerals and considered by Donald Trump vital for U.S. security. The giant island has become an object of covetousness for the American government. The problem: it is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump has already suggested annexing or acquiring Greenland, but the Danish government makes it clear that it has no interest in negotiating the island. The White House escalated the crisis by announcing new tariffs against eight European countries that sent troops to the territory last week. A tension that exposes Europe's current fragility and puts NATO at risk. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with Vitelio Brustolin to explain why Trump covets Greenland. A professor of International Relations at UFF, he answers what the American military interests (such as the construction of the Gold Dome) and strategic interests (such as the Arctic naval route) are in the region. Vitelio also analyzes the consequences of a potential annexation by the U.S., especially for the future of the North Atlantic alliance, which includes 30 European countries. He points out the signs of NATO's weakening and the risks of this deterioration process: "It would be a catastrophic scenario for the whole world."

Guest: Mariana Thibes, doctor in sociology and coordinator of the Center for Information on Health and Alcohol (CISA). The challenge began in the United Kingdom in 2012 and then spread worldwide. “Dry January” proposes spending the entire month without consuming a single drop of alcohol. The initiative is a form of “detox” after the year-end holidays, and to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol on the body and mood. It's a movement that rides on a global trend: the reduction in alcoholic beverage consumption. A phenomenon observed especially in Brazil. This is attested by a survey conducted by Ipsos-Ipec, with data from 2025: 64% of Brazilians declared not having drunk alcohol throughout the year – in 2023, this number was 55%. And the drop is even more pronounced among young people: in the 18 to 24 age group, the proportion of those who declared not having consumed alcohol jumped from 46% to 64%. To explain the reasons for this phenomenon, Natuza Nery speaks with Mariana Thibes, coordinator of the Center for Information on Health and Alcohol (CISA). A doctor in sociology, Mariana believes there is a generational gap in how younger people view drinking – as a health problem and a risk to social relationships. Mariana recalls Brazilians' relationship with alcoholic beverages over time, and analyzes the economic effects of this change in behavior.

Guest: Demétrio Magnoli, GloboNews commentator and columnist for O Globo and Folha de S.Paulo newspapers. Reports speak of executions, shootings against teenagers, crowded morgues. Result of a repression by the Iranian regime against the protests that have swept the country in recent weeks. International organizations estimate between 2,000 and 12,000 dead. Official numbers, however, are unknown, as the regime cut internet access throughout Iranian territory. The scale of the demonstrations is unprecedented in the country, as Demétrio Magnoli recalls in conversation with Natuza Nery in this episode. GloboNews commentator and columnist for O Globo and Folha de S. Paulo newspapers, Demétrio discusses what is different about the current protests compared to those of 2022, when a young woman was killed for not wearing the Islamic veil as dictated by the ayatollahs' regime, and of 2009, when the presidential election result was questioned. Although the spark for the demonstrations was economic, Demétrio points out how the acts took on a political character: protesters began demanding the fall of the ayatollahs' regime, in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He also talks about how the US has encouraged the demonstrations, given signs that it is in negotiation with the Tehran government, and what are the chances of action by Donald Trump against Iran.

Guest: Ana Flor, g1 columnist and commentator for TV Globo and GloboNews. The owner of Banco Master, his relatives, and business partners were targeted in a new Federal Police operation this Wednesday (14). This is the second phase of Compliance Zero, which investigates an alleged scheme of financial fraud at the bank. By determination of Minister Dias Toffoli, of the Federal Supreme Court, R$ 5.7 billion were blocked. Also seized were R$ 97,000 in cash, cars, and luxury items. Fabiano Zettel, Daniel Vorcaro's brother-in-law, was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. The operation also targeted Vorcaro himself and businessmen Nelson Tanure and João Carlos Mansur. The action generated friction between Minister Dias Toffoli and the Federal Police – the minister complained about the PF's delay in executing warrants and demanded that the evidence be sealed and kept at the Supreme Court. The PF alleged that Toffoli's decision would hinder data analysis and harm the investigation. Later, Toffoli determined that the seized material should remain at the Attorney General's Office. In this episode, Natuza Nery talks with journalist Ana Flor. A g1 columnist and commentator for Globo and GloboNews, Ana Flor explains what suspicions fall upon those investigated in this new phase of the operation. She also recalls all the latest chapters of the Banco Master case and the strategies used by Vorcaro to protect himself. And she also comments on the panic that the seizure of his cell phone is causing behind the scenes in Brasília.

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.