When Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in January 2023, the challenges ahead of him loomed large. A year on, the economy has grown more than expected, at 3%, and his administration has passed a historic tax reform. Nevertheless, the executive's relationship with Brazil's conservative, transactional congress remains a reason for concern. In this episode, one of Brazil's best-sourced political journalists discusses the ups and downs of Lula's first year, the strength of Brazil's conservative movement and  former President Jair Bolsonaro, and the main challenges expected for 2024.