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

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Faithful: Joseph & Daniel: Culture Shock