Podgecaste Brazil

In their first interview, the Podgecaste boys talk to Michael Royster, a retired American lawyer, former Peace Corps volunteer, senior figure in the English-speaking community, and popular columnist who has lived in Brazil for half a century.

Topics discussed:

* Has Brazil reached peak semi-presidentialism?

* The people who voted for the monarchy in ‘94.

* Was Dilma really the victim of a coup?

* Brazil’s “secret budget”.

* What is a centrão, and why does it matter?

* The pros and cons of a parliamentary system for Brazil.

* The changing face of Brazil’s judiciary.

* The legalities of the X ban.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

Discussed:

* X’s finally back!

* Brazil loves X and we (secretly) love it.

* We know Felipe Neto hated Bluesky.

* Can Polymarket swing an election?

* This is all very exciting, but mind’s are probably made up.

* How do you pronounce Tugendhat?

* James Cleverly may not be so clever.

* Kemi’s set to bring to it home.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

In this bonus emergency episode, the Podgecaste boys dissect the results of the first round of voting in Brazil’s municipal elections. Were the boys’ predictions on the money? And what have we learnt?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

Discussed:

* We don’t blame Walz. We also don’t remember where we were during Tiananmen Square.

* Democrats want you to know that democracy is (yet again) on the ballot.

* Tim Walz wants you to know he’s a knucklehead. Spoiler: we know.

* Breaking: Donald Trump does not frequent Walmart.

* Is JD Vance a Will Hunting at heart?

* Boulos lines up to run the ball.

* Lula keeps the attack dogs at bay. But for how long?

* Can Brazil’s right ever unite again?

* More Trumpian Lula.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

* Kamala’s got a vibe.

* Why are Democrats so bad at loving freedom?

* Trump loves that guy in the sky.

* Predictions for the VP showdown.

* The weird thing is getting kind of weird.

* Musk vs. Moraes: is there a winner?

* The trials of Monark.

* Is John Lennon’s Imagine a foreign policy manifesto?

* Lula’s turning into the Donald.

* Why is Boulos like this?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

Discussed:

* Jack’s big prediction for November.

* Is Kamala getting voters out or keeping them at home?

* JD Vance vs. Tim Walz: first impressions for the VP title bout.

* Musings on Polymarket.

* Obligatory updates on X in Brazil.

* Who is Datena, and why is he throwing chairs?

* The Pablo Marçal factor: is Brazil destined to fazer o M?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com

In their pilot episode, the Podgecaste boys share their thoughts on the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as well as all things Brazil. Topics covered include:

* The debate’s three losers.

* That weird Dick Cheney shoutout.

* Is X [insert obligatory reminder of what it used to be called] ever coming back to Brazil?

* The flop that was 7 de setembro and Bolsonaro’s struggles in local politics.

* What the hell is going on in São Paulo?

* Is Tabata Amaral Brazil’s answer to JD Vance?

* Deolane Bezerra (no further comment required).

* The ethics of influencer advertising.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podgecaste.substack.com