Podgecaste

Discussed:

* The definition of a suit.

* Did Trump make the right call?

* Our PhDs in New York municipal politics.

* Staten Island socialists.

* Unsolicited advice for Democrat strategists.

* Nothing to report from Brazil.

* Are musical biopics the worst genre of all time?

* The Social Network II—the sequel no one asked for.

* Nothing Ever Happens as stoicism’s kryptonite.

* Out of context Adam Curtis chat.

* And much more!

Discussed:

* The ‘Nothing Ever Happens’ philosophy.

* Rory Stewart joins us for a quick explainer.

* Did something really happen?

* Dominic Cummings and the future of warfare.

* The turmoil of Nate Silver’s approval ratings.

* The Oval Office is just a podcast studio, bro.

* Lula’s G7 gameplan.

* Bolsonaro takes the stand.

* Elon out at Tesla?

* And much more!

Welcome to our new segment, Podegecaste Predictions!

In an attempt to streamline our ramblings, we’re now splitting the show into two segments.

Our main episode will become the place for more deep-dives on Brazil, while Podgecaste Predictions will be the place where we muse on a wider range of global and pop culture events (in our characteristically uninformed manner) through the murky but fascinating lens of prediction markets.

Yes...

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming Chris Pickard to the show. He initially joined us to talk about his friendship with the legendary Ronnie Biggs (check out that episode if you haven’t yet) and his soon-to-be-released documentary “Ronnie Biggs: Run to Rio”.

Fortunately for us, Chris was also generous enough to discuss some of his own adventures in Brazil. His deep ties to the country go back generations, and over the ...

Discussed:

* Lady Gaga’s mega show at Copacabana beach.

* Should the public foot the bill?

* Eduardo Paes, a California Democrat(?)

* A (reluctant) take on the Australian election.

* Can Brazil make 2026 boring again?

* We used to have protests. Where’d they all go?

* Lula, the Goldman Sachs central banker.

* Does anyone care about economics anymore?

* Glenn Greenwald goes before the Brazilian senate.

* Our latest Polymarket predictions.

* An...

* Ronnie Biggs (w/ Chris Pickard) recap.

* The rise and fall of Big Brother Brasil.

* Is Brazil still Catholic? The numbers.

* Brazil’s rise of evangelical/protestant Christianity.

* How did FHC get away with being agnostic?

* The diversity of the Brazilian family.

* Street preachers need better mics.

* Flordelis on Ana Maria Braga.

* Thoughts on Papa Francisco and the next Pope.

* Oliver Stone and Lula.

* Best JFK conspiracy takes.

* And muc...

Chris Pickard is a self-described jack of all trades — but what trades! Who wouldn’t want to juggle launching a record store called Gringos in Ipanema, editing the legendary Brazil Herald, and becoming an authority on the Cannes Film Festival? He may be a jack of all trades, but he’s certainly mastered picking the most exciting ones.

Across a multitude of roles, Chris has acted as a bridge between Anglo and Brazilian cultures — writ...

Discussed:

* Has the deal been arted?

* Jack’s A-Level class on bonds.

* David Sacks is a genius.

* Haddad x Mônica Bergamo

* Does black-and-white footage make you more serious?

* Haddad’s PhD thesis.

* Has the US ‘lost’ the gloabalization game?

* Chris’s tirade on tariffs. Spoiler: they don’t work.

* Upside-down bullet trains going under bridges.

* Everyone loves the free market all of a sudden.

* And much more!

After a brief hiatus, we’re back—only to find it’s well and truly over. Discussed:

* You get a tariff! You get a tariff! Everybody gets a tariff!

* Trump on The View vs. Trump on Ellen.

* Jack’s updates from Civil War Island.

* The blessings of a few weeks off podcasting.

* Does Big Money work in Brazilian politics?

* The trials of Tony Mokbel and Ronnie Biggs.

* Brazil’s peculiar extradition protections.

* Chris watched The Sopranos—in ca...

* Feels Fake vs. Feels Real—unpacking Jack’s latest piece.

* Russel Brand reads Jack’s article.

* Bolsonaro vs. Tech Bros—who brings more mystique?

* A case for Dominic Cummings.

* Tony Soprano economics.

* Tariffs are a tactic, or they make us rich. Pick one.

* Rumble vs. Alexandre de Moraes.

* More Glenn impressions.

* Does AI need to be based?

* Lula gets something right—kinda sorta.

* Final Oscar predictions.

* Tucker has no evidence, but...

* Our war with the mics continues.

* Milei’s crypto blunder.

* Is 60 Minutes making TV great again?

* Brazil’s bot armies.

* I’m Still Here on Amanpour.

* Are the BAFTAs an omen for Brazil’s Oscar chances?

* Jesse Singal on DOGE.

* Setting the record straight on the Bolsonaro years.

* Note: we recorded this before Bolsonaro being charged.

* Did JFK order the ‘64 coup?

* Tucker vs. Pinochet.

* Throwback to the 2018 election.

* Lula vs. Moro—the...

* Brazil’s battle of the stupid hats.

* Ciro is GOAT’d.

* Lula needs Malcolm Tucker.

* The student politics comms genius.

* Who are Brazil’s new overlords?

* A deep dive on the Centrão.

* Is the Centrão a force for good?

* Thoughts on The Edge of Democracy and The Trial.

* The (grammatical) problem with DOGE.

* Bannon’s Brazil.

* The Glenn Greenwald impression is ready to go.

* More Lula as Trump.

* Fernanda Torres (again, but you know, SEO).

*...

* Podgecaste re-born.

* Trump vs. Petro vs. Lula vs. Trump.

* Can LatAm leaders out-deal the Donald, or does the US always win?

* Brazil prepares to be tariffed.

* Musings on Trump 2.0 and immigration.

* A rare case for civil liberties.

* Are we for or against drivers’ licenses?

* Kash Patel looks home and dry.

* Tulsi’s looking shaky.

* One of the best Bernie impression you’ve ever heard.

* Is MAHA just the EU on sterioids?

* A lesson on how...

* Audio’s fixed. We promised and delivered.

* The Trouble with Sam Harris.

* Faz o Pix.

* Lula’s Globo L (clip mentioned).

* Nikolas Ferreira — President in twenty-thirty-something (clip mentioned).

* Haddad goes full McCarthy (clip mentioned).

* What is even the point of John Oliver?

* Gregório Duvivier loves a chicken shop.

* Fernanda Torres and the two Jimmys.

* Say Nothing vs. I’m Still Here (culture vulture alert).

* Why didn’t Joseph p...

* Last episode with imperfect audio (we promise).

* Musings on Civil War (the movie, not a prediction for 2025).

* MAGA Civil War.

* Elon vs. the groypers.

* Tariff, it’s a beautiful word.

* The tech bros and the master strategy.

* Steve Bannon vs. the nerds.

* Is Luigi Mangione the first centrist dad terrorist?

* Make Spending Cuts Cool Again.

* The biggest Brazilian internet stars of 2024.

* Outlandish Brazpol predictions.

* And much more!

Discussed:

* Is the Brazilian economy so over or so back?

* It’s another crisis, and of course, memes are to blame.

* Does the dollar really matter?

* 69% of Brazilians prefer democracy, but to what?

* How Brazilians feel about the chance of another dictatorship.

* Christmas boteco quiz (are you going to Balneário?).

* Was 2024 tankavel?

* Failed niche impressions.

* Who said it?

* We are Bluesky. We are The Resistance.

* And much more!

Discussed:

* Super stable and neurologically perfect.

* Few men can save democracy, and they’re all in their 80s, apparently.

* What’s going on with that Quaest poll?

* Pedro Menezes (friend of the show) thinks the electorate will punish Bolsonaro. We’re not so sure.

* Check out his livestream here.

* We’ll never forget that meeting.

* Braga Neto arrested. Where does Bolsonaro go from here?

* Faria Lima’s not happy. Does it matter?

* Milei ...

Discussed:

* The vicious novela cycle.

* Central do Brasil (trailer here).

* Was Fernanda Montenegro robbed of the Oscar in ‘99?

* Our best Brazilian film picks (Chris’s pick & Jack’s pick).

* Ramblings on “I’m Still Here”. Spoiler: we’re (kinda) fans, but ehhhhhh.

* Why can’t we have just a little more nuance?

* Dictatorships are bad.

* The amnesty—pros and cons.

* Bolsonaro’s villain origin story. Correction below.*

* There was (allegedly)...

While Jack lounges on a beach (irresponsibly, by the way) on an undisclosed island off the Brazilian coast, Chris picks up the mic and shares some quick solo thoughts on Bolsonaro’s indictment and the Brazilian left’s reaction. Disclaimer: he’s not feeling particularly generous.