4 chapters across the catalog
Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva is facing allegations of involvement in a massive bribery scheme centered around the state oil company Petrobras. The investigation has uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes paid to mid-level managers and politicians. Despite the scale of the scandal, the hosts note the "screwy" nature of Brazilian politics and the country's perpetual struggle with institutional corruption.
President Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced joint pledges to triple renewable energy use by 2030. The meeting marks a diplomatic thaw after Rousseff canceled a previous trip following revelations that the NSA had spied on her personal communications and the state oil company, Petrobras.
Mexico Energy Privatization, Brazil NSA Spying and Petrobras
Protests erupted in Mexico City against President Enrique Peña Nieto's plans to privatize the state-controlled oil sector. Simultaneously, revelations that the NSA spied on the Brazilian oil company Petrobras and President Dilma Rousseff have caused a diplomatic crisis. Brazil has rejected U.S. explanations for the surveillance, and former President Lula da Silva has called for a personal apology from Barack Obama.
The Obama administration's response to the Gulf oil spill is framed as a strategy to shut down domestic drilling in favor of investments in Brazil. Significant capital from firms like First Reserve Corp is moving toward Brazilian oil fields. The predicted outcome is a three-month delay in capping the leak to justify a permanent shift in U.S. energy production and higher consumer prices.
