A report published Wednesday by researchers at the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab estimates that extreme heat fueled by this year’s “Super El Niño” event could kill more than 450,000 people in the coming months, in addition to deaths from drought, wildfires, and other extreme weather. The report notes that “anomalously warm conditions” caused by the record-shattering El Niño…
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This is a particularly important episode, coming just two weeks ahead of the 1st round of high stakes presidential elections in Brazil.
Host Michael Fox speaks with Artur Romeu. He’s a Brazilian journalist and the Latin American Director for Latin America of the international NGO Reporters Without Borders.
They spoke ahead of Episode 6 of The Battle for Free Speech, about Brazil’s fight against disinformation. He has an important analysis, which helps to deconstruct how Trump, Silicon Valley and the far-right in the United States, and around the world is “instrumentalizing the idea of free speech for their own political purpose and abandoning key dimension of freedom of expression, which is this more social and collective dimension to receive plural, reliable, diverse, and free information from others.”
This is the third bonus episode of The Battle for Free Speech. The Battle for Free Speech Podcast is a production of The Real News Network hosted by Michael Fox and Marc Steiner.
Guests:
Artur Romeu
Resources:
You can check out the full Battle for Free Speech podcast series here.
Many thanks to everyone who has supported this show.
Follow The Battle for Free Speech on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Support Michael Fox’s reporting at patreon.com/mfox. Never miss an episode — sign up for The Real News newsletter at therealnews.com.
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. It will be updated.
Michael Fox:
Hi folks. I’m your co-host, Michael Fox. This is the Battle for Free Speech, and this is the third bonus episode in this series. So this one is particularly important and timely as Brazil is heading into high stakes presidential elections this October. The race is between current leftist president Luis Ignacio
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Fernando Cerimedo. A name that unless you follow Latin America closely, you likely have never heard.
He’s been called “MAGA’s man” in Latin America. And he is at the heart of a shocking scandal that includes “attempted femicide,” election rigging, fake news, disinformation and powerful political ties to far-right presidents across Latin America, and even the White House, under Donald Trump.
It’s big news in Latin America, even though it’s been largely under the radar in the United States, until now.
The scandal has dire implications for the legitimacy of elections up and down the Americas, including elections where U.S. president Donald Trump has been throwing his weight around over the last year. Elections where right-wingers have won close, but shocking victories. And big elections are coming up in Brazil and elsewhere.
This is Episode 14 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.
Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.
Follow Under the Shadow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
It is supported, in part, by Global Exchange.
Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido’s 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.
Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed, and edited by Michael Fox.
Guests:
Jake Johnston
Maria Martha Bruno
Resources:
Progressive International’s Investigation into Fernando Cerimedo — How to Steal a Hemisphere: Fernando Cerimedo and the Heist of Latin American Democracy
Facebook não barra anúncios com desinformação sobre eleições brasileiras
You can visit Agencia
Every three days someone is killed for defending nature. In 2025, watchdog group Global Witness documented 124 such deaths worldwide, a toll researchers say is likely only a fraction of the total number because repression and armed conflict make many deaths impossible to verify. The victims included Indigenous people, small-scale farmers and community organizers peacefully protecting…
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President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched his campaign for a fourth and final term before thousands of supporters in São Bernardo do Campo, promising to keep fighting poverty and investing in Brazil’s future. His challenger: Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, running in place of his father, former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest after being convicted of attempting a coup. US President Donald Trump has backed the Bolsonaros with tariffs, visa revocations, and open pressure — what experts call a new era of US dominance over Latin America.
Michael Fox reports from São Paulo, with voices from Lula’s campaign launch, evangelical Bolsonaro supporters on the streets of São Paulo, and foreign relations professor Igor Fuser.
Credits:
Filmed and edited by Michael Fox
Transcript
The campaigns are underway ahead of Brazil’s October elections
And U.S. President Donald Trump is doing his best to sway the vote…
“Lula, Lula!”
Thousands of supporters of leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended his campaign launch in mid August.
Karen Silva
“We came to support Lula, especially in his last election. And we believe that we are going to win. This is a fact.”
They filled May 1st Stadium in Sao Bernardo do Campo….
A place, where Lula led an iconic metal workers strike and rally in 1979.
They say Lula has changed their lives.
Raimunda Silva Santos
“Yeah, he changed my life. He changed the life of my whole family.”
During his years in office, he promoted education, health and social programs. He helped to lift millions from poverty. They have not forgotten.
Raimunda Silva Santos
“Wow, this is the greatest joy of my life. I’m 76 years old. I’m so happy. Lula is coming to stay. He’s an incredible person. He’s helped