The Troubles in Brazil

Summary

Down to Business English — "The Troubles in Brazil"

Hosts: Skip Montreux & Des Morgan
Date: July 24, 2016

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Skip and Des turn their attention from Brexit to another timely global development—the political and economic crises afflicting Brazil, especially in the context of the impending 2016 Summer Olympics. The hosts unpack the roots of Brazil’s recent turmoil, its implications for the country’s future, and the wider trend of political shifts in Latin America, all while introducing key English business vocabulary.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lighthearted Brexit Banter and Show Introduction

• The hosts open with jokes referencing Britain's Brexit referendum and playful wordplay ("Brendum," "Brindependence," "Brolympics") before transitioning to Brazil's current affairs.
  • Quote (Des Morgan, 00:26): “Sorry, I can't hear you, Skip. Now that I am independent, it's really difficult to talk to people in other countries.”
  • Skip shifts focus: “Anyway, Brazil most certainly has been experiencing a lot of problems of its own. And that is our story for today.” (01:56)

2. Political Instability in Brazil

• President Rousseff’s Impeachment:

  • Removed from office a few months prior, Rousseff was accused of manipulating economic figures to appear more favorable ahead of elections.
    • Quote (Skip, 02:35): “It’s all about the usual suspects. Corruption charges, fabrication of financial figures to make the economy seem better than it actually was, bribery, just to name a few.”
  • Des clarifies: Corruption and bribery charges primarily implicated others, but Rousseff was personally accused of economic fabrication.
    • Quote (Skip, 02:58): “Fabricating economic numbers so she could get re-elected? That bit is squarely against her personally.”

• Political Leanings and New Leadership:

  • Vice President Michel Temer (more right-wing) takes over.
    • Quote (Skip, 03:09): “That was Michel Temer, the vice president, who leans much further right in his politics.”
  • Des notes a regional trend: “So another Latin American country lurches to the right, then.” (03:18)

3. Regional Context: Latin America’s Shift Right

• The hosts discuss the broader shift toward conservative, market-oriented governments in South America, citing examples:
  • Argentina: Election of Marcio Macri.
  • Venezuela: Economic crisis and loss for Chavez's party.
  • Bolivia: Waning support for Evo Morales.
• Quote (Skip, 03:40): “With a victory by Marcio Macri in Argentina last November being the first to move to the right, followed by losses in the national assembly for the Chavistas...”

4. Brazil’s Economic Crisis and Government Responses

• Recession:
  • Brazil is mired in a “harsh” recession, compared to the 1930s Great Depression in terms of hardship for the populace (Des, 08:14).
• Policy Proposals:
  • Michel Temer's government aims to “freeze public spending” to stabilize finances.
    • Quote (Skip, 04:16): “Well, the biggest one is to freeze public spending.”
  • Des flags the challenge: “That’s never an easy thing to do because no one wants to see areas like education and health getting worse.” (04:20)
• Contrast with Lula Era:
  • Former President Lula expanded social spending when high oil prices provided resources.
    • Quote (Skip, 04:28): “No one more so than the Brazilians who lived from 2003 to 2010 under President Lula, who gave more money to the poor than any administration before or since.”

5. The Broader Move Away from Socialism

• Skip and Des position the Brazilian story as part of a larger decline of socialism in the region:
  • Cuba’s recent reforms and new ties with the U.S. are cited as symbolic (“Cuba is most certainly back in the capitalist club.” – Des, 05:13).
  • Quote (Skip, 04:54): “We could call it the Fall of Socialism across Latin America.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cynicism in Politics:

  • Des (07:02): “You mean to be realistic and recognize that all opportunity is false and we have no future?”
  • Skip: “Yes, Des, that would be a very cynical way to look at the world.”

• Humor on Personal Finances:

  • Des (09:18): “I think I need to put a freeze on the amount I spend on bicycle parts.”
  • Skip: “Well, I need to put a freeze on the frequency I take taxis home from Roppongi on weekends.” (09:24)

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Business English Vocabulary Segment (06:11–09:35)

The hosts pause to focus on key vocabulary related to the episode’s business theme:

• Bring it on: To welcome a difficult but necessary challenge (Des, 06:11)
• Cynical: Expecting the worst outcome (Skip, 06:55)
• Fabrication: The act of inventing something false, especially regarding economic figures (Des, 07:25)
• Harsh: Unforgiving or difficult, such as in “harsh recession” or “harsh cuts” (Skip, 08:01)
• Freeze: To stop increases in spending or hiring (“freeze on public spending” & “hiring freeze”) (Des/Skip, 08:39–09:08)

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Closing Remarks (10:09–10:52)

• Des thanks Skip for Brazil coverage and jokes about his travel to Scotland, referencing the ongoing Brexit theme.
  • Skip: “But I apologize to all our listeners that our report today was a little bit on the short side.” (10:13)
• The hosts note there will be a short break until their next recording.

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Useful Timestamps

• 00:49–02:07: Transition from Brexit banter to Brazil’s troubles
• 02:27–04:49: Discussion of Rousseff’s impeachment, Temer’s ascendance, and regional politics
• 05:00–05:28: Latin America’s shift away from socialism
• 06:11–09:35: Business English vocabulary focus

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Overall Tone & Approach

The conversation is lively, occasionally irreverent, and designed to both inform about business news and support listening/practical English skills for professionals. The humor and clear explanations of business terms keep even complicated subjects accessible.

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Takeaway

This episode is ideal for ESL/EFL learners looking to expand their business English vocabulary, deepen their understanding of global business news, and develop listening skills—all within the urgent context of Brazil’s contemporary political and economic upheaval.

Transcript

[Samantha]

From Tokyo, Japan and Abu Dhabi, uae, this is down to Business English Business News to improve your business English with your hosts, Skip Montreux and Des Morgan.

[Skip Montreux]

Hello to all of our listeners and a big hello to you, Des.

[Des Morgan]

Hello, Des? Hello?

[Skip Montreux]

Are you there, Des?

[Des Morgan]

Sorry, I can't hear you, Skip. Now that I am independent, it's really difficult to talk to people in other countries.

[Skip Montreux]

Ah, the referendum. Britain independent from Europe. Is that what you're talking about?

[Des Morgan]

Uh, sorry, did you say Brendum or Brindependence?

[Skip Montreux]

Oh, you're not gonna do this for the whole show, are you?

[Des Morgan]

Do what?

[Skip Montreux]

You know, put BR before every word you can.

[Des Morgan]

I was going to, but I have to admit that even I'm fed up with it as well.

[Skip Montreux]

Who would have thought that the British people would actually have voted to leave the eu?

[Des Morgan]

It seems as though they themselves can't believe it either. And no one seems to really know what they want or what to do next.

[Skip Montreux]

So is that our story today? Brexit Part two, The EU strikes back.

[Des Morgan]

Oh, no way. I can't bear to go through all this again. Anything but Brexit Part two. At least let's wait until things settle down a bit. Maybe we can revisit it after the summer.

[Skip Montreux]

Okay, well, speaking of summer, it is an Olympic year, and that will be front and center in the news pretty soon.

[Des Morgan]

Bring it on. I say it can't happen soon enough. Although Brazil starts with BR as well. Brolympics.

[Skip Montreux]

Oh, dear. I thought you said you were going to stop doing that. Anyway, Brazil most certainly has been experiencing a lot of problems of its own. And that is our story for today.

[Des Morgan]

Okay, Skip, let's do it. Let's get D2B down to business with Brazil and where all of this trouble came from.

[Skip Montreux]

So I guess that we should start with President Rousseff being removed from office just a few months ago now. Yeah.

[Des Morgan]

What was that all about?

[Skip Montreux]

I hate to sound so cynical, but it's all about the usual suspects. Corruption charges, fabrication of financial figures to make the economy seem better than it actually was, bribery, just to name a few.

[Des Morgan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the corruption and bribery charges are against other members of her party. She wasn't facing any.

[Skip Montreux]

That is true, but fabricating economic numbers so she could get re elected? That bit is squarely against her personally.

[Des Morgan]

So who has free tickets for the Olympics?

[Skip Montreux]

You mean who took over as leader? That was Michel Temer, the vice president, who leans much further right in his politics.

[Des Morgan]

So another Latin American country lurches to the right, then.

[Skip Montreux]

That is correct. Since chavez died in 2013, a succession of countries have slowly slipped, right? Especially those that have been hit hard by falling oil prices.

[Des Morgan]

Argentina and Venezuela spring to mind indeed,

[Skip Montreux]

with a victory by Marcio Macri in Argentina last November being the first to move to the right, followed by losses in the national assembly for the Chavistas, as Chavez's followers have come to be known.

[Des Morgan]

Venezuela is virtually bankrupt, it would seem, and even Morales in Bolivia doesn't seem to have the strong support he once did.

[Skip Montreux]

You are right again there, Des. But to get back to Brazil and Michel Temer, they have big plans to try and get Brazil out of the harsh recession she is in.

[Des Morgan]

I see. And what are these plans?

[Skip Montreux]

Well, the biggest one is to freeze public spending.

[Des Morgan]

That's never an easy thing to do because no one wants to see areas like education and and health getting worse.

[Skip Montreux]

And no one more so than the Brazilians who lived from 2003 to 2010 under President Lula, who gave more money to the poor than any administration before or since.

[Des Morgan]

True, but that was when oil prices were much more expensive, so it was easier to finance such plans.

[Skip Montreux]

I guess we could call this whole Show Oil Part 2, couldn't we?

[Des Morgan]

We could. Or we could call it the Fall of Socialism across Latin America.

[Skip Montreux]

Even Cuba has now started to patch up its differences with the US and is now open for business somewhat. Did you know Carnival Line's cruise ship recently docked in Havana and so did

[Des Morgan]

Vin Diesel and the crew for the Fast and the Furious 8 from Abu Dhabi for part seven to Cuba for part eight. Yep, Cuba is most certainly back in the capitalist club.

[Skip Montreux]

It's starting to look like they're moving in that direction. Anyway, I guess that is about all we have time for today. Which leaves me to say let's get D2V down to vocabulary,

[Samantha]

Down to business. English audio scripts are a great learning tool. Be sure to visit the D2B website and download your free audio script of today's podcast downtobusinessenglish.com that's www.downtobusinessenglish.com.

[Des Morgan]

I will start off today with the multi part verb to bring it on, which is generally used fairly casually to mean when a coming change is difficult but welcome. In the story I say that I am ready for Britain to leave the eu. So I invite the EU to bring it on.

[Skip Montreux]

An example I can remember was when a school I worked at was being inspected by the government. We had all of our paperwork up to date and innovative classes and programs to show off so the head of our school said, come on, bring it on.

[Des Morgan]

Next word. Skip. Come on, bring it on.

[Skip Montreux]

Our next word is the adjective to be cynical, which means to always see the worst possible outcome.

[Des Morgan]

You mean to be realistic and recognize that all opportunity is false and we have no future?

[Skip Montreux]

Yes, Des, that would be a very cynical way to look at the world. In the story, I said that I didn't want to sound cynical, but the reasons that Rousseff's government fell were all pretty much what one would expect.

[Des Morgan]

And one of those reasons was fabrication of economic figures. And fabrication is our next word. It means to invent or create something which is not true.

[Skip Montreux]

Of course. That is the negative meaning. Fabrication in its purest form just means to make something. Interestingly, it is generally used to make something special rather than something that is mass produced.

[Des Morgan]

So you could say Formula one cars are fabricated, but a Ford Fiesta is not.

[Skip Montreux]

Exactly. Our next word is the adjective harsh, which means difficult or unforgiving. In the story, I describe Brazil's recession as particularly harsh.

[Des Morgan]

I read that it was the hardest on the people since the world recession in the 1930s. So yes, it is most certainly harsh. Another business example is when cuts in staff or spending are described as harsh. They are particularly hard or difficult.

[Skip Montreux]

There have been a few of those in Japan over the last few years.

[Des Morgan]

Yes, I'm sure there has. Our final word, which is connected to the topic is freeze, which in a business context does not mean to be cold. It means when something often spending has been fixed at the same amount and cannot be increased. In the story, Skip discusses the freeze that Brazil has put on public spending.

[Skip Montreux]

A hiring freeze is a common usage when a company does not plan to fire anyone, but also cannot hire any new staff.

[Des Morgan]

I think I need to put a freeze on the amount I spend on bicycle parts.

[Skip Montreux]

Well, I need to put a freeze on the frequency I take taxis home from Roppongi on weekends.

[Samantha]

Would you like to support down to Business English? Be sure to visit the D2B page in iTunes and subscribe to this show. While you are there, why don't you leave a rating and a comment? This will help D2B reach more people wanting to improve their business English skills. Down to Business English. Business news to improve your business English.

[Des Morgan]

Thanks for all that information on Brazil, Skip.

[Skip Montreux]

My pleasure, Des. But I apologize to all our listeners that our report today was a little bit on the short side.

[Des Morgan]

But. But I'm catching a plane in a few hours.

[Skip Montreux]

Right. And where are you off to, Des?

[Des Morgan]

Off to Scotland, still reluctantly. Joined to the rest of the British Isles.

[Skip Montreux]

That's right. And since we won't be able to record together for a little while, I really wanted us to get this one last show out before the summer.

[Des Morgan]

No worries. I'll be back before you know it. I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about when I get back.

[Skip Montreux]

Great. Have a safe flight, Des.

[Des Morgan]

I will.

[Skip Montreux]

Take care everyone. See you next time. Bye Bye.

[Samantha]

Have a comment or question about today's show? Don't be shy. Visit the D2B website or the Facebook page and post any comments or questions there. Skip Des or Samantha will be sure to leave a reply. Want to get even more down to Business English? Sign up for the D2B Newsletter and receive updates from on some of the stories covered on down to business English. That's www.downtobusinessenglish.com down to business English Business News to improve your business English Sam.