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Axios Sneak Peek

Jair Bolsonaro — a far-right candidate whose misogyny, racism and reverence for military dictators has made him one of Latin America's most polarizing figures — has won Brazil's presidency with over 55% of the vote, per the AP.

Why it matters: Many viewed Brazil's election as a referendum on crime and corruption, with each of the country's last three presidents facing impeachment votes or imprisonment due to their involvement in bribery scandals. Bolsonaro has been dubbed "The Trump of the Tropics," but a more apt comparison would perhaps be President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Both share an authoritarian, populist style that promises tough action, simple solutions to complex problems, and a strongman’s determination to fight crime and right the economy — ignoring democratic norms if needed.

The big picture: The political situation in Brazil is a particularly extreme offshoot of a populist wave that continues to upend establishment parties all over the world.

Brazil election pits "Tropical Trump" against leftist establishment

Brazil’s presidential election cleaves along sharp ideological lines

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil

Jair Bolsonaro gestures after casting his vote during general elections. Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

World

Jair Bolsonaro

Latin America and Latinos

Jair Bolsonaro — a far-right candidate whose misogyny, racism and reverence for military dictators has made him one of Latin America&#x27;s most polarizing figures — has won Brazil&#x27;s presidency with over 55% of the vote, per the AP.Why it matters: Many viewed Brazil&#x27;s election as a referendum on crime and corruption, with each of the country&#x27;s last three presidents facing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="impeachment votes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/brazilian-president-michel-temer-facing-corruption-charges-370e1971-c5dd-4723-ad1e-3654220a6a82.html" data-vars-content-id="165f35cc-53f5-420f-94e2-aff1c065df77" data-vars-headline="Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/brazilian-president-michel-temer-facing-corruption-charges-370e1971-c5dd-4723-ad1e-3654220a6a82.html" target="_self">impeachment votes</a> or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="imprisonment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/brazil-lula-prison-ex-president-sentence-corruption-d8d08ae2-8be3-4fc5-abda-dbfa5c204462.html" data-vars-content-id="165f35cc-53f5-420f-94e2-aff1c065df77" data-vars-headline="Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/brazil-lula-prison-ex-president-sentence-corruption-d8d08ae2-8be3-4fc5-abda-dbfa5c204462.html" target="_self">imprisonment</a> due to their involvement in bribery scandals. Bolsonaro has been dubbed &quot;The Trump of the Tropics,&quot; but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a more apt comparison" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/bolsonaro-could-be-brazils-duterte-16ae1c51-2300-48e8-a40a-c086ce5a96b0.html" data-vars-content-id="165f35cc-53f5-420f-94e2-aff1c065df77" data-vars-headline="Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/bolsonaro-could-be-brazils-duterte-16ae1c51-2300-48e8-a40a-c086ce5a96b0.html" target="_self">a more apt comparison</a> would perhaps be President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Both share an authoritarian, populist style that promises tough action, simple solutions to complex problems, and a strongman’s determination to fight crime and right the economy — ignoring democratic norms if needed.

Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker has been defeated by Democrat Tony Evers in Wisconsin's governors election by a razor-thin margin. 

Scott Walker unseated by Tony Evers in Wisconsin governor's race

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Politics

2018 midterm elections

Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker has been defeated by Democrat Tony Evers in Wisconsin&#x27;s governors election by a razor-thin margin. <figure><img alt="" height="598" id="86024502-c7bc-40db-a79f-a0d9dfcee5dd" src="https://images.axios.com/7_gdHW1u3auz6-wrQzi_lGLNe4w=/2018/11/07/1541576963231.png" width="1790"/><div></div></figure>

President Trump is expected to appoint State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Bloomberg reports. 

The big picture: President Trump accepted Nikki Haley’s resignation as UN ambassador in October. She will exit at the end of the year. Nauert served as spokesperson for the State Department since 2017, and became acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs earlier this year.

Report: Trump replacing Nikki Haley with Heather Nauert as UN ambassador

President Trump accepted Nikki Haley’s resignation as UN ambassador in October.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

United Nations (UN)

President Trump is expected to appoint State Department spokesperson <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Heather Nauert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/heather-nauert-strongly-considered-un-ambassador-3e35d97b-deb1-44e4-b66a-c3b74187ea8b.html" data-vars-content-id="9b9739f5-c213-4dca-ae67-ae574f439d7e" data-vars-headline="Report: Trump replacing Nikki Haley with Heather Nauert as UN ambassador" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/heather-nauert-strongly-considered-un-ambassador-3e35d97b-deb1-44e4-b66a-c3b74187ea8b.html" target="_self">Heather Nauert</a> as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bloomberg reports. " data-vars-click-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-07/trump-to-pick-heather-nauert-as-next-un-ambassador-sources-say" data-vars-content-id="9b9739f5-c213-4dca-ae67-ae574f439d7e" data-vars-headline="Report: Trump replacing Nikki Haley with Heather Nauert as UN ambassador" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-07/trump-to-pick-heather-nauert-as-next-un-ambassador-sources-say" target="_blank">Bloomberg reports. </a>The big picture: President Trump <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="accepted Nikki Haley’s resignation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-nikki-haley-resignation-d25b64a9-264e-483a-a79b-ae8a48e367db.html" data-vars-content-id="9b9739f5-c213-4dca-ae67-ae574f439d7e" data-vars-headline="Report: Trump replacing Nikki Haley with Heather Nauert as UN ambassador" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-nikki-haley-resignation-d25b64a9-264e-483a-a79b-ae8a48e367db.html" target="_self">accepted Nikki Haley’s resignation</a> as UN ambassador in October. She will exit at the end of the year. Nauert served as spokesperson for the State Department since 2017, and became acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs earlier this year.

The CIA has concluded with "high confidence" that the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Washington Post reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

The big picture: MBS has repeatedly stood by his claims that he was not involved in the murder and said he would punish those responsible. The CIA report is "the most definitive to date linking Mohammed to the operation and complicates the Trump administration’s efforts to preserve its relationship with a close ally," per the Post.

The details: Per the Post, "the CIA examined multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince’s brother Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. ... Khalid told Khashoggi, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post, that he should go to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents and gave him assurances that it would be safe to do so." It is unclear whether Khalid was aware of Khashoggi's fate.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in D.C. told the Post that Khalid and Khashoggi didn't talk about "anything related to going to Turkey... [the claims in the CIA's] purported assessment are false. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations."

The U.S. has sanctioned 17 people for the killing of Khashoggi including Saudi Consul General Mohammad Alotaibi, who oversaw the Istanbul consulate, and Maher Mutreb, a senior Saudi official who allegedly coordinated the attack. 

Saudi Arabia has previously announced it would seek the death penalty against five people who allegedly played a role in the killing.

Recording of Khashoggi murder reportedly points to Saudi crown prince

Turkey confirms Khashoggi was strangled, dismembered in consulate

Report: Saudi officials sought to use private companies to kill enemies

www.washingtonpost.com

CIA report: Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi killing

The Saudi Crown Prince has repeatedly stood by his claims that he was not involved.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed. Photo: Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Jamal Khashoggi

The CIA has concluded with &quot;high confidence&quot; that the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Washington Post <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-concludes-saudi-crown-prince-ordered-jamal-khashoggis-assassination/2018/11/16/98c89fe6-e9b2-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html?utm_term=.e8234a244bef" data-vars-content-id="aa0089fb-c884-4a3e-a0b8-59192aaf53ea" data-vars-headline="CIA report: Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi killing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-concludes-saudi-crown-prince-ordered-jamal-khashoggis-assassination/2018/11/16/98c89fe6-e9b2-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html?utm_term=.e8234a244bef" target="_blank">reports</a>, citing people familiar with the matter.The big picture: MBS has repeatedly stood by his claims that he was not involved in the murder and said he would <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="punish those responsible" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/mohammed-bin-salman-jamal-khashoggi-attack-turkey-iran-0331e048-95cb-40c9-8f8b-2ce4f100dc66.html" data-vars-content-id="aa0089fb-c884-4a3e-a0b8-59192aaf53ea" data-vars-headline="CIA report: Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi killing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/mohammed-bin-salman-jamal-khashoggi-attack-turkey-iran-0331e048-95cb-40c9-8f8b-2ce4f100dc66.html" target="_self">punish those responsible</a>. The CIA report is &quot;the most definitive to date linking Mohammed to the operation and complicates the Trump administration’s efforts to preserve its relationship with a close ally,&quot; per the Post.

The California Camp Fire has burned more than 100,000 acres and is at 20% containment Saturday morning as it ravages the state as the most destructive wildfire in its history. 

The trends: The Camp Fire that tore through Paradise, California, is not an anomaly, Axios' Andrew Freedman explains. The Golden State is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons on record, having had its hottest month in state history in July, along with the largest fire the state has ever recorded. According to Aon Insurance meteorologist Steve Bowen, 7 of the top 20 most destructive fires in the state have occurred since October 2017.

By the numbers: The fire has destroyed at least 6,713 homes, businesses and other structures. 

80% to 90% of the homes in Paradise have been destroyed, according to CNN.

This fire surpasses the damage from the previous record-holder, which was the deadly Tubbs Fire, which devastated Santa Rosa in the state's wine country just 13 months ago.

Cal Fire Captain Steve Millosovich carries a cage full of cats that were found in the road after the Camp Fire moved through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Abandoned burned out cars sit in the middle of the road after the Camp Fire moved through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A chimney remains at the site of a home that burned as the Camp Fire moves through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A home burns as the Camp Fire moves through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Hospital workers at the Feather River Hospital work in a triage area while evacuating patients as the Camp Fire moves through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A business burns as the Camp Fire moves through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Go deeper: California wildfire is the most destructive in state history

In photos: See the devastation left by California's most destructive wildfire

The California Camp Fire has burned more than 100,000 acres.

A Cal Fire firefighter monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire moves through the area. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Science

Wildfires

Climate change

The California Camp Fire has burned more than 100,000 acres and is at 20% containment <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Saturday morning" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1061276875102707713" data-vars-content-id="c0e7024d-0978-489f-8d96-8513902c0738" data-vars-headline="In photos: See the devastation left by California&#x27;s most destructive wildfire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1061276875102707713" target="_blank">Saturday morning</a> as it ravages the state as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most destructive wildfire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/california-wildfire-destroyed-paradise-most-destructive-on-record-7e0b2fe3-7b7c-4de8-be06-19090c6a2517.html" data-vars-content-id="c0e7024d-0978-489f-8d96-8513902c0738" data-vars-headline="In photos: See the devastation left by California&#x27;s most destructive wildfire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/california-wildfire-destroyed-paradise-most-destructive-on-record-7e0b2fe3-7b7c-4de8-be06-19090c6a2517.html" target="_self">most destructive wildfire</a> in its history. The trends: The Camp Fire that tore through Paradise, California, is not an anomaly, Axios&#x27; Andrew Freedman explains. The Golden State is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons on record, having had its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hottest month in state history in July" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/california-burns-through-its-hottest-month-on-record--0941c68f-9472-44fc-a9fd-d4a265d74858.html" data-vars-content-id="c0e7024d-0978-489f-8d96-8513902c0738" data-vars-headline="In photos: See the devastation left by California&#x27;s most destructive wildfire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/california-burns-through-its-hottest-month-on-record--0941c68f-9472-44fc-a9fd-d4a265d74858.html" target="_self">hottest month in state history in July</a>, along with the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="largest fire the state has ever recorded" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/california-wildfires-break-records-statistics-mendocino-complex-fire-ae073d56-b170-4086-b567-2cf7c3d23fd8.html" data-vars-content-id="c0e7024d-0978-489f-8d96-8513902c0738" data-vars-headline="In photos: See the devastation left by California&#x27;s most destructive wildfire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/california-wildfires-break-records-statistics-mendocino-complex-fire-ae073d56-b170-4086-b567-2cf7c3d23fd8.html" target="_self">largest fire the state has ever recorded</a>. According to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Aon Insurance meteorologist Steve Bowen" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/SteveBowenWx/status/1061079974034227201" data-vars-content-id="c0e7024d-0978-489f-8d96-8513902c0738" data-vars-headline="In photos: See the devastation left by California&#x27;s most destructive wildfire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/SteveBowenWx/status/1061079974034227201" target="_blank">Aon Insurance meteorologist Steve Bowen</a>, 7 of the top 20 most destructive fires in the state have occurred since October 2017.

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Lauren Meier

Stories

Report: Trump replacing Nikki Haley with Heather Nauert as UN ambassador

CIA report: Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi killing

In photos: See the devastation left by California's most destructive wildfire

Scott Walker unseated by Tony Evers in Wisconsin governor's race

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil