Oct 28, 2018

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected president of Brazil

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

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.

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Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The Trump campaign has invested most of its advertising budget to date on Facebook, testing thousands of versions of ads per day to maximize its spending.

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Trump's revenge tour has the House in its sights

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Saul Loeb/Getty Contributor

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Pelosi warns U.S. allies against working with China's Huawei

Nancy Pelosi, Feb. 16. Photo: Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images

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Why it matters: Pelosi's hawkish stance marks a rare area of agreement with the Trump administration, which believes Huawei is a national security threat because the Chinese government may be capable of accessing its equipment for espionage.

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