Brazil Judge Backs Part of Lula Tax Decree, Easing Budget Strain
The decision, handed down by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes late Wednesday, reinstates the bulk of the so-called IOF tax whose increases Congress voted to overturn in June. Moraes struck down just one measure related to the taxing of supply-chain financing operations known as 'forfait.'
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U.S. revokes visa of Brazilian judge overseeing Bolsonaro case
July 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. visa of the Brazilian judge overseeing the criminal case against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was revoked Friday, four days after President Donald Trump called the South American nation's treatment of the former leader a "witch hunt." Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement on Friday. "President Trump made clear that his administration will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States," Rubio said in a statement. "Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans. "I have therefore ordered visa revocations for Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members effective immediately." The visa restriction policy is pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the secretary of state to not allow anyone whose entry into the United States "would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences." Rubio, in a cable to diplomatic and consular posts on Thursday, said public comments on foreign elections "should be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noted shared policy interests," according to The New York Times, which obtained the memo. De Moraes doesn't travel often to the United States, The Washington Post reported. Friday, de Moraes accused Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo, of conspiring to incite U.S. hostilities against Brazil, ordering the former president to wear an ankle bracelet. Bolsonaro was also barred from contacting foreign governments, and blocked from using social media. The judge also is investigating online misinformation, and has ordered the takedown of social media accounts that violate Brazil's freedom of speech. In 2024, Elon Musk's X restored service in the country after paying a $5 million fine and appointed a new legal representative there. Trump's social media company, The Trump Media & Technology Group, sued de Moraes in February, accusing him of censoring conservative voices on social media. The judge is on the judicial panel to preside over Bolsonaro's trial before Brazil's Supreme Court, who was indicted in February after the alleged coup. Bolsonaro has been accused of attempting to violently to retain power after his 2022 election loss to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula, in a speech Thursday night, condemned Bolsonaro's supporters, whom he accused of siding with Trump about the "witch hunt." "They're the true traitors of the homeland," he said. "They don't care about the economy of the country or the damage caused to our people." On Monday, Trump wrote a letter to Lula threatening a 50% tariff on imported goods, because of how Bolsonaro "has been treated" and an "unfair trade relationship." Unless there is an agreement, the new rate takes effect on Aug. 1, he wrote. Trump said that "the way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. The trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY." Trump also noted "Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the Fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans." Then on Thursday, he posted on Truth Social a letter sent to Bolsonaro about his "terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you," demanding an immediate trial. "It is my sincere hope that the Government of Brazil changes course, stops attacking political opponents, and ends their ridiculous censorship regime. I will be watching closely."
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3 hours ago
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A Test Case for Future Funding Cuts
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Editor's Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, watch full episodes here, or listen to the weekly podcast here. This week, Congress passed Donald Trump's request to claw back $9 billion in approved federal spending, including funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting. Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined last night to discuss the president's rescissions request—and what its approval may signal about future appropriations. 'What I think will be remembered of this vote is it was a test case in whether' Republicans in Congress 'could change the way the government appropriates money,' Michael Scherer, a staff writer at The Atlantic, said last night. Historically, Scherer explained, even when one party controls both chambers of Congress, 60 votes are still required to pass a budget through the Senate. 'That means you need a bipartisan process,' he continued. But this differs from a rescissions request, which can pass with only 51 votes. The Trump administration's goal, Scherer argued, is to break away from a bipartisan budgeting process 'by making it a purely partisan' one. This, Scherer said, could 'change dramatically the whole way the federal government's been budgeted for years.' Joining the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more: Leigh Ann Caldwell, the chief Washington correspondent at Puck; Stephen Hayes, the editor of The Dispatch, Meridith McGraw, a White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal; and Michael Scherer, a staff writer at The Atlantic. Watch the full episode here. Article originally published at The Atlantic
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Tensions rise as Lula blasts US over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial
By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a U.S. decision to impose visa bans on officials involved in former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial "arbitrary" and "baseless," and said foreign interference in the judiciary was "unacceptable." In a statement on Saturday, the leftist leader said the action violated fundamental principles of respect and sovereignty between nations. In an escalation of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the government of Latin America's largest economy, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family and other unnamed court officials. The visa bans were a response to the Supreme Court's decision to issue search warrants and restraining orders targeting Trump ally Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the results of a 2022 election he lost. "I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil's powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law," said Lula. Solicitor general Jorge Messias, the top judicial official for Lula's executive branch, said in a statement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also targeted by the ban. Messias said no "improper maneuver" or "sordid conspiratorial act" would intimidate the judiciary in carrying out its duties with independence, as he condemned what he also described as arbitrary U.S. visa revocations targeting Brazilian officials for fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities. In addition to Moraes, seven other justices from Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court were also hit by the U.S. visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann said on Friday. They include justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes. The Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has criticised the proceedings against Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt", a term he has used to describe his own treatment by political opponents, and has called for the charges to be dropped. In a letter last week, he announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023. The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but has acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the election's outcome. Solve the daily Crossword
