Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, staged a <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/10/26/lula-the-great-survivor-makes-history?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">historic comeback</a> to win a fourth term. We ask how he did it, and what he must do next. Each day this week our correspondents in America are focusing on crucial midterm-election races; today we start in <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/10/18/republicans-identity-crisis-in-texas?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Texas</a>. And tote-bag economics: why so many businesses are getting in on <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/10/08/why-your-favourite-bakery-and-coffee-shop-now-sell-tote-bags?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">selling merchandise</a>.Guests and host:<ul><li>Ana Lankes, Brazil bureau chief</li><li>Rebecca Jackson, southern correspondent</li><li>Lizzy Peet, researcher</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul>Topics covered: <ul><li>Brazil election, Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro</li><li>America’s midterm elections, Texas, Ken Paxton, James Talarico</li><li>economics of “merch” </li></ul>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a>.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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From this day, fourth: Lula’s surprise win

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