Richard Lapper: Why Lula Didn't Become a Chavista

Today on the Gist, reflecting on the president's black tie press conference remarks about accepting political violence, and why our media ecosystem consistently selects for radical sentiment over the sensible. Then, Richard Lapper, former Latin American editor for the Financial Times, joins the show to discuss his new book, Lula: The Man, the Myth, and a Dream of Latin America. A look into how Lula da Silva's trade union pragmatism and commitment to economic stability transformed Brazil, allowing him to succeed where other Latin American populist movements failed. Finally, in the spiel, an examination of the recent attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the resulting media reactions, and the harsh, unyielding realities of the American gun violence epidemic. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at ⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠ For Mike's daily takes on Substack,

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Richard Lapper: Why Lula Didn't Become a Chavista is an episode from The Gist by Mike Pesca.

This episode is 00:38:39 long.

This episode was published on Apr 27, 2026.

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