HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

If a tree falls. Bolsonaro has already issued an executive order fulfilling his campaign promise to transfer power over public forests and regulation of reserves for indigenous populations to the Agriculture Ministry, which has deep ties to Brazil’s agribusiness lobby. That’s stoked fears that his administration will allow business and mining exploitation of the Amazon rainforest and other ecologically vulnerable sites, which make up between 13 and 15 percent of Brazilian territory. The order is temporary and will expire in 120 days unless Congress ratifies it. But Brazilian televangelist Silas Malafaia, a friend of Bolsonaro, opined that “gringos” who decimated their own wilderness areas should pony up some money if they want Brazil to preserve its own.

Divided we stand. As a far-right candidate, Bolsonaro has already provoked partisan division and even violence. During the campaign, mudslinging tipped over into murderous rhetoric and physical assault: Bolsonaro joked about shooting supporters of the opposing party, and he himself was stabbed by a man who told police he was acting “on behalf of God.” Bolsonaro is likely to deepen such division as he tries making good on pre-election promises like expanding gun rights, boosting protections for police who kill civilians and overhauling the nation’s pension system.

Who’s optimistic? While some are nervous about Bolsonaro’s proposed changes, a December poll found that 65 percent of Brazilians say they’re optimistic, compared with 23 percent in August. And his fan base apparently includes investors: Brazil’s stock market closed at a record high on Wednesday, the first trading day since his inauguration, amid anticipation that his economic reforms would successfully target high government spending. On expectations that Bolsonaro’s Cabinet would also partially privatize state-run power company Eletrobras, the firm’s shares jumped 20 percent. And Brazil’s real currency rose 2.4 percent. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, for whom Bolsonaro has often expressed admiration, tweeted congratulations on Bolsonaro’s inauguration, promising, “The USA is with you!”

His better half. While Bolsonaro has been widely criticized for his insensitive attitudes toward minorities and opponents, his wife, Michelle, may prove more endearing. At the inauguration, the 38-year-old preceded her husband’s speech with her own — in sign language. Brazil’s new first lady, who learned the language to communicate with a deaf uncle and uses it during church services, said she’d continue working on behalf of Brazil’s physically challenged citizens. “You all will be valued,” Michelle said in her address, which reportedly came as a surprise to many on her husband’s team.

WHAT TO READ

Brazil’s New Conservative Leader Moves to Revamp Economy, by Jeffrey T. Lewis in The Wall Street Journal
“With his mix of market-friendly economic policies and social conservatism at home, Mr. Bolsonaro plans to align Brazil more closely with developed nations and particularly the U.S., shifting South America further to the right after decades of mostly leftist rule.”

Brazil’s Media Prepares for War, by Isabela Dias in Slate
“Independent journalists are setting up a host of new efforts to safeguard democracy and press freedom. To cover what will happen to Brazil in 2019, the initiatives aim to regain not only financial support, but the public’s eroded trust.”

WHAT TO WATCH