How Brazil’s far-right ramped up attacks against the press

It has now become routine for Brazilian journalists to report on image crises generated by presidential tweets—American colleagues might know the feeling better than anyone. The latest social media episode by President Jair Bolsonaro is yet another attack against the press, raising an already aggressive tone.

On Sunday evening, the president tweeted attacks on Constança Rezende, a reporter from newspaper Estado de S.Paulo who took part in the investigation that uncovered suspicions of money laundering involving Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the president’s eldest son. In the tweet, Mr. Bolsonaro accuses the reporter of “wanting to ruin the life of Flávio Bolsonaro and seeking the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro.”

Constança Rezende, do “O Estado de SP” diz querer arruinar a vida de Flávio Bolsonaro e buscar o Impeachment do Presidente Jair Bolsonaro. Ela é filha de Chico Otavio, profissional do “O Globo”. Querem derrubar o Governo, com chantagens, desinformações e vazamentos. pic.twitter.com/1iskN3Az2F

— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) March 10, 2019

He also made sure to say she’s the daughter of Chico Otávio, a reporter from newspaper O Globo. Mr. Otávio has published several stories about Rio de Janeiro’s urban militias, including those revealing possible links between the president’s eldest sons and members of a death squad. But as far as the Bolsonaro clan are concerned, father and...