To be with you, I'm Katie Turr. Donald Trump is meddling this time in Brazil, using the cover of trade as a way to strong arm the Democratic country into backing off one of his political allies, the former president of Brazil, Yair Bolsonaro.

A man who also tried to claim the election he lost was rigged.

A man who also allegedly helped fuel an attempted insurrection of Brazil's own government.

But Bolsonaro, unlike Trump, has gone to trial for his role,

and the Supreme Court down there could very well convict him and put him in prison later this year.

In a letter to Brazil's current President Lula, Mr. Trump calls the prosecution a, quote,

international disgrace.

But Lula is not backing down, telling Trump, Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions

that will not accept being abused by anyone.

But it isn't just a letter from President Trump.

He's actively trying to pressure Brazil financially with 50% tariffs,

claiming the US has a trade deficit with the country,

but that's not true at all.

The US actually has a trade surplus with Brazil.

So why is Donald Trump using the cover of trade to interfere in another democracy? What does he

get out of it? Joining us now, NBC News Business and data correspondent Brian Chung, managing editor

of the bulwark and MSNBC contributor, Sam Stein, and senior editor at the Atlantic and host of Radio Atlantic, Hannah Rosen.

Brian, first off, explain the trade relationship with Brazil.

Yeah, so a lot of Americans might be tuning into the news of the Brazil tariffs and wondering how is that going to impact the things that I buy at the store.

Brazil exports a lot of major goods that we see at the grocery store on a daily basis, most namely coffee.

So we are a major importer of coffee from Brazil, also things like orange juice as well as produce.

We even import some crude oil.

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