'Studies about corruption scandals and democracy often share the unquestioned and problematic assumption that investigative journalism and an active and independent judiciary necessarily result in better accountability. In this insightful and rigorous investigation of the most extensive corruption investigation in recent Latin American history, Brazil’s Operation Lava-Jato, Mads Damgaard demonstrates that political actors can collude with media organizations, political institutions and accountability agencies to achieve their own strategic goals and escape legal responsibility. Based on case studies and extensive analysis of news coverage, this book is a timely and provocative work that illuminates key democratic deficits of Brazil’s recent political transformation.'—Mauro Porto, Tulane University 'While some studies of Brazilian politics have examined mass media behavior during corruption scandals and other have analyzed the role of "lawfare" in unseating incumbents, Mads Damgaard is the first scholar to systematically connect the two phenomena. The result is a sophisticated study of how media spin and an activist judiciary are both causes and consequences of Brazil’s increasing polarization.'—Timothy J. Power, Professor of Latin American Politics, University of Oxford