Click image to watch Episode 1 of VICE on HBO
One of our favorite shows on HBO that has nothing to do with suspenseful drama plots and Emmy Award winning actors is back! Yes, we’re talking about VICE. Season 2 of their news show premiered last night and they’re offering it up for stream for free to folks not on HBO or HBO GO for a limited time.
Episode one traveled to Afghanistan to explore how United States tax dollars have been spent to rebuild the country after taking down the old regime. Billions of dollars have evaporated to build power plants (that aren’t used), aircrafts and helicopters (that aren’t used) and plenty of more infrastructure that ultimately goes untouched or lands in the hands of the Taliban. Under the radar, it seems like the Afghan project has been a massive failure that has come at a costly price to the American people.
OS REWIND: The Time Dennis Rodman Visited North Korea
VICE also traveled to Brazil to see first-hand how the government has been trying to clean up the favelas surrounding Rio De Janeiro in time for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. The country is still run by drugs and the cartel, but they found out that the government militia is using pacification to get rid of the drug dealers and murderers for now. On paper, the murder rate has been decreasing since the Brazilian government started this initiative, but the numbers are hidden through a large amounts of people who have gone missing or ruled dead by undetermined causes.
In the favelas where former cops aren’t in control (selling drugs there is punishable by death), cocaine is king and drug dealers are throwing massive block parties with famous artists and the best sound systems to celebrate. They are not shy to say that the cops are paid off in their part of town and even brag about the fact that the police is afraid to go there in fear of being killed. Even helicopters won’t fly over these parts of the city because they have guns to shoot them down too. As much as it’s not portrayed, drug cartels are still alive, well and very much dangerous in Rio.
So if you’re thinking about heading down to Brazil for the World Cup, you may want to think again. Or at least be aware of what you might be getting into.
You can watch Season 1 of VICE on HBO HERE.