Against the Rules: The Big Short Companion Welcome to Carbon Cowboys | From Drilled
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May 12, 2026 
Felipe Sabrina, reporter at The Intercept Brazil who covers Mato Grosso and Brazilian agriculture, guides listeners through the rise of corn ethanol and big agribusiness in Brazil. Short, vivid scenes show trips to North Dakota, pipeline fights, Bruce Rastetter’s Brazil links, a city shaped by monoculture, and how local institutions tie to agro-investors.
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Pipeline United Unlikely Opponents
- Summit Carbon Solutions proposed the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline to link dozens of ethanol plants from Iowa to North Dakota.
- The project united opposition across the political spectrum and faced years of delays and legal roadblocks.
Ethanol's Political Lifeline And New Markets
- Corn ethanol's lifecycle emissions and land use make it roughly comparable to fossil fuels, yet it gets heavy subsidies and political protection.
- The Inflation Reduction Act created new markets (sustainable aviation fuel) that require carbon capture to qualify.
Iowa Ethanol King Expands Into Brazil
- Bruce Rastetter owned Summit's parent and was the majority owner of F.S. Fueling Sustainability in Brazil, expanding his ethanol empire internationally.
- His Brazil investments aimed to export the same carbon capture and ethanol model overseas.