Join notorious Guardian columnist Van Badham and her labour activist co-host (and partner!) Ben Davison. As they deep-dive into the big news themes of the week and provide fresh, irreverent analysis about what's really going on in Australia and around the world.
Episodes
Sunday Jan 24, 2021
Sunday Jan 24, 2021
This weekend’s wrap covers: -Solomon Lees gets a $20M dividend from a $40M Jobkeeper payment -Morrison honours Margaret Court while ignoring millions unemployed & underemployed, record low wage growth & people’s retirements being emptied during the pandemic. -Australia Day/Invasion Day. It’s bad. -“Get on the Beers” makes the Hottest 100 -Biden raises the minimum wage in the US while Morrison tries to cut wages & job security in Australia -Peter’s ice cream takes the opportunity to force wage cuts of up to $16,000 a year.
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Van Badham looks at how the globalisation of economic "austerity" ideology has stripped food from the mouths of children in the UK - first through vouchers and now with a privatised food parcel program... and what it might mean for us in Australia.
Ben Davison discusses the disconnect between neoliberal economists claiming an Australian economic recovery at the same time A MILLION Australians remain unemployed, and why lifting minimum wages around the world is good for workers here, too.
The good news is that electric car batteries are starting to cross the final barriers to making electric vehicles the most practical choice.
Stay informed without doomscrolling, and give 45 minutes of your time to THE WEEK ON WEDNESDAY!
Sunday Jan 17, 2021
Sunday Jan 17, 2021
The #GladysCluster is keeping COVID-19 going in NSW, tennis players are arguing with their quarantine restrictions, Morrison wants to force you to stay in a loveless marriage by making divorce take at least two years and his government is determined to kill a pigeon because apparently that’s their constitutional responsibility for quarantine (it’s definitely not all those pesky returning Australians who have to be put into hotels), all while the USA continues the process of ending the Trumpian era. We hope. 15 minutes of key facts for you to know as you start your week.
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Van Badham examines Trump's failed coup, the events the lead to five people dying, the threat to democracy and what the repercussions might be politically for Trump and the Republican Party as well as the increasing financial implications for the Trump Organisation.
Ben Davison looks at how "a bit weak" Morrison and his deputy McCormack are trying on some Trumpery to deny reality, letting their backbench run riot and continue to avoid responsibility for actually governing.
The good news is timber "Plyscrapers" are here and are helping reduce carbon emissions.
Sunday Jan 10, 2021
Sunday Jan 10, 2021
Violent insurrection in the USA, Brisbane has a lockdown, Albo’s in a car crash & people are going back to work. Plus a freshly washed Germanicus reflects on the death of a dachshund lover.
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Van Badham and Ben Davison are BACK after two weeks off, a Christmas turkey and a dog with a knee injury (!), bringing you an update on the ongoing political fallout of coronavirus around the world, why Scott Morrison is wrong, wrong, absolutely wrong to be cutting JobKeeper and JobSeeker... and some GOOD NEWS about electric cars and the sexy Viking people of beautiful (social democratic) Norway. We love you and we missed you, so listen to our podcast!
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Van Badham & Ben Davison discuss the big things of 2020.
Morrison using the Commonwealth as a form of opposition to state Labor governments, the importance of secure work to everyone and the economy at large, how Morrison is failing Australia, what Labor needs to do to start winning and the good news is about plastics, buried treasure and Bison.
Also the best news is Germanicus, our dog, is feeling a lot better.
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
The Weekend Wrap. The Ominous Omnibus IR Bill (Workchoices 2.0), Morrison tries to Americanise our elections, The world doesn’t want to hear from Morrison on climate change & Paul Fletcher is running the political agenda against the ABC. 10 minutes to bring you up to date before your Monday morning commute.
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Van Badham and Ben Davison tell you the truth about the Liberal government's "IR Omnibus Bill" (yes, you will be left worse off), they discuss Scott Morrison and the art of dressing up like a person who doesn't live in a taxpayer-funded harbourside mansion AND Van has three pieces of good news that DO NOT involve Danish Zombie Mink.
Germanicus spends this episode outside in the sunshine, chasing butterflies. You can't hear it, but it is very cute.
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Van Badham and Ben Davison explore what the latest GDP figures and OECD forecasts might mean for Morrison's approach to the economic recovery from COVID and try to answer the question;
Are we heading for a brighter future or just returning to a dark past?
There's also a deeper dive on the "cashless debit card" and what that says about policy in Australia.
Van Badham look at the bin fire of Brexit while Ben learns that they actually grow fruit in the UK.
There is good news about plastics. Yes, plastics!
And Germanicus, our dachshund, is up to something. Possibly involving birds, neighbours and impacting local elections...