Episodes
John and Sarah attempt (poorly) to predict the election, and also discuss Dee Devlin's statement on Conor McGregor, Assisted Dying in the UK, and should dirty jokes from 17 years ago get you suspended?
Published 11/29/24
John and Sarah bid farewell to a beloved colleague, and then turn their attention to the wheels falling off the Fine Gael bus. What went wrong - and could politicians across all parties get punished for an utterly insipid campaign?
Published 11/26/24
John McGuirk is joined by Gript Media's Fatima Gunning, who sat through nearly all of the McGregor trial, and Laura Perrins, former criminal barrister, to talk through the evidence and verdict in the the civil case that captivated the nation.
Published 11/24/24
John and Sarah talk the latest twists in Russia and Israel, Blindboy's new RTE documentary, and the latest twists in the very, very, very unexciting general election.
Published 11/22/24
"Derek Blighe should have been in that debate" - John and Sarah discuss the RTE debate, and the campaign where all the parties agree and are having fake rows about nothing of importance.
Published 11/20/24
John and Sarah bemoan their lack of recognition at the national media awards, review another boring few days in the greatest election of our age, Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, and why John is not a fan of Micheál Martin.
00:00 Introduction to the General Election Landscape02:40 Media and Political Awards03:36 The Hutch's Candidacy: Implications for Dublin Central07:28 Sinn Féin's Vulnerability: Polling and Leadership Concerns10:01 Sinn Féin's Policy Stagnation: A Critical Analysis19:46...
Published 11/15/24
With the election campaign underway, John and Sarah review the major issues of the first few days. Which appear to be Michael O'Leary, and whether the country wants new energy or change.
Published 11/13/24
John gets a deserved spanking from Sarah over his Trump Derangement Syndrome, The US election gets thoroughly analysed, and a look forward at the very short three weeks campaign to come here in Ireland.
02:55 The Shift in Voter Sentiment06:14 The Impact of Campaign Messaging08:56 Reactions from the Media and Political Pundits12:00 The Future of American Politics15:09 Reflections on Trump's Second Term17:53 Cultural Reactions and Public Sentiment20:53 Final Thoughts on Political Dynamics34:05...
Published 11/08/24
"I've never seen a race like this" - John McGuirk talks to legendary Republican strategist Karl Rove about what to expect tonight as the Harris/Trump votes come in, and what key counties to watch in Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Published 11/05/24
John and Sarah discuss the new Cillian Murphy "Ireland was awful" movie and it's predictable acclaim; offer final thoughts on the Trump/Harris campaign, and discuss issues that won't come up in Ireland's general election:
03:13 Cultural Reflections on Ireland's Past06:02 Critique of Modern Cultural Narratives08:51 The Impact of Historical Narratives on Society12:03 Contemporary Issues and Social Pressures14:54 Transgender Issues in Society18:10 Political Implications of Gender...
Published 11/01/24
John and Sarah discuss the latest developments in sex ed, the passage of the hate crime bill, the government clearing the decks for an election, and why John has full blown Trump derangement syndrome, god love him.
Published 10/25/24
With an election due to be called any day now, John and Sarah review the state of the opposition. Also: Councils ban Bibi, Roderic escapes scrutiny, and tragedy in Argentina.
Published 10/22/24
Sarah and John discuss the spy in the Oireachtas, Sinn Fein forgetting how to do politics, Scary Movies, Scarier Sex Education, and the Government buying the media in a packed podcast this week.
Published 10/11/24
John and Sarah walk through the budget, John's row with an unfortunate Fine Gael canvasser, the latest celeb muck from Philip Schofield and P. Diddy, and the horrifying case of the woman allegedly tortured in Dublin.
00:00 Budget Week Insights05:54 Child Welfare and Family Support12:09 Critique of Government Spending17:45 Opposition Response and Political Dynamics23:48 Vice Presidential Debate Analysis29:52 Celebrity Controversies and Accountability35:46 Rising Violence in Society51:48...
Published 10/04/24
In the aftermath of the defeat of the hate speech legislation, John and @sarahcatryan unleash a torrent of what some might consider hate speech towards the bike shed, the children's hospital, various members of the Government, and President Higgins.
Published 09/27/24
John and Sarah examine the contradiction between Fine Gael's standing in the polls and the state of Scoliosis treatment for children. Also: Simeon Burke and the law library, Micheal Martin's endless leadership, and did Israel blunder in Lebanon?
02:45 Political Landscape and Opinion Polls05:47 Fine Gael's Momentum and Election Strategy09:01 Health Care Crisis: Scoliosis Case Discussion12:05 Government Accountability and Public Health14:50 Contraception for 16-Year-Olds: A Controversial...
Published 09/20/24
The big debate in America; The big windfall at home; Another clue about the election date; and Ireland's useless opposition misses again - John and Sarah round up the week.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Week01:22 Analysis of the US Presidential Debate12:57 Political Landscape in Ireland: Dáil Returns16:50 Sinn Féin's Challenges and Opportunities28:04 The Role of Immigration in Irish Politics40:12 Discussion on the 13 Billion from Apple51:14 Accountability in Government Spending
Published 09/13/24
John and Sarah discuss the SPHE book that set tongues wagging; the world's most expensive bike shelter; what may be the world's most expensive sex abuse enquiry; and why some stories impact you emotionally more than others.
00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Topics02:18 Controversy Over Depiction of Irish Culture09:32 Emotional Impact of the Middle East Hostage Situation19:24 Concerns About the Abuse Scandal in Catholic Schools29:25 Balancing Believing Victims and Presumption of...
Published 09/06/24
John and Sarah discuss the latest developments in the Enoch Burke case, the nude cyclists and the Mayor of Cork, Kamala Harris finally agreeing to an interview, and the latest revival of the hate speech bill.
00:00 Introduction and Back to School Week01:00 Enoch Burke's Return to School and Stance on Pronouns09:58 Discussion on the Stabbing Incident in Galway16:54 Proposed Ban on Smoking in Beer Gardens24:55 Critique of the Naked Cycling Event in Cork27:47 Inconsistent Enforcement of Public...
Published 08/30/24
John and Sarah discuss beauty contests this week: The upcoming election, during which politicians will flash their ankles. The Democratic Convention, which attempted to entice us to Kamala, and the Rose of Tralee, which has nothing to do with beauty at all:
00:00 Apologies and Introduction01:22 Minor Public Spat and Election Speculation04:05 Fine Gael's Advantage and Fianna Fáil's Risk06:03 Navigating the Election Campaign11:37 Potential Government Formation Scenarios13:43 Cynicism and...
Published 08/23/24
Sarah and John review a week that featured big revelations about government spending, plans to abolish same sex schools, a big love island breakup, and a disagreement over olympic breakdancing.
00:00 Introduction and Weather00:55 Government Spending and Lack of Discussion01:48 Media Coverage and Lack of Challenge03:08 Lack of Hard Conversations in Irish Politics13:19 Issues with Single-Sex Schools26:28 Prison Overcrowding and Drug Use30:04 Overcrowded Prisons31:42 Government's Focus on NGOs...
Published 08/16/24
In what should be silly season, John and Sarah discuss a surprisingly busy week: Riots in the UK, an anti-media rebellion for Kellie Harrington, a new VP nominee for Kamala Harris, and Simon Harris goes to war with Elon Musk.
00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Recent Events01:07 Hypocrisy in Media and Politics: The Treatment of Athletes06:32 Dismissive Attitude Towards the Concerns of the Working Class14:37 Biased Coverage of Protests and Riots18:09 The Potential Impact of Social Media...
Published 08/09/24
John and Sarah discuss the controversy around the Olympic games, the riots in Southport, the death of Edna O'Brien, and ask whether it's time to revisit the way the state engages with Travellers after the Dooley murder in Kerry.
00:00 Introduction and Discussion of the Olympic Opening Ceremony
13:10 Tragedy in Southport and Societal Issues
16:46 Frustration with the Government's Handling of Immigration
24:06 The Need for a Reasonable and Informed Discussion on Immigration
26:21...
Published 08/02/24
John and Sarah discuss Sinn Fein's new immigration policy, the fantasy of "public service broadcasting", Catherine Martin's bad press conference, and the pitfalls of the Trump versus Kamala Harris election.
Published 07/26/24