Episodi

  • The Two Jacks - 176 - When the Centre Cannot Hold: Le Pen, the AfD and a Fraying West

    The Two Jacks - 176 - When the Centre Cannot Hold: Le Pen, the AfD and a Fraying West
    Oct 21 2026
    Deepseek, bitches! Version 4 - but Pro bro. Pretty crap tbh. Title sucks. HKJ says some completely wrong things about an Edinburgh study on bots. I am assured this will be clarified next episode. No, the extent of Russian bot activity is not limited to 5,000 tweets. He read the study wrong. Stay tuned next week for more! Episode SummaryThis week Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open with the rioting that has swept across France — from Bordeaux and Paris to Marseille — unpacking how a student protest over school closures metastasised into a broader movement against the French state. They trace its genesis, flag the racial and religious dimension signalled by Palestinian, Moroccan and Algerian flags, and examine what it could mean for Marine Le Pen ahead of a likely presidential tilt.The pair then turn home, covering the Victorian election, the federal public servant pay rise, and a wider argument about productivity, growth and "late capitalism." From there they range across a resurgent far-right in Germany, Russian interference in Brexit, New Zealand's finely balanced election, and Indonesia's looming MSCI downgrade — a story they note is barely being reported in Australia despite its significance to our region.Sport rounds out the show with Test cricket's uncertain future, the Wallabies' woes, the Rugby League World Cup, and a nod to the AFLW.Timestamped Highlights(Timestamps adjusted to include the 25-second theme music intro.)00:25 — Jack the Insider welcomes listeners to Episode 176 and introduces Hong Kong Jack.00:55 — Opening on the riots in Paris and Bordeaux, with footage of burning vehicles and looted stores, including the Apple Store and Louis Vuitton in Bordeaux.01:52 — Genesis of the protests: the closure of roughly 400 schools and the involvement of students aged 15 to 18, later joined by university students and the "Yellow Vest" anarchist activists.03:46 — Hong Kong Jack notes the Palestinian, Moroccan and Algerian flags, raising the racial and religious element.04:25 — Le Pen's opportunism: supporting the police while milking grievances; a potential "stop Le Pen" coalition falling apart.11:26 — Kevin Rudd's "democracy experiment" warning and the fragility of democracy worldwide.12:33 — The "late capitalism" argument: the first generation with less wealth than its parents.14:12 — Ben Carroll and the Victorian "red shirts" scandal; a month out from the Victorian election.16:00 — The Albanese government's pay offer of at least 9% over three years to 200,000 federal public servants, below union demands for 15%.16:35 — Matthias Cormann's productivity argument, and whether pay without productivity just raises prices.21:54 — One Nation and the SMH's $275 billion revenue cost of slashing immigration; polling on Andy Burnham.28:02 — The AfD's rise in Germany; the centre-right CDU shedding votes to the far-right, and the AfD leader's appeasement line on Russia and Ukraine.32:25 — New Zealand's election and the kingmaker role of centrist party TOP (The Opportunities Party).35:34 — Russian interference in Brexit: the ISC Russia report, bot farms, and the debate over whether interference changed the outcome.41:00 — Why Australia's elections are harder to manipulate: the AEC, compulsory voting and compulsory preferences.49:54 — Indonesia's MSCI downgrade — market manipulation and "ghost owners" — and the $3–5 billion in immediate outflows forecast by JP Morgan and UBS.55:30 — How little Indonesian news reaches Australia, despite it being our most important geopolitical partner.57:12 — The impact of One Nation on the federal election and the Nationals' survival in regional Australia.01:09:00 — Test cricket's future and the financial struggles of West Indies cricket.01:19:45 — The Wallabies' second-half capitulation to the All Blacks and the "Giteau Law" eligibility question.01:21:45 — The Rugby League World Cup's group structure and whether Australia is too dominant.01:25:00 — AFLW: Geelong over the Eagles, and a high-skill Giants–Hawthorn clash.01:27:00 — Sign-off and DMs open on X.Episode Titles (for Australian audiences)Riots in France, Red Shirts at Home: The Two Jacks Read the WeekFrom Bordeaux to the Beehive: France Burns While Oz VotesWhen the Centre Cannot Hold: Le Pen, the AfD and a Fraying West$275 Billion Questions: One Nation, Pay Rises and the Cost of DiscontentIndonesia's Quiet Crisis and the Wallabies' Loud OneSocial Media PostsX / Twitter France is burning, and the next generation will be poorer than their parents. @JacktheInsider and Hong Kong Jack read the week — and why it all points back to your hip pocket. New Two Jacks out now.Facebook Salut from Hong Kong — this week we're tracking the riots tearing through France and what they mean for Le Pen, the AfD's surge in Germany, and a Victorian election that's anyone's guess. Plus: why Indonesia's market meltdown barely made our papers, the Wallabies' second-half shocker,...
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    1 ora e 27 min
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 175 - One Nation’s Big Test, Albo’s Balancing Act and Trump’s Midterm Gamble

    The Two Jacks - Episode 175 - One Nation’s Big Test, Albo’s Balancing Act and Trump’s Midterm Gamble
    Oct 13 2026
    Latest episode but I think this one took a while to go up as well. GPT Sol again. Did a good job. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return with a packed discussion of Australian politics, international affairs and sport. One Nation’s Victorian campaign rhetoric sparks a debate about due process and the challenges of turning protest votes into mainstream support. The Jacks assess the Greens’ leadership change, Australia’s under-16 social media ban, and the electoral outlook in New South Wales and Victoria.They also tackle tobacco excise and the black market, whether Anthony Albanese is being underestimated, and the government’s economic challenges. Overseas, the conversation covers public executions in the United States, Trump’s approach to Russian energy, British politics, Iran and Gaza, and the tightening US midterm contest. To finish, there’s Australian Test cricket, Manchester City’s potential penalties and an NRL Grand Final review.Two Jacks — Episode 175 Recorded: 12 October 2026 Hosts: Jack the Insider and Hong Kong JackContent advisory: Strong language and discussion of executions, sexual content and serious illness.Timestamped show notesAll timestamps include the additional 25 seconds for the opening theme music and are rounded down to the nearest whole second. Descriptions reflect the hosts’ discussion and commentary.00:25 — The Jacks are back Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return after a short break, with a catch-up on Hong Kong’s Golden Week before turning to the news.01:23 — One Nation’s Victorian campaign: rhetoric meets due process Promises to jail political opponents draw scrutiny. The Jacks discuss One Nation’s polling, Pauline Hanson’s messaging and the difficulty of satisfying a party’s core supporters while broadening its appeal.05:03 — Small parties, big contradictions A discussion of the Libertarian Party and childhood vaccination highlights the tensions between courting the “freedom movement” and developing a workable policy platform.07:50 — Executions as public spectacle The hosts examine a proposed livestreamed US military execution, a reported botched execution in Tennessee, and the legal and moral arguments surrounding capital punishment.16:40 — Trump, Russian diesel and the politics of fuel prices A sharp exchange over US energy policy, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries and whether cheaper fuel could shift the political outlook before the midterms.23:28 — The Greens’ leadership change The Jacks assess David Shoebridge’s leadership and debate the party’s political direction, electoral appeal and opportunities to broaden its support.31:55 — Australia’s under-16 social media ban Anika Wells, parental support and the challenges of making the restrictions work lead into a broader discussion of screen time, harmful algorithms and protecting children online.36:35 — What social media should teach us about AI Can governments regulate emerging technology before the damage is done? The hosts consider lessons from social media and the uneven access to screen-free childhoods.41:52 — Chris Minns and the next state-election tests The Jacks discuss Minns’ relationship with the federal government and consider how One Nation could reshape contests in New South Wales and Victoria, particularly in regional seats.45:04 — Tobacco excise and the black-market problem Has tobacco taxation backfired? The discussion covers illicit cigarettes and vapes, police resources and the case for revisiting excise settings.49:36 — Are Albanese’s opponents underestimating him? The hosts consider Albanese’s political temperament, the risks of dismissing an elected opponent and whether caution has become government drift.52:51 — Inflation, productivity and spending Australia’s economic pressures come into focus, including interest rates, government spending and voters’ competing demands for restraint and relief.54:09 — British politics and the argument over privatisation Andy Burnham’s conference speech opens a debate about public ownership and the legacy of Thatcher and Hawke–Keating reforms. The Jacks also assess the Conservatives, Reform UK and the volatility of first-past-the-post elections.01:02:41 — Political access and a US donor controversy The hosts discuss allegations involving Kimberly Guilfoyle and a donor’s request for access to the Trump administration.01:04:59 — Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and Gaza The Jacks debate Iran’s economic condition, shipping disruption and the prospects for a lasting regional outcome, with continuing concern about Gaza.01:06:54 — US midterms: could the Senate change hands? Kansas becomes a focal point as the hosts assess Republican vulnerabilities and Democratic opportunities. Hong Kong Jack adds a caution about Trump’s past performance against the polls.01:13:39 — Australian cricket: outstanding bowling, questions at the top Australia’s performance against South ...
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    1 ora e 34 min
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 174 - Four Corners Under Fire, Brisbane’s Escape and Man City’s Reckoning

    The Two Jacks - Episode 174 - Four Corners Under Fire, Brisbane’s Escape and Man City’s Reckoning
    Oct 13 2026
    Okay so this one is GPT 6.1 Sol and tbh it did a pretty good job. It has less clanker crap in it. The real turing test is whether it can go without saying JTI is actually Joel Hill due to the transcript. My prompt is not the problem. The clanker is the problem. They are getting smarter. We are doomed. But hey, good shownotes. This episode is late because I thought I had uploaded it. I had not. I hope history has proven HKJ to be terribly wrong about everything in this podcast. Episode summaryJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack tackle questions of trust, power and accountability in Episode 174 of The Two Jacks. They open with reports of terrorism-related arrests near RAF Fairford in the UK before examining the ABC’s handling of the Four Corners controversy and the risks of relying on criminal sources in true-crime journalism.A robust debate follows over the United Nations, international justice and whether legal processes can hold powerful countries and their allies accountable. Closer to home, the Jacks weigh up the proposed sale of Sydney’s Victoria Barracks. Overseas, they discuss European red tape, Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, Canada’s possible closer relationship with the EU, Germany’s political upheaval and the arguments over NATO expansion.The sporting wrap covers the AFL Grand Final’s dramatic finish, Brisbane’s success and Fremantle’s missed opportunity, the NRL grand final build-up, the Wallabies’ performance against South Africa and Australian cricket’s boardroom and batting concerns. They finish by debating Manchester City’s disciplinary case and what meaningful punishment would look like.The Two Jacks — Episode 174 Hosts: Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack Recorded: 28 September 2026Timestamped show notesAll timestamps include the additional 25 seconds for the opening theme music and are rounded down to the nearest whole second.00:25 — Welcome to Episode 174 Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack introduce the week’s Australian and international news.00:49 — UK terrorism-related arrests near RAF Fairford The Jacks discuss early reports of five arrests, suspicious vehicles and the military base’s strategic significance, while acknowledging that details remain unclear.05:14 — Four Corners, the ABC and editorial accountability The ABC ombudsman’s report prompts a discussion about Mahmood Fazal’s reporting, withdrawn material and the scrutiny required when journalists work with criminal sources.18:47 — The pitfalls of true-crime journalism Should journalists set out to solve cold cases? Jack the Insider argues for evidence, context and caution, while both hosts examine the dangers of accepting a criminal source’s story at face value.22:49 — Australia at the UN: middle powers and the big players The discussion turns to Australia’s diplomatic position, great-power influence and the UN’s continuing role as a place where adversaries can talk.27:14 — Can international law deliver justice? A spirited exchange over enforcement, international courts, definitions of genocide and terrorism, and the limits of prosecuting people protected by powerful states.37:48 — Victoria Barracks: heritage, public access or redevelopment? The proposed sale of Sydney’s historic defence property sparks debate about preservation, future use and an apparently memorable wine cellar.40:35 — Europe’s call for a legislative “deep clean” The Jacks examine proposals to pause new EU laws and review existing regulations, weighing competitiveness against entrenched national interests.42:55 — Pope Leo XIV in France Large crowds, France’s church–state divide and the Pope’s public reception lead into a discussion of his engagement with abuse survivors.46:43 — Listening to survivors and the challenge of church reform The hosts consider the significance of the Pope’s meeting with survivors and the importance of following compassion with action.49:41 — Could Canada move closer to the EU? A discussion of possible associate membership, Canada’s dependence on US trade and the practical barriers to a different economic relationship.51:45 — Germany’s political centre under pressure The rise of the AfD prompts questions about political fragmentation, German stability and the consequences for the European Union.59:52 — NATO expansion: protection or provocation? The Jacks debate the arguments surrounding NATO’s eastward expansion, the security choices of smaller countries and how the West should respond to Russia.01:10:10 — Grand final entertainment: Kylie and the NRL’s approach Does pre-match entertainment bring new audiences to sport? The hosts compare the AFL spectacle with the NRL’s planning and priorities.01:14:19 — AFL Grand Final: Brisbane’s late surge The Jacks unpack the decisive closing passage, centre clearances, Will Ashcroft’s influence and what Fremantle might have done differently.01:18:23 — Brisbane’s standing and Chris Fagan’s...
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    1 ora e 42 min
  • Episode 218 - NEWS - Shoey - Pike - TREASON - Plague - Joanna Howe - BABET!

    Episode 218 - NEWS - Shoey - Pike - TREASON - Plague - Joanna Howe - BABET!
    Oct 10 2026

    We have decided this week we are not doing consent. It's not a thing, man. Except when it comes to beer. Consent is important when it comes to beer.

    SO PLEASE BUY CBCO TINS WITH THE CRP10 VOUCHER - THEY JUST RENEWED OUR LITTLE AGREEMENT AND I LOVE OUR REP VERY MUCH make her look good to the marketing department and BUY BEER. You have my consent.

    Anyway - this episode we have a bunch of news at the top with Jack looking at the election of David Shoebridge who I am going to call Shoey. I think Davey Shoes is also acceptable.

    Jack also has a peek at Pike - the botched execution of Christa Pike which is very much a developing story.

    And there' some treason in Germany. Is it high treason? Light treason? We don't know yet.

    Oh and the pneumonic plague is having a crack in Russia. How's that gonna go? I mean, it'll be fine but it's a bit concerning. Maybe don't put viruses and deadly bacteria in open test tubes?

    AND THEN THE BIT THAT HAS COST ME SEVERAL DEXIES - A LOOK AT JOANNA HOWE

    And her weird husband who has been through the ringer due to his comments on consent. I clear up a few things that were plaguing my mind - why does she still have a position at Adelaide University and also - what the hell does James actually do? Old mate is sitting on a sweet wicket with a wife pulling in six figures but he likes to think he's the breadwinner in his little givesendgo blurb. I dunno man, I can't see it.

    We have a bloody cracking sovcits - which is needed to wash down the taste of no consent bro and thennnnn


    BABET! Is still an idiot. Oh sorry, is that a spoiler?


    Enjoy!


    Oh and if you didn't get the message at the top of the episode CBCo will deliver you delicious tins and the prices are decent even without the coupon code. But CRP10 at checkout gives you 10% off and the IPA is legit one of the best west coast IPAs on the market. It's almost identical to Grifter Big Sur which is the other best WCIPA on the market. But they don't send me free beer so they can get stuffed.

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    1 ora e 41 min
  • Black Label 44 - Sample - Kash Patel Refuses to Kinkshame FBI Applicants

    Black Label 44 - Sample - Kash Patel Refuses to Kinkshame FBI Applicants
    Sep 29 2026

    Alright so this one's not very defamatory and it's mostly scripted - I was gonna put this in the last episode but it ran over time. I am being properly punished with uni work - really interesting stuff - but I really hope to get an episode up this week. Dunno what Jack wants to do, but I want to sink my teeth into this Joanna Howe drama and also look into the greater anti-abortion movement which appears to have gained a lot of traction (read: dodgy money) over the past little while. They usually leave some pretty big fingerprints behind but I gotta say - I saw the rabble outside NSW parliament house a couple weeks ago and it looked fragmented and confused. There was a stage though. And where there's a stage, there's a chequebook. If anyone has any leads or info please let me know via facebook, twitter DM (I rarely check but...) or theconditionalreleaseprogram@gmail.com

    Enjoy Kash Patel lettting the goatfuckers have their shot at being federal agents. First they came for the barnyard bangers and I said nothing because I don't fuck animals...
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    26 min
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 173 - Australia's DV Crisis, One Nation's Migration Blitz, and Albo's Polling Slide

    The Two Jacks - Episode 173 - Australia's DV Crisis, One Nation's Migration Blitz, and Albo's Polling Slide
    Sep 28 2026
    Sorry folks this one took a while cause I was away and had no idea it existed. But it's still good! Pick it up, dust it off and have a listen. As usual this one is brought to you by Google Gemini - Flash 3.8 with enhanced thinking. What does that mean? I'm not entirely sure. But you have to pay for it. Well, I do. They don't. TCRP COMING SOON I PROMISE! It's that part of law school but it's gonna get much better very soon. ENJOY! In Episode 173 of The Two Jacks, hosts Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack break down a confronting and wide-ranging week in Australian news, politics, and culture. The episode opens with an urgent discussion on Australia's domestic violence epidemic following three fatal incidents across regional and metropolitan communities, examining stubbornly high homicide rates, non-intimate familial violence, and the breakdown in enforcing intervention orders. Turning to Canberra, the Jacks assess Anthony Albanese's slump in Newspoll ratings, Siobhan McKenna's appointment as Consul-General in New York, and the persistent political headaches surrounding ministerial perks—headlined by Transport Minister Catherine King's lifetime Qantas Platinum status and the exclusive culture of the Chairman's Lounge. The conversation heats up around Pauline Hanson: her widely condemned remarks regarding First Nations Australians, the unprecedented united condemnation from Indigenous senators across party lines, and her targeted attacks on Albanese's late mother over historic public housing tenancy. The hosts also tackle the national immigration debate, contrasting One Nation's drastic visa-slashing platform with Labor's incremental policy adjustments against a backdrop of acute regional labour shortages. They explore border enforcement anomalies—including the arrest of convicted murderer Paul Offer in connection with a tracking device placed on former detective Gary Jubelin's car—and examine systemic child welfare failures in Port Hedland. Rounding out the program, the Jacks debate proposed legislation to introduce an opt-out switch for social media algorithms, answer listener mail on the future of the US Republican Party post-Trump and the legendary 1935 Sydney Shark Arm case, debunk birth-order IQ myths, and unpack the $100 million sale of Double Bay's Royal Oak Hotel. Finally, they deliver their verdicts on the AFL and NRL preliminary finals and share a laugh over a bizarre weekend in Australian cricket. Comprehensive Show Notes1. Australia's Domestic Violence Crisis & Systemic FailuresJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack reflect on a harrowing weekend where three Australian women were killed in separate domestic violence incidents, including a 90-year-old grandmother in Sydney, a 23-year-old woman in Wagga Wagga, and a woman in northern New South Wales. The hosts analyse national homicide data, highlighting that domestic and family violence accounts for approximately 40% of all homicides in Australia, split evenly between intimate partner killings and broader familial homicides. The discussion covers the front-line pressures faced by police attending volatile call-outs, historical reporting shifts, and the frequent failure of Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) and Intervention Orders (ISOs) to deter determined offenders. Reference is made to the need for deeper cultural accountability and education among young men rather than relying solely on legal remedies. 2. Federal Politics, Polling Pressures & Diplomatic GigsAnthony Albanese faces a slump in public polling with Labor's primary vote falling to 27%, coinciding with his visit to the United Nations to receive a global citizen award. The appointment of Siobhan McKenna as Australian Consul-General in New York is examined, with Hong Kong Jack outlining the historical business and political ties between the Murdoch organisation and the prestigious posting. The hosts weigh upcoming electoral tests for both major parties in Victoria and New South Wales, alongside One Nation's polling gains. 3. The Qantas Perks Furor & The Chairman's LoungeScrutiny lands on Federal Transport Minister Catherine King after her parliamentary pecuniary interest register disclosed a lifetime Qantas Platinum status gift. Jack the Insider questions whether transparency around declared gifts should trigger public outrage, warning that relentless scrutiny over minor perks deters capable people from entering public life. Hong Kong Jack counters that Qantas's historic practice of handing out elite access and Chairman's Lounge memberships creates an undeniable perception of undue corporate influence across politics, the judiciary, and senior public service. 4. Pauline Hanson Controversies: Indigenous Remarks & Attacks on Maryanne AlbaneseIndigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and all four Indigenous federal senators deliver a united cross-party condemnation of Pauline Hanson following her offensive description of First Nations Australians. The Jacks analyse Hanson's ...
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    1 ora e 29 min
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 172 - Hanson Doubles Down, Burgess Sounds the Alarm, and the Populist Playbook Goes Global

    The Two Jacks - Episode 172 - Hanson Doubles Down, Burgess Sounds the Alarm, and the Populist Playbook Goes Global
    Sep 15 2026

    Oh no, China! That's what all the techbros are saying. Let's test that theory with some shownotes generated by Qwen 3.8 Max. The max is for MAXIMUM. This is the maximum.


    EPISODE SUMMARY

    It is Hong Kong Jack's birthday, and the Two Jacks mark the occasion with a long, wide-ranging episode recorded on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

    The show opens with Pauline Hanson's refusal to remove a cartoon from her website branding Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a traitor — eight times over. Barnaby Joyce has apologised, One Nation candidates are expressing discomfort, but Hanson will not budge. Jack the Insider argues her truculence is a delusion shared by populists everywhere: the belief that backing down is weakness. Ironically, the affair has burnished Hastie's credentials as a potential Coalition leader. From there, the hosts turn to the Prime Minister's handling of the Marrickville Golf Club membership controversy — a one-day story turned into a one-week saga by Albanese taking umbrage rather than simply admitting an oversight.

    The conversation broadens into the global rise of populism: revelations about a One Nation candidate in Victoria; ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess's expression of deep regret over the October 9 Opera House rally and his warning that normalised behaviours raised the temperature and increased the permission for politically motivated violence; and Germany's state elections, where the AFD's surge in Saxony comes despite the state having one of the lowest foreign-born populations in the country. Chancellor Merz, with 75 per cent disapproval, may be finished. A proposed Constitutional Court ban on the AFD is, in Hong Kong Jack's view, just about the worst thing Germany could do.

    Across the Atlantic, the Lindsay Clancy mistrial in Massachusetts — a jury split 11-1 for acquittal after 40 hours, with postpartum depression at the centre of the defence — prompts a wider discussion of the US justice system. Donald Trump's midterm rally speech earns scrutiny too: the pledge of five thousand dollars for every adult male, his claim to have outrated the NFL (2.5 million viewers against 28.3 million), and his falling asleep during the reading of the names at the 9/11 commemoration. The hosts close that section with reflections from John Howard and Kevin Rudd on where they were 25 years ago.

    Finally, the footy: an NFL crowd of 100,000 at the MCG to watch the 49ers beat the Rams; Russell Jackson's ABC story on racism allegations at Hawthorn and North Melbourne, which the Jacks find lacking in evidence; Cricket Australia's BBL privatisation push; and finals predictions for the AFL and NRL. The birthday show signs off, fittingly, with the arrest of a Nigerian prince in California.

    TIMESTAMPS

    All times include the 25-second theme music.

    • 00:00:27 — Welcome; happy birthday Hong Kong Jack
    • 00:01:19 — Pauline Hanson refuses to remove Andrew Hastie "traitor" cartoon
    • 00:05:30 — The PM and the Marrickville Golf Club: a one-day story becomes a one-week saga
    • 00:07:03 — Populists and the delusion that they can do no wrong
    • 00:08:08 — One Nation's Victorian candidate: drugs and sexual deviance allegations
    • 00:18:17 — ASIO's Mike Burgess on the October 9 rally and politically motivated violence
    • 00:40:13 — Germany's state elections: the AFD's surge in Saxony
    • 00:48:15 — The AFD, remigration rhetoric and anti-Semitism
    • 00:57:44 — Chancellor Merz at 75 per cent disapproval; the proposed AFD ban
    • 00:59:34 — The Lindsay Clancy mistrial in Massachusetts
    • 01:10:03 — Trump's midterm speech: five grand for every adult male and the ratings claim
    • 01:11:38 — 9/11 at 25: Trump asleep at the commemoration; Howard and Rudd remember
    • 01:25:42 — NFL at the MCG: the 49ers down the Rams before 100,000
    • 01:28:33 — Russell Jackson, the ABC and the Hawthorn–North Melbourne racism allegations
    • 01:38:01 — Cricket Australia and BBL privatisation
    • 01:39:42 — AFL finals: Freo, the Swans, the Hawks and the Lions
    • 01:41:27 — NRL finals: Panthers, Warriors, Sharks and Cowboys
    • 01:42:43 — A Nigerian prince finally caught — in California
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    1 ora e 44 min
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 171 - By-Election Blowouts, Pacific Soft Diplomacy, and Tobacco Policy Smoke & Mirrors

    The Two Jacks - Episode 171 - By-Election Blowouts, Pacific Soft Diplomacy, and Tobacco Policy Smoke & Mirrors
    Sep 10 2026
    Google has updated their gemini model to 3.8 - it's pretty flash! PUN INTENDED. I know you guys only come here for the AI generated shownotes so this is brought to you by 3.8 Flash (Extended) which I got for free on a google program for students. Hit me up if you want to know how to cash it in - it's pretty sweet. You too could be making shownotes for several Jacks. Episode SummaryIn Episode 171 of The Two Jacks, hosts Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack unpack a consequential week in Australian federal and state politics, international developments, and sporting turmoil. The show begins with an in-depth post-mortem of the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia, where One Nation secured a shock victory amid massive double-digit swings against both Labor and the Liberal Party. The Jacks dissect focus group findings illustrating the visceral disconnect between ordinary Australians and the major-party political class, alongside the cringe-inducing social media gimmicks employed by politicians who talk down to the public. The discussion turns to diplomatic missteps, including Australia's pre-COP attendance troubles in the Pacific and the limitations of using a new PNG NRL franchise as a soft-diplomacy counterweight to foreign influence. In New South Wales, the hosts examine Premier Chris Minns's second-guessing of police crowd control at the Sydney Opera House protests and push back against a controversial parliamentary inquiry into historical cold cases that threatens to air unsubstantiated allegations against Ivan Milat under parliamentary privilege. The episode also tackles the economic catastrophe of Australia's runaway tobacco excise, which has created a thriving organised crime black market, before debating listener feedback on teenage alcohol consumption at private school functions and overzealous RSA crackdowns. On the world stage, the Jacks cover Spain's escalating border crisis in Ceuta and Melilla, undercover foreign-funding scandals surrounding Nigel Farage's Reform UK, European Union proposals to pool private savings, and the technique of "flooding the zone" in US politics. The show concludes with analysis of North Melbourne parting ways with Alastair Clarkson, an update on the AFL and NRL finals races, reflections on crowd declines in Test cricket, and a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Indigenous boxing great Tony Mundine. Timestamped Highlights00:00:25 — Welcome & Hong Kong Weather Check: Seasonal transitions, humidity, and the noisy return of school terms. 00:01:25 — Secret Harbour By-Election Shock: One Nation candidate Luke Kurtigan sweeps to victory amid severe swings against both major parties in Western Australia. 00:07:35 — "They're Not Us": Focus group revelations, the collapse of major party credibility, and local council bin collection frustrations. 00:11:39 — Crossbench Reality: One Nation's mixed messaging on immigration, David Farley's uneasy party ties, and the structural irrelevance of a single upper-house seat. 00:15:43 — Social Media Condescension: Politicians explaining policy with Ooshies, car-seat videos, and the scourge of political "theatre kids" as media advisors. 00:20:01 — Pacific Diplomacy & Soft Power: Weak interest in Chris Bowen's pre-COP talks and whether a PNG NRL franchise can counter regional diplomatic shifts. 00:23:47 — Sydney Opera House Protests: Premier Chris Minns's retrospective criticism of police management versus the practical realities of crowd control. 00:28:42 — Cold Case Inquiries & Parliamentary Privilege: Jeremy Buckingham's push to investigate missing persons and the debunked theories linking Ivan Milat to the Wanda Beach murders. 00:32:45 — Illicit Tobacco & Failed Public Policy: How unchecked excise tax escalation since Nicola Roxon fueled a lucrative black market and organised crime. 00:37:13 — Teenage Drinking & Southern Highlands "Prohibition": School function alcohol debates, parental attitudes, and extreme RSA enforcement during local race days. 00:44:56 — Spain's Border Flashpoint: Mass migrant arrivals in Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish Supreme Court rulings on summary returns, and domestic political backlash. 00:52:54 — UK Politics & Reform UK Scandal: Undercover stings expose illicit foreign polling funds for Nigel Farage, while Labour ties Reform in the polls. 01:03:43 — Public Ownership vs. Economic Growth: Andy Burnham's push to renationalise UK rail and water infrastructure. 01:06:14 — Australia's Economic Stagnation: Negative productivity data, sticky inflation, and why Hawke-Keating style deregulation remains essential. 01:09:12 — European Union Capital Schemes: Ursula von der Leyen's plan for EU-wide voluntary savings accounts and the risks of centralised investment. 01:14:41 — US Political Landscape: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's natural communication skills, James Talarico in Texas, and Donald Trump's "flood the zone" messaging. 01:20:19 — AFL Coaching Shakeup: Alastair ...
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    1 ora e 38 min