News Weakly – Episode Notes – 11th January, 2025

This Week’s Punchlines in the Headlines: Trump goes full Risk with a bizarre annexation plan, LA faces literal hellfire while Steve Guttenberg makes a surprising cameo, Zuckerberg taps out on fact-checking but not on his MMA delusions, and Justin Trudeau says "au revoir" to the Canadian Dream.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. Trump’s Anschluss Ambitions: Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration antics take a surreal turn as he announces plans to annex Greenland, the Panama Canal, and parts of Canada. We unpack the logic—or lack thereof—behind his geopolitical Monopoly game.
2. Flame of Thrones: The LA fires wreak havoc, claiming homes, billions in damages, and even some celebrity anonymity. Steve Guttenberg gets unrecognised, but Hollywood’s burning continues.
3. Meta Taps Out: Mark Zuckerberg ends Meta’s fact-checking program and appoints Dana White as his fact-checker, but not in the way you’d expect.
4. Justin Time to Leave: The rise and fall of Justin Trudeau, Canada’s progressive poster boy. From yoga poses to blackface scandals, we chart his complicated legacy.

Quote of the Week:

“Justin Trudeau’s time as Prime Minister has officially come to an end. And like the maple syrup Canada is famous for, his tenure started sweet but ended in a sticky mess.”

Support the Show:

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution keeps us ad-free and sharp!

About the Host:

Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.

For more: http://thesamishah.com

Theme Music:

"Historic Anticipation" by Paul Mottram.

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NEWS WEAKLY – 4th January, 2025

This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah kicks off the new year by questioning what even counts as terrorism anymore, breaking down Labor’s attempts to scare voters into loving Medicare, and saying goodbye to two world leaders who somehow managed to avoid causing the downfall of democracy.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. White Guys Can’t Terrorism

Two terrorist attacks in the US reveal that anyone – even a Tesla-driving Trump supporter – can now join the ranks of extremists, leaving Republicans struggling to decide whether the real enemy is ISIS or Granny Smith apples.

2. Labor Digs Up Old Campaign Tactics

Labor revives their favourite election scarecrow – MediScare – with a new spin on an old warning: if Peter Dutton wins, say goodbye to Medicare and hello to $7 GP visits and scary hospital bills.

3. Dead Presidents (And Prime Ministers)

Jimmy Carter and Manmohan Singh pass away, reminding the world that not all leaders end their terms with fascist uprisings. Sometimes, you just retire and quietly build houses.

Quote of the Week:

“What is this diversity and inclusion in terrorism?” – Sami reflects on the unsettling fact that terrorism is no longer the exclusive domain of angry brown guys with student visas.

Enjoy News Weakly?

Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps keep the show ad-free and full of weak punches at the news.

Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.

For more: http://thesamishah.com

Theme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul Mottram

This podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NEWS WEAKLY – 21 Dec, 2024

This week, Sami Shah is untangling the dramas behind an Olympian's defamation threats and Bluey's cinematic debut. Join the satire as Sami breaks down Australia’s cultural priorities with humour, insight, and a little existential despair.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. Breaking Badly: How Raygun managed to turn Olympic mediocrity into a full-blown musical lawsuit.
2. Bluey’s Big Screen Bark: Can a cartoon dog save Brisbane’s animation industry and Australian kids’ TV?

Quote of the Week:

"I mean, I thought my understanding of relationships going into my last marriage was very strong too, but there I was a few weeks later Googling 'how quickly can you get divorced?'"

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps keep us ad-free and committed to bringing you the sharpest satire.

Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.

For more: http://thesamishah.com

Theme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul Mottram

This podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.