News Weakly

News Weakly - 16 Nov 2024

Sami Shah records a special editorial edition from the iconic Raffles Bar in Singapore, weaving tales of overpriced cocktails, relentless humidity, and the Singapore Writers Festival. Between peanuts and jazz setups, Sami reflects on media, bias, and the complexity of modern news consumption.

Highlights:

• The Singapore Sling Debacle: Why some overpriced cocktails are worth it, if only for the experience (but not this one).
• Architecture of the Future: Singapore’s vision of a retro-future versus the LED-filled dystopias of China, the UAE, and the West.
• News Narratives Gone Awry: A deep dive into the Amsterdam riot story, examining media bias, misinformation, and how the rush to break news is breaking journalism.
• Lessons from Pakistan’s Media Evolution: How 24-hour news, sensationalism, and competing realities transformed the news landscape in the Global South—and what it tells us about the West.

Sami also takes a reflective turn, advocating for slow journalism, the virtues of newspapers, and a life less cluttered by social media doomscrolling.

Quote of the Week:

"Real life is what you escape to when Twitter gets too much to handle."

Whether you're here for the rants or the laughs, don't forget to:

• Support on Patreon.
• Leave a 5-star rating and review.
• Share the podcast with your friends.

No episode next week as Sami takes a short break but will return the week after with your regularly scheduled News Weakly, where we punch the news in the headlines, weakly!

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 9th November, 2024

This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah brings us a special editorial edition, delivered right from the OzAsia Festival in Adelaide, where he’s been curating the Weekend of Words event. The episode splits into two parts to give listeners the option to tune out or dive deep into the U.S. election aftermath. Here’s what’s in store:

• “The Anti-Trump Segment”: Sami kicks off with a section where he avoids any mention of the U.S. election or Donald Trump, fulfilling a listener’s wish for a political escape. Instead, he explores lighter fare, responding to questions from Patreon supporters and discussing personal topics like the quirks of toothpaste, beloved pets, and the origins of his ultimate “porn name.”
• Reflections from OzAsia: In a touching segment, Sami reflects on his experience at the OzAsia Festival, sharing the gala’s theme, “I Was Supposed to Be…” and reading a poignant speech he gave on the value of storytelling, art, and hope in a world that feels increasingly dark.
• “The Trump Section – Enter If You Dare”: For those who want a cathartic take on recent events, Sami reluctantly dives into Trump’s re-election and his own missed predictions. From the pitfalls of punditry to the human psychology behind backing strongman figures, he tackles the complexity of democracy and the allure of authoritarian promises, using his own experience with Pakistan’s political history as context.

Enjoy a uniquely structured episode designed to satisfy political junkies and avoiders alike, packed with humor, introspection, and sharp commentary on the state of the world.

And don’t forget, if you’re in Adelaide, swing by the OzAsia Weekend of Words for Sami’s book club, panels, and stand-up shows, all happening November 8th-10th!

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 2nd November, 2024

Description:

This week on News Weakly's bonus edition, we get the lowdown on the upcoming US Election with The Dollop's Dave Anthony.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 2nd November, 2024

This week, Sami Shah is covering everything from airline perks for politicians to climate change’s inevitable roast of the human race, but not the US Election. Tune in as Sami tackles some of the week's top stories with his signature humor and insight.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. Frequent Briber Points, Anyone

• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces heat for his alleged Qantas Chairman's Lounge perks, sparking debate on political favours in Australia.

2.Pauline Hanson Declared Officially Racist

• In a court ruling that surprises no one, Senator Pauline Hanson is found to have crossed the legal line into racism.

3. The World in Briefs

• With Spain in the grips of climate disaster, the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Sudanese civil war reaching horrifying new milestones, Sami brings listeners up to date.

Quote of the Week:

"Australia’s idea of counter-terrorism? Just delay every Qantas flight until the bad guys give up."

Don’t miss Sami’s live appearances at the OzAsia Weekend of Words in Adelaide from November 8th-10th. Check out OzAsia's website for full details and, if you’re around, say hello!

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Support the Show:

Keep News Weakly ad-free and independent by supporting Sami on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY: Academic Edition – 26th October, 2024

This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah gets a bit meta, taking listeners behind the scenes of his PhD research on satirical news and its role in modern journalism. In a unique twist, Sami uses the News Weakly format to explore why news satire podcasts like his may be reframing news narratives and influencing how we understand journalistic norms.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 19th October, 2024

Description:

This week on News Weakly, we switch things up with a special editorial edition, as Sami Shah dives deep into why he hates Qantas and how it's more damaging for social cohesion than Yahya Sinwar.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 12th October, 2024

Description:

In this episode of News Weakly, Sami Shah takes aim at Australia’s obsession with a hurricane, Senator Fatima Payman’s political career gets even more confusing, and Israel continues its relentless bombing campaign. Tune in for sharp satire, unexpected analogies, and a lot of face-palming at the absurdity of the week’s headlines.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. ABC Blown Away by Hurricane!

• Why is Australia’s ABC obsessed with covering a hurricane in Florida like it’s happening in Queensland? Sami wonders if the national broadcaster is just looking for an excuse to avoid talking about the Middle East—and why Trump thinks a nuke can stop a storm.

2. Payman’s Voice Breaks!

• Senator Fatima Payman launches a new political party, Australia’s Voice, but with no policies and a borrowed name, her political missteps are becoming as confusing as her evasive interviews. Sami dissects her latest oddball moves in Parliament.

3. Israel is Still Defending Itself!

• Israel continues to "defend" itself with bombs on civilians and health workers in Gaza and Lebanon. As Netanyahu pleads for Lebanese citizens to rise up against Hezbollah, Sami digs into the dark irony of Israel’s ongoing military campaign.

Quote of the Week:

"Did the ABC think Florida is in Queensland? Because unless the hurricane killed King Charles, there’s no reason for wall-to-wall coverage of a Florida storm." - Sami Shah

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

\NEWS WEAKLY – 5th October, 2024

Description:

This week on News Weakly, tensions in the Middle East escalate beyond words we hate hearing, while anti-Semitic undertones get louder in the streets. As the world teeters on the brink of conflict, Sami Shah breaks down the insanity of it all, reminding us that sometimes, two things can be bad at once. Join us for a satirical and unfiltered take on the headlines, weakly.

Top Stories of the Week:

1. Escalation through Escalation!

• As Israel and Hezbollah go from lobbing rockets to battling it out in Lebanon, we explore the concept of de-escalation through escalation. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry—it’s all just a step towards “peace,” apparently. Sami dissects the absurdity of this situation with his signature humor.

2.We’re Not Antisemitic, We Just Look and Act That Way!

• Pro-Palestinian protests in Australia reach a new low with chants that cross the line from anti-Israel to anti-Jew. Sami dives into the complex dynamics of free speech, protest, and the dangerous fine line between legitimate criticism and outright hate.

Quote of the Week:

"We’re on the precipice of calm! The brink of ceasefire, verging on utopia, escalating towards peace in the Middle East!" - Sami Shah, interpreting Israel’s military strategy.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 28th September, 2024

Description:

This week on News Weakly, we switch things up with a special editorial edition, as Sami Shah dives deep into personal reflections on Israel-Palestine, anti-Semitism, free speech, and why Cyclops from the X-Men might just be the right metaphor for it all. Recorded while parked next to a giant submarine in Holbrook, Sami navigates complex global conflicts and free speech issues with unfiltered honesty.

Quote of the Week:

"If you use trauma as a justification for anything, then you use trauma as a justification for everything." - Sami Shah, on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the dangers of using historical trauma to justify present-day actions.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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

NEWS WEAKLY – 20th September, 2024

Description:

In this special Friday edition of News Weakly, we tackle the absurd and dangerous antics of Trump’s latest assassination attempt, Hezbollah’s outdated communication devices, and the never-ending saga of Labor vs. Greens over housing policy. Join Sami Shah as he punches the news in the headlines, weakly, and with all the sarcasm you’ve come to love.

Top Stories of the Week:

White Men Can’t Assassinate!

• In the latest assassination attempt on Donald Trump, another white man flubs the job. Sami breaks down what went wrong and questions why white men have lost their edge when it comes to political assassinations. Meanwhile, Trump’s friendship with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer raises even more eyebrows.

Hezbollah Needs Palm Pilots!

• Israel steps up its game by blowing up Hezbollah’s pagers—yes, pagers. Sami discusses how Hezbollah’s insistence on using 90s technology led to this bizarre twist in Middle Eastern conflicts, and why they should probably stay away from rotary phones and two cans with a string.

Labor and Greens Refuse to Share House!

• The housing crisis gets political as Labor and Greens clash over rental freezes and homeownership schemes. Sami imagines a sitcom-style scenario where both parties share a house—complete with plenty of awkward misunderstandings and political jabs.

Quote of the Week:

"White guys always think they’re the main character. It’s not their fault—that’s what movies tell them." - Sami Shah, on the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.

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.

Get bonus content on Patreon

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