Represent

The former president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has been sentenced to death in absentia while he reportedly lives a life of luxury in Russia.

While al-Assad is living it up in Moscow, the Represent International team soldiers on as the studio burns down around them.

After successfully fighting the fire with their bare heads, the team discusses the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia's own respective scandals.

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In this episode of Represent National, Benita, Nayan and Zoe take a look at new questions in the National Census, including questions surveying LGBTQIA+ people. 

The team also discusses a Year 11 student running in the upcoming Victorian election in November, and whether there should be minimum (or even maximum!) age restrictions for running as a political candidate. 

Finally, we talk about brand new changes to Victorian voting laws abolishing 'group voting', under which you could vote for a new party called 'Free Palestine' and your preferences would flow to conservative right-wing parties without you knowing...

Represent is a Syn Media podcast. 

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English is now recognised as one of the official languages in New Zealand... for some reason.

The only country in the world that has a president with Japanese heritage is in... Peru? And she's not even the first, it's a family business.

And the kids are not alright all over the world apparently because they can't stop cheating on their university entrance exams.

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Content warning: This episode of Represent National discusses gambling, addiction, and child sexual abuse. 

This week, Ashley, Benita Nayan and Zoe talk about Acknowledgements of Country and One Nation's takes on multiculturalism. 

The team also looks at the Senate inquiry into gambling, and discusses whether our government should ban gambling advertising, or even ban gambling entirely. 

Finally, we have an important conversation about the Victorian Government's apology to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in Victorian schools, including the importance of education about autonomy, consent and abuse; ensuring survivors feel heard; and having conversations like this one. 

If you'd like to seek support regarding these topics, you can contact:

The National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858
Beyond Blue (mental health support): 1300 22 46 36
Bravehearts (support relating to child sexual abuse): 1800 272 831
13 YARN (support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people): 13 92 76
Kids Helpline (support for people aged 5-25): 1800 551 800
Lifeline (crisis support and suicide prevention): 13 11 14
1800 RESPECT (sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line): 1800 737 732

Represent is a Syn Media podcast. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're an international show but is USA all day today, and not in a good way.

Trump deigns to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner and soft launches a 2028 campaign.

There have been more mass shootings than says in the USA this year and almost all of them you've never heard about.

People continue to die of starvation in Uganda without USAID intervention during a prolonged drought.

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The Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has resigned, and who on earth is this new fella who's replaced her (see: stabbed her in the back, maybe)? On this episode of Represent National, Ashley, Benita, Nayan and Zoe unpack who Ben Carroll is, what happened in the Victorian Labor Party caucus meeting, and the drama of it all! 

We also check back in on Victorian teachers' and school staff's ongoing union fight for better pay and conditions, including their most recent strike action last Thursday, and the implications of Australia's only manganese smelter in Tasmania going broke. 

Represent is a Syn Media podcast. 

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Oh, so now Donald Trump cares about air pollution? Go figure.

A political party of cockroaches in India?

And how Christopher Nolan portrays women in his The Odyssey (spoiler: about as well as you'd expect)

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In the second week of our new Represent National hour, Benita takes us through the return of the 'ditch the witch' billboard smearing Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, and the state of gendered abuse in politics.

Ashley looks at yet more challenges for the modern Liberal Party, including Moira Deeming being unendorsed as a Victorian upper house candidate, and a greater party identity crisis. 

Nayan tells of One Nation senator Pauline Hanson's wild and wacky "fact-finding" Europe and UK tour,  where she gave a speech to a mostly empty room and bemoaned the end of the White Australia Policy on a far right activist's podcast.

Represent is a Syn Media podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Represent is taking the world on with our new International Hour!!

On Represent's inaugural International Hour, we'll be discussing British MP Nigel Farage's self-imposed by-election, where his main opponent is a bin? Sure.

We'll then be looking at reactions to a Chinese military test that involved a nuclear-capable missile launch into the Pacific Ocean.

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A new season at SYN spells big new things for Represent! This season, we're expanding, with a new national politics hour on Wednesdays from 4-5pm, and an international hour on Thursdays from 5-6pm. We're giving the people what they want - more politics on the SYN airwaves!

In this first ever national hour, we meet brand new presenters Ashley, Benita, and Nayan.

Zoe takes a look at the Prime Minister's announcement of a national artificial intelligence strategy, and a new governmental Office of AI. The new team discusses whether Australia should aim to be leaders in AI, and if our government really can put its money where its mouth is and protect artists' rights from AI exploitation.

Ashley walks us through the PM's strange comments on a podcast about Kylie Minogue, and other past public blunders from former Australian prime ministers. Remember when Tony Abbott chomped into a raw onion...?

Benita takes a look at Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson's out-of-touch cost of living advice: just buy your t-shirts from Target or Kmart! 

Represent is a Syn Media podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.