The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

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A lot of people are drawing comparisons between events in Minneapolis and the worst days of the Troubles. So I asked Shrapnel cohost and a loyalist voice of great sense, Sam Mcilwaine to come on and have a chat about how sometimes history doesn't rhyme, but it might echo.

Editors Note: This was released for members on Jan 29th and we're lifting the paywall as supporters asked us to.

The Epstein Files and the dearth of good reporting:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-150004285

Poet Paula Meehan pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-150317193

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

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Hassan Abo Qamar is a journalist and writer from Gaza. He’s also a first-year engineering student at the Islamic University of Gaza. His work has been published in outlets such as The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The New Arab, among others, with a focus on documenting the humanitarian reality in Gaza beyond traditional political narratives.

Not satisfied with just that, he’s also an entrepreneur and the founder of a small business called Socks Store in Gaza. Alongside his work, he is actively involved in community and volunteer initiatives, particularly those supporting children and humanitarian relief.

The Epstein Files and the dearth of good reporting:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-150004285

Shrapnel's Sam Mcilwaine on deepening political polarisation:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149409039

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

Associate Professor and contributing member of the Neutrality Roadshow, Patrick Bresnihan rejoins us on the Shack to talk about the impending erasure of the Triple Lock, the ongoing erasure of our neutrality, the fallacies at the heart of the militarisation agenda and why there is so much hope in Irish peoples pride in our peacekeeping neutrality.

The Epstein Files and the dearth of good reporting:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-150004285

Shrapnel's Sam Mcilwaine on deepening political polarisation:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149409039

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

In this Tortoise Shack Podcast, Tony is rejoined by Mr irishelectionprojections.com Harry McEvansoneya, to discuss the latest opinion polls, the Soc Dem rise, the upcoming by-elections and why we have a government who will do absolutely anything to avoid having to do something.

The Triple Lock Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149848572

The Rental Reforms Podcast with Rory Hearne is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149857391

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Karama Fadil is a teacher of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers. She survived 5 months of the genocide in Gaza before being able to leave via "coordination services" to Egypt and eventually on to the US. In her new home, she is trying to start a new life. But the experience of a Palestinian a refugee, a stateless person in search of identity and community in this United States is not an easy one. Still Karama hopes to be able one day to build community and support those whom she left behind. Tune in for the full episode.

Journalist in Gaza, Hassan Abo Qamar joined us here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149482479

Harry McEvansoneya on the latest opinion polls:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149741469

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

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In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with activist, campaigner and commentator Jenny Maguire about her recent column that laid out the need for the broad left to focus on building a coalition that is based on a more hopeful vision and less prone to infighting around identity politics. This is a great conversation with a great voice and The Flash even makes a guest appearance.

The Irish Spy Deel (sic) podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149241136?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

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Bernard Mulvany is a Disability Rights Activist, founder of Access for All Ireland and a carer to his daughter, Sophia.

He rejoins me just a few minutes after his latest meeting with the Government representatives where he outlined (again) the stark reality facing both Carers and People with Disabilities. So we got him at a good time. We are (on paper) a rich country. This doesn't need to be happening!

Access for All https://www.instagram.com/access_for_all_ireland/?hl=en

Ireland dropping the Triple Lock reaction podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149334686

A Palestinian refugee in Trump's America podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149237003

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Theses first few weeks of 2026 have been a hell of a decade. But we did not have technocrat Mark Carney joining the revolution on our bingo cards. To discuss this, the inequality at the heart of the polarisation, wealth taxes on the 1%, Ireland's role in Global Tax Abuse and more is economist with NERI, Ciarán Nugent.

The wealth inequality report is here:https://www.oxfamireland.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/wealth-inequality-report-final-version.pdf

The Irish Spy Deel (sic) podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-149241136?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

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Reem Hamadaqa is a Palestinian translator and storyteller from Gaza. She uses her writing to remember and to keep her lost loved ones alive. In this very special PalCast she tells her story of semi-surviving the genocide in Gaza. Please make sure you listen to this remarkable young woman.

Comrade Mark Carney, Davos and Inequality podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-148762978

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

In this tortoise shack special, Tony is joined by independent journalist and author of the brilliant book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.

Via the prism of the latest Trump madness, they dig deep into the themes of the book including class, oligarchy, the politics of tech, political corruption, illicit finance, the nihilism of forever wars and the depredations of an all too often clueless media and weak political opposition.

Buy the Book:https://bookstation.ie/products/gilded-rage-elon-musk-and-the-radicalization-of-silicon-valley?srsltid=AfmBOopVhT4bd54ygp_HyAZnaE5Od4lRmby1o3FVQ0YpNv6ViSg-wByI

Comrade Mark Carney, Davos and Inequality podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-148762978

Ireland’s GDP is a mirage podcast with Prof Aidan Regan is out now here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-148284291

Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542