The week that really was

With the election campaign underway, John and Sarah review the major issues of the first few days. Which appear to be Michael O'Leary, and whether the country wants new energy or change.

John gets a deserved spanking from Sarah over his Trump Derangement Syndrome, The US election gets thoroughly analysed, and a look forward at the very short three weeks campaign to come here in Ireland.

02:55 The Shift in Voter Sentiment
06:14 The Impact of Campaign Messaging
08:56 Reactions from the Media and Political Pundits
12:00 The Future of American Politics
15:09 Reflections on Trump's Second Term
17:53 Cultural Reactions and Public Sentiment
20:53 Final Thoughts on Political Dynamics
34:05 Election Chaos and Cynicism
39:58 Political Punditry and Voter Apathy
45:09 The Need for Robust Political Discourse
54:18 Anger in Politics and the Power of Voting

"I've never seen a race like this" - John McGuirk talks to legendary Republican strategist Karl Rove about what to expect tonight as the Harris/Trump votes come in, and what key counties to watch in Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

John and Sarah discuss the new Cillian Murphy "Ireland was awful" movie and it's predictable acclaim; offer final thoughts on the Trump/Harris campaign, and discuss issues that won't come up in Ireland's general election:

03:13 Cultural Reflections on Ireland's Past
06:02 Critique of Modern Cultural Narratives
08:51 The Impact of Historical Narratives on Society
12:03 Contemporary Issues and Social Pressures
14:54 Transgender Issues in Society
18:10 Political Implications of Gender Discussions
21:02 Election Predictions and Political Landscape
30:06 The TikTok Political Experiment
33:44 The Dynamics of Trump and Harris Supporters
37:33 The State of American Politics
40:42 Retail Politics and Candidate Effectiveness
43:36 Cultural Consequences of the Election
46:17 The Irish Political Landscape
57:12 The Impact of U.S. Elections on Ireland

John and Sarah discuss the latest developments in sex ed, the passage of the hate crime bill, the government clearing the decks for an election, and why John has full blown Trump derangement syndrome, god love him.

With an election due to be called any day now, John and Sarah review the state of the opposition. Also: Councils ban Bibi, Roderic escapes scrutiny, and tragedy in Argentina.

Sarah and John discuss the spy in the Oireachtas, Sinn Fein forgetting how to do politics, Scary Movies, Scarier Sex Education, and the Government buying the media in a packed podcast this week.

John and Sarah walk through the budget, John's row with an unfortunate Fine Gael canvasser, the latest celeb muck from Philip Schofield and P. Diddy, and the horrifying case of the woman allegedly tortured in Dublin.

00:00 Budget Week Insights
05:54 Child Welfare and Family Support
12:09 Critique of Government Spending
17:45 Opposition Response and Political Dynamics
23:48 Vice Presidential Debate Analysis
29:52 Celebrity Controversies and Accountability
35:46 Rising Violence in Society
51:48 Concluding Thoughts on Current Events

In the aftermath of the defeat of the hate speech legislation, John and @sarahcatryan unleash a torrent of what some might consider hate speech towards the bike shed, the children's hospital, various members of the Government, and President Higgins.

John and Sarah examine the contradiction between Fine Gael's standing in the polls and the state of Scoliosis treatment for children. Also: Simeon Burke and the law library, Micheal Martin's endless leadership, and did Israel blunder in Lebanon?

02:45 Political Landscape and Opinion Polls
05:47 Fine Gael's Momentum and Election Strategy
09:01 Health Care Crisis: Scoliosis Case Discussion
12:05 Government Accountability and Public Health
14:50 Contraception for 16-Year-Olds: A Controversial Policy
21:01 Israeli Operations and Ethical Considerations
23:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections