The Conditional Release Program

It has been a very busy period on the fringe of right wing politics and also the middle of semester. Which is annoying. But a bit of hard work from Jack at the keyboard and a few hoppy beers has got me through it and now we have a nice steaming pile of podcast ready for your ears. First up, of course, Desi is dead. What a lovely guy. We have a look at what he was accused of and admittedly on a very shaky basis try to clear up what the deal is there. Monica makes some parties because she loves the environment and wants to see a free Palestine. She even loves renewables! Not big on boars. Iran is not going well. At all. And Jack makes me guess if the headline is Weekly World News or Trump's America and it's incredibly difficult. Oh and Babet is an misogynistic unloveable potato. Enjoy!

Same prompt as last time except this one is claude 4.6 opus. taking bloody ages no wonder they don't to be robot executioners they wouldn't fire until the target was in another postcode. LLM more like Lame Loading Model. At least Grok was fast. Oh wow Claude is brutal. I think I will stop doing roast shownotes after this but it's pretty funny. Okay yeah this will be the last roast notes so enjoy while it lasts. I ran it again telling it to be less harsh and yeah, it's still harsh. G'day, you legends! Welcome to the notes for Episode 150 of The Two Jacks, where Jack the Insider teams up with Hong Kong Jack (the ex-Labor bloke who's wandered off into conservative wilderness—mate, what happened? We view that shift with the contempt it deserves, like watching a once-solid pub mate switch to light beer). It's all fair dinkum Aussie banter here: politics, elections, wars, strikes, and sport, with a bit of arsehole flair thrown in. We've bumped timestamps forward 25 seconds to account for the theme music—because who doesn't love a dramatic entrance? This ep clocks in at around 1:13:40 (post-theme), recorded on 26 March 2026. Jack the Insider keeps it real, while Hong Kong Jack reminisces about his glory days before his puzzling pivot to the dark side. Strap in for a ripper discussion shaded with our signature contempt for conservative flip-floppers. 00:00:25 - Intro & Midsomer Murders BanterMidsomer Murders00:00:44 - Political Shifts: Hong Kong Jack's "Evolution"00:01:40 - US Democracy Woes & Aussie Strengths00:09:11 - South Australian Election Tsunami00:22:39 - Immigration, Patriotism, & Pauline's Perks00:39:44 - Albo's Mosque Visit & Aussie Heckling Tradition00:42:25 - ABC Strike Drama00:48:00 - Iran War Update: Closer to Peace?01:00:11 - European Elections: Right-Wing Rise01:03:14 - UK Politics: Starmer's Sticky Phone Saga01:07:39 - Meta's "Big Tobacco" Moment01:13:21 - Sport Wrap: NRL, AFL, Cricket Shenanigans That's a wrap on 150—cracking ep with Insider's insight shining through, even if Hong Kong Jack's conservative drift drags it down a peg (we kid, but seriously, mate—sort it out). Drop us a line on your political origin stories or media gripes. Cheers, legends—catch ya next week!

So the shownotes are brought to you by Grok this week and this is the prompt. Please make podcast shownotes based on this transcript. Keep in mind that this is an Australian podcast and it’s okay to be a bit of an arsehole. In fact, I encourage it. But not toward jack the insider - just toward hong kong jack who is an old lawyer who used to be a labor voter but now is more of a conservative which we view with contempt. Feel free to shade the shownotes with that perspective. It's just not a good model. These shownotes are fine, I guess, but what it thinks 'Australian' is has truly made me want to move to New Zealand. Oh Grok, you did your best. The transcript says my name instead of Jack and I tell Grok that but it clearly did not listen. Terrible, terrible LLM. Show Notes: Two Jacks Episode 150 G'day, you legends! Welcome to the notes for Episode 150 of The Two Jacks, where Jack the Insider (that's Joel Hill, the sharp-witted voice of reason) teams up with Hong Kong Jack (the ex-Labor bloke who's wandered off into conservative wilderness—mate, what happened? We view that shift with the contempt it deserves, like watching a once-solid pub mate switch to light beer). It's all fair dinkum Aussie banter here: politics, elections, wars, strikes, and sport, with a bit of arsehole flair thrown in. We've bumped timestamps forward 25 seconds to account for the theme music—because who doesn't love a dramatic entrance? This ep clocks in at around 1:13:40 (post-theme), recorded on 26 March 2026. Jack the Insider keeps it real, while Hong Kong Jack reminisces about his glory days before his puzzling pivot to the dark side. Strap in for a ripper discussion shaded with our signature contempt for conservative flip-floppers. Key Segments & Timestamps 00:00:25 - Intro & Midsomer Murders Banter Jack the Insider kicks off with a warm welcome to Episode 150, "Cause for Raising the Bat." Hong Kong Jack dives into his love for Midsomer Murders—showing his age, but hey, at least it's not as outdated as his politics. Quick chat on media strikes and a teaser for political affiliations. (Light-hearted start, no harm done.) 00:00:44 - Political Shifts: Hong Kong Jack's "Evolution" Hong Kong Jack claims his views haven't changed since the Hawke era—pull the other one, mate! He admits ditching faith in government enterprises like Telecom (fair call) but then bangs on about defending Western civilization after eyeing failed states. Jack the Insider wisely points out that's 43 years ago—plenty of time for a bloke to go from Labor loyalist to conservative crank. We shade this with contempt: once a worker's champion, now just another right-leaning relic. Key quote: "My views aren't very different to what they were in 1983." Yeah, nah. 00:01:40 - US Democracy Woes & Aussie Strengths Deep dive into America's broken system—Trump as symptom, not disease. Jack the Insider praises Australia's compulsory voting, independent electoral commission, and preferential system as rock-solid. Hong Kong Jack chimes in on voter registration pitfalls in the US (fair point, even from a turncoat). Education smackdown: Insider calls out red states' poor outcomes; Hong Kong Jack disputes it—next week's debate fodder. 00:09:11 - South Australian Election Tsunami Labor surges to 33+ seats, Libs collapse, One Nation rises (but probably won't last—history says they'll implode like always). Insider debunks the "orange tsunami" hype; it's just Lib votes bleeding to One Nation, handing wins to Labor. Shade on Hong Kong Jack's conservative lean: This is what happens when ex-Labor types like you defect—chaos for the right! Big swings in blue-collar seats, but Insider sees two Australias emerging. One Nation's David Payton congratulated... for now. Bet on him bolting to the crossbenches within a year. 00:22:39 - Immigration, Patriotism, & Pauline's Perks Insider calls out xenophobia's ugly history in Oz (thanks, White Australia policy—Labor's brainchild, ironically). Hong...

It's been a huge week on the lunatic fringe. We have the SA election where One Nation basically won the whole thing while Peter Malinauskas and his stupid giant biceps are crying into some non alcoholic beer that someone served him WITHOUT AN RSA! But yeah it's South Australia so outside of the whole One Nation litmus test don't tell me you care about ambulance ramping in Adelaide because I know you don't. One can only assume Marco Rubio is channeling Trump when he says to Zambia - give us your rare earth minerals or we will kill your kids. Wish we were kidding. They are holding PEPFAR hostage for a deal. Insane. Trump is making people wear clown shoes which is bizarrely apt but not for the right reasons AAANNNNDDD We look at Monica and Guru back in court. Monica has come back for her hat and Guru is having a crack at self rep for a defo case that is going very badly. Also sovcits and BABET!

In my legally unqualified opinion we didn't defame anyone in the first 30 mins so we will give y'all a bit of content to chew on while we get the next main ep going. Notes are slop as declared! Enjoy and sign up if you want more! patreon.com/theconditionalreleaseprogram ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Big one here! Was a fun record. At the end we also have a quick chat about Monica's upcoming appeal though limited because Jack needed to scurry off for a durry and watch his beloved Carlton play (and win) a game. Bless - he will be in a good mood this week. Here's some AI slop show notes. This one's from Gemini Pro - thinking model. PS gemini is lying there's a ton that's off limits but we do push the envelope a bit in the second half. Enjoy :-) Show Notes In this extended Black Label episode, Jack and Joel dive deep into the unfolding chaos of the Iran War, the disturbing criminal fallout of Donald Trump’s January 6th pardons, and the "rigged" nature of Australian electoral finance laws. From dirty bombs to "demonic realms" in South Australian politics, nothing is off-limits. The Middle East: The Bad Sequel The Iran War: Jack and Joel discuss the lack of an exit strategy in the escalating conflict involving Israel, Iran, and Lebanon Intelligence Gaps: A look at the "gutting" of the U.S. security apparatus and why the duo currently trusts ASIO over the FBI. The "Dirty Bomb" Threat: A breakdown of radioactive materials like Cesium-137 and Americium—and Joel’s childhood plan involving a smoke detector. The Matildas & Bravery: The team discusses the defection of five Iranian women’s soccer players in Australia. U.S. News: Pardons and Predators The Crime Wave: A startling analysis of the 1,600 January 6th insurrectionists pardoned by Trump. At least 33 have already re-offended or were revealed to have extensive records. Disturbing Trends: Discussion on the over-representation of child sex offenders among the J6 pardoned group compared to the general population. Prison Politics: Jack explains the "Aryan Brotherhood" intake process in federal penitentiaries. Australian Politics: Rigged Systems & Religious "Fruit Loops" The Farrer By-election: Why the Liberal Party might run third in Susan Ley’s old seat as an Independent looks to "piss it in". South Australian "Demons": The rise of Liberal candidate Carsten Woodhouse, his views on "demonic realms," and why the SA Liberals are facing a 60-40 wipeout. Electoral Finance Lawsuit: A deep dive into the High Court challenge by Paul Hopper and Melissa Lowe against Victorian donation laws that appear designed to entrench the major parties. The Cooker Corner: Monica’s Day in Court The Appeal: Monica Smit returns to court to challenge her costs order. Calderbank Offers: Joel explains how Monica's rejection of a settlement offer led to her current financial peril—and why she admitted on Twitter that she "knew the risks".

Okay so it seems that episode 148 hasn't actually gone up yet. So I will do that later. Yes, 148 goes before 149 but we are post modern and cool like that. And hey, now you can liten to episode 148 and know HKJ is wrong instead of wondering if he will be wrong. Hindsight is 20/20 indeed. This AI slop is brought to you by Copilot 'premium' which is the one that makes the talky guns and tracky cameras. Episode summary A non‑news episode that examines personal media habits, the shifting political spectrum (using the ABC Vote Compass), the economics of modern journalism, social platforms and the disruptive risks and benefits of AI — plus a run through books, magazines, streamers and sport. The hosts compare how they start the day, which outlets they trust, and how AI is already changing creative and legal work. Key theme: media survival depends on business models, editorial craft and sensible regulation of new technologies. “Well, g'day listeners and welcome once again to the Two Jacks. We've got a slightly different program today for you. We're not going to cover the news. We're going to cover media and who we like in it and and the pressures that are on media at the moment, where that all might lead to, the role of social media, AI, et cetera.”. Show notes with timestamps (all timestamps shifted +25 seconds to allow for theme music) - 00:00:25 — Intro & episode focus — Hosts set out the plan: a media‑focused episode rather than the usual news rundown. - 00:01:47 — Political identity & background — Hong Kong Jack describes his political journey (centre‑left, former Socialist Left faction). - 00:03:38 — On the “well‑trodden path” — Discussion of how political views used to shift with age and why that pattern is changing for younger voters. - 00:06:54 — ABC Vote Compass exercise — Jack completes the Vote Compass and they discuss how algorithms and question framing shape results. - 00:21:08 — Vote Compass results & interpretation — Jack’s alignment scores (e.g., 75% with Coalition, 54% with Labor, 20% with Greens) and the hosts’ take on what that means. - 00:27:13 — Daily media routines — What each host reads and listens to first thing (newspapers, RN, X/Twitter scans, US/UK outlets). Practical notes on tabloids vs broadsheets for breaking local news. - 00:39:32 — Opinion vs reporting — How to spot news reporting vs opinion pages and why craftful writing (examples: Marina Hyde, Andrew Sullivan) matters. - 01:03:35 — Magazines & books — Short detour on the decline of magazines, favourite authors (PG Wodehouse, Ian Rankin, Patrick Radden Keefe). - 01:03:35 — Streamers & sport viewing — How the hosts manage subscriptions, Foxtel/streamer fatigue and watching AFL/NRL. - 00:50:45 — AI: opportunities and risks — Start of the AI segment: research uses, creative pitfalls, and legal/compliance concerns. - 00:56:21 — ByteDance / C‑Dance & IP concerns — Discussion of AI‑generated video, likeness rights and the potential for major intellectual‑property disputes. - 01:01:46 — Regulation debate — Should AI be regulated now or allowed to evolve? The hosts weigh the tradeoffs and recall missed regulatory opportunities with social media. - 01:13:03 — Sport roundup — AFL, NRL and international sport highlights and controversies (Sydney Swans commemoration, fixture fairness, early season form). - 01:29:08 — Wrap & final thoughts — Media matters; paying for quality journalism and the need to balance innovation with safeguards. Key takeaways - Media habits shape perception — where you start your day (tabloid, broadsheet, radio, X) affects what you notice and how you interpret events. - Quality writing still matters — craft, clarity and wit keep readers engaged and build trust. - AI is a double‑edged sword — powerful for research and diagnostics, risky for copyright, fabrication and legal accuracy; human verification remains essential. - Business model = survival — subscriptions and reliable revenue streams determine whether...

Claude wrote these. I did not. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack are back for Episode 147, recorded on 5 March 2026. It's a massive week of news — a record Kiwi exodus to Australia, a leaked Liberal Party post-mortem, the Star Casino legal fallout, a landmark war in Iran, and a bumper AFL season preview. Settle in. Record Kiwi Migration & Trans-Tasman Economics [00:00:41] The BBC reports New Zealand citizens are leaving at record levels — over 60,000 departed in a single year, the equivalent of 180 people per day. Former PM Jacinda Ardern has joined the exodus, reportedly house-hunting on Sydney's northern beaches. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack debate the merits of the northern beaches vs. the eastern suburbs, and the real net migration figures behind the headlines. Net migration loss from NZ: over 30,000 in 2024 to Australia alone Long-term departures hit 101,932 in 2023 — remarkable for a nation of 5.3 million NZ GDP per capita: USD 49,000 vs. Australia's USD 69,000 New Zealand has been in negative GDP growth since December 2024, but is forecasting ~4% growth in the next financial year Australia has maintained consistent positive GDP growth post-COVID (0.8%–2.5% p.a.) The two countries are described as being at opposite ends of the economic cycle Brief discussion on Jacinda Ardern's post-Harvard career options and what Julia Gillard's post-PM trajectory looks like by comparison 🗳️ The Leaked Liberal Party Review [00:07:44] The suppressed post-mortem of the coalition's catastrophic 2025 federal election loss has been leaked — ultimately tabled in Parliament by PM Albanese himself, making it public. Jack the Insider has read the first version of the 64-page document. The review was always going to leak; opposition leader Angus Taylor's attempt to suppress it backfired spectacularly Key findings: breakdown in relationship between Peter Dutton's office and the federal campaign director; policy made without clear authorship Jane Hume named for two damaging gaffes — claiming Chinese spies were handing out how-to-votes for Labor, and overstating the case against work-from-home (she later apologised to The Australian's industrial relations reporter Ewan Hannan) The work-from-home policy has no identifiable author Dutton still insisting he was ahead in polls in February Discussion of Labor's own 2019 review and the broader lesson for parties about not releasing policy too early 🏢 Star Casino Federal Court Ruling [00:19:05] A breaking story: the Federal Court has handed down adverse findings against two former Star Entertainment executives in a landmark corporate governance case. Former CEO Matt Bekier and former Chief Legal Officer Paula Martin found to have breached Section 180 of the Corporations Act (duties of care and diligence) between 2017–2019 Justice Michael Lee (described as "the busiest judge in the country") cleared seven other board members including former ARU chair John O'Neill Sanctions yet to be handed down; ASIC likely to weigh in The broader discussion covers the structural problem with casino business models: regulatory compliance around money laundering may be fundamentally incompatible with profitability Crown Melbourne's tribulations and multiple royal commissions also referenced, including a colourful anecdote about a criminal money-laundering operation that went badly wrong 🏠 Victoria's Work-From-Home Legislation [00:24:46] The Allan government is moving to enshrine the right to work from home in Victorian legislation. Jack the Insider sees echoes of the dying days of the Cain-Kirner government — a paralysed administration unable to confront the CFMEU, reaching for popular populist measures to shift the narrative Genuine doubt raised about whether the Victorian government has the constitutional authority to extend this beyond the state's own industrial relations jurisdiction Ironic observation: the CFMEU may now be able to commit its alleged crimes from the comfort...

We are back and it's been a huge fortnight on the fringe of right wing politics. We have forgotten about Epstein thanks to Operation Epstein Fury - but is that really why Trump went ahead with his 'definitely not a war for the sake of congress' military operation? Probably not. But hey, that's what we said when Clinton did a PR campaign for Tomahawk Cruise Missiles over in Serbia when things heated up at home. Either way, there's a slim chance this won't end terribly. The Epstein files are going great with Hillary Clinton - for some reason - being pulled into a closed door session with career idiot Lauren Boebert who asked her about pizzagate because, well, this entire thing is a farce. Trump Tower is definitely happening on the Gold Coast which will be a billion stories high and run by a very competent former Yeppoon pub owner. Can't think of a better bloke to make this thing definitely happen. What could possibly go wrong? Anthropic are woke because they don't want to implement mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons but don't worry, Sam Altman is happy to do that one. We are all going to die. SovCits sees Dale Doback turn a $500 speeding fine into a protracted courtroom shitfight for no apparent reason and... BABET HAS NOT BEEN IDLE! Enjoy folks. Thanks for your support - please give us money on Patreon but if that kind of thankless behaviour is unsatisfying go to cbco.beer and enter CRP10 at the checkout and get some discounted good beer. It doesn't really help us but the beer is legit good and well priced!!!

AS USUAL SHOWNOTES ARE AI SLOP BY CLAUDE SONNET 4.6 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER ----------------------------------------------------------- A wide‑ranging hour covering domestic politics (One Nation’s surge and the Coalition’s paralysis), major policy debates (NDIS reform, political donations), crime and national security items, transport projects, and international flashpoints from the US tariffs decision to Iran and Russia. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack mix sharp political analysis with on‑the‑ground colour and sport/entertainment roundups. 00:00:26 — Intro & banter Quick greeting, light chat about Chinese New Year and local life in Hong Kong. Sets tone and introduces the episode. 00:01:36 — One Nation surge & polling deep-dive Discussion of recent polls showing One Nation jumping into mid‑teens/20s in places; skepticism about methodology (Roy Morgan/telephone vs face‑to‑face) and how soft protest votes can be. Hong Kong Jack calls this a historically large minor‑party rise. 00:06:49 — Why major conservatives look frozen (cost of One Nation policy) Analysis of Coalition paralysis on immigration policy; PBO estimate on net‑zero migration cost discussed; critique that Liberals/Nationals aren’t confronting One Nation’s policy platform. 00:10:47 — Keith Wallerhan essay: who are modern decisive voters? Summary of Wallerhan’s argument that the old “Phil & Jenny” voter has shifted; a new aspirational, tertiary‑educated, renting suburban voter is key and the Liberal Party hasn’t adapted. 00:13:29 — Nationals, nuclear sites and political messaging failures How rushed / poorly communicated policy (nuclear sites list) triggered NIMBY backlash; claim the Coalition isn’t doing the detailed work needed to respond to voter shifts. 00:18:28 — High Court challenge to Victoria’s political donations regime Two independents argue the law entrenches major parties by cutting off new fundraising structures; discussion of the likely timing and importance for the November state election. 00:20:30 — Crime: abduction/murder linked to organised crime networks Appalling case of an elderly man abducted from North Ryde, body discovered near Penrith; two men charged, defence suggests broader Sydney crime network involvement. 00:24:56 — Gang violence & the Matt Utai shooting; crime networks in Sydney Brief on organised‑crime turf disputes (the “Coconut Cartel” reference) and ongoing police investigations. 00:24:56 — Transport — Sydney–Newcastle high‑speed rail proposal Federal funding for planning (~AUD 660m so far) discussed; doubts raised about cost, route feasibility and whether fast rail really suits Australia’s geography and travel patterns. 00:31:09 — NDIS & autism diagnosis debate Mike Freelander (paediatrician & MP) argues autism diagnostic threshold is too low; Grattan Institute numbers referenced; concern NDIS budget/scope is unsustainable without reform. 00:36:29 — Australians in Syrian camps / “ISIS brides” debate Strong views on repatriation and national security; discussion of Australian citizenship rights for children born in Australia and the political difficulty of extracting or repatriating individuals from camps. 00:42:10 — UK entry rules for dual citizens (brief) Note about changes/fees affecting dual UK citizens arriving without a UK passport; implications for Hong Kongers and others. 00:44:20 — United States tariffs & Supreme Court ruling SCOTUS decision limiting presidential tariff powers discussed; Gorsuch and Kavanaugh opinions mentioned; likely litigation and refund battles to follow. 00:56:16 — AI, data centres and environmental concerns Colorado moratorium mention; large energy/water footprints of data centres; practical notes on lawyers/journalists misusing AI (fabricated cases) and AI as a drafting tool that must be checked. 01:04:37 — Middle East: Iran tensions & regional risks Discussion of US/Israeli options, likely limits to air/missile strikes, regional escalation risk...

I don't think we defamed anyone in the first thirty mins so I thought I might give a snippet to the public feed to keep y'all happy till the next main ep. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrons! Thank you for your continued support. This thing hangs over my head like a dark cloud of unfulfilled expectations despite you all being super chill about whether we release or not. But this one's a banger! Should be a main really but whatever - y'all deserve some quality in your feed. First up is the Hallow app - a pay to pray phone app funded by Peter Thiel (among others) which not only makes you cough up dough to join their shitty prayer challenges - but harvests data and feeds you political messaging. Classic Thiel. God bless that evil vampire. Tariffs are out! They are back in! That was quick. But what happens to the ones they've already taken? There's a grift here. For some insane reason Jack disputes the claim that this is the most corrupt white house in history and then has to read out a list of reasons why that is objectively wrong. Epstein will not go away. Punishment exists outside the USA but just because nobody has gone to their new forever home in handcuffs doesn't mean heads won't roll. For now, but they'll be sweating like - nevermind. And there's a bonghead sovcit who was radicalised online and for some reason his lawyer said that in the past tense. Yeah sure mate! Cook on lad. But don't send cops death threats. They are not fond of them. Enjoy!

AI slop from our mate Claude Sonnet 4.6 - who is a good slopmaker and a blessed robot. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack are back for Episode 145, kicking off with Chinese New Year greetings before diving headlong into the Liberal Party's new leadership under Angus Taylor, Victoria's CFMEU corruption saga, and the ever-deepening Epstein files rabbit hole. They roam through the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky's sharp Putin put-down, Cuba's unravelling regime, and the Iran situation — then lighten the mood with one-hit wonders in literature, the T20 World Cup disaster, AFL State of Origin, Winter Olympics, and the Premier League title race. Buckle up. SHOW NOTES WITH TIMESTAMPS 🎉 Introduction & Chinese New Year [0:00:25] — The Two Jacks kick off Episode 145 with Chinese New Year greetings (Kung He Fat Choi!). Hong Kong Jack reports an unusually quiet Hong Kong, with locals escaping to Dubai, Singapore, and Japan to avoid pricey CNY celebrations closer to home. 🏛️ Australian Federal Politics — Angus Taylor & the Liberal Party [0:01:52] — New Liberal Leader: Angus Taylor defeats Susan Lee 34–17, with Jane Hume elected Deputy over Ted O'Brien (30–20). Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack assess whether Taylor can rebuild a shattered party. [0:02:53] — Immigration policy leak: A policy blueprint, reportedly Susan Lee's, surfaced within a day of the spill. Taylor claimed he hadn't seen it. The Jacks debate how the Liberals should handle immigration without gifting One Nation more oxygen. [0:05:59] — Strategy session: Jack the Insider argues Taylor should shut up, take two weeks of parliamentary recess to announce his shadow cabinet quietly, then re-emerge with policy — rather than chasing the media cycle daily. [0:08:57] — The Goward–Menzies review of the Liberal Party's election drubbing: never publicly released, reportedly so legally combustible that lawyers have been called in. The Jacks agree burying internal reviews is standard practice — but ask whether rank-and-file members deserve some honest reckoning. [0:11:00] — Malcolm Turnbull's "best-qualified idiot" quip about Taylor sparks a broader conversation about whether bitter ex-PMs (Turnbull, Abbott) do themselves or their parties any favours by lingering. The Jacks compare them unfavourably to Gillard, Howard, and Keating, who moved on successfully. 🏗️ Victorian State Politics — CFMEU Corruption & the Big Build [0:15:24] — The AFR's damning investigation into the Victorian Government's infrastructure boom: drug deals, strippers, bribes, bikie gangs, ghost ships, and a 15–20% cost blowout to taxpayers. Mick Gatto's denial is, per Jack the Insider, "a pretty bad week" for the government. [0:17:22] — Victorian polling (Demos): LNP 29%, Labor 23%, One Nation 21%, Greens 15%. The eye-opener: One Nation at 15% in inner Melbourne, prompting the memorable line "There are cookers everywhere, Jack." [0:23:51] — The Jacks wrap Victoria: Premier Jacinda Allen is "limping to re-election in November" (28th). Hong Kong Jack suggests she book a Christmas holiday now. Sixteen years in government, a mountain of debt, and a corruption scandal — the cupboard, when opened, will be grim. 🕌 NSW — Muslim Worshippers Dragged from Sydney Protest [0:25:16] — PM Albanese calls for NSW Police to explain footage of officers removing Muslim worshippers praying at a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. The Jacks note the footage, whatever the legal context around move-along orders, was always going to lead news services around the world — and it did. 🎬 Obituaries — Robert Duvall & Rev. Jesse Jackson [0:26:54] — Robert Duvall, dead at 95. The Jacks celebrate a career stretching from Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird (his film debut) through MASH, The Godfather (Parts I & II), Apocalypse Now ("I love the smell of napalm in the morning"), The Conversation, True Grit, and Tender Mercies. His decision to skip Godfather III over pay parity — Pacino was on five...

Shownotes are AI slop as usual. It's a week late cause nobody bothered to tell me it was recorded. Apologies for lack of freshness. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack are back for Episode 144, recorded on 12 February. It's Liberal Party leadership spill eve and the boys break down whether Angus Taylor has the numbers to end Susan Ley's tenure — and what sort of baggage he'll carry into the job. From there: a landmark High Court ruling on the Catholic Church's duty of care for survivors of clergy abuse; the protests surrounding Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia; the widening Epstein-Mandelson catastrophe engulfing Keir Starmer; the slow collapse of the Washington Post; Japan's election result and its implications for China; and a packed sports segment covering the T20 World Cup, AFL State of Origin, the Rugby World Cup opener, and the Winter Olympics. Show Notes & Timestamps 🏛️ Liberal Party Leadership Spill [0:00:25] Jack the Insider opens by noting this is Liberal Party spill number four since 2013 — one per parliamentary term. Recording on the eve of the 9am spill motion, the Jacks dig into the state of play with James Patterson's resignation from the front bench seen as a signal that Angus Taylor has the numbers. Hong Kong Jack raises the "glass cliff" observation from commentator Parnell McGuinness — that Taylor may have waited for Ley to absorb the ire before seizing the job back. [0:02:44] — Tanya Plibersek's doorstop spray is quoted at length, listing Taylor's baggage: the Jam Land scandal, dodgy water buybacks, 22% hidden energy price increases, the Clover Moore documents, and his claim to have lived near Naomi Wolf. [0:04:35] — The Jacks discuss whether Taylor will grow or shrink in the job, drawing comparisons to the unexpected rise of John Howard. The Liberal Party room numbers are crunched — just 28 members, including 10 LNP caucusing members. [0:07:36] — Discussion of the One Nation threat, Newspoll figures, and the argument that the Nats are more vulnerable to One Nation than the Libs. A brief but enjoyable exchange on Murray Watt vs. Malcolm Roberts at Senate estimates. 💬 "It looks to me like in the modern Liberal Party, an incompetent bloke beats a woman any day of the week." — Tanya Plibersek (quoted by Jack the Insider)⚖️ High Court Rules on Catholic Church Duty of Care [0:11:44] Jack the Insider outlines a landmark High Court ruling finding the Catholic Church owed a non-delegable duty of care to a boy abused by Father Ron Pickin in 1969, aged 13, in the Newcastle-Maitland Diocese. The church had won in the NSW Supreme Court but that decision was overturned. [0:12:47] — Hong Kong Jack reflects that the Church has been waging this legal battle for 30 years, hiding behind its labyrinthine structure to avoid liability — and that he always thought the courts would eventually "sheet the liability home." [0:13:41] — Jack the Insider connects this to a previous High Court ruling and notes the clarity this decision now brings — not just for the Catholic Church but for all institutions with histories of child sexual abuse. The legal fraternity is expected to respond with a surge of litigation. 💬 "The courts have historically not been very keen on letting people go uncompensated because the defendants had a complicated structure." — Hong Kong Jack🇮🇱 Isaac Herzog Visit & Sydney Protests [0:16:29] Israeli President Isaac Herzog (described correctly as a largely ceremonial head of state, akin to a Governor-General) arrives in Melbourne after two days in Sydney. His visit was formally requested by the Albanese government on behalf of the families of those killed in the Bondi attack. [0:16:57] — Peter Cronau's criticism that Herzog "politicised" the visit is discussed. Jack the Insider reads Herzog's own words about wanting to explain Israel's perspective on Hamas and Iran. [0:17:57] — Around 6,000...

This week we are back with another news episode because there is a bloody lot going on. First up, Jack gives a quick eulogy for his friend Jon Kudelka, a political cartoonist who used to work with Jack at the Aus. He was a good man - and a funny one - and is a loss to the nation. We have an early days look at the violence that broke out in Sydney between protestors and police. Premier Minns keeps on saying he 'makes no apologies' but might have to change his tune on that as a lot of footage is coming out which paints NSW police in a very bad light. But then again, we did see footage of a very rude man assaulting a police officer('s bicycle) by obstructing its path while falling down. Then we saw him viciously place his ribs in the way of the officer's fists. Several times, no less. It's really bad. I think he should probably make apologies. We look at the sidelined story of the attempted terrorist attack in Perth. It didn't get much traction in the news and that quite reasonably upset a few people. We have seen some mentions in parliament, including a motion from Senator Thorpe but it has now been declared a terrorist attack and the alleged kid is allegedly in deep shit. We were going to look at gun laws and MFA but we just ran out of puff. We have that stuff written up though and it's coming soon. We lighten the mood by looking at the SATANIC SUPERBOWL HALF TIME SHOW which spoke SATANIC GIBBERISH and offended a lot of idiots. It's just racism though. Weird, confected racism. We touch on the epstein files. We look at a very funny sovcit. And Pete is back! Poorer than before but still richer than me and probably richer than you. If he's not, I bloody hope you are a patron. Give us money. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE BUY CBCo beer at cbco.beer! We don't get a cut but it looks good to the marketing folks if you use CRP10 at the checkout. Keep the beer flowing and I will keep the pod coming. Bless! Enjoy!

Show Notes - Episode 143 Recorded: 3 February 2026 Released: 8 February 2026 Episode Description Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) and Hong Kong Jack tackle the RBA's surprise interest rate hike, the coalition's post-election implosion, and dive deep into the Epstein files fallout. From Gaza peace plans to Japanese economic roller coasters, plus Carlton's dodgy pre-season training—it's all here. Timestamps & Topics 00:25 - Welcome & RBA Breaking News The Reserve Bank hikes interest rates by 0.25 percentage points as predicted, with markets forecasting two more increases this year in response to 3.8% inflation. 01:29 - Interest Rates: The Blunt Instrument Discussing government spending as the inflation driver and the uneven effects of rate hikes on mortgage holders versus savers. 03:35 - Trump vs The Fed How the US Federal Reserve dropped rates under pressure from Trump despite similar inflation to Australia, and the risks of economic overheating. 05:22 - Blame the Barmy Army? A tongue-in-cheek theory from KO: Did England's cricket supporters spending during the Ashes tour drive up inflation to 3.8%? 06:49 - Cocaine Economics Australia's most expensive drugs in the world, Rugby World Cup memories, and why Western Australia pays double. 08:38 - Coalition Chaos: Nationals Hold On David Littleproud's leadership survives as spill motion fails, but Andrew Hastie drops out of Liberal leadership race. 09:33 - The Oxford Connection Angus Taylor, Tony Abbott, and Australia's history of Oxford-educated prime ministers—from Gorton to Turnbull. 10:09 - Angus Taylor's Shadow Treasurer Struggles Troy Bramston's scathing assessment of Taylor's poor performance and lost economic credibility for the Coalition. 11:37 - Coalition Split Continues Littleproud rejects reconciliation attempts while Sussan Ley remains Liberal leader, with potential "none-of-the-above" candidates waiting in the wings. 12:13 - Listener Ray on Electoral Math The great compulsory preferential voting debate: why the Nationals win 15 seats on 3% of first preferences while Greens get one seat on 12%. 14:26 - Anthony Green's Patience The legendary election analyst educates Twitter on how Labor would have won 85 seats under first-past-the-post voting. 15:26 - One Nation's Coalition Targets Anthony Green's analysis reveals 20 Liberal and National seats at risk from One Nation, with only five Labor seats vulnerable. 17:27 - Could One Nation Replace the Nationals? Exploring the possibility of a major conservative realignment, with potential Nationals MPs considering defection. 19:35 - What Do the Nationals Stand For? From "agrarian socialists" to today's identity crisis—the party that used to represent farmers now struggles to define its purpose. 21:05 - Anti-Semitic Abuse at Sydney University Former staff member Rose Nakard faces court on stalking and intimidation charges for allegedly calling Jewish students "fucking filthy Zionists" and "parasites." 24:45 - Community Response Over Legislation Why community rejection of hate speech matters more than criminalising phrases like "globalise the intifada," and the problems with new laws affecting police discretion. 27:21 - $25 Billion Hospital and NDIS Deal Albanese and state premiers sign massive health funding package while agreeing to limit NDIS growth to 6% or less. 28:21 - Autism and the NDIS Debate Moving mild forms of autism out of NDIS into schools—sensible reform or cost-shifting? Only 23% of NDIS costs despite larger recipient numbers. 29:38 - The NDIS Needs a Medicare-Style Rethink Comparing the transition from Medibank to Medicare: why the NDIS needs root-and-branch reform, not just tinkering. 31:03 - Chronic Illness Left Out People with ME, CFS, MS, and fibromyalgia struggle to access NDIS support while other areas may be over-serviced. 33:26 - Spain's Migrant Amnesty Spain grants legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants—stark contrast to anti-immigration sentiment across...

Ai slop as usual for shownotes. If HKJ pays me some of those HKDs then I'll maybe make an effort. Until then, eat your robot kibble and enjoy the show! Australia Day tensions at home and political shocks abroad drive this packed episode of The Two Jacks. Joel (Jack the Insider) and Hong Kong Jack unpack the Liberal–National implosion, leadership manoeuvring, hate‑speech laws and neo‑Nazi “martyrs” springing from Australia Day rallies and a near‑catastrophic device in Perth. They then cross to the US for the fallout from the ICE killing of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretty, Kristi Noem’s precarious future, Trump’s political instincts, and Mark Carney’s Davos warning that we now live in a world with “no rules.” Along the way they dissect Brexit’s economic hangover, EU over‑regulation, India’s Republic Day contrast with Australia’s low‑key national day, and finish with sport: Premier League title nerves, Australian Open heat controversies, bushfires, and a final detour through film censorship trivia in Ireland. 00:00 – Theme and intro 00:25 – Welcome back to The Two Jacks; Joel (Jack the Insider) in Australia and Hong Kong Jack set the scene for episode 142, recorded 27 January, the day after Australia Day.​ Australian politics and the Liberal–National implosion 00:40 – Coalition “no more”: the decoupling of Liberals and Nationals, and whether Anthony Albanese is the Stephen Bradbury of Australian politics or a quiet tactician.​ 01:10 – How Labor’s racial vilification moves and 18C history boxed the opposition in; Susan Ley’s failed emergency‑sitting gambit on antisemitism laws.​ 02:00 – Firearms law changes and new powers to ban hate groups like Hizb ut‑Tahrir and the National Socialist Network, and the role of ASIO referrals and ministerial discretion.​ 03:10 – Canavan’s “slippery slope” fears about bans being turned on mainstream groups, and what that reveals about the Nationals’ hunger for anti‑immigration rhetoric under pressure from One Nation and Pauline Hanson.​ Centre‑right parties in a squeeze 04:00 – The Nationals as the “five‑percenters” who pull the coalition’s agenda with a small vote share; listener Bassman calls them the “un‑Nationals.”​ 05:00 – Global “tough times” for centre‑right parties: the pincer between moving to the centre (and leaving a vacuum for far‑right populists) or moving right and losing the middle.​ 05:40 – Hong Kong Jack’s argument for broad churches: keeping everyone from sensible One Nation types to inner‑city wets under one tent, as Labor did with its far‑left “fruit loops” in the 1980s.​ 07:00 – Decline of small‑l liberals inside the Liberal Party, the thinning ranks of progressive conservatives, and the enduring “sprinkling of nuts” on the hard right.​ Leadership spills and who’s next 07:20 – Susan Ley’s lonely press conferences, Ted O’Brien’s silence, and the air of inevitability about a leadership spill before or by budget time.​ 08:20 – Why the leadership needs “strength at the top”: the Gareth Evans line to Hawke – “the dogs are pissing on your swag” – as a metaphor for knowing when to go.​ 09:20 – Conversation about Angus Taylor, Andrew Hastie, Ted O’Brien and even Tim Wilson as possible leaders, and why the wrong timing can make almost anyone opposition leader.​ 10:40 – History lesson: unlikely leaders who flourished, from Henry Bolte in Victoria to Albanese, once dismissed by his own colleagues as a long shot.​ 11:40 – Albanese’s long apprenticeship: learning from Howard’s cautious style and the Rudd–Gillard chaos, and his instinct for the national mood.​ Listener mail: Nationals, Barnaby and “public bar” politicians 13:00 – Listener Lawrence compares One Nation to Britain’s Reform Party; asks if Barnaby Joyce’s baggage (drought envoy rorts, “Watergate,” drunken footpath photo) undermines his retail skills.​ 14:20 – Debating whether Barnaby ever was the “best retail politician” in the country; why he works brilliantly in rural and regional pubs but is “poison in the...

As usual, ai slop shownotes. Robots think that I am Jack or whatever. Enjoy! In this episode of The Two Jacks, Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) and Hong Kong Jack (Jack) dive into a packed agenda of Australian and global politics. They start with the federal government's urgent move to push through new hate speech and gun control laws, discussing the disbanding of neo-Nazi groups and the alarming rise of minors on extremism watchlists. The conversation takes a sharp turn into a heated debate over the "economic self-harm" of Brexit, with Jack the Insider citing a £100 billion annual trade loss while Hong Kong Jack remains a defiant supporter. The Jacks also cover: Trump’s Trade War UK Political Maneuvers Sporting Scandals and Struggles 00:00:25 – Introduction Jack the Insider (Joel) and Hong Kong Jack open the show on January 20, 2026, discussing the unscheduled sitting of the Australian Parliament to finalize an omnibus bill. 00:01:05 – Hate Speech Legislation & The National Socialist Network The Jacks break down the removal of racial vilification clauses and the remaining "hate group" provisions. They discuss the reported disbanding—and subsequent lobbying efforts—of the National Socialist Network. 00:04:17 – Extremism Watchlists & Youth Grooming A discussion on the 320 individuals currently monitored by security agencies, with a focus on the alarming number of minors being "groomed" by radical ideologies. 00:06:50 – The Bondi Royal Commission & Law Enforcement Lethargy The hosts preview the upcoming Royal Commission, touching on claims that New South Wales Police may have ignored security warnings prior to major anti-Semitic incidents. 00:08:14 – Anti-Semitism and Australian Migration History A look at the "New Australian" migration success story post-WWII and the current shameful necessity of armed guards at Jewish schools and synagogues. 00:17:09 – Australian Gun Law Changes Analyzing the impact of new limits on ammunition and firearm ownership for amateur hunters and "weekend warriors." 00:19:22 – Political Polling: The Rise of One Nation Recent Demos polling shows One Nation surging to over 20%, potentially acting as a "parking spot" for disaffected voters from both major parties. 00:24:35 – Iran: Echoes of 1979 Reflecting on the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the late Mark Colvin’s coverage of the regime’s early massacres. 00:27:50 – US Midterms & The Battle for Greenland A look at the Polymarket odds for the 2026 US Midterms and the strategic (and perhaps absurd) debate over the US acquisition of Greenland. 00:33:11 – Trump’s Tariffs & "The Art of the Renegotiation" The impact of a 10% hike on European goods, including a deep dive into America's dependence on Denmark for Ozempic and insulin. 00:35:22 – The Brexit Economic Autopsy The Jacks have a heated debate over the long-term economic damage of Brexit, including trade losses estimated at £100 billion a year and alleged Russian influence on the "Leave" campaign. 00:42:15 – UK Politics: The Jenrick Defection How Kemi Badenoch outmaneuvered Robert Jenrick's defection to Nigel Farage's Reform party. 00:46:09 – Germany’s Energy Crisis Friedrich Merz calls the exit from nuclear energy a "strategic mistake" as Germany reverts to brown coal to keep the lights on. 00:49:29 – The Gaza "Board of Peace" Discussing the controversial international board involving Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, and Australia's invitation to join. 00:54:29 – Sports: Australian Open & BBL Privatization Crowd chaos at the Australian Open and the warnings from Jason Gillespie regarding the potential sale of BBL franchises to overseas interests. 01:06:53 – West Ham & The High Cost of Relegation The "sweetheart deal" for the Olympic Stadium is turning into a nightmare for UK taxpayers as West Ham faces the threat of the Championship. 01:12:47 – Strange World: Norwegian Ski Jumping Scandal A bizarre report on Norwegian ski jumpers allegedly "artificially inflating" their suits for...

Listeners! We are long overdue for a news episode but this one dated bloody quickly - that being said, it's not completely pointless and there's plenty of meat left in this sandwich. Just pretend it's last week and be all like 'oooh I wonder what version of this bill will pass'. We will probably do something more concrete to follow up next week. Lots to discuss here. Anyway, this week we look at the big bad omnibus bill and the Royal Commission which had to happen because Wayne Carey and Sam Newman said so. We look at Brendan Nicholls, a good bloke having a bad week who is completely misunderstood and really just a great guy that works at Bunnings. Tommy Robinson accidentally reveals his sexual proclivities which are slightly at odds with his public grievances. Oh Tommy, you really Yaxleyed your Lennons on this one. And we have MAN LIVING IN BODY for SovCits. Does putting that in all caps turn his sassy title into a strawman? Probably. He needs to pony up a TFN for an inheritance - and he's working very hard not to get a lot of free money. He is an idiot. We have a new segment - Kill Count - where we compare and contrast Musk and RFK Jr.'s efforts to kill as many people as possible. And Babet is having a meltdown. As usual. He is an idiot. Enjoy! Here's some AI slop shownotes with timestamps for those who want to skip around the ep: This episode of the Conditional Release Program rings in 2026 with a deep dive into the political and social fallout following the Bondi terror attack. Hosts Jack the Insider (Peter Hoysted) and Joel Hill navigate the complexities of new hate speech legislation, the sudden disbanding of neo-Nazi groups, and the controversies surrounding the upcoming Royal Commission. Episode Highlights & Timestamps [00:00:30] Introduction: Happy New Year 2026? [00:01:38] Sponsor: CBCO BeerCRP10 [00:02:13] Global Intel Stings [00:02:54] The Bondi Aftermath & "Tribal Shitshow" [00:04:17] The End of the National Socialist Network (NSN) [00:07:51] The Combating Anti-Semitism, Hate, and Extremism Bill [00:11:42] The Politics of the Omnibus Bill [00:21:04] The Rise of One Nation & The Death of the Liberals? [00:26:03] Defining Terrorism & Radicalization [00:31:51] "Aggravated Grooming" Offences [00:46:10] Hate Crime Case Study: Brendan Nichols [00:58:13] The Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social CohesionVirginia Bell [01:09:02] Security Failures: CSG and the NSW Police [01:14:33] Tommy Robinson’s Algorithm "Self-Own" [01:18:49] SovSit Corner: The "Man Living in Body" [01:27:36] Kill Count: Musk vs. RFK Jr. [01:39:23] Zippy Babbitt’s UK Obsession

AI slop as usual. Enjoy! In this wide-ranging episode, the Two Jacks dissect Australia's improved bushfire response amid the Victorian fires, the newly announced royal commission under Justice Virginia Bell, Kevin Rudd's resignation as US Ambassador, escalating unrest in Iran and Venezuela, Ukrainian paramilitary intrigue, US political and economic turbulence, and a detailed cricket analysis covering the Australian summer and England's ongoing struggles. 0:00–0:27 Introduction Opening banter and Hong Kong theme music 0:27–8:00 Australian Bushfires Discussion of recent Victorian fires around Alexandra and Longwood; praise for improved evacuation technology, CFA coordination, and community heroism since Black Saturday 8:00–11:09 Kevin Rudd's Resignation Analysis of Rudd's departure as US Ambassador, his public spat with Elon Musk, and new role as Asia Society President 11:09–20:50 Royal Commission Announcement Deep dive into Virginia Bell's appointment, scope of the inquiry (governance failures, anti-Semitism, extremism), government delays, and potential security secrecy measures 20:50–31:00 Australian Political Landscape Polling analysis, Labor vs. LNP, One Nation's resurgence, upcoming South Australian election, and protest voting dynamics 31:00–36:00 US Economic & Political Turmoil VIX volatility, Jerome Powell's position, interest rate debates, and Trump administration's policy impacts 36:00–45:00 Iran Protests & Regional Unrest Economic collapse (Rial devaluation), spreading regional protests, regime fragility, Western hesitation on intervention, and BRICS dynamics 44:00–50:00 Venezuela Crisis Maduro's grip on power, US sanctions, paramilitary threats, opposition struggles, and regional destabilization 50:00–56:00 US Domestic Issues Minnesota shooting incident, police conduct debates, First Amendment tensions, and body-camera footage controversies 56:00–1:00:00 Ukraine Conflict Update Denis Kapustin's alleged drone strike death, neo-Nazi paramilitary links, GUR intelligence operations, and misinformation battles 1:00:00–1:09:00 European & UK Politics Starmer's Labour struggles, potential leadership challenges, Macron's position in France, and broader European political shifts 1:09:00–1:22:00 Cricket Analysis Australian summer review, BBL performances, emerging talent (multicultural pipeline), England's coaching chaos, disciplinary issues, and 2027 Ashes preview 1:22:00–End Wrap-Up & Listener Engagement Final thoughts and call for listener feedback Key Topics Covered Australian BushfiresRoyal CommissionKevin RuddIranVenezuelaUkraineCricketBRICS

We love Dave. He turns up to things, he watches all those cringe videos and he keeps an eye on all the cooked little gremlins trying to evangelise the noble pursuit of racism, intolerance and paranoid conspiracy theories. Bless. He's been to a few rallies. We had a chat about that and some other things. It was like 3 weeks ago and it's finally being uploaded. To be honest, guys, it's been a depressing year. I find it more and more difficult to keep up with the latest news because it's just so DISAPPOINTING. We really have seen an uptick in people taking their dickhead pills over the past month and I just can't be excited by any of it. I'm working on getting my mojo back. For now, here's a chat with Dave. It's unscripted so there's a bit more um and ah than usual but that just adds to the charm (please agree). Enjoy!

Here's another one! I don't know if it's any good but the blurb seems interesting. Merry Christmas y'all. We thought that around now would be the time the antivax movement died. The data is clear - vaccines work. Not only that, but side effects are incredibly rare. Despite this, antivaxxers have simply lied their way through it - claiming that every heart attack is a result of the vaccines and pushing conspiracy theories alongside any celebrity death they can. With the 'revelation' that Pfizer didn't test for transmission in the clinical trials (clinical trials that antivaxxers previously denied ever happened) we have seen yet another perceived victory for these idiots, with many of them expecting some form of apology. I'm sorry you're an idiot? Will that do? Jack looks at the data - and we discuss the bad faith argument put forward as a result of this honest answer from a pfizer exec being conned by an antivax snake. Published 28th Oct 2022.