Punters Politics

In the aftermath of violence, everyone asks the same question: why? But what if the way we ask it — and the stories we tell next — decide whether it happens again? Why Australia Once Refused to Name Killers (And Why That’s Changing) In this episode, Konrad is joined by Dr Glynn Greensmith, senior lecturer in journalism at Curtin University, to unpack the uncomfortable truth about mass attacks, media coverage, and the hidden incentives shaping what we see, share, and believe. Drawing on decades of research into mass violence, journalism, and copycat behaviour, we explore why attention is often the real reward attackers seek — and how Australia once reduced harm by refusing to give it to them. We examine how 24-hour news, social media algorithms, and profit-driven media structures collide with public safety, why speculation masquerading as news makes us less informed, and what responsibility journalists, platforms, politicians — and ordinary people — actually carry in moments of crisis. Dr Glynn Greensmith https://www.smh.com.au/by/glynn-greensmith-p5369d Bypass the Algorithm, Sign up to the Punter Times Newsletter  https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/email-sign-up

Go to https://surfshark.com/punters or use code punters at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! This week, we expose the jobs-for-mates scandal the government tried to bury, watch David Pocock absolutely demolish ministers in Senate estimates with straight facts about Japan reselling our gas, and deliver a comprehensive punters audit on Cosplay Canavan that reveals exactly why you should never trust a word he says. The independent review Labor didn't want released just dropped, confirming the appointment system "looks like nepotism" and isn't fit for purpose—but instead of fixing it with actual laws, they're going with a vibes-based framework and rejecting cooling-off periods so they can keep hiring their mates immediately. Minister Katie Gallagher pulls the classic resume pad when grilled about giving away 50% of our gas exports royalty-free, while Tim Ayres dismisses Japan's billion-dollar gas resale scam as just "dinner party discussion." Plus, we break down why Matt Canavan deliberately confuses total investment with government spending to mislead punters on net zero costs, reveal his brother's 7% stake in a coal mine and executive role at Peabody Energy, and discuss how a Bachelor of Economics honours graduate who worked at KPMG somehow pretends he doesn’t understand basic economic concepts he's pushing. Bypass the Algorithm, Sign up to the Punter Times Newsletter  https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/email-sign-up Buy Punters T-shirts Support We the Punters on PATREON  What Punter are you? Take the Quiz! Buy Punters Stickers & T-shirts Be a dark money funder to help hire a lobbyist for the punters: https://chuffed.org/project/134297-fund-australias-first-punter-powered-lobbyist

Go to https://surfshark.com/punters or use code punters at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! This week, Konrad recaps the TikTok Awards, Konrad’s admits his addication to social media platforms to make and bring on two politicians from different parties who actually agree on something: Australia's getting absolutely ripped off on gas. Politician Ed Husic (Labor backbencher and former minister) goes full punter mode calling out Japan for reselling our gas and making a billion dollars in profit, independent politician Nicolette Boele breaks down why three-year election cycles kill long-term planning, and we test both politicians' ability to redirect awkward Christmas dinner conversations away from politics using only their parliamentary maneuvering skills. Topics we spend no time on: Pauline Hanson's Burqa stunt and lunch with Barnaby, and Albo ties the knot at the Lodge while regular punters have to pay thousands for a wedding venue. Bypass the Algorithm, Sign up to the Punter Times Newsletter  https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/email-sign-up Buy Punters T-shirts Support We the Punters on PATREON  What Punter are you? Take the Quiz! Buy Punters Stickers & T-shirts

Bypass the Algorithm, Sign up to the Punter Times Newsletter  https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/email-sign-up This week, we expose whether Albo's quietly strangling Australia's science sector while claiming to be a "friend of science," reveal how Microsoft tried to scam 2.7 million Aussies with hidden price hikes until the ACCC stepped in, and watch Sussan Ley pull off an absolute masterclass in saving Littleproud from a train wreck press conference with the sleepy koala defense. Plus, the CSIRO returns $7 for every $1 invested but gets told that's not good enough value, we discover Australia spends $30 billion less on research than comparable countries while shipping our smart people overseas to invent stuff we then buy back at a premium, and Punter Jess alerts us to Microsoft's sneaky opt-out scam that jacked up subscription prices by 45%. Also: LinkedIn bros needed for lobbyist headhunting, Conrad's bringing cardboard cutouts to the TikTok Awards, and we're officially recruiting Australia's first punter-powered lobbyist with $75K in the bank and a clean conscience as the signing bonus. Go to https://surfshark.com/punters or use code punters at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!   Buy Punters T-shirts Support We the Punters on PATREON  What Punter are you? Take the Quiz! Buy Punters Stickers & T-shirts Be a dark money funder to help hire a lobbyist for the punters: https://chuffed.org/project/134297-fund-australias-first-punter-powered-lobbyist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Go to https://surfshark.com/punters or use code punters at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Bypass the Algorithm, Sign up to the Punter Times Newsletter https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/email-sign-up This episode breaks down why the Liberal-National Net Zero backflip is just political theatre designed to distract punters while Labor continues the same gas cartel scams, plus we grade Albo's abysmal transparency record and watch Cosplay Canavan pull off a masterful question dodge that would make any surfy kid proud. Buy Punters T-shirts Support We the Punters on PATREON What Punter are you? Take the Quiz! Buy Punters Stickers & T-shirts Be a dark money funder to help hire a lobbyist for the punters: https://chuffed.org/project/134297-fund-australias-first-punter-powered-lobbyistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.