"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison
Ben Davison
Join notorious Guardian columnist Van Badham and her labour activist co-host (and partner!) Ben Davison. As they deep-dive into the big news themes of the week ...
Episode 163: Auspol in 2025, Australia's economic position, disinformation and good news about renewables
Van Badham and Ben Davison are FINALLY back! Today, they take "Auspol 2025" head-on. As a federal election looms, the episode explores reality versus hyperbole around the Australian economy and considers the role of disinformation warping the view. The good news is about the growth of Australia's renewables infrastructure set to energise MILLIONS of homes.
Ben shares his expert insights on the economic landscape, highlighting the strength of Australia's fundamentals and dissecting the misinformation clouding public perception, Van is more grateful than ever for having gone to art school, and Germanicus yaps at at least two passers by (you've missed him the most, people, haven't you?!).
As Australia gears up for an election year, the podcast assesses the capitalist conditions imposed on political discourse, the Xenophobic Lie Machine, Peter Dutton's "nuclear mcguffin" and the economic implications of all three. It's a bumper return episode and we are just so glad to be back! Thanks for sticking with us over QUITE the challenging year!
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Episode 162: Trump's Debate Meltdown and the Scourge of Disinformation
Van Badham and Ben Davison (and Germanicus the dog) HAVE RETURNED!
As Ben recovers from twelve months of illness, this long overdue return to The Week on Wednesday begins with heartfelt gratitude for the Medicare system, as you’d expect. Our delighted duo then analyze the first U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, highlighting Harris's effective preparation and Trump's off-chops - and certainly weird - shouty rants about pet-eating in Ohio.
They also explore news from the word of “Disinfoland”, concerning the arrest of Telegram's Pavel Durov in France, the suspension of Elon Musk’s “X” platform in Brazil and the indictment of two alleged Russian agents for “information laundering” pro-Putin talking points through U.S. right-wing influencers. Ben encourages you to JOIN A UNION, and Van cuddles the dog.
A big shoutout to our supporters who’ve stayed with us all these months; friends, we are SO BACK.
More on the US Presidential debate: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108401/donald-trump-debate-eating-dogs-cats-immigrants-false-stereotype
Great piece from Alexander Howard about the present window for effective social media platform regulation: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/10/opinion/telegram-tiktok-x-social-media.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Sally McManus explains the allegations against the CFMEU: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Srn4vDrnuCrxcmCa/
Come see Van’s new show about Nazis in Melbourne: https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/werewolf/
Buy us some coffee (and we’ll spend the money on ads): https://buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday
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Episode 161: Dr Chalmers Keynesian budget remedy
Van Badham and Ben Davison journey into the heart of Australia's Federal Budget 2024.
Our hosts dissect Dr Jim’s reintroduction of nation building into macroeconomic management in a discussion that spans the breadth of the budget from fun nuance to big-picture policy decision and rejects the screaming-banana response of the Murdoch media.
Join our hosts as they examine how the media has been conditioned since Howard to expect budgets that are little more than lists of marginal seat give aways and how Jim Chalmers has delivered a truly Keynesian budget that seeks to manage the economy not just tax and spend it for votes.
From tax cuts to cost-of-living relief, education to housing, we unpack complexities and implications of each policy decision on your household, your wallet and the Australian future to come.
Also, the dog barks, cutely.
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Episode 160: Stopping male violence, the education budget we have to have and big batteries
Van Badham and Ben Davison have rescheduled Wednesday to a Monday this week, to delve into the labyrinth of policy complexities surrounding the fight to end violence against women and children, highlighting the frustrations and challenges faced and dissecting the terrifying implications of a private school’s latest misconduct scandal.
As the Albanese government makes a string of announcements wiping student debt, funding practical placements and increasing fee free TAFE, we discuss why funding public schools to the minimum resource standard is imperative for Australia's future.
We also find hope in a heartening good news story about renewable batteries revitalizing old coal country.
Be part of the change for better by listening to our gentle exhortations to JOIN YOUR UNION: you can do it right now at www.australianunions.org.au/wow
And if you want to support us directly, come visit us at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday.
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Episode 159: A future made in Australia, the disinformation wonderland & solar cars
Van Badham and Ben Davison start their Wednesday on a Thursday with discussion of the federal government’s “Future Made in Australia” policy suite, and just what a policy dedicated to local jobs exposes about the people who criticises it and why unions are supporting it. Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow
SPOILER ALERT: trickle down economics gets the rightful kicking from Ben that it deserves.
Next, Van’s horror at the massacre in Bondi Junction, turns to rage about the carnage opportunism of online disinformation influencers exploiting the tragedy.
The good news, though, is about solar cars!
If you'd like to become a supporter and make a contribution go to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Remember all our Extend the Reach and Cadre supporters get acknowledged by Van every episode
About "The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison
Join notorious Guardian columnist Van Badham and her labour activist co-host (and partner!) Ben Davison. As they deep-dive into the big news themes of the week and provide fresh, irreverent analysis about what's really going on in Australia and around the world.
Listen to "The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison, The Rest Is Politics: US and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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