News Weakly

NEWS WEAKLY – 9th November, 2024This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah brings us a special editorial edition, delivered right from the OzAsia Festival in Adelaide, where he’s been curating the Weekend of Words event. The episode splits into two parts to give listeners the option to tune out or dive deep into the U.S. election aftermath. Here’s what’s in store:“The Anti-Trump Segment”: Sami kicks off with a section where he avoids any mention of the U.S. election or Donald Trump, fulfilling a listener’s wish for a political escape. Instead, he explores lighter fare, responding to questions from Patreon supporters and discussing personal topics like the quirks of toothpaste, beloved pets, and the origins of his ultimate “porn name.”Reflections from OzAsia: In a touching segment, Sami reflects on his experience at the OzAsia Festival, sharing the gala’s theme, “I Was Supposed to Be…” and reading a poignant speech he gave on the value of storytelling, art, and hope in a world that feels increasingly dark.“The Trump Section – Enter If You Dare”: For those who want a cathartic take on recent events, Sami reluctantly dives into Trump’s re-election and his own missed predictions. From the pitfalls of punditry to the human psychology behind backing strongman figures, he tackles the complexity of democracy and the allure of authoritarian promises, using his own experience with Pakistan’s political history as context.Enjoy a uniquely structured episode designed to satisfy political junkies and avoiders alike, packed with humor, introspection, and sharp commentary on the state of the world.And don’t forget, if you’re in Adelaide, swing by the OzAsia Weekend of Words for Sami’s book club, panels, and stand-up shows, all happening November 8th-10th!Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY – 2nd November, 2024Description:This week on News Weakly's bonus edition, we get the lowdown on the upcoming US Election with The Dollop's Dave Anthony. Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY: Academic Edition – 26th October, 2024This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah gets a bit meta, taking listeners behind the scenes of his PhD research on satirical news and its role in modern journalism. In a unique twist, Sami uses the News Weakly format to explore why news satire podcasts like his may be reframing news narratives and influencing how we understand journalistic norms.Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY – 19th October, 2024Description:This week on News Weakly, we switch things up with a special editorial edition, as Sami Shah dives deep into why he hates Qantas and how it's more damaging for social cohesion than Yahya Sinwar.Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY – 12th October, 2024Description:In this episode of News Weakly, Sami Shah takes aim at Australia’s obsession with a hurricane, Senator Fatima Payman’s political career gets even more confusing, and Israel continues its relentless bombing campaign. Tune in for sharp satire, unexpected analogies, and a lot of face-palming at the absurdity of the week’s headlines.Top Stories of the Week:1. ABC Blown Away by Hurricane!Why is Australia’s ABC obsessed with covering a hurricane in Florida like it’s happening in Queensland? Sami wonders if the national broadcaster is just looking for an excuse to avoid talking about the Middle East—and why Trump thinks a nuke can stop a storm.2. Payman’s Voice Breaks!Senator Fatima Payman launches a new political party, Australia’s Voice, but with no policies and a borrowed name, her political missteps are becoming as confusing as her evasive interviews. Sami dissects her latest oddball moves in Parliament.3. Israel is Still Defending Itself!Israel continues to "defend" itself with bombs on civilians and health workers in Gaza and Lebanon. As Netanyahu pleads for Lebanese citizens to rise up against Hezbollah, Sami digs into the dark irony of Israel’s ongoing military campaign.Quote of the Week:"Did the ABC think Florida is in Queensland? Because unless the hurricane killed King Charles, there’s no reason for wall-to-wall coverage of a Florida storm." - Sami ShahEnjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

\NEWS WEAKLY – 5th October, 2024Description:This week on News Weakly, tensions in the Middle East escalate beyond words we hate hearing, while anti-Semitic undertones get louder in the streets. As the world teeters on the brink of conflict, Sami Shah breaks down the insanity of it all, reminding us that sometimes, two things can be bad at once. Join us for a satirical and unfiltered take on the headlines, weakly.Top Stories of the Week: 1. Escalation through Escalation!As Israel and Hezbollah go from lobbing rockets to battling it out in Lebanon, we explore the concept of de-escalation through escalation. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry—it’s all just a step towards “peace,” apparently. Sami dissects the absurdity of this situation with his signature humor. 2. We’re Not Antisemitic, We Just Look and Act That Way!Pro-Palestinian protests in Australia reach a new low with chants that cross the line from anti-Israel to anti-Jew. Sami dives into the complex dynamics of free speech, protest, and the dangerous fine line between legitimate criticism and outright hate.Quote of the Week:"We’re on the precipice of calm! The brink of ceasefire, verging on utopia, escalating towards peace in the Middle East!" - Sami Shah, interpreting Israel’s military strategy.Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY – 28th September, 2024Description:This week on News Weakly, we switch things up with a special editorial edition, as Sami Shah dives deep into personal reflections on Israel-Palestine, anti-Semitism, free speech, and why Cyclops from the X-Men might just be the right metaphor for it all. Recorded while parked next to a giant submarine in Holbrook, Sami navigates complex global conflicts and free speech issues with unfiltered honesty.Quote of the Week:"If you use trauma as a justification for anything, then you use trauma as a justification for everything." - Sami Shah, on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the dangers of using historical trauma to justify present-day actions.Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.

NEWS WEAKLY – 20th September, 2024Description:In this special Friday edition of News Weakly, we tackle the absurd and dangerous antics of Trump’s latest assassination attempt, Hezbollah’s outdated communication devices, and the never-ending saga of Labor vs. Greens over housing policy. Join Sami Shah as he punches the news in the headlines, weakly, and with all the sarcasm you’ve come to love.Top Stories of the Week:White Men Can’t Assassinate!In the latest assassination attempt on Donald Trump, another white man flubs the job. Sami breaks down what went wrong and questions why white men have lost their edge when it comes to political assassinations. Meanwhile, Trump’s friendship with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer raises even more eyebrows.Hezbollah Needs Palm Pilots!Israel steps up its game by blowing up Hezbollah’s pagers—yes, pagers. Sami discusses how Hezbollah’s insistence on using 90s technology led to this bizarre twist in Middle Eastern conflicts, and why they should probably stay away from rotary phones and two cans with a string.Labor and Greens Refuse to Share House!The housing crisis gets political as Labor and Greens clash over rental freezes and homeownership schemes. Sami imagines a sitcom-style scenario where both parties share a house—complete with plenty of awkward misunderstandings and political jabs.Quote of the Week:"White guys always think they’re the main character. It’s not their fault—that’s what movies tell them." - Sami Shah, on the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump.Enjoy News Weakly? Keep us going by supporting the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Every contribution helps us stay ad-free and focused on bringing you the best in satire and news commentary.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music "Historic Anticipation" by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted and produced by Sami Shah.