Gript Media Podcasts

In the first of a series of interviews with candidates ahead of the June 7th EU elections, John McGuirk talks to Aontu leader Peadar Toibin about immigration, candidates, war, peace, farming, Palestine, and why he's going to personally run in two elections less than a year apart.

RTE struggle to understand firearms; a new poll says Independents and Others are more popular than any party, at least in the European elections; and the Garda release new figures on hate crime, but it may shock you to hear that they don't really stand up.

John and Sarah discuss whether there's merit in chemical castration for paedophiles; What to make of Bambie Thug and Eurovision; Javier Millei's astonishing success in Argentina; and general European and Local election chat.

It's been an abysmal week for the Government as polls show massive levels of discontent with immigration policies, and that hasn't been helped by Minister Helen McEntee's seemingly endless public ineptitude.

John and Sarah review the week, including Ireland's renewed - if conveniently timed - war with Britain on immigration; reflections on the battle of Newtownmountkennedy; whether the polls are to be believed; and is the cost of living being ignored?

We're told that 80% of asylum seekers are coming through Northern Ireland, but actual evidence for that is unclear; and a new poll indicates people are poorer, less interested in the enviroment, and just generally not having a good time.   https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2024-04-23a.884

Sarah Ryan explains to John McGuirk why she has decided to manage Niall Boylan's EU election campaign. Also, they talk about events at the Oireachtas committee on immigration, Helen McEntee's bad week, and are smartphones the new "microchipping"?

Claims that boys are having anti-women content thrown at them by algorithms aren't all that solid; and what do the FOI documents released by the Department of Justice tell us about the recent referendums?

Bestselling author, Journalist, and now campaigner Helen Joyce joins John and Sarah to explain the contents of the Cass Review into the treatment of "transgender" children, and the wider implications of transgender ideology on western society.

Harris manages to appear weak less than a week into the job; SF's internal issues; and Ireland tries its hand at some serious geopolitics. https://twitter.com/johnkvallis/status/1779303075364442585   https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-frances-fitzgerald-and-a-fear-of-the-civil-service-saved-helen-mcentees-job/a2056415841.html

John and Sarah discuss Simon Harris's cowardly reshuffle, the desired return of Kate O'Connell to frontline politics, the Cass Review, and the state of abortion politics, stateside.

The urge to lower taxes and brutalise criminals; new polling; and the feasibility of a HSE for asylum seekers.

John and Sarah talk JK Rowling's defiance of the Scottish Government, The Government's incestuous relationships with journovisors, the costs of a United Ireland, Sinn Fein's loss of "middle finger status", and checking in on Trump v Biden.

With FG struggling to get independents to sign up to support the coronation of Simon Harris all it would take is a few Fianna Fail TD to end his reign before it begins.

John and Sarah discuss how the week-long debate on the Hate Speech Bill underlines the identity crisis facing Ireland's politicians; The possibly permanent loss of Sinn Fein's mojo; and why Assisted Suicide absolutely is a slippery slope, and one that cannot be escaped.

A show discussing the imminent coronation of that shadow in the shape of a man that some know as Simon Harris.

The fall of the House of Varadkar is set to leave the country in the hands of Simon Harris, at 37, the youngest Taoiseach Ireland has ever had. John and Sarah talk through Varadkar's legacy, and are divided on the prospects for Harris as leader.

Migrants in tents meet the inevitable consequences of our actions; the Government's sleight of hand on the care amendment; and Gary is saved by a computer meltdown.https://gript.ie/exclusive-ministers-clearly-advised-to-avoid-a-concrete-obligation-in-care-referendum/

John and Sarah discuss the tent city on Mount Street and the collapse of Irish immigration policy, as well as the Taoiseach's comments on Saint Patrick, Dylan Mulvaney's hot new music video, and the sudden decline of the Late Late Show.

The worst referendum defeat in the history of the Irish state; the real power of the NGOs is the false belief that they're representative organisations; and did Ministers lie to the public about the legal advice they had recieved.https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/03/09/future-constitutional-changes-now-less-likely-after-overwhelming-rejection-of-family-and-care-amendments/

In a special reaction episode, John and Sarah analyse the Government's crushing defeat in the referendums on the 39th and 40th amendments. Their takeaway? "A lot of people who felt very alone now know that they're not the ones in the minority at all".

John and Sarah discuss the Government's new sex education reforms, including the new gingerbread person. Also: Final referendum predictions, Sinn Fein's continuing woes, and the Government, if it will do nothing else for us, will at least kill us off before the end.

The end of two pointless referendums draws near, but there's still enough time left for people to embarrass themselves; and the arguments against marriage are poisonous.https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/people/2024/03/02/brianna-parkins-fairy-tales-about-marriage-are-a-way-for-rich-people-to-feel-as-if-they-deserve-their-charmed-lives/

John and Sarah talk about an epidemic of double standards in Ireland: The lack of any concern about the attack on Carol Nolan's office, as opposed to the horror at the NWCI receiving mean tweets. Also: FF's selection mess, crazy cat killing women, and the perils of canvassing.

A reminder that smokers are the real heroes; the unimportance of democratic norms; and more polls.

John and Sarah recap an eventful week, from the Taoiseach's flight and fight attitude to Gript, the continuing chaos of the referendum campaigns, a sausage festival in Belfast, and the competing scandals in a Limerick hospital.

In this week's edition, John and Sarah discuss being male, pale, and stale, per an FG MEP, as well as the mounting Children's hospital disaster, Simon Harris's latest bright idea, and Michael McDowell's palpable fury over Government misinformation in the referendum campaign.

The semi-state formerly known as the NWCI; and we finally have detailed polling on immigration - turns out people have some concerns.

John and Sarah discuss the funding of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, which Sarah insists doesn’t represent her. Also: The Sinn Fein polling slump is real, Euthanasia breaks new frontiers in Holland, and Joe Biden is now talking to the dead.

Polls show public willingness to consider voting for anti-immigrant parties and candidates is substantially up, support for the referendums is substantially down, and SF continue to fall.

John and Sarah review some of the sentences from the Irish courts in January, and conclude that it’s a good time to be a criminal in Ireland. Also: Is politics putting women off dating, and are Sinn Fein in serious decline?

A dumb new RTÉ funding plan, a stupid controversy over the Oscars, confusion from the electoral commission, and a covid enquiry that won’t blame anybody: The week was a carnival of nonsense, says Sarah Ryan, and John finds it hard to disagree.

The Business Post reports that COVID-era debt warehousing is going to be extended; Garda made 0 criminal checks against EURODAC between 2015 and the start of 2023; and Malcolm Byrne seems unhappy with Gript.   Fianna Fail candidate feels 'shame and regret' over 'striking out' at female friend at college | Independent.ie

John and Sarah discuss Javier Millei and the World Economic Forum, and how Argentina’s President is confounding expectations. Also, Roderic O’Gorman and Throuples, Roscrea’s community hotel, and Jordan Petersen’s re-education.

The argument for the new referendums seems to be that we need to change the constitution so that the courts can figure out what it was we actually voted on; we suggust putting the referendums before two important elections was perhaps not wise; and polling indicates that over 70% of the country are now anti-immigration extremists.

John and Sarah discuss the latest developments in Ireland’s widening immigration debate, including the vexxed question of whether it’s justified to be worried about “unvetted migrant men”. Also: a heated debate about whether historic sex crime trials can ever be fair.

The referendum to remove women from the constitution has a kicker for carers; a Dutch study shows immigrants are not all born, financially, equal; and SF want to bring Dublin house prices to 300,000 - a level not seen since the crash.  https://demo-demo.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Borderless_Welfare_State-2.pdfhttps://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/libraryResearch/2024/2024-01-03_bill-digest-thirty-ninth-amendment-of-the-constitution-the-family-bill-2023_en.pdf

John and Sarah discuss how Ozempic has made new years resolutions moot for both of them, and also, share their predictions for the year ahead, featuring plenty of misery for the Irish Government.

This week we take aim at the real enemy - peace.   https://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/editorial-earth-is-too-small-and-life-too-short-for-anything-but-the-pursuit-of-peace/a1684588158.html   https://web.archive.org/web/20110726184747/http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/Referenda/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad%2C1894%2Cen.pdf   https://www.thejournal.ie/ivana-bacik-care-women-referendum-6256546-Dec2023/

“The hate speech bill was when the tide began to turn” – Sarah and John look back on a year that may be remembered, in decades to come, as one of the most politically eventful in Irish history.

With surrogacy on the political agenda this week, John and Sarah have a frank discussion about the issues involved, and why they both have deep concerns about surrogacy for money. But first: Aodhan O’Riordain’s flip-flops, and a very predictable last minute COP deal.

New polling shows the danger of the immigration debate for SF, the Fiscal Advisory Council continues to scream into the void; and a Dail debate on immigration takes a turn for the nasty.https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2023-12-06a.39

John and Sarah discuss Helen McEntee’s very broad definition of “far right”, why they’re both voting NO twice on March 8th, and why men are so useless at domestic chores. Also: Paschal Donohoe’s future, and the increase in domestic violence.

John and Sarah discuss the week that really was, including the background to Gript’s deleted story, and the wider ongoing coverage and cultural concerns around events in Dublin over the past week.

So let's talk about how people are talking about the riots. https://gript.ie/mr-martins-pathetic-puska-answer/https://gript.ie/in-silencing-ryan-casey-the-media-abandons-all-pretence/

“They cannot figure out that it is not the “far right” fuelling anti-immigration sentiment in Ireland, it is anti-immigration sentiment fuelling the “far right”. John and Sarah discuss yesterday’s events, and the week that led up to them.

In praise of the political courage of Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar; solving the Israel-Hamas affair; and an unhinged rant on energy subsidies.

John and Sarah discuss RTE’s doom documentary from the future, the broadcaster’s big bailout, Tubridy’s new gig, and why Sarah thinks the new Independent Ireland party is going places.

JUSTICE SERVED: John and Sarah react to the Ashling Murphy murder trial verdict, and discuss other legal matters of the week: Was Maria Bailey vindicated? Is Chris Andrews TD right to sue a journalist? And is Russia trying to rig Irish elections?

Businesses suffering, marriages failed, faith in vaccines undermined: John and Sarah discuss the ongoing hangover from lockdown, the reasons nobody will accept any blame, and the lack of an enquiry. Also, how kids should play.

On Immigration, it turns out that the far right was… the far correct? John and Sarah are joined this week by Laura Perrins of @theconwom to discuss that, as well as conflicting UK/Irish narratives on Gaza, and whether Mary McAleese would make a good priest.

BeLongTo and their private meetings with civil servants; the Far Right Observatory visits the Oireachtas; disinformation; and the president has no strings on him.https://gript.ie/belongto-rep-revenue-staff-webinar/

This week’s podcast covers Paddy Cosgrave’s sudden fall from grace, the disturbing revelations in Britney Spears’ new book, and asks: What’s become of us that we want to teach Irish children that they’re privileged for being white, or male, or Irish?

Answering the age old question "War, what is it good for?" The answer is probably not absolutely nothing.

The budget and the war: Two topics dominate this week’s podcast, after a very depressing week. Do Irish politicians lack imagination? And is there any prospect at all of peace in the Middle East? John and Sarah discuss:

Roderick O'Gorman is finding it difficult to answer questions; the merging of the NGOs and Irish politics; and with the budget approaching polling shows most Irish households can't afford to cover a €1,000 emergency. https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/10/07/almost-half-of-irish-adults-could-not-cover-the-cost-of-an-unexpected-expense-of-1000-survey-finds/

John and Sarah are joined from the Seanad by Senator Ronan Mullen, in an episode that covers Colette Colfer’s stand against her university’s new gender policy, an update on the hate speech bill, and a question about whether the Seanad is a more hostile place than it used to be.

A protest is an assault on democracy but voting to restrict protests is apparently just dandy; Minister Catherine Martin gets involved in lease agreements for religious groups; and El Salvador's murder rate falls yet lower.

Does the case of the “racist gymnast coach” resemble the Carlow Teachers scandal? John and Sarah discuss that, the Laurence Fox scandal, and the latest opinion poll in this week’s episode.

A state funded charity tells teachers to lie to parents; there's apparently a very thin line between an honest mistake and gross racial prejudice; and the measurement of tax.   https://twitter.com/mhdksafa/status/1705255758978269390

Short version blurb: Sometimes a little whataboutery goes a long way: John and Sarah compare the reaction to the “blithering idiocy” on Kildare Street, to the silence over the left-wing extremism on display in Dublin just last Saturday.

Paul Murphy’s doxxing disgrace, RTE’s 80k photographer, Micheal Martin’s infection warning, and dumb new speed limits: It was a week to raise the hackles of the most placid person. John and Sarah are no exceptions:   Available on Spotify & iTunesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7kOPNDrvsxqXv8uicOotvPiTuneshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-week-that-really-was/id1653091194?uo=4

IBEC calls for taxes to increase; the Fiscal Advisory Council is deeply unhappy; and calls for a reduction in speed limits are both ill-conceived and unneeded.https://www.fiscalcouncil.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pre-Budget-Statement-2024-..pdfhttps://www.rsa.ie/news-events/news/details/2023/01/01/13-rise-in-road-deaths-recorded-in-2022

John and Sarah discuss a packed week in Stradbally which started with Up the Ra chants at the Electric Picnic and ends with Ukrainians about to move into the site on an emergency basis. Also: Speed limits, American Mommy bloggers going to jail, and why Sarah’s a tough parent herself.

Grade inflation; the Electoral Commission and the 'right not to be misinformed'; and you've got to admire the sheer balls on the ICCL.   https://app.tickettailor.com/event/ev_2888507

Having survived an earthquake in Greece, and listened to three hours of Andrew Tate on her holidays, Sarah returns to an Ireland transformed by new constituency boundaries, and the dramatic fall from grace of singer Roisin Murphy.

Man makes tragic mistake of getting on a plane in Russian airspace; the Pareto Principle for habitual criminals; and grade inflation.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtQNULEudss

John is joined by Irish writer Conor Fitzgerald (@fitzfromdublin) to discuss the question of whether Ireland, and western society at large, is increasingly divided politically along gender lines, and why cultural institutions sometimes seem to hate their own audiences.

This week we discuss the financial troubles of two titans of the property sector, the Peter McVerry Trust and Evergrande.https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Firish-personal-finance-flowchart-v2-1-v0-sx1ensn284c91.jpg%3Fs%3D8b79a0fb56bd5bb031b966ce89aeec813d3aa353

According to the government democracy is where the government pays billions of dollars to one side and jails the other.

Let's have a closer look at SF's new housing submission; the PR problem of tourists being brutalised by criminals; and financial literacy in the Irish population.   https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freespeechireland/979702https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/08/09/edge-of-misogyny-in-criticism-of-helen-mcentee-is-unmistakable/ https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2023/EOB_PRS_submission1.pdf

In the sorry absence of Sarah Ryan, John is joined by NIAMH UI BHRIAN to discuss Gerard Craughwell’s one-man crusade against Gender Self-ID, Helen McEntee as the victim of misogyny, and the prospects for the new Farmer’s Alliance.

Gary has returned from his travels and climate change is the agenda for this week.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W33HRc1A6c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qPwfICdqXQ

In this week’s episode, Sarah tells John all about the Lizzo banana scandal, which leads to a chat about the unfashionability of normal boring old sex, and a question: Has the fall of traditional religion and the rise of a new religiosity led to a fall in contentment?

John and Sarah talk about the issues of the week, ranging from gold heists to climate worries, crime, and Sinead O’Connor. But also, as the Government introduces free IVF for some couples, the growing challenge of infertility:

In this week’s episode, the story of a missing American woman leads John and Sarah into a chat about gender quotas, victimhood, the state of Dublin, the Children’s Hospital and how the media can’t stop terrifying the population with scary stories of crisis.

John and Sarah are joined by William Campbell of the @hereshowpodcast to tell them – as respectfully as possible – why they’re wrong about most things, and why Ireland is in fact one of the most successful countries in the world.

The hate crime bill has been pushed back after an unexpected backlash, but it's far from dead; RTE decide respectable people don't need to be asked to provide evidence; and the safe access zone bill begins its march through the Oireachtas.

“Justin Trudeau with fancier socks” – That’s Keith Redmond’s verdict on Leo Varadkar as he joins John and Sarah to talk hate speech, Helen McEntee’s illiberalism, RTE’s implosion, and the public finances careening out of control:

A key plank of the Government's housing policy hasn't worked for the last 11 months, the end (maybe) of affirmative action in America; and the polls show both the government and RTE are in a spot of bother.

RTÉ dominates this week’s podcast, as John and Sarah wonder whether the state broadcaster has even a shred of credibility left; Also: Is Dublin a crime-ridden dump, and who is to blame?

Gary Kavanagh sat down with Bryan Fanning, Professor of Migration and Social Policy at UCD, to discuss the professor's latest book, Public Morality and the Culture Wars; immigration; LGBT rights; abortion; and coercive public morality.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BHSWHDNJ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Is the tide of public opinion turning on the transgender agenda? John and Sarah are joined by women’s rights campaigner Laoise DeBrun to discuss the Hate Speech Bill, Ryan Tubridy, Lost Submarines, and Laoise’s drafting of a new bill to keep men out of women’s prisons.

The hate speech bill was debated in the Seanad this week, and despite the lack of media attention the debate demonstrated the full value of the Seanad.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj0Tj8dnrYw https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2023-06-13/10/#spk_78 https://twitter.com/griptmedia/status/1669275401397456898 https://www.lawlibrary.ie/bar-reviews/the-bar-review-june-2023/ - Page 100 for piece on hate crime bill.

“it’s almost like a tea party”: Gript’s own Ben Scallan joins John to talk about his journey from political candidate to Government press conferences, the pitfalls of Ireland’s political system, and how impending fatherhood changes a man.

A transgender cyclist is currently 300km ahead of their nearest rival in a 2500km race taking place on the west coast; and excise increases are mostly due to the government wanting you to be miserable.Welcome to the Official TAW ride in Ireland - TransAtlanticWay

“It’s like being governed by a divorced mum and dad” – John and Sarah discuss the growing sense that Ireland just doesn’t have a leader, and also reflect on the terror in France, and the Labour Party’s call for a “NPHET style” approach to immigration.

“Very few are willing to speak openly and honestly” - John and Sarah are joined by columnist Cormac Lucey to discuss the state of the nation, including Ministerial competence, abortion, tax cuts, and the hate speech bill:

A new RedC poll shows the vast majority of people believe Ireland has taken in too many refugees, but tells us very little about what people actually think; and the NCCA consults with toddlers.https://ncca.ie/media/6220/consultationreport.pdfhttps://ereader.businesspost.ie/e-reader/edition-1810/14/index.html

Does Irish politics suffer from a major deficit of…. ability? That’s the question John and Sarah take on this week in the wake of a farcical health proposal, an aborted tax cut, and the entry of a new contender to replace Joe Biden.

"A TD told me he actually believed what he'd said and I was shocked because that's so rare" - John and Sarah discuss the political response to Inch, as well as sunburn, AI, and bullying in schools.

FG TDs refusing to run are 'a natural event'; SF becomes ever more respectable; asking the President to stop the hate speech bill is deeply unwise; and Alcohol Action Ireland are coming for non-alcoholic beers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZT-wVnFn60

In this week's podcast Sarah reacts to the news that fake tan might be racist; and wonders why women are so consistently in the firing line of modern cultural outrages:

New polling shows nearly 50% of the country feels their quality of living has declined over the last 12 months; Simon Harris has some thoughts on his political opponents; and FG continue to fall in opinion polls.   https://www.redcresearch.ie/consumer-sentiment-remains-decidedly-downbeat/ https://twitter.com/griptmedia/status/1654113707004239872 irelands competitiveness scorecard 2023.pdf

John and Sarah discuss Leo Varadkar's bizarre explanation of the hate speech bill, the Labour Party's new badges, and Sarah's life-long love of Coronation Chicken.

The Hate Speech Bill has cleared the Dail with 110 TDs voting in support of the bill, 14 against; the President has some thoughts on economic growth; and the abortion review has some interesting methodological issues.Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 26 Apr 2023 – Tithe an Oireachtais (oireachtas.ie)gov.ie - The Independent Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (www.gov.ie)

In a week dominated by the Niall Collins scandal, John and Sarah debate whether Ireland has a corruption problem, disagree about Niall Collins, and reflect on the Eurovision scandal that rocked the internet.

Plans to put labelling requirements on wine could see producers refuse to sell in Ireland; a Government report gives the wrong results and has to be redone to get the right one; and the CSO's new report on sexual violence has some unusual results.https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/3793/1/The%20SAVI%20Report_%20Sexual%20Abuse%20and%20Violence%20in%20Ireland.%20Executive.pdf

Kevin Myers joins John and Sarah to talk about what it is like to be cancelled, the culture of fear in Ireland, and why he remains trenchantly opposed to Sinn Fein.