Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson declared last week that Donald Trump had been an FBI informant working to take down Jeffrey Epstein. He subsequently said he might have got it wrong. In Britain Reform had their party conference with the BBC’s political editor gushing about the ‘insurgency vibe’.On Free State, Joe and Dion ask if the media knows how to handle the rise of figures who peddle nothing but misinformation.Joe and Dion disagree on why this is. As the Irish presidential election comes closer they wonder about the questions some candidates like Catherine Connolly face. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland is a rural country. We believe that the values that sustain us are values that have been shaped by our struggle for land and our struggles on the land.But as the climate emergency reaches a point of no return, how damaging have these foundational myths about Ireland been?On Free State today John Gibbons talks about Ireland’s failure in tackling climate change.He explains why farming today is not what it was when we shaped our romantic view of it and why agribusiness has used national myths to advance one side of a culture war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Nigel Farage arrived in Washington this week, a US congressman Jamie Raskin spoke the truth about this snake oil salesman. In Britain the worst of Farage’s impulses are now indulged.On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at what the writer Tanjil Rashid has called ‘the age of deportation’.How have countries slipped closer to the authoritarian way of life and why is it being allowed to happen?They look at how Nigel Farage dominates the media and how the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer follows Farage agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does Jim Gavin want to be president? What does a man in the prime of his life with a record of success and achievement gain from going to the Aras?On Free State today Joe explains what makes his friend Jim Gavin tick. He explains his gift of leadership and how he serves his ego by giving power to others.Dion offers a reason that a Jim Gavin presidency would be important.They also look at the campaign to discredit Catherine Connolly and wonder what the grown ups have ever done for us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Monday night, Newcastle United played Liverpool in a game which told the story of the Premier League.One club is owned by Saudi Arabia, the other belongs to an American multisports holding conglomerate.It was played at St James’ Park in front of 50,000 frothing Newcastle supporters who were enraged that their best player had gone on strike because he wants to play for Liverpool.This was a show staged in one of the great cities of industrial England for the benefit of television and with the supporters simply as extras.On Free State today, the great football historian David Goldblatt talks about how football explains so much of where England is today in society.He looks at how the kitsch of poppy commemorations became an opportunity to demonstrate militaristic credentials with Millwall playing a game in a camouflage kit.It has led to the demonisation of someone like James McClean. This Goldblatt says shows that these people, who are also raising flags across England today, are living in “fantasy land” when it comes to England’s history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s." In Donald Trump’s America you can render unto Donald Trump what is God’s as well.On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the gangsterism that is taking over Britain and America and how the media fail to challenge it.Trump is intimidating and seizing power in America while Nigel Farage is being elevated by a media that knows what it’s doing.The consequences of this are obvious but still so many deny what is happening. Why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Northern Ireland,’ Margaret Thatcher said once, ‘is as British as Finchley’But what if Britain is as Northern Irish as Ballymena? On Free State today we look at what unites the right wing Tories and the unionist parties. Is it the racism? Is it the punching down on minorities? And what is it about the genocide in Gaza that they admire so much? In Britain Operation Raise the Colours is distracting people with arguments about flags. Where have we heard this before?But what does the Ulsterisation of Britain mean? Why are we being sucked into these wars that have no meaning when the really dangers are all around us? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First there was the music. Keith Donald was always looking to escape. Music offered the first exit. Then came drink.Keith Donald was abused as a child by his headmistress. He found that jazz had the power to transform his existence.As a teenager he began to play music wherever he could. He played for a band on the Twelfth and toured the country with showbands.On Free State today Keith Donald talks about the music and the mayhem and how he found peace. He speaks about founding Moving Hearts and why even now music has the power to transform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does Michael Flatley want to be president? Why would anyone want him to be president?On Free State today, Joe and Dion reluctantly engaged with the Irish presidential debate.They look at Michael Flatley and Heather Humphreys as candidates and ask if the country can do better than this.Is Joe in listening mode? What are his own intentions? Dion tries to put Joe on the spot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Volodymyr Zelensky put on suit for his meeting with Donald Trump in the White House. During his row with Trump and JD Vance last February, a reporter asked him why he wasn’t wearing a suit.Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov turned up wearing a CCCP sweatshirt, an obvious challenge to Trump. A challenge he failed. Easy to bully Zelensky. Not Russia.This time Zelensky didn’t take any chances. But is there another way of handling Donald Trump’s malignant narcissism?On Free State today Joe and Dion look at the attacks on Trump by California governor Gavin Newsom and why they offer a template for opposition.While the media has tried to report on Trump as if he is a serious person who just could do with the occasional fact check, Newsom is mocking him. This may the only way to defeat a narcissist. And it may be a lesson for all those like Keir Starmer, Micheal Martin and Ursula von der Leyen who have bent the knee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.