A Rational Fear

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.Fearmongers in Melbourne's most contagious suburbs Yianni Agisiloau, and Isabella Valette join A Rational Fear captains Dan Ilic and Lewis Hobba who courageously recorded their end of the podcast in NSW. Bolsonaro's COVID19 diagnosis. Pauline Hanson's removal from Today Hang On A Sec: #QAussie Queensland conspiracy theorist travels to Melbourne to liberate the Flemington towers from the "corporate police"Special guest: Dr Vyom Sharma.Working on the frontlines of COVID19 in Melbourne, Vyom shares some of his hopes and frustrations with this current spike in cases in Melbourne.And Dan Ilic asks Mark Zuckerberg why posts from climate denialists are categorised as "opinion" but climate scientists are categorised as "political"BOOK a ticket to Yianni's ":https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=621620&The Simpsons Taught Me Everything I Know" A Rational Fear is made possible in part from our Patreon subscribers and the Bertha Foundation.A Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.Recorded August 2019.Recorded live, in front of a massive SOLD OUT crowd at Giant Dwarf ,some of Australia's best known journalists and a couple of Australia's least known comedians discuss the recent government crackdown on press freedom in Australia. (Waxed balls and All)Hear what happened to Ray Martin’s interview with a top CIA contact. How Kate McClymont sends a death threat to bikie gangs. Ben Fordham gets his house AFP raid-ready and hides his embarrassing things. Alice Workman tell us what Peter Dutton really thinks about the potato comparisons. Dan Ilic breaches the espionage act live on stage. Lewis Hobba tells us why Seachange is good for democracy, and Greta Lee Jackson from the Australian Federal Police shuts the show down in breach of telling bad facts about the government.One important takeaway from this episode is that despite the attacks on newsrooms from the Government, journalists are more determined than ever to hold the government to account than ever before — and Kate McClymont identifies as a witch.Thanks to: DJ Dylan Behan, Greta Lee Jackson, Alison Piorowski, Sandra Sully, Network Ten, Killian David, David Bloustien, James Colley, Kate Holdsworth, Marcel Bracks, FBi Radio, Giant Dwarf, the MEAA, the Walkleys, Sleeping Giant, and GetUp!00:00 Opening.01:02 Introductions.07:13 Press Freedom Discussion.19:53 Sandra sully’s approved news.21:20 Whistleblowers.25:30 Social media policy restrictions.27:59 Alice Workman vs Michaelia Cash.36:27 Ben Fordham auctions off his embarrassing shit.47:016 A Current Affair turn the cameras on the victims of press freedom.50:11 Kate McClymont and race fixing.58:50 ABC cuts having an effect already.1:00:01 Ray martin’s missing CIA interview .1:08:58 The afp shutdown the show.1:10:40 AFP #QandA.1:15:18 Lewis Hobba and why enjoying SeaChange is okay.A Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears. #ClimateWeekQLDHello Dan Ilic here —Thanks to the Queensland Government for inviting us to perform at Climate Week .The team of producers were incredible, and the production staff at the Brisbane Powerhouse were slick professional units.You may notice there is one word we’re avoiding to say in the show. That word begins with A and ends in I, has Dan in between. We were told about 20 minutes before the show, so some minor tweaks had to happen on the fly. I’m sure you’ll enjoy listening to that as we go.Bridie Connell and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd do some topical music for us. Tom Ballard tells us that it’s all over and there’s no hope left. The Queensland Government put a bid in for the 2038 Nuclear Winter Games. MICF Pinder Prize winner Steph Tisdell give insects the tick of approval, and goes on the hunt for true love with an entomologist. Mel Buttle hopes that foodies will go extinct. Alan Jones has some thoughts on climate change. Professor Hilary Bambrick scares us all to death with what the real health ramifications are for humans on a warming planet. Lewis Hobba thinks he has solutions to the climate crisis, but ends up just blaming Queenslanders for it all.It is truly and excellent 90 minutes of climate change banter.00:00 — Pre Show: AFP Warning.01:25 — Start.02:15 — Introductions.05:33 — Bridie and Wyatt Introduction.16:25 — Fearsome Fears: Freedom Gas.21:15 — Fearsome Fears: Flygskam.25:00 — Fearsome Fears: The internet will be underwater.27:30 — Tom Ballard: We’re all f***ed.37:48 — Queensland’s Bid for 2038 Nuclear Winter Games.40:16 — Steph Tisdell: Care about insects.47:45 — Mel Buttle: Foodies must die.1:00:30— Alan Jones’ Gloating.1:03:35— Prof. Hilary Bambrick: Health and Climate1:19:23— Lewis Hobba: Don’t vote for the climate.1:28:50— Queenslanders Apologise to Australia.1:30:03— Bridie and Wyatt’s Climate Love Song.1:33:33— Credits.A Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.We had planned a big Tasmania special feat. Anthony Morgan, but sadly Anthony's internet didn't hold up and we couldn't get a conversation going. But we were joined by Tassie comedian and actor Anna Kidd, and Jacqui Lambie media advisor Anna Bateman to talk about all things Tas. Also on the pod Yianni Agisilaou does a cracker set of stand up and Lewis and Dan keep the ball in the air.Thanks to Jacob Round on the mix, Rupert Degas for his ad voice, and Anthony Morgan for dressing up his video conference bunker despite his internet not quite holding out for a conversation.A Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.(former deputy National Security Advisor to Obama, Pod Save The World) shares with Lewis and I his thoughts on around the world, how populations can the, and a great anecdote about how when seeking global consensus onBen Rhodes COVID19’s threat to democracystill protest during lockdown, climate crisisObama became frustrated with Tony Abbott Foreign policy politics can seem tricky to navigate and easy to dismiss as too hard, but Ben frames everything around a set of core values that brings clarity to foreign policy decisions.We’re lucky to have him thinking about the world — and we’re thrilled have him on A Rational Fear.THANKS TO:The Obama Foundation, Jacob Round and Ben Rhodes.00:00 - Introduction01:45 - Start Interview02:50 - Disinfectant 03:50 - Emergency powers eroding democracy around the world05:20 - How are people still managing to protest in HK?06:50 - Who does crisis better liberal democracies or authoritarian regimes?11:30 - Oversight to powers15:25 - Trump's reaction to the corona crisis26:30 - Hope for the USA31:00 - Distracted from the Climate Crisis33:45 - Obama's thoughts on Tony Abbott37:45 - Joining Cameo like Sean Spicer & Scaramucci40:13 - CreditsTRANSCRIPT BELOW BY A.I.Dan Ilic 0:31All right, a very special irrational fear event with Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser to the Obama administration and co host of crooked media's pod save the world. Ben, thank you so much for joining us on A Rational Fear.Ben Rhodes 2:15Good to be here, Dan. What I'd rather beDan Ilic 2:18other than talking to people all around the world from podcast den, I assume you have a podcast den.Ben Rhodes 2:25I do. I'm I have to build like a pillow fort. to tape. I'm actually doing a different podcast now too. That requires better audio. They tell me so I've just surround myself with pillows and comforters but I'm not doing that for you, dad. I'm sorry.Dan Ilic 2:42That's okay. You know, I'd rather see your face.Ben Rhodes 2:45Yeah.Dan Ilic 2:47Ben, I know you're writing a book on authoritarianism right now. So kind of while the whole world is in enforced lockdown. I thought there's never been a better time to talk about the power and erosion of democratic norms. Lots of fun.Ben Rhodes 3:01Yeah, it's a great topic.Dan Ilic 3:03Now in this chat, I think we've covered quite a bit of territory in the half an hour we've got with you the risk that COVID-19 poses to democracy around the world how people in robust liberal democracies can not only protect their institutions, but also support those around the world who live under more authoritarian regimes, and how the USA can overcome its federal leadership vacuum. So these are big, big topics, big topics, you know, you're you're gonna big brain and that's why that's why you're here. That's why you do what you do.Ben Rhodes 3:30I'll try, I'll see. We'll see what your listeners think. Now, theDan Ilic 3:35first question is when it comes to choosing a disinfectant to inject. What do you prefer, bleach or dental?Ben Rhodes 3:44Well, you know, the United States has tried for a very long time to best we can set a good example for the rest of the world and, and now I think we, you know, tried a new territory with this innovative treatment of inhaling deadly disinfectants. You know, I'm a Lysol wipes person myself. wipes are harder because you have to choose. But a less face to say for all your listeners don't take this as seriously as some of Donald Trump's followers tonight,Dan Ilic 4:13you're trying to believe what you're trying to say is you're being sarcastic.Ben Rhodes 4:16Yes, exactly, exactly. As he now tells us he was.Dan Ilic 4:22Well, you know, we've seen countries around the world like Poland and Hungary effectively kind of dismantle democratic processes under the guise of Coronavirus and emergency powers. Do you think that this is starting a trend for other states who are eyeing off, you know, all burned and polled?Ben Rhodes 4:38Yeah, I mean, you mentioned this book I'm working on part of the point of that book is that all these people, for the last decade or more have been learning from one another? Viktor Orban Donald Trump, Modi in India, bolson arrow in Brazil, Xi Jinping in China, Putin, of course. So they already kind of learned from one another and it's not unusual that in a crisis, an authoritarian Might take take more power for themselves. And as usual, or bonds kind of been at the vanguard of this, the Hungarian Prime Minister for the last decade, and he was among the first to essentially grant himself dictatorial powers early in this crisis, and we're seeing some people follow suit in Poland. Modi's certainly acted in dictatorial ways recently to begin with, and that could be expanding now. So it's the Chinese, even in Hong Kong, in the last couple weeks have been cracking down arresting protesters. So I think, you know, unfortunately, we should anticipate in the next, you know, few weeks and months, a movement by some of these leaders to take and hold even more power than they already have.Dan Ilic 5:47With Hong Kong. It's certainly something we've been because it happens in Asia, which is kind of out words we kind of pay attention to Hong Kong quite a lot and the part two pro democracy protests there over the last few weeks. Shocking, sending ripples through Australian media anyway, very amazing, amazing photos and pictures through Australian media. So we're really paying attention to it. How is that kind of movement going now and Coronavirus? And how are people still managing to protest?Ben Rhodes 6:17Well, you know, they were continuing to protest physically for as long as they could I follow this closely. I went to Hong Kong in December, met with a lot of protesters. I've stayed in touch with some of them. But right now, frankly, it's hard. I think if you talk to them, one of the things that they are hoping will sustain this movement they built is one of the innovative things that they've done is there's an entire culture around this movement. So it's not just street protest, its songs, its means its artwork. It's a kind of virtual community. It's kind of endless telegram threads. So I think their hope is that the oxygen of this culture will sustain them. There's important legislative elections in Hong Kong later this year in the fall, that I know has been a focus of the movement for some time. And this will be a test, Dan but one thing I'd say to people when we start on the kind of pessimistic note of what these leaders are doing in some places, including in Hong Kong, you know, the reality too is there's going to be massive economic fallout from this and it's gonna blow back. So while the first phase of this Coronavirus, reality politically might be more power for the authoritarian authoritarians, I think the second phase when we get six months to a year out, maybe that pendulum swinging back hard against some of these folks who are in power and and that may happen in Hong Kong when people can get back out in the street, there may be a pent up nature to what we see happen. Hmm.Dan Ilic 7:47Who do you think is doing a better in terms of handling the crisis liberal democracies or authoritarian regimes? This is kind of like questions. It seems to me a kind of a mix like I particularly when you're looking at balsa narrow And Trump and these folks who have authoritarian tendencies just don't seem to think COVID is a real deal.Ben Rhodes 8:08Yeah, well, we've been, you know, the baseline for what not to do in the United States. But, you know, the funny thing is, when you look at it, it's really it doesn't split the on democratic and authoritarian lines. You know, people have been trying to make that kind of judgement. The reality is, it splits them with other government is competent or not. And, you know, South Korea and Germany are democratic countries, with long standing democratic norms, institutions, and they've handled this quite well as unsurprisingly. So a lot of the Scandinavian countries, not Sweden, but the rest of them. Whereas, you know, other democracies, United States, Brazil that you mentioned, I think the kingdom have not handled it particularly well. And similarly with authoritarian countries, you know, China, really mishandled it out of the gate. In part because of their authoritarian nature, which led to people not reporting the truth up the chain led the people at the top to not want to come clean and precious time was missed at the beginning, then you saw a very, you know, I think effective response once they got their act together. So, you know, it's it's mixed in. And I think what that tells you is it's not in this type of crisis. It's not necessarily always can be determined by the system that you need. If you're a democracy, you need to elect competent people, as well as having a democracy.Dan Ilic 9:34But let's not let's not beat around the bush, there are some very competent or authoritarian regimes out there.Ben Rhodes 9:39Yeah, yeah. I mean, well, there's, you know, Singapore, right is always kind of the gold standard for competent, at least semi authoritarian regimes. And yeah, they've been quite effective, although they've had some challenges recently. Yeah. So I mean, I think, look, the problems in the United States you know, have to do with The fact that we have a one major political party that's gone kind of nuts over the course last decade, and Donald Trump is the reaction to that really was the result of the end result of that. And that's, you know, that's that's what explains our response.Dan Ilic 10:15And when you were in the driver's seat under Obama, how tempting is it to, you know, throw out a few rights in order to get your policies enacted? when you're when you're in that? Yeah,Ben Rhodes 10:24I mean, it's a good question. Um, you know, what was interesting about that, Dan, is that we inherited a lot of policies that in you know, I think went pretty far in terms of trading away certain rights for counterterrorism purposes. Patriot Act service, mass surveillance, in particular, the stuff that came out in the Snowden revelations, this kind of massive post 911 infrastructure, and we ended up spending a lot of time kind of trying to figure out how much of that to keep versus how much of that to try to scale back in terms of government power. You know, what's frustrating you we had a pandemic, or we had an outbreak of Ebola that didn't become a pandemic. And you know, there wasn't really any. The key to that response, which was quite well, you know, didn't really have to do with taking away people's rights at all. I think in this one, the most interesting questions have to do with what happens when societies kind of resume economic activity, and you start using technology like South Korea and Taiwan have been using technology to track who's sick and who's not, and maybe even to take people's temperature, that kind of thing. And, you know, that that makes a lot of sense in terms of tracking and a disease. You know, whether you want the government to know where you are at all times and what your help is, is a different thing. So my hope is, is that those kinds of powers are taken by governments if they're temporary, that they're it's, it's made clear at the outset that this is a temporary measure put in place just for this emergency.Dan Ilic 12:09Yeah. When I first emailed you about doing this, we were looking at, kind of on we're looking at kind of power structure in Australia, which wouldn't have any checks and balances for this this crisis. So I was like, gonna get on the phone to Ben see what Yeah, but since then, is a senate oversight committee to our national Corona response, which is, which is good, which is kind of standard in this country.Ben Rhodes 12:34Yeah, yeah. No, I mean that but I think that's the key thing is just to make sure somebody's looking over somebody's shoulder at all times.Dan Ilic 12:42It's kind of interesting, like Parliament for Australia anyways, kind of is out of school until August 1. In the meantime, this is National COVID-19 commission that's been formed to manage a crisis made up of a board whose experience is pretty much based around minerals, mining energy. One guy who is like the chair of the csro, but I wouldn't call him a doctor because he's not a doctor. And so what does that say about Australia reservation that their, that their national kind of board that's kind of responding to this while parliament is not in session?Ben Rhodes 13:18Well, you know, it's Yeah, you know, what's funny about that is is you learn kind of who is the actual power structure in your country when the bottom falls out, in a way, you know? So what that tells me is like, those are the people who actually have the power in Australia, in the same way that the United States, frankly, when we've had crises, bankers, you know, banks, major corporations are often the people who seem to suddenly have a lot of power to determine what happens, you know, we just, you know, a few weeks ago passes $2 trillion bill to essentially try to bail out, you know, the economy. And first of all, you wonder, where do we get this $2 trillion from But then yeah, I mean, I think the the impulse of the republican party as with the, the financial crisis in 2008, when when george bush was in office, the first impulse was to bail out these big corporations and to bail out banks. And, you know, kind of the Democrats in the House had to be like, Hey, what about actual small businesses are and workers who've been laid off? But yeah, I think Yeah, so for Australia, its its energy, interest mining interest, right? who've kind of been the power behind the strings is certainly in the Conservative Party. Just like in the in the United States, we find the heads of major corporations and banks are the people who end up seeming to be making these key decisions when we hit these crises. ThenLewis Hobba 14:44when we sort of Australia is looking at America's handling of this at the moment it like, I mean, doesn't it looks like a bit of a mess. When America is America bother looking at Australia like we spend so much time looking at you. Do you look at does anyone even notice what we're doing? Is that something that's on anyone's mind?Ben Rhodes 15:01I mean, you know, here Yeah, I mean, it basically, I think the United States looks at, you know, what we tend to do is look at a mix of different countries who seem to represent different regions, right. You know, so you always have a few European countries you're looking at, then you always have kind of South Korea and Japan and East Asia and then you do you look at Australia, and then around Indonesia and India. I don't suggest there's like a lot of time spent. It's usually just like, what are the metrics of how many tests people have done and how many cases there are and is somebody doing something in particular that seems to be working or not, you know, and in that case, I thinkDan Ilic 15:37Tom Hanks getting Coronavirus um, Hanks getting Coronavirus on the Gold Coast was a really high point for the world looking at Australia's COVID responseLewis Hobba 15:46Yeah, if we kill Hanks will never forgive us. And yeah,Dan Ilic 15:50I act his attitude to Vegemite was really set the set the scales.Ben Rhodes 15:54I think we're all wondering just what what the hell was Tom Hanks doing in Australia in the first place? Like we had no idea. You know, I mean, there's America's treasure right? It's great for the Elvis movie. Well, yeah, maybe that was the point. But the thing is, is that like Australia I think has not you know, distinguished itself for either having a particularly exceptional response or particularly bad response and so therefore, it hasn't gotten the same attention as a bunch of other countries in the US we excel in the middle that's Australia you excel you're right in the middle which by the way, I would trade to be in the middle ofthe middle looks pretty good from the bottom.Dan Ilic 16:30Well, Ben, let you know. Your Lewis did say the US does look like a bit of a mess. So my question is, how much of this is Obama's fault?Ben Rhodes 16:39Well, if you listen to Trump, all of it would be I you know, this has been the most frustrating time for me as you can imagine, but I mean, mainly because we got this massive scare in 2014 with a bola and that ended up okay. You know, we had to mobilise the US military sent to West Africa. Were to send 10s of thousands of health care workers and lots of supplies there. But we also learned a lot from that. So we tried to having been scared. Okay, what does the government need? We need an office in the White House to coordinate this we, we created an actual playbook. What do you do if there's a pandemic, we develop these tools so you can develop and produce healthcare equipment, if you needed to an emergency, we had all these international protocols. And what's been so frustrating is all that stuff was kind of wrapped in a bow and handed off to Trump. They clearly just scrapped, totally ignored. And so they went in, you know, if they'd literally just opened a drawer and found, you know, the playbook that we left for the pandemic and some of the things in that playbook, they would have been producing testing, and ventilators and masks and other things throughout February instead of falling so far behind but but because they have such a disdain for anything Obama did and for government itself, they just completely ignored that right and that was alsoDan Ilic 17:58there isn't. There's so many vacant places in public service in America that is still yet to be kind of filled or people aren't wanting to take charge.Lewis Hobba 18:08Yeah, administrator.Ben Rhodes 18:09Yeah, to me, it's kind of the price of chaos, you know, like so we were when when we were in the transition, right, the period of time after the election, Obama's own office, we actually did an exercise a cabinet level. So the senior most people in the government exercise on what happens if there's a new kind of flu pandemic. So basically, exactly the scenario, so that each of the people in these key positions would be able to inhabit the experience of making those initial decisions. And the reality is, even if they were paying attention, which at the time, it didn't seem like they really were. Almost none of those people are there, right? Because Trump goes through these people like one one a year. So the chaos of that kind of turnover, and the kind of disdain for government which means that lots of these positions go unfilled. And the idea that we don't really listen to experts to begin with, you know, we're paying the price for that. Now, it's kind of the, if you have a president who, who doesn't like his predecessor, who doesn't like science, who doesn't like government experts and doesn't feel positions, a pandemic is basically the worst possible thing that can happen. Because that's when you need government. That's when you need experts. That's when you need to learn from your predecessors. And so this is of all the things that could hit Trump, this is probably the worst possible one that he was designed for, beyond his expertise and disinfected. AndLewis Hobba 19:37you were talking before about the different things that might happen as a response to this particularly in authoritarian regimes. But in America, like there is such a belief in in some parts of America about small government getting rid of government, for the government, like it's a government position. Do you think now that we're looking at this, wishing that there was a functional government in governments around the world We all sort of have this desire now for just a functioning bureaucrat. The government. Yeah. Just to any government that works. Do you think that's gonna happen in America at all? I think there'll be a wish for that to come back.Ben Rhodes 20:11I mean, certainly, among part of America, I mean, there's been this kind of, gosh, 30 year war against government from the, from the Republican Party of the right wing of the Republican Party, you know, dating all the way back to Ronald Reagan. Really, small government. You know, one of America's most famous conservative activists famously said he wanted to make government small enough that you could drown it in the bathtub. Not a nice image, of course, but and now I really do you know, I feel like we're seeing kind of the price of that because, you know, what, what, what do you mean when you're saying you're cutting but government? Well, you're cutting budgets for things like the centres for disease control, you're cutting funding for the National Institute of Health. You're cutting funding for the things that you need as a backstop, and effective crisis, I think in the our election, you know, is going to kind of play out on the terms you've described. And since that, look, Joe Biden is not the most charismatic, young new face. But what he is, is someone who offers the stability of like, well, this guy knows what government does, and he'll hire the smart people. And, you know, there's a theory of elections in the US that we tend to elect the opposite of the person who went before you know, so you had Bill Clinton fall by George W. Bush fell by Barack Obama fall by Donald Trump so that that does seem to be like people turn to something different. That's Biden. That's a wildly even like, that's a crazy oscillating pendulum that's just think about it, but at some point, I'm getting whiplash and thinking about it and but I think by the Congress by an offer is therefore is not youth in, you know, inspiration. But it is like, okay, just someone who will, frankly the idea of government, just being You know, boring is appealing now, you know, we, let's just get people in there who know what they're doing. We don't think about it every day and we don't live a psychodrama on Twitter every day. We have a president who just hires the right people, makes the key decisions, you know, tries to lower the temperature of the power politics and get things done. And there's a hunger for that.Dan Ilic 22:23And then finally, the pendulum can swing again and the republicans will have in 2024 Kanye West, right?Ben Rhodes 22:28Yeah.Lewis Hobba 22:30Yeah, you did Australia. We always talked about like the pod test for our latest like it's, we always like someone want to have a beer at the pub with. And that's pretty much what we did in the last election. And now I think a lot of people are just going I don't need a person to have a beer with not only am I not allowed to go to the pub to have a beer. I just want a nerd who's read the books.Ben Rhodes 22:49Yeah, but and I could never figure that out because I certainly didn't want to have a beer with Tony Abbott Gus.Dan Ilic 22:57I think no one in his party. What are they doing?Ben Rhodes 23:00Yeah, I just gonna just gonna put that out there.Yeah, no, I we have to get back on the beer thing here too, you know, not that I predict when I have a beer with Donald Trump but uh, you know, sometimes that's not the thing you're looking for in your prime minister,Dan Ilic 23:15when I was when I was looking for a photo today, they're kind of put on the web post that we're talking with you I found all these great ones of you behind the behind the White House podium. And I thought well, how Trump has done so much damage to brand USA. And, and that visual identity does it concern you that you have so many photos of you on the White House briefing room podium? Well, yeah, yeah, I feel bad brand.Ben Rhodes 23:44I gotta tell you, it's so funny to, to think back the first time I had to give a briefing in the White House, that kind of iconic White House podium. I was really nervous. And actually, I'd later figured out that I were different colours. socks that day.Thankfully escaped noticeLewis Hobba 24:04problem in contrast to the substitute?Ben Rhodes 24:08Yeah, that's about as dramatic as it got. But I mean, it's true for the entire pregnancy. Like, there was such a, you know, I grew up I watched the West Wing, like, these places were kind of, you know, we don't have loyalty here. I'm like, you guys. So, the, the, the White House, the presidency is kind of like this mixture of the seat of government, but also like the, you know, the, the seat of the state. And one of the most, you know, depressing things has been watching all of those settings can be debased and degraded, you know, just by Trump, but but but these, you know, kind of mix of grifters and competence and ideologues around him. And so yeah, it is kind of jarring. I spent so much time in this kind of small spaces and to see, you know, Trump up there talking about, you know, sunlight, curing diseases and and, you know, taking disinfectant and the rest of it, it does feel like it kind of bases the whole institution. And I'm curious if Trump is defeated, or if he ever is no longer present, which I presume will happen at some point. Whether that kind of reverts back and people once again, think about the American presidency that way and think about those settings that way, or whether he's kind of permanently done some damage.Lewis Hobba 25:22It's you think, sorry, I was gonna say, is there any part of you that watches what the White House does now and thinks, God, I didn't realise you could get away with that. And that's something that you would have you had gone Oh, we should have just done that. We didn't realise we could be ourselves.Ben Rhodes 25:38Yes. Yeah. There's two levels to that. I mean, one is Yeah, like I used to, you know, I was in charge of our communications on foreign policy now security. So that meant, you know, I was kind of the final person to look at any statement they went out or obviously a presidential speech, and you would act on the nerves you would feel about what you know, getting if there was a typo in there, you know, I mean,Dan Ilic 26:00like, Man, I've read your book and you you actually you, you manage to Trent translate your anxiety or communicate about rocking every little bit of word. I was so nervous reading your book about so you when you're writing speeches and communications with fat Ben really fucking cares shit.Ben Rhodes 26:21Well you know, contrast is likeDan Ilic 26:22fucking Trump's get up there riffing. It's like, yeah,Ben Rhodes 26:25yeah, no, that's right. And so, you know, and look, I mean, I'm glad that we cared and I thinkDan Ilic 26:32the world class is really glad that you checked.Ben Rhodes 26:34One, I think I think people cared about what Obama said, because they figured that he was very careful about what he said. But it is amazing to look back and think about the, the precise care we took about words, and that's obviously totally gone. But there is something I will say that like, you know, I'm not, I'm not crediting Trump with this. But but the you know, sometimes I Do you think you, you impose kind of limits on what you mean, in the second Obama term? For instance, we started to kind of let it rip a little bit more, you know, the opening to Cuba. Yeah. You know, the, obviously the Iran nuclear agreement, you know, Paris accord, things that were seen as politically very risky. We just did them, you know, and you started to realise, you know, on Cuba friends, which, which I worked on, the only reason you'd be like, Well, why do we have this crazy Cuba policy? And people just say, well, you don't you don't touch that, you know, that's politically, you know, toxic, you know, and it's like, well, why not? You know, so there is there is something healthy about being willing to break from convention. But, but to this extreme, taking it to this extreme is not healthy.Dan Ilic 27:49Well, let me ask you this. How, how do you have hope at this point for America and for overcoming this federal leadership vacuum like heading into disarray? And SaisonBen Rhodes 28:02I mean, I think thatit's hard not to be pretty dark about where we are right now.I, I did think look, you know, obviously, this is the worst possible way for this to be playing out in terms of the loss of life and the economic damage. And what's happening is, you know, we're seeing the result of electing someone who just shouldn't be president who just doesn't have any skills required to do that, who kind of represents some of the worst impulses of America in terms of hubris and narcissism and belligerence? I think my only hope is, you know, as we were talking about earlier, that this is kind of gonna wake enough people up to the fact that we got to just get our stuff together. You know, I mean, America's Got a not only do we have to elect someone different in this election, but I mean, we Got to cut it out here, you know, with the indulgence of this kind of right wing populism that is infected us, like a lot of other places, with the disdain for government and expertise. You know, we are the richest country in the world with the most resources in the world. And we have basically the worst response to this pandemic of anybody in the world, if you just look at the cases, and the deaths and the spread of this thing, certainly among the advanced economies. And so my hope in a way is that, as with the whole Trump presidency, that this is waking people up and that this will mobilise people, and that people understand that this government matters that the national cohesion matters. And that, frankly, we, if you indulge conspiracy theory and kind of toxic kind of right wing media, you end up with a guy standing at a podium talking about disinfectants, you know,Dan Ilic 29:53is it any kind of sense from people who worked on the Affordable Care Act that they've got a sweet level of shouting froideur right now?Ben Rhodes 30:00Yeah, I mean, well, yeah, that that's the thing actually that, you know, the weird thing about the United States is a lot of the debates you know, are moving from my my, obviously political perspective, are moving even further to the left, even while Donald Trump is in office. So the Affordable Care Act that was seen as as kind of radical takeover of the healthcare system by government 10 years ago, is now seen as this pretty centre centrist middle of the road plan. And and, and I think that will mean that, you know, if Joe Biden's elected This is this will grow into even more of a moral more of a generous healthcare system than we had before. So I yeah, I think I think a lot of things Obama was trying to do, where he got some of it done, not all of it done, as difficult as the Trump years hard to see him try to take, you know, like an axe to it. I actually am somewhat optimistic that 1015 years from now we'll look back and realise that okay, all that stuff. Obama started ended up getting done. It just had this kind of major detour under Trump.Lewis Hobba 31:04And is there any discussion at all about what might happen with the elections in the states if people are still in lockdown? And like we've been talking about people becoming authoritarian regimes? Is there any chance he delays the election or puts it off?Ben Rhodes 31:21No, he can't really do it. Because under our system, the state'sadminister elections in Congress, I think Congress would have to support him and putting off the election, because it's also mandated in federal law that had happened on that particular day. So I think the debate the United States is turning to male voting, whether people are going to be able to vote by mail in the election. Trump has resisted that because like republicans always resist things that allow people to vote in the United States. It's actually peculiar to me that they are because, frankly, in hopefully they're not listening to this podcast, but the the secret is that older people tend to vote for republicans and voting by mail might be helpful to them. My view is that everybody in this country should have the option to vote by mail. I don't care whether that means they're more likely to vote Democrat or Republican. And I do think you'll see. I think that's where this will end up. I think, I think, you know, the vast majority of states will have, if not universal vote by mail certainly make it much easier for people to request mail in ballots and, and we may have an election where there's not nearly as much in person voting, but a lot more voting in the mail.Dan Ilic 32:41And while we wrap up here, I just kind of want to have a quick chat about climate change at sea. It feels like this crisis is just distracting us all from the biggest crisis possible. Particularly for Australians, like over Christmas, we had these incredible bushfires that ripped through large swathes of the country, even when We met Ben back in KL flying out to KL looking out the window, seeing for four hours, just smoke in over the continent was just incredible. And at that point in time, I think Australians were more conscious of the climate crisis than ever before. What our governments missing at this point in time to be able to pivot towards a climate crisis front heading heading out of this crisis to this current COVID crisis, do you think?Ben Rhodes 33:32Well, I'll tell you what worries me. What worries me is that we're going to go into this kind of deep recession everywhere. And what is going to be tempting for a lot of countries, particularly the large developing countries, like China, and India, is when they're trying to jumpstart the economy again, saying, well, let's, let's put aside these plans to shift to renewable energies because it's a lot cheaper to just You know, fire up the coal fired power plants and get energy moving that way, you know. And so you could see kind of short term economic stimulus measures that turned back to coal and dirty forms of energy in ways that are damaging, obviously to even the minimal ambition of what was in the Paris accords. You because what's necessary, I mean, that what we should learn from this pandemic, right? Is what was so frustrating this country is here is a this pandemic is this disease is spreading. The scientists are telling us this is going to happen. If you'd listened to the scientist, you would have done certain things right away. And we didn't do them. And so therefore, a lot of people are getting killed. And it really is a miniature analogy for climate change, like the scientists are telling us this is going to happen. We can even see it starting to happen in Australia, and what you need to do, you really need to wholesale change your entire makeups of your economies. You know, like, we can't You know, there's no other way to do this guys, you know, there's no, there's no third option here between transitioning from fossil fuels to different forms of energy. And you can do that in stages. And you can do that in ways to cushion the blow for certain industries. But that's what's really going to be required here. And, and I think, I hope well, we've just lived through kind of once again tells us that like, ignoring scientists are telling you something bad is gonna happen is ultimately gonna cost you a lot more in the long run than then taking action right away. And this is the debate, you know, that we had. Well, first, we had partners and Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. But these are the debates we had certainly with with with Abbott,when when Obama wasDan Ilic 35:46so tell me, let's go deep on that for a second. With Abbott, what kind of conversations were you having with him and his partners?Ben Rhodes 35:55Well, what was so frustrating with that, and look, I mean, it's no secret Obama You know, Tony Abbott was far from his favourite leader to begin with.Lewis Hobba 36:03Ours either, for the record.Ben Rhodes 36:05Yeah. And, you know,what was frustrating with Abbott? You know, is he was kind of very sure of himself without really knowing what he's talking about. And no, I remember Obama rarely and he actually got on well was the centre right politicians and you know, Uncle Merkel and David Cameron. So it's not like he couldn't work with someone, you know, who is on the right side, you know, the right end of the spectrum, not the right side. And, but I'll tell you the anecdote that really drove this home to me is that, you know, we were, you know, we came to Australia, I believe, yes, right after we reached the bilateral agreement with China, in 2014. That became kind of the basis of Paris accord. And we were trying to get Australia just do some minimal stuff, you know, you know, ambitious, or even not that ambitious, just a target of emissions. We're done. Or some funding for developing countries to develop, you know, clean energy. And Abbott was just kind of tone deaf on this thing. And, and Obama remember gave a speech before the G 20. in Brisbane, where, you know, we had like a paragraph about climate change written into the speech, and Obama got to that paragraph. And he just went way off the text, and was just basically blasting the Abbott government in ways that he almost never did on foreign soil and pointing out the Great Barrier Reef disappearing. And that an Abbott was upset. You know, this was like, you know, he was supposed to be this big stage for him hosting the G 20. But it's like, Well, look, if you want to host the G 20. Like you got to step up and be an international leader. And we've got everybody else kind of rallying around this effort to get to an ambitious climate agreement the next year in Paris, and Abbott was really one of the last holdouts dragging his feet you know, and no coincidence. You know who his key political supporters are? We mentioned people in the mining and energy industries. no coincidence. Rupert Murdoch media in Australia, also very friendly to those industries and, and so it wasn't hard to put that together. Why that guy was dragging his feet.Dan Ilic 38:17It might surprise you. I don't know if you know this, but probably the thing that sealed the deal for Australians and Abbott was when he was Prime Minister and he wants to he wanted to instigate. So you know, we talked about all the climate policies or the retrograde kind of policies are around that kind of stuff. But the thing that really turned Australians against Abbott was when he wanted to institute knights and dames a new award system where he would create an Australian system of knighting people and gaming people, and the first knighthood he gave was to Prince Philip.Ben Rhodes 38:49Oh, well,I didn't I did not know that. I will tell you that whenever we were really annoyed with Tony Abbott. We would watch the video of that speech by Julia Gillard.Yeah, well, that speech got watched a lot.Let me put it that way.Lewis Hobba 39:07You know when, when when all the video. So when all those handwashing videos were coming out at the start and they were like, you need to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and people were giving me like songs like wash it for the length of happy birthday. There are a lot of people who are going you just need to wash your hands for the length of Julia Gillard misogyny speech. Nice.Dan Ilic 39:27Yeah, well, seven minutes. Exactly. Well, Ben, thanks for joining us on irrational fear. It's a real privilege to have you.Ben Rhodes 39:37Yeah. Good talking you guys.Dan Ilic 39:38And I've got a question. Have you ever thought about joining cameo because some of your predecessors like Sean Spicer and Anthony Scaramucci are both on there?Ben Rhodes 39:47Yeah, I you know, what a surprise that there's a pipeline from the Trump administration to reality tell.Dan Ilic 39:56Let's have a list. Let's have a listen to a lot of them. Here's Sean Spicer.Sean Spicer 40:00Guys, it's Sean Spicer this month on cameo I'm donating all the proceeds to the yellow ribbon fund. It's an organisation that supports our nation's caregivers to the our wounded service members. So think about that video. Happy birthday, St. Patrick's Day. Daylight Savings Time. do well on the primaries, if you're a presidential candidate, Lent, that's always a good one. You name it. There's so many good reasons to send a shout out video to the person that you care about. Maybe a complete stranger. So when you want to ask them in a date doesn't matter. It's for a great cause. Think about it. Consider Thanks a lot.Dan Ilic 40:34I would love a daylight savings dog from bed.Lewis Hobba 40:37Yeah. Oh, yeah. Eating as well. Getting chillin spice awesome on a date for you. That's a no, that's a hard No.Ben Rhodes 40:44Yeah, no, that's, uh, you know, there's Trump used to say this. When he was running, we're not sending our best. And I think I think that's been manifest in the, in the appointments he's made.Dan Ilic 40:57Yeah, how much do you think Sean Spicer costs Ben? How much to pay for 32nd message from Sean Spicer?Ben Rhodes 41:05You know, I would pay someone to not send me.Lewis Hobba 41:10Haven't you paid enough?Dan Ilic 41:12charging 160 pounds. So 300 Australian dollars for a message, Scaramucci however, is a quite a bit less. He's only 40 pounds, but I guess he was in his office for about three hours. SoBen Rhodes 41:26yeah, it's like 11 day. No, no, nobody. I mean, all these guys are kind of grifters, right. That guy's somehow cashed in on 11 days in the jobAnthony Scaramucci 41:34Hey it's the mooch I'm super excited to be on cameo. So you know what? I'll talk about anything as you guys know. So look me up. Dial me in and tell me what you want me to say to you. I'm looking forward to it.Lewis Hobba 41:50Oh, wow. It's just the people who are too stupid to write a book.Ben Rhodes 41:53Yeah, yeah. put that one in the time capsule.Dan Ilic 41:56Ben, thank you so much for joining us in irrational fear. Hopefully we can catch up with you again and Six months time so we can chat again.Ben Rhodes 42:03Yeah, hopefully we'll have different President.Dan Ilic 42:07Thank you so much thicker. Say bye byeTranscribed by https://otter.aiA Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Laughing in the face of COVID19 with our Fearmongers on this pod -Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.FEARMONGERS:Jan FranCathy WilcoxLewis Hobbaand Dan IlicINTERVIEW:Maverick economist Professor Steve Keen talks through the alternative thinking around how Coronavirus monetary policy may play out in the long run for global financial markets.STAND UP:Pru Blake brings us a twisted tale dating in the world of coronavirus.THANKS TO:Rupert Degas on the sponsor read, and Jacob Round for doing the dishes.A Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Laughing in the face of COVID19 with our Fearmongers on this pod -Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through theRØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.FEARMONGERS:Tim MinchinAlice FraserLewis Hobbaand Dan IlicINTERVIEW:Corporations are sharing huge amounts of personal data with the Government in order to help track COVID19, and it's rumoured in a couple of weeks the Government will be asking us to down load an app to help track COVID19 cases. We chat with privacy expert Tim De Sousa about the trade offs required in order to get COVID19 under control.STANDUP:We have a great stand up set from comedian Rose Bishop— (00:00) Preamble, thank you to Patreon subscribers.— (01:00) Start.— (01:50) Introductions— (03:07) SPONSOR: IPA— (04:40) Wagga Wagga severed ties with it's Chinese sister city— (07:24) Pete Evans magic light machine— (16:40) Plague Privacy— (34:06) STAND UP: Rose Bishop— (39:50) CreditsA Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.The good news is that , the because they can, BoJo is out of ICU and the mortality rate in Australia is so far under 1% — Well done Australia.Pandas are getting their F onconservative socialists are making it rain fake moneySometimes it’s easy to think Australians are a bunch of drunk deadshits body slamming on the beach licking toilets and creating disgustingly heartwarming internet content.But, Australia, we’re getting there. The curve, like my career is on the way back down where it’ll inflict pain on fewer people. A good result for everyone.Great podcast this week with TOM BALLARD(Like A Six Year Old)AMY REMEIKIS (The Guardian)PROF. HILARY BAMBRICK (QUT) Lewis Hobba (Triple J)plus interviews with UK Prime Minister and Marcus Ryandoes some coronavirus stand up., Boris JohnsonTHANKS TO:Jacob Round, Robbie McGreggor, Rupert Degas, and Ella James.(00:00) Preamble(01:15) Start.(02:19) Introductions.(04:08) SPONSOR: Robbie McGregor says Stimulus Package for 3 hours.(06:20) Police Powers.(11:50) Prof. Hilary Bambrick catches us up on COVID19.(23:00) Pandas Are F**king!(26:00) INTERVIEW: PM Boris Johnson from ICU.(28:26) STANDUP: Marcus Ryan.(37:00) Wrap up plugsA Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Zoom — pumped through theRØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.Laughing in the face of COVID19 with our Fearmongers on this pod:Nadine Von CohenPetr LebedevLewis Hobbaand Dan IlicWe interview @Sooklyn from TikTok fame and Nauroze Anees about the risk of COVID19 inside Australia's detention centres. And we have some COVID19 Stand-up Comedy from Mick Neven, as well as a brand new episode of Newsfighters.— (00:00) Preamble, thank you to Patreon subscribers.— (01:27) Start.— (02:28) Introductions.— (04:08) SPONSOR: Fox Board Games.— (05:45) We're a Nordic Socialist Democracy Now.— (10:50) NRL Island.— (12:27) Magnets up the nose.— (17:50) Nauroze interview preview.— (18:21) Sooklyn From TikTok Interview.— (29:00) COVID19 inside Australia's Detention Centres.— (34:00) Stand-up Comedy: Mick Neven — (41:00) Credits— (41:55) NewsfightersA Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/Recorded at our homes over Google Meet — pumped through the RØDECaster™ Pro — into your ears.Comedians and experts ripping into the global pandemic — slowing the spread one pun at time.This A Rational Fear brings together voice actor Rupert Degas, comedian Bec Melrose, international health student Dr. Jazmin Daniells, New York City broadcaster Brad Blanks and as a special treat comedian Kirsty Webeck comes by to delight us with 5min from her cancelled Melbourne Comedy Festival show.(00:00) — Preamble, thank you mums.(01:04) — Start.(02:00) — Introductions.(03:07) — SPONSOR: Robbie McGregor Reads Mark Latham’s Tweets.(05:04) — Coping with Corona.(08:40) — HRH Prince Charles interview.(10:30) — Private School Principal Delivers Social Distancing Rules.(12:00) — THEY INCREASED NEWSTART!(17:22) — Health worker Dr. Jazmin Daniells.(29:50) — Who is the COVID-19 Commission?(32:14) — An Aussie in New York Brad Blanks.(40:37) — Kirsty Webeck Stand Up.(46:32) — Credits(48:00) — NewsfightersStay at home — and listen to this.Transcribed by https://otter.aiDan Ilic 0:00All right before we start a big thank you to our Patreon subscribers. We grew by just a handful this week. It's about very powerful handful, Louis. Big thanks to more of my family as well. It's funny you should mention that it's not more of your family but it is close personal friends of ours. Big thanks to Liz Adams and my mother in law, Jan Holdsworth who became scaremongers. Louis's mom is also scaremonger. My partner's mom is a scare monger. Let's all go for the moms of this podcast. It's really great. Is anyone giving us money that isn't related to us? I don't know. I just feel like a lot of people allied can't afford to subscribe to the Patreon which got me thinking, Louis, if you can't afford three bucks a month, maybe you could ask your mum to subscribe to our Patreon instead, tell them that it's franking credits like franking credit insurance for the for the apocalypse, they might as well most old people will actually tap out. Hey Blake, I made this episode of irrational fear in isolation. On the land of the gadigal in the eora nation, let's start the show.Unknown Speaker 1:04irrational fear contains no two words like bricks can rub andUnknown Speaker 1:10gum and section 40 of our rational fear recommended listening by immature audience.Dan Ilic 1:17Tonight Donald Trump says he'd like to see churches in America full at Easter time, all part of his greater plan to have old buildings in America empty by Christmas time. And this week the Australian Parliament went on recess for five months because there's nothing to do until then. And the 30 minute restriction on hairdressing appointment has been lifted but I'm not gonna get ahead CUT TO MY lift the restriction on allowing barbers to spit in your mouth like the old days, wash your hands and stay at home. This is irrational feara rational fear Yes, this Is the restaurant favourites Daniel. Let's Let's meet Alfie mungus for tonight he's one of Britain's best exports that not many people know about. He's the big fish shy a clanging of voice acting. It's Rupa de gas. Is that a fair introduction via Rupert as a marvellous I bless you blessUnknown Speaker 2:15your heart.Dan Ilic 2:17Nick, She's fast become one of the stars of Australian comedy scene. She is as versatile as a merengue but as complicated as a Pavlova. It's big Melrose.Unknown Speaker 2:26What an intro. I love it. I've never had a bakery themed intro.Dan Ilic 2:30And he is a staple of the show and he can be relied on to delight. He's the week bakes with sugar on top. It's Louis Alba. Oh, thank you, Daniel. I actually used to consume a lot of weight because it's sugar on top that's eerily accurate. It's like very bland and white bread, but it's like a little something on top a little bit of excitement. In this week's show, we discussed the government's rules for social distancing the stimulus package, we chat to a health worker on the front lines in here from an OSI stack in the petri dish of New York City. Also Kirsty Welbeck is coming by two to five minutes I've heard Melbourne Comedy Festival show and use fighters. We've just got too much content this way here is a message from our sponsorsUnknown Speaker 3:10from lazy industries and audible. Robbie McGregor reads Mark Latham's tweets from his early defamation periodUnknown Speaker 3:19in an office somewhere inside the education Bureau in Beijing this morning. Hi, New South Wales is four years behind that students in maths put Mark Scott, he's teaching them any less than 40% is gender equality, more laughter, that confusion for tears Kobe, to the ramblings of a manUnknown Speaker 3:41just discovering the dark webUnknown Speaker 3:43great lies of the elites. Someone with a penis can be a woman, man can have babies renewable energy can keep the lights on Australia is central to solving climate change. But people smuggler traders, compassionate. The Middle East is worth fighting for. The IB se is independentUnknown Speaker 4:12to misinformation and conspiracy dressed upUnknown Speaker 4:16as philosophy, a guide to bat in Orlando, and now my two sons are without jobs. The lesson is when humans lose their mastery and control over the animal world, which is what happened in Wu Han wet market, our entire civilization can suffer. Humans must always put themselves first animals. Second,Unknown Speaker 4:39download Robbie McGregor reads Mark Latham's tweets if you want to give yourself an aneurismDan Ilic 4:48can't wait to download that. That's the only way I would consume Mark Latham's tweets is via Robbie McGregor, although I'm disappointed he didn't make them sexier, would have liked to hear him do like the full offseason. Faruqi court case but like he was doing an SPS porn. Well coronavirus, a disease 19 is the most famous of all the corona family so far has ravaged up to 2423 Australians in yet has to do one single colon with a makeup brand very disappointing for fans of this disease. How are you all coping this week with with your covert lockdown spec? How are you coping?Unknown Speaker 5:26I'm I'm over it already. But I'm counting myself pretty lucky in the scheme of things. I'm just a bit sick of the lack of clear communication that we're getting. I think we've never it's never been more important for us to have clear, decisive, persuasive communication and it feels like every day we're in this extremely stressful real life amazing rates. We're just tuning into the news for the next clue. Nothing's clear.Dan Ilic 5:52It's totally It is very strange like they the hairdressing limit got lifted today. If you go get a haircut for longer than 30 minutes, but still The rules of being 1.5 metres away from every person still apply I don't know a hairdresser with arms long enough to actually do a proper jobUnknown Speaker 6:09nor do I or anyone who makes scissors that long I don't know what they're gonna do about that butUnknown Speaker 6:14the the lack of women in the cabinet of the coalition was so on display when the first round of those the cuts on cuts came out and they were like we can only let people in around hairdressers for half an hour. You're like, I realised that you're nearly bald already. Scott, you probably haven't had a haircut in the decade but total one woman who has had a hiccup that has gone for half an hour find me anywhereUnknown Speaker 6:41even the chat those longer than half an hour all the bullshit chat you get.Unknown Speaker 6:45I'm one of those balding that just needs to get that short haircut and when it gets long and fluffy at the back of the neck. It's like oh no, come on. And I only need five minutes at the barbers but they're like closed. And what did they say today you don't want to Gladys say today You don't need to get get your hair cut, like Well, okay, I'll just grow a little fluffy. You know peach fuzz on the back of my neck for the next six weeks.Dan Ilic 7:08I think I think having fluffy fuzz in the back of your neck is a fair trade off from Absolutely.Unknown Speaker 7:17Yeah, probably health emergency. I reckon I can go with a page becauseUnknown Speaker 7:24there's all these reasons to around like the differences between self isolation, quarantine, social distancing, physical distancing, no one's really clear on what anything is. My favourite thing though, that I saw this week. Like, I'm really grateful. We've got the ABC at a time like this, but I saw an article where they were stepping through the evidence behind each of the theories of how the virus originated. And they've got this photo of a pangolin. With this caption, it says a pangolin but not this specific pangolin could have passed the virus to humans.Dan Ilic 7:58As someone who has been an executive producer at the IBC I can understand how that caption would have come about someone in legal would have gone? Well, we probably we probably should make sure that pangolin isn't defamed at some point.Unknown Speaker 8:10Although penguins are known for being quite litigious, so you can't be caught leave any chance of a defamation suit. Why wouldUnknown Speaker 8:16you say that Chris Kenney fucked up pangolins.Dan Ilic 8:21But you can say you can say it on this podcast and that's totally fine because I don't have any lawyers and I don't have any money. So I come for me. You've got my mom's Patreon. Got Your mom's 10 bucks a month. Thank you, Margo. Now, Ruben, you you're also also a little bit confused by all of these social distancing roles. And yeah,Unknown Speaker 8:40I'm very confused. Because I think a pangolin might have come into Balmoral confusedDan Ilic 8:48I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is that for its Charles but it'sUnknown Speaker 8:50okay. It's totally stuck in stuck in my bed sweating. Camila's by my side. It's just one and a half metre distance isn't really any problem. AndUnknown Speaker 9:01it's all fine. No, it'sDan Ilic 9:04no no Your Royal Highness Your Highness. You actually apparently you got the old covert bug from attending a bushfire benefit concert in London. He was fully Australian.Unknown Speaker 9:20came over they'd been on a ship from from from China. years. Now I don't know what happened. Yes, but I'm sweating and as Molly Meldrum killed me back in the 70s He's sweating like a pig.Dan Ilic 9:36And have you have you been amongst the the the other royalty Have you been with the QueenUnknown Speaker 9:42while you've been sweating? No ma'am he won't let me come anywhere near her unfortunately. But I do have my equity and my equity is got his and his his partner's got his and their child has got his but they've all recovered so I think it'd be fine.Dan Ilic 9:56Like at this point is like Queen Elizabeth is is a shaved head like blood needs to be tested in the same way that Keith Richards does, likeUnknown Speaker 10:05she is immortal.Unknown Speaker 10:07Like if she survives, if Charles goes and and she's still alive, she's either knocking them off or she's a model. She's a vampire. There's any so many times so many times,Dan Ilic 10:21understandably route that you find this whole thing quite unclear. But you imagine what it would be like if a private school principal had to deliver this kind of information to his students. All right.Unknown Speaker 10:37So settle down.Unknown Speaker 10:40Right now before I begin the list of new measures announced by the Prime Minister this morning, those of you who are playing in the match this afternoon and only if you're an essential member of the team means you're close down onto the lower peg immediately after lunch which will be taken away only before you write your letter home with a sanitised pen. If you're not getting your hair cut for a maximum of 30 minutes but no yoga unless you've got a younger brother who's going out this weekend to a funeral with a maximum of 10 people, but not a wedding where only five people are allowed as the guest of another boy, in which case collector's note before lunch, put it in your letter after you've had your haircut. So no time for a wax, which is forbidden anyway, unless it's essential and make sure he moves your clothes down onto the lower paid for you now, sir, yes, why man,Unknown Speaker 11:24my younger brother is going at the table this weekend, sir, but I'm not having a haircut. So to me my clothes down orUnknown Speaker 11:30I do wish you listen Weimer. It's perfectly simple. If you're not getting your hair cut, you don't have to move your brother's clothes down to the lower pig. You simply collect his note before lunch after you've done your scripture prep. When you've written your letter home before rest, move your own clothes on to the lower peg. Greet the visitors keep a distance of 1.5 metres and report to Mr. viney that you've had your chick sign and then wash your hands for 20 seconds while singing happy birthday twice. Got it. Now where were weUnknown Speaker 12:01National Fair.Dan Ilic 12:02Well the coalition have gotten on the front foot and have done something akin to heresy for conservatives. They've doubled the amount of money available for new start making it an amount that's almost kind of livable. Now this is from a party whose mainly ideology is to undermine the public service at every step of the way. They defund health, they defund sighs I defund education, public media and welfare. They spent so long saying that they'll never ever increase new staff that they actually had to give new start a brand new name, and they've caught it jobseeker that way they can never look wrong at all. We never increase new stuff. We make something better we call it job seeker. Fuck off. But here's the thing. Western democracies around the world have kind of been figuring out other ways to do this. And in Denmark to do a lot more Denmark are paying up to 90% of the wages for workers kept on staff in New Zealand. They're paying $600 a week in Germany. They're providing government grants and loans to pay wages in Ireland 70 Wages up to up to 70 $750 a week they're being paid. In South Korea. 70% of wages are being paid, and in the UK up to 80% of wages being paid by the government, which is absolutely incredible. What do you think Australian the Australian Government should be doing to support workers? In this time?Unknown Speaker 13:21We've got to realise that in a lot of those situations, I think, certainly in the UK, many, many people cannot get access to that government funding, because that when you say wages, quote, unquote, they're only talking about a certain element of the workforce, you know, that over the last 20 3040 years, they've systematically destroyed public workers. It's all private enterprise now. And so they're talking about the public sector, and the public sector has been shrinking and shrinking and shrinking, and you've got more and more small businesses more and more self employed people. They can't access a red centre that so let's just be realistic, right? government's not handing money out with Nearly to everybodyDan Ilic 14:00what I've read it out is a lot rosier than what it actually is.Unknown Speaker 14:03Oh, absolutely, absolutely. It's I think it's I think it's just spin it's not actually true. It's going to the to the people who work in the public sector, not people who work in the private sector or who run small businesses or self employed and that certainly in the UK I don't know about other countries.Unknown Speaker 14:18I would definitely like to say the government doing more all from what I've read that looks like our response has been pretty peaceful comparatively, but and also just sending people out on the streets off to sign Kp distance don't go out, stay home, and then we've got queues around the block of people shoulder to shoulder queuing up for centerlink so that's what happens if they've dismantled the system over so many years and now it conqueredDan Ilic 14:41it is so it's so strange. I feel like liberal ideology is completely made the Liberal government inept at this point like they've like shot themselves in the foot to the point where they've like destroyed the thing that they need to kind of see this moment through. Yeah, the only person happy right now is Bill Shorten for losing that election.Unknown Speaker 15:00I came across this beUnknown Speaker 15:02thrilled. I mean, you'd hate to be a politician and a world leader right now, wouldn't you? I mean, you're damned if you do you're damned if you don't I mean, I don't feel sorry for them nor but by any means, because who would want to go into politicsDan Ilic 15:14but also Don't you think that like when like when you get an if you dream of like spoil your dream, when you get into sport is that you're in that position where you get the ball, the siren goes, you're one point down, it's your chance to be the guy that comes through and saves the day. This is that moment. Like, this is Rudy Giuliani before he went off the deep end, this is actually an opportunity to become a person if people look back on and they go Thanks to that person being a leader, which is literally their job. Yes, one and only job. They could we could look back in a year and be like, Oh my god, thanks to them. thousands of lives were saved. Either they don't care or they didn't want it all. They're not trying. It's a fucking disaster. What you're saying is, this is this is Scott Morrison's Andrew editing housing moment.Unknown Speaker 16:05He's knocked it on.Unknown Speaker 16:10He's gettingUnknown Speaker 16:10sharpen testing in that guy knows how to play clutch.Unknown Speaker 16:14Notice the way you know, I'm Scott Morrison doesn't seem to show any real sympathy. He's just kind of getting angry and telling us all off, you know, stop it. Don't know, stop it. Now. It's an Australian, it's like, hang on, dude, we're all scared. Show us a bit of leadership, instead of, you know, now stop doing that. It's not Australian. It's like, come on mate.Unknown Speaker 16:33It'sUnknown Speaker 16:34like unclear. I mean, as we were discussing earlier, like the, you know, the the fact that you can't even be clear on whether or not you can get a haircut and for how long? Like if you can't do that, like, oh, how do you expect to actually manage an economy, it's so baffling. And that, that same that message that he gave the other night in the press conference where he's like, you know, obviously, you can go out in groups and we don't want to specify how many because Australians should just use your common sense unlike might you Telling a group of people to use that common sense who is shoving each other in the toilet paper aisleUnknown Speaker 17:08arlie thing he's done really is give Richard Curtis a brilliant idea for a sequel, grimace sake whatever five people at a wedding 10 at a funeralDan Ilic 17:20back MelroseUnknown Speaker 17:23style that guarantees to strip sentences off your thighs and a tickDan Ilic 17:30tock video the 19 year old health workout who was spat on went viral yesterday. Here's some of that video now.Unknown Speaker 17:36Hi little coronavirus update from an Australian healthcare workerUnknown Speaker 17:39who works in a coronavirusUnknown Speaker 17:40team. Australians generally have this attitude towards coronavirus what they do not care whether they live or die or kill their grandparents or whatever, which is already super fun to deal with. But yesterday I had a patient spit on my face. We don't know whether he's confirmed or not. But he's been tested. We haven't got this one. Back at and he spat on my face because I'm going to get sick anyway. So let me know, let me in your country, you know like how is it you know, like health people?Dan Ilic 18:11Well that's some pretty fucked up stuff. People are on the edge more than anyone else would be health workers who are on the frontlines of this disaster. Joining us now is Dr. jazzy Daniels who is not only a Patreon subscriber of irrational fear, but is on the frontlines of in regional Australia waiting to deal with this disease. Jasmine, thanks for joining us on rational fear.Unknown Speaker 18:32That's right. Thanks for having me. Now,Dan Ilic 18:34what was your what's your experience like waiting for Call of Duty hit Tamworth where you are?Unknown Speaker 18:38So that's like a pretty interesting question. And I started out this year not working in health care and I'd gone back to university full time living in Sydney. So I've had a bit of a contrasting experience where I was with the general public for the beginning of coronavirus and carpet 19. And I was dismissive at first and I wasn't sure about social distancing, I wasn't sure about was coming out of China. It was a couple of weeks ago that it kind of hit home to me like how important this is, and what it will mean for health care. And I returned to Tamworth to work around of casual shifts there. And I've just finished those. And I've really started to see and understand what this is going to mean for Australian healthcare. I went on being in the hospital, and it feels as if that there is a tidal wave, and we can see it, we're staring out at sea and we can see it coming. But we don't know when it's going to hit an all we can do is try to prepare. And that's what's happening at the moment.Dan Ilic 19:42A lot of commentators are saying that, you know, we're we're two weeks out from something very severe in this country. Yeah. How are you going about to prepare for something? Yeah,Unknown Speaker 19:51so a lot of that is coming from senior staff in the hospital. And in the emergency department where I was working in Tamworth, the senior staff had been spending extra time planning and, you know, preparing in terms of what they're going to do for the patients that come in who were incredibly unwell, but also like, where to manage them and how to protect the rest of the patient population that is still going to be coming in. And that's one of the problems with this is that yes, we're going to have incredibly unwell patients coming in with Cova 19. But we're also going to have patients having heart attacks, having strokes, and motor vehicle accidents for people who are still driving around the country. And all of those things like add in Tamworth as farmers who are still going to be going about their daily work and they have a higher rate of workplace accident accidents as it is. So those people still kind of be coming in and we don't want to expose them to the coronavirus and so they're preparing special rooms and then how to get people into these rooms. they've reduced their elective theatre lists. So I'm operating theatre lists so patients that are coming in for procedures that can be delayed will be delayed and you Setting up different quarantine, and preparing how to intubate patients while protecting themselves. A lot of the senior doctors are older and immediately at higher risk, so they're really putting themselves on the line to take care of these patients or we're dissipating to take care of these patients while I was working there. We had some patients coming in and testing positive one who has gone to local media. So it's a very public knowledge that they're in there at the moment. We haven't had anyone incredibly unwell, but they're preparing for running through simulations of what that would lookDan Ilic 21:37like, how are they preparing you? like are they in terms of like equipment or protective? Yeah, like, what are they sort of telling you on how you can actually protect yourself? Because once we start, obviously there's so many issues as losing the ICU beds, but then there's also like losing, you know, health workers.Unknown Speaker 21:56There's a really high risk of health workers contracting Kevin And when they have that they can't work, obviously, because, you know, we're still looking after our other patients. In terms of preparing the junior medical workforce, I can talk mostly about what's happening in the hunter New England district, where I've been working for the last couple of years. And they're looking at, you know, keeping us in a hole keeping the doctors working there and their current positions rather than rotating them around. And there's other really important things about you know, having the correct personal protective equipment on and then how to get that on and off, which sounds a bit silly, but in that process of we call it donning and doffing is where you're at high risk of exposure. But with that, like when I add again, one of those things that I hadn't thought about until I actually saw it, I went when I worked in Tamworth emergency department, their zip tying down their hand sanitizer because people have been stealing it. You know, they're like, there's already issues that you we might run out of PVA and it hasn't hit yet. We are. I do agree that we're probably A couple of weeks away from saying perhaps what's happened in Italy. And so yeah, it's a bit frightening but there's there is support out there. But it's going to be a very difficult time for medical workforce around Australia.Unknown Speaker 23:14Jazz. Can I ask you if there's been any evidence yet that anyone who's contracted kovat 19 and then recovered if they then have built immunity and whether they could get it again?Unknown Speaker 23:26I've been asked this question a lot recently. I don't have I've heard that someone has reconstructed it but I've not like I've not validated that myself. So I'm not sure exactly about whether or not you have it and then have lifelong immunity. Or if yes, I can't answer that one. Sorry.Dan Ilic 23:42I think the only way you can get immunities to tribal council. I think we need toUnknown Speaker 23:49protect that idol.Dan Ilic 23:52Yeah, how are you feeling Jess? Like how are you feeling with this? looming kind of in your workplace very soon.Unknown Speaker 23:58Yeah, sir. I have a baseline level of anxiety that I've never really experienced before.Dan Ilic 24:05Is everyone nothing? Yeah.Unknown Speaker 24:08Yeah. So that's, that's real. And so I'm I. So this year, I did a bit of background about myself, I'd actually stopped working full time to undertake a Master's of international public health. And I'd moved my life to C, D, and I was undertaking my full time face to face classes, which lasted three weeks before they were pulled online. And at which point I decided it was best to return to the medical workforce. So I've withdrawn from my studies, and I'm now looking at different work options. And so, so in terms of how I'm feeling about it, yes, it's actually really scary. And I think we can only be as prepared as we can be, but hopeful in the sense that we can still make a difference and we talked about flattening the curve and it's not too late to do that. It's not too late to start social distancing to work from home. And I know that this is going to have huge economic impacts on people. And it already is, but hopefully I will. We spoke about this earlier that hopefully the government can support those who aren't able to work and they'll have enough to live and then we'll rebuild. So from there, but you have been exploring where I can be of the most useDan Ilic 25:24now with your masters was an international help. Did you say?Unknown Speaker 25:26Yeah, international public health, which is extremely relevant at this point in time.Dan Ilic 25:36I just wanted to get a credit for Kovac 19. Do you get a credit like 20 you know,Unknown Speaker 25:40yeah, just like yeah, just everyone gets a high distinction. Well done.Unknown Speaker 25:44Like in terms of your like, personal situation. Have you had Have you stopped? had to think about what you're gonna do? Like, do you live with people? Are youUnknown Speaker 25:53Yeah, no.Dan Ilic 25:55You do to work asUnknown Speaker 25:56I moved to Sydney and I settled in a beautiful house and had to Fantastic housemates Hello, Lauren and Maura virus since left, but I did think I didn't think I would be able to work with them and be working with patients and in healthcare, I thought like the risk would be quite high. I have my grandparents so I had to kind of come to terms with the fact that I might not see them this year, because I don't want them to contract the illness that they're the ones who are really high risk. I'm if you know, like a one in one in eight chance of dying, which is really hot. And so yeah, absolutely. I've definitely thought about that I've actually moving from a non clinic from a clinical role to work in public health. So and within that role, I'm not allowed to see patients to the public health role involves tracking and tracing cases, and then trying to prevent those cases from spreading. So do do contact tracing And ensure that anyone who's been in contact with a confirmed case will then self isolate. And then also discussing whether or not the patients who do test positive if they need to be in hospital if they can isolate in the community. And within that role. I'm yeah, it because of the risk for healthcare workers is so high. I've been in, you know, given the, the instruction to not undertake any clinical work, so that I can continue to be within the public health team without contracting the virus because otherwise it kind of at this stone, then they're needing to work together. And if one person gets kovan, it kind of stops that operation.Dan Ilic 27:41Wow. It sounds so hard. That sounds so complex and complicated. Can we just give all the people with Cova 19. Like a funny hat or something?Unknown Speaker 27:51I yeah, it's a great idea. Maybe we can ask her rhinos to sponsor them.Unknown Speaker 27:56Carry a beer. Yeah, carry beer. I think that's the that's the tricky part, isn't it? Because some people have very different symptoms. And that's why we read like, this is why the social distancing is so important. And it's not like it's looking out for others as well as yourself. But you might be asymptomatic. Like you may have mild symptoms you might have like, there's been cases where someone had diarrhoea and that was their symptom. So it's that's why we just don't know who's carrying it. And that's that's the issue. I why social distancing is so important.Dan Ilic 28:32I've assumed it I make puns. I think I've got it.Unknown Speaker 28:37Thank you so much.Unknown Speaker 28:41Yeah, it's socially isolating myself from Louis.Dan Ilic 28:45Because we don't need to be doing this over Skype. I just demanded it. But I want to be in the same room dance. I talked to Jasmine, thank you so much for joining us on a rational fee. Do you mind if we check in with you in a couple of months to see howUnknown Speaker 28:56Yeah, please do please do. I'll be in close contact. Well not physically close contact. But with my colleagues working, they continue to be on the front line and they're doing an amazing job to support us. Oh, but I'll be working, I guess behind the scenes. So check in contact, if everyone listening if you're thinking about going out, reconsider it. You know, you don't have to stay at home if you can. And it's not just for you. And it's not just for the patients who might contract Cova 19. But it's for everyone. And it's Yeah, it takes a bit of a shift in your thinking, but it's possible.Dan Ilic 29:29Thanks, Jasmine. Have you thought about being Prime Minister?Unknown Speaker 29:32Yeah.Unknown Speaker 29:36hair cut length.Unknown Speaker 29:39I haven't cut my hair in six months. So I'm just this is I'm just gonna grow out. I've accepted that's it. my brows are growing out. My hair is growing up to new me.Unknown Speaker 29:48A rational fearUnknown Speaker 29:49behavioural expertsUnknown Speaker 29:49are stunned parents and police want answers and threeDan Ilic 29:53teenage girls might have ruined their reputations forever in the tradition of fucking aftering across the street. parliament is headed into a five month long recess and won't be back to pass laws until August 11. Five months and in place of the Australian Government, they've created a Corona virus disease commission, consisting of executives from mining, energy transport, finance, the only remotely medical person has to be the head on the commission is David third, who is the csra chair. What is going on here where all the medical experts while the government is on holiday, so I hadn't heard that. That's is it been as like soft revolution? Yeah. What do you mean it's a soft revolution? We are completely run and owned by mining and fossil fuel entities. What are you talking? I was used to it happening from the shadows. I'm not used to them being out in front.Unknown Speaker 30:47There's no one else out there other than that, so who else is there apart from that bunch of people?Dan Ilic 30:53I like it when a crisis happens in in movies they call the Avengers when a crisis happens in Australia, they assemble people to build open capital. minds.Unknown Speaker 31:00Yeah, okay Gina Rinehart here and you know, sort of help out, you know, grab an X, darling. Yeah.Unknown Speaker 31:06I don't see why government can't continue online like we're doing here. I mean, if you look at photographs and video footage of the chamber in camera, they're on their bloody phones anyway. They're not listening to each other. They're all on Facebook and Twitter. They're not actually paying attention. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker can tell you on a whim to take his turn his fucking phone off. They're all sitting there like, like people in restaurants like couples on their phones while they're eating. Why can't talk to each other in restaurant. It's the same with bloody parliament. They're all sitting on their phones. So be no difference. Stay at home, still around the country, as ineptly as you do anyway. Just on your fucking phones easy.Unknown Speaker 31:42I couldn't agree more. I reckon if we have to put up with shitty zoom meetings because of their NBN failure then they should have to doDan Ilic 31:49coming up very soon. Kirsty way back we'll be here to do a stand up set from her cancel the Melbourne Comedy Festival show. But first, if you think it's a bit of a show Mazel in Australia, in the United States, it is Way, way worse where a fractured medical system and an insufferable celebrity industrial complex is bringing harm upon everybody. I caught up with my friend Brad blanks a little earlier on today to see just how he's faring in New York City a rational fear Well, it's official one place that has it worse than any other country in the world right now is the USA we 50,000 Corona virus cases. So I thought what a good opportunity to catch up with my old mate Brad blanks who lives most of the time in New York City, but has found a little bald hole on Long Island to stay and see out the crisis get bread. Well, Dan, yes, it's a celebration in the United States as an Aussie here and have jumped on the American fanfare and the fact that they always love to be number one is celebrating that they have hit number one on the corona charts I speak. I think I speak for all Americans when I say USA, USA, USA. You've done it. I've got myself In New York City, I'm out and the end of Long Island. And I'm away from the epicentre of the madness that is going on in there. It's a it's a ghost town I was in there. One week ago was a ghost town, man. And now the sadness is that the people are getting double infected every day. Where have you been speaking to people who are still in Manhattan and still in Brooklyn? And what is it like what's the feeling? Yeah, as I said, I was in there we go. Ghost Town. Even though I did walk through Times Square and the one person out in Time Square was the naked cowboy. So the naked cowboy, he's still at work. Why aren't you that's what everyone's asking. Now, let's speak about your work. You're a you know, a third wheel on a radio show. How is that going? Are you still being able to broadcast? Yeah, I had. Last week was the scheduled vacation of our show as this all started kicking off. really convenient. You've got Shannon the legendary DJ, Yeah either I work for like he's a veteran of America Hall of Fame radio. Yeah. They love that term Hall of Fame radio legend. And he went down to Florida and where he lives and I said, Scott, you not, might not make it back. So I did a few callings to the guy. Let's be clear here Hall of Fame is a pseudonym for a very old person with probably dodgy lungs who could probably contract correct. And he was adamant he was going to be back on the radio back in New York City Monday morning, he got the official order to stay down in Florida, Florida. And calling from there now that opens up a whole, you know, is radio people all around the world are trying to figure out how to use these. Well, what are they called complex boxes or tie lines Dan or ISDN. I mean, I'm not an engineering radio pilot, pilot pilots, that sort of stuff. But you would know what I mean. And he had to get that sort of connected to his system and he was up and running on Monday. But what that does is we have a board He's usually as you know, again, Dan is a radio guy is a 22 year old underpaid guy. You know, given the title of producer but they, you know, they've got probably the hardest job in radio, they're gonna run the board deal with madmen, and he's sitting there trying to control the board. And the Scott mentioned calling but what that means is I can't call in Oh, I'm out of a job without technically being out of a job. He's still getting paid. That's the important right? Yes, that's right. Yeah, the paltry sum of being a radio third wheel. But the big news of my job is we think that bought up kid that's 22 years of age he drives like an hour and a half every day into work and out of work. You know, everyone wants to be on radio. It has just come down with the big Corona. Kids.Shannon, Shannon gonna have to paddle off himself in Florida, doing it out of the study or somewhere. I have a feeling CBS fm one of the biggest stations in America. I think this the programme director will be panelling tomorrow that's the rumour on the street, which is crazy and sorry I've got I had a few bits plan and you know things to send in but those those things are sort of, you know, you'll have the yo days off your gear is primarily doing two things, talking to people on the street and talking to celebrities or red carpets. What are you doing to gain content? Brad, you the source of content has been cut off by coronavirus that really kind of fell I used my children and we kicked off home schooling Yeah. And that's kicked off in Australia and it was a big deal. Yeah, they gave the teachers one week to plan the homeschooling, which was last week. And then Monday was the official launch of the new york Board of Education, Department of Education, homeschooling, and it involved, many apps and many logins. I have three Children from the age of 10 to six and it was login hell and I was savvy enough to figure out how to talk to you now so I can sell you enough to figure out how to log in and that but I swear I had about 37 different logins my wife and I so we've used a lot of that banter for my initial radio but now that by radio jobs probably dried up in the in the in the last 24 hours. Yeah, and it gets back to the whole fact that I don't have anyone to talk to on the street and celebrities now obviously everyone's doing Skype or whatever, but am I able to get yo yo Ricky jerkface over Skype Well, let's figure that out. He must follow you on Twitter by now you and him have such a great rapport surely you can hook that up? Well, maybe Yeah, but celebs want at the end of the day, they've got to plug something not necessarily Ricky bit of a slip So look, I'd like a sort of recessed tight the game of trying to have a laugh with celebrities, but you know We'll see how that goes over the next day. But thank you for underlining the fact. I am absolutely stuffed when it comes. You know, you're someone who moved to America 15 years ago, 20 years ago when I yeah, when I moved to America 20 years ago because America is this like shining light on the hill this beacon of opportunity. And for you your career there has been absolutely astounding, incredible. And, and now, this this particular pandemic, has really shown what America is in that it is it doesn't have the ability to look after its most vulnerable people. Is that does it stress you out living there now? ItUnknown Speaker 38:44doesn't stress me out because again, I you know how we've all been. We're all in this bubble. So I'm sitting here, I every day I wake up, my family's good. We're good. If I got to get groceries, I'm not gonna be have distance you know, six year dishes. do stupid things. I try to hold my breath and hopefully that works. But then obviously you go into the news and you read this and you understand the the mammoth, you know, disaster that this is, and you are Yes. And you are sad. And when you see nursing homes, you know your mom and dad are moving into elderly care or care facility I should say. And you see nursing homes in New Jersey getting evacuated when three have died of Corona and 27 have Corona. And these are all elderly people being helped by nurses. Yeah, it's worrying. It's distressing. And the big thing is going to be out of New York City or new and as as we kick this off in our jest, that New York is gone to you. America is now number one. And New York City is the hottest spot. The really thing that will make people's heads snap is when something like the Javits centre where New York Comic Con is every year and the moment To show in the boat show and one of this, this amazing Convention Centre on the west side of New York City. It is at the moment getting prepped to be a hospital and when that's when that's filled with beds with sick people in there and ventilators in there that that that again will make people yeah address this or be even more shocked of how real this is because I know there's a lot of non believers still, you know, which is which probably scares me just as much as America not helping the people that that really need it. All right.Dan Ilic 40:37God joining us now to share some of her cancelled Melbourne Comedy Festival show is comedian Kirsty Welbeck. She's got a Patreon page and I love the first line of the about section. My name is Kirsty Welbeck, but everyone calls me Christie, please welcome Cassie back.Unknown Speaker 40:56Hello, hello. Thank you so much for having me here. I was I was recently talking to a journalist when my tour still existed. And often when we talk to journalists, they ask us similar questions each time. So we usually have a sort of ID locked and loaded of what our answers might be. But on this occasion, she asked me a question that I hadn't been asked before she said to me, when did you first realise that you were funny? And no one had ever asked me that before which in hindsight, it's probably quite hurtful. I didn't really think on my face. And the first thing that popped into my brain was being six years old, in grade one, and it being wet weather at school, and just the entire student population is running wild in the gym. And I remember our principal getting up on stage and just trying to turn it all around and saying, does anyone have a joke that they would like to share with the rest of the school? And I was like, Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Six years of age full of bravado, I was like, Yes, I need to get this out into the public. And the reason that I was so confident about having a joke was it I'd heard this cracker on the radio that morning and I had not understood it. All I knew was that fitzy Stacy and FalcoUnknown Speaker 42:28like I'm gonna tell the school this great guy. I got up on stage. And I said, How do you make a pool table? laughs you stick your hands down its pockets and tickle its balls. Oh, I see what it means but something to kind of play and that was sister Jude understood the joke. Curious. Me across that stage like the flying man. She was like, get out of here. Get off The gate down, she's screaming at me, she should be down the stairs on the other side of the stage. And what I'm trying to say is like, follow your dreams, right? BecauseUnknown Speaker 43:18I was booed off the stage byUnknown Speaker 43:30periods and come back later. And so I'm a 24 year hiatus, and I went out and I came back and nowadays I get to travel around doing stand up. Not now butUnknown Speaker 43:47I got toUnknown Speaker 43:50go to some pretty cool places like I've been to Brad places all over Australia. Also Cambra. I'm pretty lucky in that regard. Last year, I got to go on a call tour. And I was up in Port hedland. I don't know if anyone's heard of that place, but it's at the top of why there's nothing there. It should just be called port that. We rolled into town, there were five comedians, and we rode into town on this tour one day, and it was super hot. We're all melting. But one of our mates he's from London, and he was particularly in a bad way. And as we got to the motel, he pointed at the beach across the road, and he said, I'm going to go for a swim in that beach. And I said, No, you're not my thing. I'm boiling. And I was like, No, mate, you're in Australia. Don't you don't get into a body of water willy nilly in this country without doing some research. I was like, I'll ask a local if it's safe. And so I went over to the receptionist. And I said to her, there equally, perhaps two specifically, I said, Are there any crocodiles in that beach? She saidUnknown Speaker 45:18she said there's no crocodiles in there. I said she did not say that.Unknown Speaker 45:23What she said is that she has no idea that she wants to be involved in this conversation. And then also that's pretty mean. I don't know the woman maybe this is how she speaks, right? Oh testaUnknown Speaker 45:37Do you think tomorrow we could have a late check out and she said no.Unknown Speaker 45:48This is actually quite a bleak story. Um, cuz I mean, he was. He was a lovely guy and the great comedian and we're gonna miss him terribly.Unknown Speaker 46:03Judy got it wrong.Unknown Speaker 46:06I'm just kidding. It was. It was a shockUnknown Speaker 46:14on me, but it worked out really well for me, because Judy had inspired me so the next day when I was checking out she said to me Do I was sending money did you have anything from the minibar andDan Ilic 46:34Kirsty will be joining us at a rational fear sometime soon as a proper guest Thank you so much, Kirsty That was great. That's it for irrational fear. Big thanks to Matt Slade and Dylan vane Brad blanks Dr. Jasmine Daniels Kirsty we're back and our fear monger says night refit day gas back Melrose and Louis Alba. Have any of you got things to plug anything? Anyone anything on a plug?Unknown Speaker 46:53No, I'm sitting idle in my living room until further notice. SoUnknown Speaker 46:58my comedy careers can Thought I want to plug Easter Sunday the churches are gonna beUnknown Speaker 47:06it's gonna be a great day everybody's gonna be close together singing hemming praying, sneezing, coughing, it'll be true.Unknown Speaker 47:16Patreon and cameo in the momentDan Ilic 47:19going off you were saying before you're doing like tonnes of cameos people love youUnknown Speaker 47:23loving making videos.Unknown Speaker 47:27I'm just gonna be doing that anyway.Dan Ilic 47:30Jasmine still with us. Do you have anything to plug Jasmine?Unknown Speaker 47:32Some nice quality time aloneUnknown Speaker 47:37driving because he's Patreon and to irrational.Unknown Speaker 47:41Good idea. And Louis, what do you got to plug? I'm just sending PayPal photos of my faithful cash.Dan Ilic 47:48Coming up next is news fighters. Until then there's always something to be scared. Oh, good night.Unknown Speaker 48:03This is News spiders.Unknown Speaker 48:06We find the news so you don't have to. Okay onto the government's big coronavirus economic stimulus package this week and Prime Minister Scott Morrison made sure the first thing he had ready to roll out was a three word slogan to build a bridge to the other side to get them on this bridge there is a bridge over this to get on this bridge and effectively build a bridge yeah build a bridge Scott Morrison's messaging aimed at Nani's teenagers. Oh my god, Australia, just build a bridge and get over it. When you just get over the coronavirus. just build a bridge. You're ready. Oh my god. Of course, one of the biggest elements of the second round of stimulus this week was this for at least six months, the job seeker allowance will double to 1100 dollars a fortnight.Unknown Speaker 48:44The job seeker allowance formerly known as news Dodd is being doubled.Unknown Speaker 48:49Yes, Scott Morrison doubled New Start and I'll tell you who would absolutely hate seeing Scott Morrison W star and that Scott Morrison from last year the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphatically rolled out increasing the rate of new start. What do you think the quiet Australians think about an increase in use thatUnknown Speaker 49:08I believe the best form welfares job. And I believe that our welfare system should work as much for taxpayers as it does for those who benefit from it. I will not engage in the unfunded empathy of the Labour Party, Mr. Speaker, boy, Scott Morrison show hide Scott Marsan right now. Meanwhile, on the homefront, I mean that literally stay at home front. Scott Morrison has received a lot of flack for his confusing mixed messaging on Tuesday night he said this stay at home unless it's absolutely necessary that you go out but then in the exact same press conference, he said this but it is important for people to go to the shop, it is important to go to the shopping centre, it is important that they get access to these normal services. It's important for them because I needed it's also important for our economy, that it continues to operate and function as much as possible. Okay, wait, what state harm but Kp businesses open? Why? Well, wait, I know see what we're doing is keeping as many businesses as we possibly can open. Okay, why are you keeping non essential businesses open? If you want us all to stay at home, Scott Morrison was challenged about this by journalists on Wednesday and said this Well, you're suggesting I should close down businesses where there's no medical advice that they should. I don't understand why we would cause that harm to a business and all their workers and their livelihoods. For the sake of some sort of message convenience, but you just shut down every gym, pop bar club house inspection and restaurant in the country. What's left? Where are we meant to go? Now? People can still go to Car yards. Yeah, come on, kids. Let's do what the Prime Minister says and go hang out down at the car yard. Dad. We hung out at the car yard yesterday. Shut up, son. If the Prime Minister says we can go hang out at the car yard. We're gonna go hang out at the car yard.Unknown Speaker 50:53Okay, that's news fighters on irrational fear. Thanks again for having us, Dan. He had a full episode of news fighters subscribe to news fighters on Your podcasting app or go to news fighters.com remember what she hands remain indoors and bye for now.Unknown Speaker 51:07This is News fighters where we find the news. So you don't have toA Rational Fear on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.