203 - Bad vs Bad: A Beginner’s Guide to Picking a Side in World War Whatever

NEWS WEAKLY 203 – March 3, 2026Everything escalates, no one learns, and somehow the only consistent casualties are civilians.This week, News Weakly looks at the wars you are obsessing over, the wars you have forgotten, and the deeply online way Australians are processing both.Top Stories of the WeekPakistan vs Afghanistan: The War You Forgot Was HappeningCross-border strikes, Taliban accusations, militant blowback and strategic depth coming home to roost. A conflict with decades of history that barely trends, even as both sides accuse the other of harbouring terrorists.Iran, Israel, America and Everyone Having an OpinionKhamenei is dead. Strikes escalate. American bases get hit. Diaspora celebrations clash with anti-war outrage. From Iranian expats to The Greens, Labor, pro-Israel hawks and The Australian’s columnists, everyone finds a way to cheer something while claiming the moral high ground.Bad vs Bad: How We Turn Foreign Wars into Domestic Culture WarsWhat happens when geopolitical catastrophe becomes suburb-specific moral panic? A look at how Australian political factions filter Middle East conflict through their own tribal lenses.Quote of the Week“You can oppose illegal wars and also oppose theocratic fascists. But that requires holding multiple uncomfortable truths at once.”Support the ShowIf you enjoy News Weakly and want to support the show, head over to Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Paying members get ad-free episodes and bonus content.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music “Historic Anticipation” by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah.Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music 'Historic Anticipation' by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.