News Weakly Issue 137

NEWS WEAKLY – 14th December, 2024 This week, Sami Shah dives into Melbourne’s synagogue attack, Australia’s tech tax aimed at social media giants, and the seismic shifts in Syria following the Assad regime’s collapse. With sharp wit and in-depth analysis, Sami breaks down the news, punches up the headlines, and brings a satirical lens to another chaotic week. Top Stories of the Week: 1. Synagogue Firestorm Was it arson, terrorism, or just a chance for politicians to grandstand? Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue attack sparks controversy, confusion, and questionable calls for protest bans. 2. Taxing the Tech Titans The government proposes a “pay or play” tax for social media companies to fund journalism. But is it really about saving small-town newspapers or propping up big media monopolies? 3. Syria Later As the Assad regime collapses, celebrations turn to chaos. HTS steps in with promises of mercy and diversity, while regional powers move in for their slice of the pie. Quote of the Week: “Albanese’s gotta have a better response to problems than just banning things. He’s really putting the ‘ban’ in ‘Al-ban-ese.’” Enjoying News Weakly? Keep the podcast ad-free and independent by supporting Sami on Patreon at patreon.com/samishah. Your contributions ensure we can keep punching the news in the headlines, weakly. Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster. For more: http://thesamishah.com Theme music: "Historic Anticipation" by Paul Mottram Written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah. Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster. For more: http://thesamishah.com Theme music 'Historic Anticipation' by Paul Mottram This podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah.