Each week, Lauren & Tim ask each other "what in the world is going on" but this week it feels more like the question should be "what in the world ISN'T going on?" because there's just a lot going on, and it's just a lot, right? We're all feeling it. That heavy feeling, that exhausted feeling, that feeling like we just want to live through some precedented times again. But alas, here we are, living through history, through major world events, and doing our live best to remember where we put our joy (it must be round here somewhere). This episode is mostly Tim & Lauren using each other for therapy because they can't afford real actual therapists, so if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all this week and need a shoulder to cry on, pull up a psychiatrist's lounge chair and join us for a bit of self care. Unless of course your name is Vladmir Putin in which case you can kindly put yourself directly in the bin.
You know things are bad for a Prime Minister when you see them on television washing people's hair or playing the ukulele. We officially entered political looney land this week, and Tim & Lauren have plenty to say about Scomo's publicity stunts, as well as his signature legislation - the Religious Freedom Bill - falling short in the final innings (thank God, literally). Freedom Convoys in Canada and Paris are causing havoc, while the one in Canberra just can't seem to get its act together, or figure out how to count. Putin is right on the verge of invading Ukraine, so there's much to say about that, but this episode is fully worth it just for the bit at the end where Tim dumps some shocking news involving Trump and his golden toilet. Oh you won't be disappointed, dear listeners, we promise you.
Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane made international headlines last week when it introduced an amended enrolment contract containing homophobic and transphobic clauses that it required all students to sign before returning to school. The public outrage was intense, and the contract was eventually withdrawn, but the spotlight on this issue revealed some shocking truths about this school and the church that runs it. Tim was one of the first people to bring this unfolding scandal to the attention of the national media via his Instagram account, but no-one was more vocal about the issue than comedian Christian Hull, who took a break from screaming obscenities into his merchandise and dressing up in funny wigs on social media to help draw attention to the outrageous and ultimately illegal acts this school was trying to carry out. For this very special episode, Christian joins Tim & Lauren to chat about the drama of the past week in what is part podcast and part therapy session. You will not believe the truth about what's been going on at this school.....
What is this, "Men Behaving Badly" week? Andrew O'Keefe is once again facing assault charges, Scomo used Grace Tame as an unwilling prop in his photo op, and Grace was not pleased, and nor were half the male commentators in the country who all felt Grace could have been nicer. We say "Sit down!". Spotify is in a spot of bother after doctors called out Joe Rogan's show for spreading Covid misinformation, and now music legends like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell are pulling their music from the site. And a Christian school in Brisbane is causing a stir after announcing all students were required to sign a contract stating they understood if they were gay or transgender they could be expelled. We're fuming, and if you are too, sign the petition at https://bit.ly/3s5z3y3 and on with the show!
This week, we're saying farewell to rock legend Meatloaf, as well as to Adele's Las Vegas show which closed before it even opened, a bit like Western Australia. Scomo had a brain fart and suggested letting kids drive forklifts would be an excellent idea, before realising it would actually be the worst idea ever. Tim shares some shocking statistics about the rise in domestic violence against children, Lauren shares her thoughts on Australia Day which some find controversial, and then conversation turns to what's happening with America's crumbling democracy and what Putin is up to with his plans to invade Ukraine. Are we on the brink of World War 3? Listen and find out, friends!
Lauren and Tim are back for the new year, mostly because the news was becoming so enraging that they just had to get back on the podcast to rant about it. It's been a week of double standards with Hillsong flouting the rules in NSW and getting away with it, Boris Johnson and his team holding illegal parties during lockdown and getting away with it and tennis supporters calling for special treatment for Novac Djokovic to play in the Australian Open even though he's not vaccinated. As you can imagine, Tim & Lauren are fuming and don't mind telling you all about it. Oh and just to keep things interesting, Scomo forgot to order any rapid tests for us so we could find out if we have Covid in the midst of the worst outbreak in the whole pandemic, but he did remember to order billions of dollars worth of tanks from the Americans, so that's comforting. 2022 is off to a cracking start, isn't it!
It's the last day of 2021 and Tim & Lauren are (for once) in the same state, in the same city and in the same house, so it seemed only fitting that they take the opportunity to speak into the same microphone for once (and possibly share a bit of Omicron, who knows!). All the best and worst bits of 2021 are here, lovingly regurgitated as the year that was supposed to be better than 2021 but turned out to be its evil twin sister but ten times worse comes to a close. Happy New Year to you all, thanks for listening, and see you in 2022!
It's almost the end of the year and Tim & Lauren are hysterical. They're literally losing it. Anyone else feel like this? This is the last episode before a few weeks break, and Tim & Lauren spend most of the episode giggling their way through the news. There's a bit of Gladys returning for but a moment to tell us all she's off again, Boris Johnson is in a spot of bother, there was a tornado in Kentucky, the Queensland borders are opening, and Carrie Bradshaw is back on our screens and Tim & Lauren are at odds about it. This is all at once the best and silliest episode this year - if you need a laugh, then wrap your ears around this! PS: Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for listening!
The Jenkins report into behaviour in parliament dropped this week and to say it was a doozy would be understatement of the year. Turns out it's even worse for women in parliament than anybody imagined, and the report outlines some pretty shocking stats. In the wake of the report, a bunch of problematic MP's fell on the swords, and other MP's gave us all pretty spectacular demonstrations of just how bad their behaviour can be. Across the sea, things are looking pretty grim for abortion laws in the United States, with the Supreme Court looking set to overturn long standing laws that protects womens' right to choose what happens to their bodies. The whole sorry tale culminates in one of Lauren's best rants yet. Seriously, it's ten out of ten. You won't be disappointed.
Season Three of Covid has premiered and it's called Omicron and apparently it's a shocker, so we'll wait to see how that one plays out. Jacqui Lambie became everyone's favourite politician with the rant to end all rants in parliament this week, meanwhile parliament just about fell apart with a new speaker who was finding his feet while members of parliament were crossing the floor left right and centre to vote with their opposition. All the chaos leads Lauren and Tim to debate who should be the next Prime Minister, when the election might be held (Lauren has a new prediction!) and if there even is anyone really worth voting for. We may be a day late this week (sorry - tech problems) but we promise, this episode is worth the wait!
It's been a few weeks since we've talked about what's been going down in America, and so much has been going down of late, we thought it was time for an update. Biden's been passing some big and historic bills into law (despite next to no support from the Republicans), while Congress has indicted Trump aide Steven Bannon for refusing to comply with a subpoena to testify about his involvement in the January 6 Insurrection. Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of homicide for murdering two people, and while Democrats bemoaned the miscarriage of justice, Republicans offered Kyle jobs in Washington. Democrats held Republicans to account for the release of a graphic video depicting a Republican lawmaker murdering fellow lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and here in Australia, protests against vaccine mandates spilled over into death threats and acts of intimidation against members of parliament, and Lauren & Tim unpack the perils of what happens when we descend into violence politics. Take a deep breath, there's a lot to take in this week. Here we go!
There was some more good news this week, with Britney Spears finally being freed from her conservatorship after 13 long years, and Lauren and Tim share some tips on how we can all help Britney now she is free. Tim wraps up what went down in the final hours of the Glasgow Climate Summit, and what was actually achieved after all that talking. In other news, Scomo lied about lying this week, so of course Tim & Lauren have had it up to here with him and make some predictions about when the next election will be called (join our game and write your predictions in the comments section of our Instagram page - @whatintheworldisgoinon_podcast - you won't win anything but if your prediction turns out to be right, think how smug you will feel). And Lauren goes on a spectacular rant about vaccine mandates being linked to Communism, so spectacular that we can't even describe it you'll just have to go listen for yourself!
It's the 10th episode of this podcast this week, and Tim & Lauren are just as shocked as you are that they made it this far. (Thanks everyone for listening!). That's not the only thing worth celebrating this week though - we're also happy about the safe return of little Cleo Smith! We're not so happy about Channel 7's disastrous handling of the situation though, Lauren distracted herself with the news that her arch nemesis and local MP Tim Smith has driven himself out of a job after driving into someone's house, as you do. Tim's got a truly hilarious, but also terrifying, tale to tell of something unbelievable that QAnon followers got up to in Texas last week (seriously, you have to hear this story). And of course, the world has become all too aware that Scott Morrison is a serial liar and it's damaged his - and our country's - international reputation enormously. Plenty to unpack this week!
Tim's feeling sad about the passing of legendary entertainer Bert Newton, at the same time as feeling mad that Mark Zuckerberg is still trying to take over (and ruin) the world. Lauren's not sure what to think about the new pandemic laws in Victoria, but is well impressed with Penny Wong's take down of the mishandling of the submarine fiasco that screwed the French AND the Americans over. There's discussion of the new and suspicious voter ID laws the LNP has rushed through (we smell an election), and Scomo's secret deal with Barnaby Joyce and the Nationals to get their approval for his totally hollow announcement about net-zero by 2050. The news is like a firehose lately. Brace yourself!
Clive Palmer dropped a news bomb on us this week, and Tim & Lauren are literally shell shocked. Plus, Barnaby Joyce & the Nationals are holding all out futures in their hands as they try to figure out whether they're on board with net zero by 2050 or not. Tim breaks down what net zero even is (just in case you've been wondering) before the conversation turns to the explosive showdown in parliament this week when the federal government blocked an investigation into Christian Porter and his secret million dollar donors. It's been a big week - strap in, dear listeners!
This week, Tim & Lauren herald the arrival of the new NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, and unpack some of the truly outlandish causes he backs and shocking statements he has made in the past. Plus, Facebook went dark for 6 hours last week, and the world got the low down on just how dreadful Mark Zuckerberg actually is. And Tim unpacks the US Senate Judiciary Committee's findings about just how many unbelievable things Trump did to try and overturn the 2020 election, and gives a stark warning that Trump is plotting a return that could trigger the end of American democracy.
Gladys Berejiklian resigned as the New South Wales Premier last week after it was announced she was the subject of an anti-corruption investigation. It may seem like a sudden departure, but it's actually been a long time coming, and this week Tim & Lauren unpack the sorry and sordid saga that led to the downfall of one of Australia's most powerful politicians. Plus, they also debate the merits of Jessica Rowe's recent scandalous interview with Pauline Hansen, and don't seem to be able to see eye to eye!
It was a tough time in Melbourne last week, first with the riots and then the earthquake (which hit when Lauren was in a very compromising position). If that wasn't enough, the French cracked it when Scomo dumped them via text, and now it feels like half the world hates Australia (except America, who seem to love us times ten - pity about the state of their democracy, though!). It's not all bad though - Josh Frydenberg finally believes in climate change! Welcome to reality, Josh, it's good to have you here!
Just when you thought the biggest story in the news this week would be Christian Porter's legal bills being paid for by a mysterious million dollar donor, along comes Scomo with a new fleet of submarines that make the French & the Chinese mad and cause Joe Biden to forget his name. It's been a time! Plus, there's been more lockdown protests, and in the midst of it all, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a big splash at the Met Gala! Get amongst it, people!
Lauren is in shock this week after agreeing with Ray Hadley for the first time ever. She thinks Guy Sebastian needs to get off the fence, while Tim just thinks the Senate Media Enquiry to be a little bit more snappy. Gladys has had it with daily briefings, Scomo has had it with leading by example, and Tim & Lauren have had it with the both of them. There's some good news about Texas though, so it's not all bad!