The Talking Sense Podcast

The ANC won just under 31% in the local elections, its worst result ever, down from 46% in 2021 and 40% in last year's national election. The Talking Sense panel asks what comes next. Marius Roodt sets out the two coalitions that could cover the country: the ANC with the DA, or the ANC with its offshoots, the MKP and the EFF. Mark Oppenheimer explains the confidence-and-supply option, where the ANC lets the DA run the cities without joining it. James Myburgh says voters are rejecting the ANC's patronage politics.The panel also looks at the DA's gains in uMngeni and Emfuleni, why municipalities such as Mangaung are far too big to run, how the ANC ended up with almost no proportional seats in Gauteng, and ActionSA's talks with the ANC, the MKP and the EFF. Then: should Ramaphosa resign?Before the show, Mark Oppenheimer on the alumni call for UCT's council chair to step down and why convocation matters. In the second half, Simon Lincoln Reader on why so many young men turn to the online manosphere.On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Marius Roodt, Mark Oppenheimer, James Myburgh and Simon Lincoln Reader.Become a member for all the facts and analysis (R99/month): https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p3HjznVtOMUChapters:0:00 Pre-show: Tatjana Smith and Swimming South Africa1:56 UCT: the call for the council chair to go7:15 UCT Renewal and the convocation vote10:30 Welcome to Talking Sense11:53 The election: the ANC falls below 31%15:49 Voters reject patronage politics19:21 The DA's gains in uMngeni and Emfuleni22:59 The small parties take their bite24:49 Coalitions: ANC and DA, or the ANC's offshoots?28:49 Confidence and supply33:25 Municipalities that are far too big37:30 Can the ANC choose a partner?40:59 All-ward councils and the regional ballot44:31 Overhang seats47:22 Reform or patronage51:52 ActionSA's choice57:53 The case for ActionSA's strategy1:04:55 If Ramaphosa resigned1:06:05 Should Ramaphosa resign?1:12:12 Why young men follow online influencers1:27:59 The manosphere1:34:58 Consent and the criminal law1:38:50 Wrap-upFollow the show so you don't miss next week's panel.

The ANC is heading for about 32% in the local government elections, down from 62% in 2011. Frans Cronje explains where its voters went: not to the DA, which has held steady at around 26%, but to MK, the EFF and ActionSA. In Johannesburg the ANC is projected under 20%, and in Tshwane it sits third behind the DA and ActionSA. For the first time, the ANC, MK and EFF together fall short of 50%. The panel asks whether the DA should do a deal with the ANC, or whether the DA and ActionSA can put their feud aside long enough to run Gauteng's metros.Richard Tren on the US midterms: a Republican wipeout bigger than the polls predicted, James Talarico's win over Ken Paxton in Texas, Susan Collins's defeat in Maine, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and Alaska's two Dan Sullivans. Why the Republicans lost, JD Vance's verdict, and what the Democrats do next. Simon Lincoln Reader on Britain's budget and the Caribbean's $33 trillion demand for slavery reparations, and the panel on the West Africa Squadron, the Royal Navy patrol that freed some 150,000 people from slave ships.Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeWatch or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3BPffxR8ZZLUByFmsRCz7BOn the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren.Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: deadlock everywhere7:35 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel9:05 The US midterms: a Republican wipeout14:21 Alaska's two Dan Sullivans18:09 Why the Republicans lost23:21 The ballot measures went conservative26:25 JD Vance's verdict and the race for 202830:47 Good ideas taken too far: borders, tariffs and Iran37:53 What the Democrats do next44:46 The end of MAGA and the race to the centre47:18 South Africa: the ANC at 32%, halved since 201153:28 The liberation movements fall below 50%56:05 Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Gqeberha and East London1:00:53 The polls got it right1:02:54 ActionSA in the townships1:05:24 Limpopo and the Free State1:08:55 MK, the PA and ActionSA win councils1:10:50 Should the DA do a deal with the ANC?1:17:36 The DA and ActionSA: an open goal in Gauteng?1:23:18 Britain's budget: managed decline1:27:54 The $33 trillion reparations bill1:34:21 The sins of the fathers1:36:09 The West Africa Squadron1:44:19 History without nuance1:49:26 Wrap-up

The new SRF and Common Sense poll puts the ANC at 31% to 33% nationally, its lowest yet. Gabriel Makin reads the results. The DA leads in Johannesburg on 36% to 38% and in Tshwane on 31% to 35%, where its support has fallen since July. MK leads in eThekwini on 42% to 43%, with the ANC third on 12% to 13%. Voters are split on whether a BEE compliant newcomer should build a new school, but 79% say the best company should get the job.James Myburgh explains why the ANC calls it disinformation when Mark Oppenheimer and AfriForum quote the ANC's own words on expropriation in Washington. Simon Lincoln Reader on Wes Streeting, the web outage that took down 32 UK government websites, and Streeting's warning that Britain has 1,000 days to war. Richard Tren on the US midterms a week out, Vivek Ramaswamy's race for governor of Ohio, and Barack Obama's speech for the Democrats. James reviews Roelf Meyer's memoir and what it leaves out about the 1992 referendum.Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeRead the articles discussed:LGE 2026: Latest Polling: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/lge-2026-latest-pollingFewer Than a Third of South Africans Support the ANC: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/fewer-than-a-third-of-south-africans-support-the-ancDA Leads in Jo'burg, But Likely Short of a Majority: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/da-leads-in-jo-burg-but-likely-short-of-a-majorityTshwane Remains on the Brink in Latest Polling: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/tshwane-remains-on-the-brink-in-latest-pollingMKP Dominates in eThekwini, ANC Support Craters: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/mkp-dominates-in-ethekwini-anc-support-cratersFarmer Shot, Tortured, Even as Legacy Media Continues to Deny Farm Attack Crisis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/farmer-shot-tortured-even-as-legacy-media-continues-denyNetanyahu Leads Israel Vote but Falls Short of Majority: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/netanyahu-leads-israel-vote-falls-short-majorityDispatch from Washington: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/dispatch-washingtonOn the panel: host Gabriel Makin, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren.Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Israel's election and the farm attack coverage4:46 Gabriel's retraction: Jackdaw, Rosebank and North Sea oil9:45 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel11:12 The new SRF poll: national results12:38 Johannesburg: the DA leads, short of a majority13:11 Tshwane: the DA slips as ActionSA rises13:38 eThekwini: MK takes Durban17:07 Can the non-liberation parties govern Joburg and Tshwane?20:48 Would an ANC and DA deal end the coalition chaos?24:27 Voters back the state in theory, not in practice26:21 BEE and the new school: what voters really want29:55 James Myburgh on the citizenship fight and 'disinformation'37:43 Who is Wes Streeting, Britain's Defence Secretary?43:23 The web outage that took down 32 government websites47:41 '1,000 days to war'51:41 Britain's military, Hegseth and DEI56:37 A week out from the US midterms57:19 Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio advert1:02:56 Newsom caught on camera1:05:41 Obama's speech for the Democrats1:09:29 The Democrats' November surprise1:16:07 James Myburgh on Roelf Meyer's memoir1:19:50 The 1992 referendum and de Klerk's promises1:24:41 What the panel makes of Meyer1:32:29 Wrap-up

UCT's Council is deciding whether to remove advocate Mark Oppenheimer over a podcast he recorded with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Mark explains the Navsa report, the R200 million the Donald Gordon Foundation withdrew over the university's Israel boycott, and why 300 Jewish students chose Stellenbosch over UCT this year.Frans Cronje reads the medium-term budget, released an hour before recording. Debt is revised down to 78.4% of GDP and the deficit to 3.9%. But spending rises to 33.4% of GDP and revenue to 29.5%. "It looks good. It's very bad."Simon Lincoln Reader explains the riots in France and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's part in them. Richard Tren is angry about Trump allowing Russian diesel imports, and explains why median household incomes in America are rising while young people's real wages are flat. Mark on Supra Mahumapelo's threat to strip his citizenship and why Parliament backed down. Frans closes on new polling: 80% of South Africans back AfriForum and March and March working together.Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month: thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeRead the articles discussed:US Ambassador Says South Africa Can Be as Successful as AmericaUCT Should Reject the Punishment of DissentWhy South Africans Loathe News24 and What to Do About ItThe Madness of King Zack (and his Greens)Dispatch from Washington (Russian diesel)Expect a Very Good Mini-Budget Next WeekFree Speech Union Demands Mahumapelo Drop Citizenship ThreatSouth Africans Back Cooperation Between AfriForum and March and MarchVoters Want ANC and DA to Work Together in MunicipalitiesOn the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, Mark Oppenheimer, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren.Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas and the Harvard case8:03 Mark on the Johannesburg Bar's race quotas9:29 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel11:09 Mark Oppenheimer on the UCT Council and the move to remove him17:56 Is UCT leading the woke takeover of universities?21:13 What the Israel boycott has cost UCT25:02 Why Wits and Stellenbosch kept their sanity28:07 Simon on Ayaan Hirsi Ali31:47 France on fire: debt, the education budget and Mélenchon39:48 What the riots mean for Europe42:37 Would Marine Le Pen fix France?49:36 Trump allows Russian diesel imports55:47 Frans: should Ukraine settle on territory?1:03:14 US incomes are rising, young Americans' wages are flat1:08:39 The mini-budget: 'It looks good. It's very bad.'1:12:44 Mark: South Africa needs Milei-style reforms1:18:23 Lamola, Mahumapelo and the threat to Mark's citizenship1:25:51 Why deny the expropriation policy exists?1:31:30 Frans's plan for black and white farming partnerships1:34:20 Has the ANC stripped anyone's citizenship before?1:36:59 South Africa's greatest strength: AfriForum and March and March1:41:02 Wrap-up

Ryan Coetzee answered Marco Rubio's speech at the Acropolis by calling the tradition Rubio defended "the wrong one" that must be defeated. Simon Lincoln Reader takes him apart, and Frans Cronje argues the DA now has to let Coetzee go if it wants to repair South Africa's relationship with the United States. Bheki Mahlobo then makes the case that Jacob Zuma's death would not see the MK Party wither, because of how seriously most South Africans treat death and because Duduzane Zuma is a capable successor.Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeRead the articles discussed:The Impossible Economics of Domestic WorkLamola's Ill-Considered Jaunt to the USWhy a $100 Oil Price is Manageable for the Global EconomyThe Global Economy Keeps Defying the Wars, Tariffs, and PessimistsSouth Africa Less Politically Polarised Than Most Other CountriesTaking the MKP SeriouslyThe Amazing Story of the Fall and Rise of South Africa's Government Debt LevelThe Common Sense's DiaryOn the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, Bheki Mahlobo, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren.Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Cape Town, a fighter jet and the new White House press secretary3:45 Frans's friend who bought an oil rig, and Simon on Dallas's boom11:27 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel13:02 Who is Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, and why are the elites blaming her?18:25 Simon on News24's 'huge story' about her husband's tenders20:26 Marco Rubio's speech at the Acropolis: why it mattered25:39 Richard Tren and Frans: Rubio, Vance and the Republican centre ground28:57 Bheki Mahlobo on Rubio, risk-taking and why the West demonises winners30:25 Was Rubio's speech a warning to Europe?32:22 Ryan Coetzee calls Rubio's tradition 'the wrong one': Simon replies36:43 Frans Cronje: Coetzee's remarks are 'fatally bad' for the DA and America42:05 Kimberly Guilfoyle, 'Fancy James' and the end of an ambassadorship49:13 Ilhan Omar: the federal raid and the immigration questions56:00 Diplomats behaving badly: the US ambassador to Nepal59:45 Is Trump baiting the Democrats into defending Ilhan Omar?1:01:26 The IMF's global outlook: why the bullish call held up1:07:17 Where South Africa fits: growth cut to 1% and investment below 15%1:10:06 V-Dem study: South Africa is less polarised than most democracies1:16:16 Death: would Jacob Zuma's passing sink the MK Party?1:21:03 How death is honoured in Black South African culture, and the Buthelezi poll1:25:25 Western elites, Charlie Kirk and celebrating a political opponent's death1:30:42 Taxes: why Frans expects the mini-budget to surprise the markets1:35:52 The Laffer curve in practice: Thomas Sowell on 1920s America1:37:29 Could a strong mini-budget set up a credit upgrade?1:42:07 Bheki's forecasting record and Schlemmer's block of marble1:43:44 Wrap-up