War Escalates, Chappell Roan v 11-Year-Old & Bachelorette Pulled

Production.

Hi, I'm Hannah. And I'm Sarah. And this is Big Smalltalk. This is the podcast where we try to cover the entirety of the news cycle, from the serious to the frivolous, all in one place. Because loving pop culture doesn't mean you don't understand politics. And today we're gonna be talking about

Iran, Chapel Rowan vs. a baby, Taylor Frankie Paul, and the One Nation surge at the SA election. But before we begin today's episode, we would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we're recording today, the Gadigor people. And pay our respect to Elders past and present. Before we get into the news headlines.

Welcome back. Oh, thanks Queen. It's nice to be back. How was it? Oh, it was delightful. I had a really nice few days at the end in France with a couple of my close friends from uni. I flew back crazy flight, did like the sixth longest flight in the world. Yeah,'cause you did Perth, right? Yeah, Paris to Perth direct. And that was intense. Yeah. Um, but you know what? We did it. Bucket list item, no twelve. Pretty freaking insane though. How did your team so

Context, I think people already do know, but you went to Oxford to do a debate. To do a debate and thrashed. Thrashed? 144 to 32 thrashed. To the point that I'm like, How bad was this other team? I will upload the video when it's available. It's not on YouTube for the thing for another week and a half or so, but basically it's

Arguing for a public model of social media is hard when you look at the current state of the world and the governments that are running it. It's very difficult to say international law or domestic like public models where governments run these platforms or have independent bodies would actually work when there's

this complete breakdown in in Trump land essentially. So it was very easy from my perspective to argue, but I spoke about like a Shelly social media ban, I spoke about like our experiences online, like as a digital media platform and how it allows us to talk about different things. Um, that the legacy media doesn't. So, like there was a very clear argument and yeah, thrashed. I was first speaker, really happy. Yeah, how did you get to decide to be first speaker?

I didn't know if I did have any input, so I just emailed and said I'd like to be first speaker of the opposition. I'm just putting it out there and I got it. So that was really good. That's so cool. Yeah, but I'm really happy to be back too. I'm really happy to be home. And you know what? The news never lets up. So No, it does not. It does not. But did you like Oxford? I Loved it.

it. Like I give it like a storybook. I know. It's like Harry Potter. I thought I was going to go there and find it a bit elitist. Like I was I was frightened that I was going to be a bit out of my depth. So I was a bit nervous to go alone. But I actually had the best day with a group of Australians who contacted me and said, like, we'd love to take you around. We'd love to have like a roundtable about Australian politics with you during the day.

So I spent like six hours during the day just m sitting with Australians who are mostly post-grad students who had had careers already and were just kind of going over their own scholarships. who were just such normal people. Like we'd absolutely have pub lunch when they came back to Sydney. So I had a r I met just lots of people and I had a really nice time. Oh, it's this beautiful place. It was really fulfilling and it was the first time in my life I'd thought about studying again.

Really I I'm really I never wanna I was when I was done, I was done. But I went there and I went, oh, it'd be amazing. To be fair though, I think like Cambridge or Oxford, like that would pull you. And again, I could not afford to go, but if I got a scholarship or something, I was like, oh, that'd be something, wouldn't it? It would r it really inspired me actually. Anyway, what's your personal handline of the week? My personal headline of the week is

It's not really that exciting. Please. I think it's just been doing a lot of work recently. Well I mean I I you said w and I went, No, no, no, no, no. You have been working so much recently. Well, it's um I can't even say what it is yet. But um ooh, but yeah, no, part of being listener now was ha the ability to have a little bit more support so that I'm able to do

big small talk, but also take on another project for like two days a week. But it's all systems go at the moment. So it's exciting. And then obviously prepping for the live show. Oh actually I know. I went to the Katarina Lou pop up in on Friday night. On Friday night. Yep. And um I I did joke about it, but like

Shout out to the to the angel girls that came up and said hi to me there. I felt like a celebrity at Katarina Loo. That's really nice. That's our safe place, Katarina Loo. Apart from that, big week. It's a big week.

The war in the Middle East is deepening with new strikes, global shipping chaos, conspiracy theories, and fresh political fallout in Washington, DC. Let's start with the latest updates on Iran, Lebanon, Israel, retaliatory strike.

And the Strait of Hamous. And just to refresh, sorry, this escalation by the US and Israel really started on the twenty eighth of February. So we're almost kind of a month into this now. This has dominated every single conversation I've been a part of for the last couple of weeks now.

But it's so interesting to me how many people like, wow, I really thought this would be over by now. And I was like, I didn't know. And I think we expect that because a lot of Donald Trump's movements are strongman moves. that last a week or two because then other economic pressures clearly

push him in directions. And so we thought I think we he'd back down because his his kind of thing is to go hot and heavy immediately and then back off. And he's not doing it. But actually there's some interesting updates today, as of this morning, that I want to talk through as well. But the Strait of Humuz is crucial here. So Iran has control of this transportation route, and the Strait actually controls about 20% of the global oil supply.

So Iran are currently approving who passes through. And that means they're blocking any ships that are linked to the US and Israel. What does this mean? Prices are up. This throws the global supply chain into absolute disorder. It's like a war on race or something. It is. It is. And Iran has also responded to attacks on its energy infrastructure by targeting Gulf assets. So a missile strike hit Qatar's LNG terminals, and that's one of the world's largest.

Think of an LNG terminal kind of like a refrigerated border crossing. And this is where natural gas is frozen into liquid to be shipped overseas or fored back into gas once it arrives. So last Wednesday, Israel attacked Iran's South Pars Gasfield, and that resulted in serious retaliatory attacks.

Then on Saturday night local time, Trump basically gave forty eight hours notice. This is an ultimatum that he said if Iran didn't open the Strait of Hammuz, he would obliterate, that was language he used, their power plant. But you've probably seen as you've woken up on Tuesday morning in local time in Australia, news statements from President Trump where he claimed that he has postponed strikes on Iran's energy systems after productive tour.

Iran says those talks have not happened. So there was- It's so interesting because it's all just a big Ego play. to be able to say Yeah, no, we've had talks and not the fact that we know if we do that we will escalate this beyond repair. Yeah, absolutely. And You know, in the ABC's coverage from just a couple of hours ago, I read that Iran's foreign ministry received requests from what they described as like friendly nations that the US did want to talk, but that those talks had not happened.

So Trump has been like, Great chats, I've postponed my threat by five days and then Iran's saying, What the fuck are you like, no, that's not true. But basically it's proving that Trump is hollow and he's just claiming things because he knows he can't take further action essentially. to come to the table and have some sort of talks and negotiations with this new Supreme Leader. Who is even more intense? Yes.

But I also want to play a grab because you've brought up something really crucial here about what Trump said. So again, one of my favorite people, I highly recommend everyone go and follow her personal account, Caitlin Collins. Again, she's like a woman in her early 30s. She is CNN's chief White House correspondent. And she questioned Trump just hours ago on the straight and his statements.

Who's gonna be in control of it? That it'll be opened uh very soon if this works. How soon? And who's in control of it? Will Oran still be able to control the flow of oil? Uh be uh jointly controlled. By whom? Maybe me. Maybe me. Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is, whoever the next Ayatollah look. And there'll also be a form of a a very serious form of a re regime change. Now in all fairness, everybody's been killed from the

regime. They're really starting off. There's automatically a regime change. But we're dealing with some people that I find to be very reasonable, very solid. Uh s the people within know who they are, they're very respected.

And maybe one of them will be exactly what we're looking for. But if you've obliterated their nuclear sites last summer with your strikes, then how can you argue it was an imminent threat now? Oh we hit them so hard we obliterated them but obliterated them. But that does That doesn't mean with the right equipment you can't dig down and go get it. Can I just take a moment actually? How good is Caitlin Collins? Like this in a Pack of reporters, you know, on the ground.

She nails that questioning so easily in a clip under two minutes. Yeah. Like as a young woman, I just wanna note that this is an impossible situation and she is in there relentlessly asking five important questions. He's also an impossible guy to interview because his responses are meant to confuse you. Oh, and he sounds like seven year old.

And it again there's nothing to laugh at here, but it's like listening to him, it puts So much fear in me, but it's also just continuously ludicrous, right? Like this is absolutely absurd. Now we need to go through some numbers here. At least fourteen hundred Iranians have been killed, almost twenty thousand injured, but again We haven't had official figures from their health ministry in more than a week now.

So these estimates could be vastly under the reality. In Lebanon, more than a thousand people have been killed. In Israel, the death toll sits at eighteen, with more than four thousand injured.

What does this mean for Australia though? Th I think this is one of the most necessary parts of this conversation we need to have right now because I know we were talking before we started recording about how I don't think I've had a conversation with anyone in the last few days that hasn't circled around petrol prices in Australia. Um resource access. Like there's just a lot of fear right now as to what the next month, three months, six months looks like.

Treasure Jim Chalmers has said that a prolonged war in the Middle East could wipe sixteen and a half billion dollars from the Australian economy by twenty twenty seven. And treasury modeling suggests GDP growth could fall by about 0.6%. And that means also the cost of living could seriously be raised as well. Inflation is set to spike. Oil prices could hit around US$120 a barrel. And again, I I hate this language. Chalmers says that could slug motorists.

It's this constant kind of language that just refuses to engage in what's actually happening, which is like absurd prices that limit travel, that limit our ability to work, that limit our ability to afford the everyday cost of living. So slugging motorists, it's a bit more severe than that. That's an underestimation.

What I saw on the weekend was 98 unleaded costing$2.90 a liter in Sydney. And again, I'm sure this is what many of our families are speaking about when we're talking about travel, when we're talking about Easter travel, when we're talking about, you know, how we can access work, when we're talking about public transportation costs. We're talking about work from home policies. Like what does this actually look like? I know. Well, there was a lot of talk around

they enforce work from home days to try and cut back on fuel. And I also know that the Greens leader, Larissa Waters, has come forward and called on the government to make sure that public transportation is free. And that it's more accessible during these times because people are going to have to rely more heavily on our public transport methods. I also think this is interesting because at the back of this conversation I've seen a lot of people discussing our resources in Australia and how

we use them or don't use them. Yeah. And how Australia is a really resource rich country. It's a bit of a complicated one though, because We do have a lot of resources here. Yes. But we're not benefiting from that currently. No. And I wanna talk about some of the proposed measures that could be put in place now. One of the leading ones that is absolutely at the forefront of the conversation right now.

Is David Pocock's been leading the charge on an Australian Council of Trade Unions policy that would put a 25% tax on gas exports? Now, essentially. We export eighty percent of our gas here in Australia. And what this policy argues for is that for every thousand dollars of gas exported, our country would earn two hundred and fifty dollars in tax, basically.

Now, a lot of people, which is misinformation, say, oh, that would raise the price of gas for Australians. But actually, no, it would incentivize gas companies to keep more gas here, which would make us which would give us a more competitive market.

Which would bec which would essentially lower gas prices because they're incentivized to keep more onshore, which means that we would enjoy more of the benefits of our own resources. But also that we would then earn money on the revenue created from those exports.

So an Australia Institute has reported that that modelling could look like$17 billion in revenue. Yeah. Like imagine what that money could be used for. It's really interesting though, because a lot of people will say this is like a a party issue. Yeah. Like liberal versus Labour. But it's actually cross-party. It's cross-party. party because even if the Liberal Party was in right now they're not gonna wanna piss off.

the gas and coal companies. No. And actually, weirdly, there were interesting politicians from the Liberal Party before the election last year that were more progressive than Labour on this issue. But what we need to remember here is that this is a policy that's supported by Clive Palmer's party. It's actually I did a reel on this yesterday for cheat.

But one nation voters and Greens voters are the most likely to support this policy, which is a fascinating convergence of ideology. But like I think it speaks to the fact that we need to stop thinking about ideology and start thinking about practical solutions for the everyday Australian. And David Pocock's been great on this, but look at the research that the Australia Institute's been publishing on it. It's incredible.

Another measure that I really want to talk about today that independent MP Allegra Spender has proposed is a 50% windfall tax, which is different to the gas export tax, and I'm gonna explain why. So what Allegra spender is calling for? is an urgent windfall tax on gas and oil companies. Who will earn massive profits off the back of this war? So she's saying that there are companies out there, but that because of this straight being closed,

will be able to kind of earn a lot more money off the back of a war because there's such a scarcity right now. And she's saying no one should benefit or be rewarded from this situation. So she's calling for a 50% tax only on those extraordinary profits. So it's not on all the profits, it's on what is earned above normal, essentially. Yeah. Which is a really practical solution that she's calling on the treasurer to implement. So I think when we're talking about this.

And I I find it interesting because a lot of people who we would describe as right wing or on the other side of politics are now suddenly saying, This must end, blah, blah, blah. And we're saying, We've been calling for this. We didn't want it to start. But I think a lot of people go into bat for you know, Trump and his decisions and then only change their minds once it

negatively impacts their economic perspectives, basically. It's another it's another can of worms, but it is so interesting to see people that were pretty non vocal about this whole situation to do with the US and Trump being like, well, why do you care so much about US politics, etc., etc., etc. This is why. This is why. And I d like no one wants to be able to be like it's

It's what I thought it would be, but like this is global politics. But it's i again, it's that thing of when we start talking about the humanitarian element of this, people kind of go, Oh, you know, it's complicated and I don't want to get involved. And it's only when it's their petrol prices on the daily That they feel like compelled to step in. And I just want to say, like, whatever it takes to have the conversation is important. Like, let's be pragmatic about how we converse with people.

and how we get people engaged and interested in speaking up. It is really scary at the moment. Like if this continues to go the way it is, people will struggle to put food on the table. Yeah. People will struggle to get to work. Like the knock on effects are massive. But I think it's also really important to take this moment to say Our leader was the first first world leader to go in and say Thumbs up to Donald Trump.

And now will the Labour Party step up and implement policy immediately that s protects Australians from what's about to happen is really the question. Now Energy Minister Chris Bowen has said that the government's currently working on an agreement with Singapore to ensure that we do have a fuel supply that continues and we have shared energy resources.

Um, he said we're far away from fuel rationing. Again, looking at the price of fuel now, looking at the fact that yesterday I think it was reported in The Guardian I read that, you know, hundreds of petrol stations around the country are running out of diesel and fuel. I don't think we're that far away. Um I don't know if that's fearmongering, but like this

the facts are the facts right now. The reporting is indicating that we are in a really tough situation. Also, can we talk about the counterterrorism director who has now resigned? Absolutely. I'm so glad you bring this up because there was this significant political resignation last week. Now Joe Kent

Is the director of the National Counter-terrorism center. And he stepped down last week. He was the highest-ranking official to resign over this war. In his letter, he said he could not in good conscience support the conflict, and he argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US.

He also suggested that the war had been driven by pressure from Israel and its allies. Again, exactly what we've been saying, but from a really, really senior person. And I think, you know Trump responded by saying that Kent was weak on security

And he said that, you know, he doesn't want those people like Kent to be in those positions. Classic response. The only other thing I wanted to mention at this story, again, we're going to be continuously updating you next week, I'm sure, as well, is the conspiracy theory around Benjamin Netanyahu. Did you see this?

that he's died. Yes. That has to be the fourth or fifth time I've seen that. Yeah. Like over the past year. That's true. I feel like this is the most intense kind of conspiracy theory. Now, it initially was claimed because there was this belief of an AI generated double. There was a rumor, uh there was a video that looked like he had six fingers, um, which is often like something that is attributed to like an AI glitch. Now Candace Owen spread this always trusted source on this.

Write twice a day. So Candace Owens is like the least believable person of all time. Doesn't mean she's never said anything that's correct, but I need to start linking. I have come across so many good think pieces recently and one that I read that really fascinated me was about what Megan Kelly has to do if she's gonna try and keep up and compete with Candace Owens. That's uh Megan Kelly again

um was a Fox reporter. She if you seen the movie Bombshell, it's actually based on her story. But yeah, she's turned absolutely MAGA right cult like Candace Owens. Yeah. Yes. And I and but like part of the argument was To be able to keep, but will she dip her toes in conspiracy land? Yeah, that's really scary. It's just like the state of the media landscape right now. Actually, can I have another wreck while we're here? Last week we were talking about

Louis Thoreau's Manosphere documentary and how people have been like, He didn't dig deep enough, he didn't give enough context. Anyway, so The fan I am of Louis Thoreau went back and um watched a few other dockos of his, almost just a test to see how m if it was a different style in any of his uh in any of the other ones. It's not, it's exactly the similar extent. But I watched the ultra Zionist one. So he did one in 2011 and what was happening in Palestine and the West Bank.

It is such an interesting watch. And the whole time I was watching it, all I could think was so much of it was so telling of what was to come. I'm gonna go back and watch it this week. That's a really good show. Sorry, I should end that segment by saying that Benjamin Netanyahu, who, you know, fact checkers have confirmed he is alive. The original footage was authentic, and that apparently it was an extra finger as an optical illusion basically caused by lighting and camera angle.

So just want to confirm that because again, I was also tinfoil had on when I saw that video and it's important to just fact check that as well. Do you remember as well when everyone was convinced Trump was dead? Yeah.

That was such a weekend. Oh, you know, I d I have to say, I'm not sure if I said this on the pod at the time, but there was a press conference that he was supposed to give at a like it was four AM Australian time and I woke up because I thought it was an announcement he was gonna be dead. And I woke up just in case and he it was just a space station announcement or some shit.

Chapel Rone versus a baby. Who will win? Wow, an investigation. An investigation. Again, that is a sentence I just never thought I would ever utter. In my life. It's like w it's like Candace Owens and Megan Kelly have to commit for conspiracy theories. We don't. The headlines write themselves. We don't have to do any of that. The truth is scarier at the moment.

I'm sure a lot of people would have seen this story, but I wanna go back before I dive into that. I wanna go back and talk about another recent headline to do with Chapel Roan. And this was on March 10th. And she was out in Paris when she got out of a car and she sort of flipped the cameras on the paparazzi. They had been following her and she was trying to get into a restaurant. I'm just gonna play the footage. Oh my god, as a human.

what it's like. So I'm just trying to go to dinner and I've asked these people several times to get away from me. Step to the side. Step to the side This person I've asked several times to to go away and they will not. They're hiding my face because they're ashamed. Because I've asked them um These are all And you're signing completely disregarding all of my first time to see you, Shabbat. Um this is then go away. So I w all of you, I'm doing kindly to please leave me alone and stop.

Following me in the middle of the video. No, you worry. No, I'm not gonna sign things. So this is what it's like if you're wondering how it is. It's a possible fashion icon. Fashion is an icon right now, shop. She does in the footage she's really having a go at this guy that's standing there with a Sharpie and a poster with her. I do think a lot of like um scalpers and people do that though.

It's hard to tell whether this person is a fan or, but like I I suspect it might be just someone who is trying to get things to sell. Potentially. Yeah. I also had a a feeling he he didn't actually know what was going on. I don't think he knew what she like what she was saying. Oh, yes, of course. The vibe was he was saying lines in English for her. Yeah. She's like, hide your face, you're ashamed. And he goes,

Hi Like I'm genuinely That's tough. You think that might be a yeah. I don't oh I don't know. But I feel like we've dissected this a lot. And I do think tabloid and paparazzi culture is beyond fucked up. It is extremely dangerous. It is so invasive. I can't even imagine what it would be like. Like we have seen celebrities Killed because of it. We've seen mental health deteriorate. Like something had to be done. I couldn't agree more with that. And I think what she is pioneering here.

Is impressive and needed. Frankly, they should listen to her as well. I also will say she is making a difference. Like the way they treat her on red carpets now.

completely different. Yeah. I also think she has like taken it upon herself to make this stance on the behalf of other artists and a culture in general. And I also To be clear, don't think that because you are a talented songwriter, singer, or a talented actress that that means to be able to pursue your passion you don't get boundaries or privacy ever again in your life. You know, that's all putting that out there.

In saying that, I think there has to be a conversation about who this is directed to because I'm worried about lines potentially getting blurred a little bit between like, fair enough, say what you want to say to the paparazzi. Try and be nice to your fans. Yeah. Or at least just tread lightly in that space. Because I do think and I like your fans are the ones that are supporting you. They've given you the luxuries that you have now in life. You have to have that mutual respect at least.

Then this whole debate really came to a head, obviously, when Brazilian footballer Jorginho Frello came out and called out Chapel Roan publicly to his five million followers. I'm just gonna read out what he said. I went through a very upsetting situation with my family earlier today. My wife is in Sao Paulo for the Lollapalooza Festival. This morning my daughter woke up incredibly excited.

She even made a sign because she was so happy to see an artist that she really admires or used to admire, Chapel Roan. By coincidence, they're staying at the same hotel as this artist. During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognized her.

got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her. And the worst part is she didn't even approach her. She simply walked past the s she simply walked past the singer's table, looked to confirm it was her, smiled, and then went back to sit with her mom. She didn't say anything didn't ask for anything, what happened next was completely disproportionate.

A large security guard came over to their table while they were still having breakfast and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner, saying she shouldn't allow my daughter to disrespect or harass other people. Honestly, I don't know at what point simply walking past the table and looking to see if someone there can be considered harassment. He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel while my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears.

My daughter was extremely shaken and cried a lot. I've lived with football, public exposure, and well known people for many years, and I understand very well what respect and boundaries are. What happened there was not that. It was a child admiring someone. It's sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans.

At the end of the day, they are the ones that build all of this. I sincerely hope this serves as a moment of reflection. No one should have to go through this, especially not a child. Chapel Roan, without your fans, you would be nothing. And to the fans she does not deserve your affection.

I think this is interesting given that it's coming from another celebrity. I agree. That's what makes it that's what makes this interesting. Yeah. W well I no, I think I think it no, I think it does because I think if you are someone that has experienced random people approaching you in public places.

Um, and you have boundaries. And yes, it could be to an incredibly decreased level. There's going to be a level of elevated kind of respect and understanding for that perspective because it's shared. He's a Brazilian soccer star. Like that isn't a very intense Fandom. That's what I was like, you got the Brazilians mad. Like when I'm saying this is an intense fandom, have you seen soccer over there? Yeah, true. Fucking religion. Yes. So

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro then quickly banned Chapel Rhone from performing at their annual festival. Oh my god. He posted, I doubt Shakira would do that. By the way, Giorgino. Your little one is already the guest of honour from the organization in May. It's quite severe, isn't it? Yeah. Imagine the mayor being like, Shakira would never You are my guest of honour.

Then Chapel Roan posted this in response. I'm just gonna tell my half of the story of what happened today with a mother and child who were involved with a security guard who was Ma my personal security. I I didn't even see I didn't even see a woman and a child. Like I did not no one came up to me. No one bothered me. Like I was just sitting at breakfast in my hotel. I think these people were staying at the hotel as well. So the fact that like a security guard who was

I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child. I did not they did not come up to me. They weren't doing anything. It's unfair for security to just assume someone doesn't have good intentions when they have no reason to believe because there's no action even taken. Like I do not hate people who are fans of my music.

I do not hate children. Like that is crazy. I am sorry to the mother and child that that someone was assuming something that you would do something and that if you felt uncomfortable that makes me really sad. You did not deserve that. I mean, if the security guard has acted on their own accord that aggressively, that's not your security guard or normal security guard, that sucks. But this is this kind of now just becomes a contest of like

Well, the security guard either way is probably not gonna be able to come forward and give their side of the story as well. Like w there's just gonna be a continued allegation that this is lies from some side. You know? I think it's to I think a lot of people who are already very judgmental of the stance that Chapel Rhone is taking at the moment. Yeah. And so I think it is

It's a whack headline for anyone to read that a security guard has had a go with a child. I feel for her, because also if that is genuinely not true and she did not tell the security guard to do, then she didn't even know that this had happened. It sets her cause back, Valiant Cause. Yeah. Um which I also it's just like sucks all around. There there is an element here where the celebrity status of both parties makes it a more interesting discussion.

But it also means that like a security guard yelling at the child of another celebrity is also going to garner a different reaction. Well, this is what's funny though. They would have had no idea. Like the security guard would have had no idea. This is like how every mother is like, be nice to everyone you meet. You never know.

You never know. Because uh like the mum and child would not be recognizable. They weren't with the soccer player. They weren't with Georgina. Also, she's also the biological daughter. So Georgina's the stepfather. She's the biological daughter of Jude Law.

I was wondering when the fuck Jude Law came into this. Yes. I've seen him in the headlands, and I'm was not across this story. Yeah. But I was like, why does everyone keep mentioning? The hot man from the holiday. So it's um yeah, she's um Ada Law. He has actually, because I then I was confused about it. He has seven kids. I didn't know that. Because I lo Iris Law, his daughter, I love. She is so cool. But there's also like Rafferty and Rudy.

They're his like eldest children. And then he had Ada with Catherine Harding, who's like a singer-songwriter, who's now married to Jorgino. And then he's now with Philip Ocone, but I think they haven't said anything about the two kids. Like we don't know their names or anything else. But So Catherine, the mother Also then posted. What did she say? Well Well okay, I'm just gonna play a little a little snippet. It's a six minute video, we do not need to listen to that, but I'll play a snippet.

lot of who asked me like what actually happened and everything else and I know that Chappelle hasn't has responded saying that it wasn't um that she didn't it wasn't her security and that she didn't do it. So one hundred percent this security guard was Not a security guard of the hotel, that's what I can say. He looks after artists. So I don't know if it was her personal security guard, but he was with her. So that's that is all I know. Do did she send him

to do it. Again, I don't know look, I would like to hope not, but at the same time I think that you have a responsibility when you are a celebrity to to make sure I guess that the people That work for you and that act on your behalf are acting on your behalf. So would he do that if he didn't have her authority to do so? I don't know. If if he does, then obviously that's a that's a big problem because then he's representing her in a way.

In a way that she doesn't want to be represented. I actually think it's a great point. It's a great point, but I also think it's interesting to say I 100% know he wasn't hotel security. Like how how could you know that? Hundreds of the people. Yeah. But I do think that's a point. It's very hard to believe that a security guard who's probably been told like go tell people to leave her alone if people start coming up or look like they're going to come up.

Like that probably was the directive. Maybe the level of aggression. wasn't there. Like obviously we're speculating now, but I do think there was probably an instruction to keep people away and that it's been taken a bit far. Yeah. I I also just think there's just an interesting conversation to be had off the back of this that is like

Are people who just don't like people that much allowed to be famous? Do you know what I mean? Like I love people, right? I love like we both love like every time someone comes up to this street, we're like, Oh, best day ever. No, I know. No concept of what it would be like to like be followed around by paparazzi and things. But also Chapel Roan just seems like an introverted person that doesn't really like to socialise.

And is she allowed to just be like that and succeed? Well, it's not a good idea. She's conducting a live social experiment to either prove or disprove exactly that. But if this affects her career or not. Is like time will tell, but I don't know if it will. It doesn't seem to have Yeah. It's it's also just funny in an industry where, like, as a singer, you could want to be a singer that's recognized for their work and publicly supported and have community.

And not like people because it's not an art form that like is dependent on you wanting to be a people person. So you know what I mean? It's like I think people just assume that if you're a performer, yeah you love people. And obviously there's like a very particular argument about the security guard and a child and it's it's the perfect storm here for a controversy. But I just wonder like, are you just allowed to be like fuck off?

You're not wondering. She has done exactly that. But this is the argument. She's saying to turn the photos on, please and be like, this is what it is like, leave me alone, but again, she's saying the exception is fans who are appropriate, right? But again, I think she still doesn't want to be approached for photos probably at breakfast. Like I g I God knows if I saw Chapel Rowan in the street, I'd be like,

Down. Yeah, look away. Look away. And that's out of love and r like that is because I love her. Yeah. Maybe it's just gonna take a while for the word to get out. Because I'm a fan that would have loved a photo with her, but I now know probably wouldn't love that. Sarah, I fear the words She's really positioned herself this way, you know. It's interesting.

One Nation and Pauline Hansen have had their strongest result in more than twenty-five years at the South Australian state election. How's that happened? Uh you know what? Entirely predictable actually. And I think that you know what, I hate to bring it up at the top of the segment, but waiting for that Farabi election that I've been talking so You know, we actually received quite a few DMs, people being like

Thank you for mentioning. People who live in Farrah are like mentioned No, I had to have a laugh at the top of the segment'cause it's not funny at all really, is it? You know you know the you know the Nancy Pelosi video where she comes on and she goes I would say good morning, but it certainly is not one. Can you can we clip that up? So this far right party has secured so far

Two lower house seats in South Australia's Parliament. Now, the primary vote share for one nation in the South Australian election, the primary vote being the amount of ones that they received on a ballot. It was actually higher than the Liberal Party. So one nation statewide, 22%, compared to the Liberals, 19%. They went even better in regional areas.

One Nation came in first in the primary vote count in the seat of Narunga. Shout out Noranga residents. If you're listening, send this message at big small talk underscore pod. They secured thirty seven percent of the primary vote. Now, if you're in Nurunga and you've just heard your electorate named, you're not gonna be messaging with happy, happy messages based on that. That is a disturbing statistic for one nation.

Now, the ABC reported on Monday that there are at least three other seats that One Nation does stand a a very tangible chance to win. And we know that a lot of the sort of key areas, the key battlegrounds here were between Libs and Labour. Labor ultimately won most metropolitan and suburban seats. And again, they actually even took some additional sort of safe liberal seats away.

But when it comes to the regions, the Libs were also again affected by the rise of one nation. So again, we've just got the Liberal Party just continuously decreasing and not really learning from their mistakes time and time again. Another outcome, it's repeated. They're not learning is clear. I'll say what South Australian Premier Peter Malinowskis has said in his victory speech. It was a very clear win for Labour.

He actually took a sort of considerable angle looking at One Nation's migration rhetoric. And he said during his speech that um when he was speaking with a voter at the polling booths who had arrived in Australia by boat fleeing Vietnam and communism decades ago.

And that this voter, like his own grandparents, they were looking for the same thing an opportunity to live in a peaceful country where he knew he could work hard, provide for his family, put a roof over his head, and then in turn give back. Mount Malinaskis also said, but it sort of struck me as being a clear signal of what patriotism can look like. Now again, I have a lot of criticisms for Peter Malinowskis.

This election was going to be a slam dunk for Labour. There just was no opposition. And what we're really discussing here is the rise of one nation as the only opposition because what concerns me is that the Greens are not growing.

There is a s dis a really important conversation to be having. I know that we talk about Green's policies along the podcast and like I'm a supporter of many of those policies. But there is not hitting something to say for the fact that there's not been an increase that's sin been significant and a tangible change.

But we t we really and what's scaring most people and the messages that are just flooding our DMs, Cheeks DMs, my DMs, all the time at the moment is how do we respond to and talk about the rise of one nation? The polls are all up. We know that Ugov polling, Resolve polling, you know, a national Morgan poll

For the last few months they have been on the rise. And so this result at a state level. Which is what they've achieved in South Australia. Yeah. But I also want to be clear that, you know, you might be listening to this and thinking like Like, how have they not got as many seats when they've got that much of a primary vote? This is really where the preferential voting system we have in Australia comes into play.

So this achieving that primary vote doesn't actually mean that many seats. It really depends on the splits and how preferences work. And so right now we don't know what the ultimate outcome is and I'll hopefully have maybe an update for that that I might share on big small talk stories on Instagram later when we have official numbers. Again, the overwhelming rhetoric that we're seeing.

Is that people are frustrated by the two-party system. Yes, migration is a core issue, but I think that what we need to be Having a conversation about because I know that we've talked about this podcast, Pauline Hansen is a racist person. We have countlessly mentioned this. But I wanna read a couple of paragraphs from a sub stack I read over the weekend. Um, by Alex Fine. Now I know Alex, I would consider myself a friend of Alex's, and she's a senior insights advisor at Redbridge Group.

Basically, she has a lot of polling, a lot of focus groups with Australian voters. And she's written this amazing piece called Polarization is a Myth. And she made an excellent point about the rise of one nation. In this piece, she says What it represents is a furious rejection of the neoliberal consensus shared by both major parties.

It's a rejection of labor and the coalition's fidelity to sectional interests that lobby them to legislate or not legislate in ways that are manifestly counter to the national interest. Our participants who are One Nation Curious are keen to let us know that their support is not an endorsement of the party's full platform so much as it is a signal flare or a shot across the bow. This is the only way they know how to scare the shit out of a political class.

This is the only way they know how to scare the shit out of a political class that is ignored them or treated them with contempt. And I think that's why I mentioned this gas export tax earlier in the Iran piece, because I wanted to take any moment where we can find consensus between People on what would be labeled as opposite ideological perspectives, right? And say that in many ways, Greens and One Nation voters are both saying we have had enough.

We have had enough, uh as Alex says, of the sectional interest. of the major parties, of the lobbying, of the failure to address the everyday needs of Australians.

And in many ways there is overlap that we need to find. Something that I was thinking about this week and we did a I did a small talk with Michelle Battersby as well and we were just talking about The workforce and careers.

Something that came up to me and I saw it in a another think piece and I will link it was about how we are all feeling that frustration really deeply right now. And I think that's what's giving way to so many different trends that are taking over. Like even though it's all extreme on the spectrum. But like Gen Z nihilism to Manosphere to Tradwife is all kind of rooted in this similar concern right now, which is we were promised that if we work really hard.

things would pay off. Yep. If we work really hard, we will get a promotion. You get paid properly. Yeah. We're not seeing it. And that anxiety and frustration is what is leading to all of these other societal problems right now. Like I completely understand this like return to traditional ways and trad wife because like as a woman you're looking at this going, I don't want to be on this grind for the rest of my life. Like there's no end in sight for the for this corporate ladder.

In the manosphere you're going, I d I'm not gonna be able to provide at this rate. Like I'm not gonna be able to sustain a family. If Gen Z nihilism is just like we are down yeah and we're making jokes about it because it's

So uh bleak. Yeah. And the two major parties in the eyes of many of us are just answerable to corporate interests, right? To vested interests. But that's becoming more and more and more apparent, especially when we have these like billionaires and oligarch conversations as well, because like we're seeing the numbers of billionaires triple. Yeah, and I also think that one of the other great points Alex makes in this piece she's written is she talks about the fact that what

Australians actually want is progressive policy, but the language of left and right is the problem. And actually, when progressive policy is delivered with like moderated language. So like think of it like a David Percock style. He transcends left and right because he just talks about fairness. And right from wrong. And what Australians deserve.

always believed in it. It's like have a fair go. Yeah. Everyone deserves a fair go. And but that's why there's this weaponization of language on both sides because we're leaning into this rhetoric of like the left and right algorithms. But I think increasingly I am kind of trying to steer myself away from using that language. And And I wanna identify as like a progressive feminist, but I also understand how that's

been ruined by the media to the extent that now I can't reach anyone that doesn't identify as that. Do you know what I mean? Like it's interesting. It's there's such one nation is like leading me to so many more interesting conversations with people at the moment. And I think that actually there's a real value proposition here in how we can use this conversation for better outcomes where we

actually consider like, okay, what is the consensus I can find here with this person that's also frustrated? Yeah. Like can I find one thing. It's a very human route. And it's like it's also like why if we c even compare to the States, why we wish we took this more seriously. when Trump first started making ground. Yeah. Because he mobilized MAGA. Yeah. And also let's not deny that like a lot of us are facing really tough and scary and offensive conversations about immigration. Like yes.

But I think it's important also to say that exists, that's there, that's a valid emotion to have in response. But like what can I find here? I think just to end this segment out from the South Australian election. Obviously, again, the weakest point here in the chain is the Liberal Party, in my view. Their absolute death is like upon us, in my view, unless they turn something around really quickly. They have six seats in the lower house. As we're talking, I think that's correct.

Um, but it also just it starts this conversation of like what do they need to do? Will a new kind of like center right teal party emerge? Like there's lots of questions happening right now around that that we've seen a lot of coverage of in the media. But Tony Barry in wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian, which was really interesting. He said, It's clear there is a structural realignment underway in Australian politics with the Liberal Party, the early and obvious victim.

And because because while the bottom fell out of liberal vote, which was largely cannibalized by one nation, at the close of counting on Saturday night, the non-major party vote was at a record high of forty two percent. For context, in 2006, the Australian South Australian election, the non-major party vote was 19%. And again, this is speaking to the rise of independents and minor parties that are trying to respond to the two majors. But what else comes from this?

Taylor Frankie Paul, star of the reality TV show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has just had her season of The Bachelorette US pulled three days before its release following footage surfaced of her attacking her ex-boyfriend.

Very long headline, but there was really no way to cut that down. Um We often don't do reality TV stuff, but this has obviously gone into like a very different territory. Yeah, no. I I saw this And I and I kinda debated whether or not to do it, but I think there is so much conversation in this that's important and it is dominating my feed right now. I also want to say with the bat.

I have not watched a single episode of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Um, I just not because I wasn't fascinated by the show. I've seen clips. I definitely know of these people. I've seen them on TikTok. I just have never got into reality TV that much. Um it's kinda like It's like I feel like I miss the boat on reality TV, on all of it. I'm the same. I'm Gyber in the same boat on this, but I think it's one of the issues where a lot of people message us about maths and we also say like

If there was a major moment that was like across like politics and things, we would probably cover it. But like for the most part, we make a conscious choice to not. Yeah. It's just not my domain and I don't know, like even but even just like shows in general. Like I only started watching Game of Thrones like six months ago. Yeah. I'm behind. I'm behind.

Um, but what I knew about Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was thanks to actually being strangely invested in watching clips on socials of Dancing with the Stars last season and Whitney Levitt, who was one of the stars, was from that show as well. And I was so shocked to hear that Whitney was a villain of the Mor of the Mormon Wise series. Um, and that the star was actually this woman called Taylor Frankie Paul, who I did also recognize because mom talk content in general.

But this segment is actually about a different show, The Bachelorette, which is a mainstay in reality TV in the US. Even in the US it peaked in the twenty tens. I think that's the same for here. Like I really think like Laura Byrne and Britney, who's like Life on Cut and like Abby Chatfield, like that was that era and they are still the stars from that, you know? And I do think

Yeah, we had a few golden years and then it was a pretty steady decline. Does it even happen in Australia anymore? I is it still on? I don't think so. I don't think it is. But in the States it was still running, but again, ratings were low. So I think they took a big punt on casting Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead of the season. Also

Taylor is the one that made Mom Talk famous when I was looking into it because she was the one that introduced and like went on the live stream, I believe it was, talking about soft swinging. Oh, of course I remember this. Yes. It put Mormonism on the pop culture map. It pretty much had all of us like, What the fuck is happening in Utah right now? She has over seven million followers on TikTok alone. But yeah, just three days before her season was meant to air,

The ABC pulled it after TMZ released a video showing her attacking her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. This was back in 2023. I'm not gonna play the footage. It's horrendous. It's quite triggering to anyone who's ever been in and around a D V situation before. There is the sound of kids crying in the background, like awful.

A spokesperson has said, um, you know, with the network, in light of the newly released video we that just surfaced today, we've made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette. At this time, our focus is on supporting the family.

It's important to say this is a huge financial hit for them. They would have recorded the whole thing as well. Like they've recorded the whole thing. The marketing, the filming, the advertising, the licensing fees alone. Like, whoa. But if we look at the timeline here.

Controversy has been brewing for a while, and it was announced earlier this month. that she was being investigated by police for domestic violence claims. She then also went on Good Morning America and they asked her directly about this. And she said she would address the legal investigations like when the time is right.

From my understanding though, this concern around her like very toxic relationship with Dakota Mortensen, her ex, is not new. So in the very first episode of Mormon Wives in 2023, this was addressed. The episode showed body cam footage of an arrest that was made against her for domestic violence. She was charged with aggravated assault.

with child abuse and with domestic violence in the presence of a child. According to the New York Times, she then struck a deal which she pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault, a third degree felony, and had other charges then dismissed. She submitted a plea of abeyance of 36 months, meaning that the court would review the remaining charge in August 2026. and potentially lessen it to a misdemeanor if she complies with the terms of a supervised probation?

and that a new criminal charge would violate her probation. So this is all the way back in two thousand twenty three, which is when this video is also surfaced from. She also had to attend a parenting course and the court document Look, I only saw a few. They're terrible. It included like her child having an egg on their head. But since then though, and this is what I'm talking about with what happened this month.

Taylor and this same ex, who is the father of one of her children, are again subjects of a separate domestic violence investigation. According to police, both sides have made claims against each other, with the ex also filing for a protective order and then Taylor's team releasing statements about how she will reveal her side of the story still.

The latest is her ex has now been granted temporary custody of their son, who was born in 2024, and a temporary restraining order against her. It also seems very confusing. if she was or was not still dating on and off, if they weren't still seeing each other when She started filming for The Bachelorette?

I think also there's conversation now that's also proving that she's obviously clearly not with like a winner from the season or anything like that. And much of season four of Mormon Wives, which premiered on March 12th, so just recently. Is still about their on and off again relationship. The season's finale ended on a cliffhanger that Taylor might be pregnant with his child. Now, I think this.

There's so many different conversations at the back of this. One is like people that are fans of The Bachelor, Bachelorette. are are like annoyed because it's like, well, was it really looking for love or is this all just clearly like a ratings grab and was it meant to be messy for ratings? And then also people are like, why would they give

the lead to someone with a documented criminal history. So Taylor's teen then told ENews that that video was part of a destructive campaign to harm Taylor, and that releasing that footage was a reprehensible attempt to distract from Dakota's behavior. And they it was awful that he released it on their son's birthday. Look, it was a messy story to follow, but I also think it's important to say that this footage does not

Prove that Taylor is the only aggressor. I'm not in defense of Taylor at all. I don't think she should ever have been cast in this at all. Also, be again, as you've said, because there is a clear pattern here that was known far before. So when we talk about like Disney's costs here.

Actually calculated risk you knew. And you you you chose someone who you knew had this past. Look, we do we don't know the extent of both sides. There are plenty of Secret Lives of Mormon wives fans coming out and pointing out that they've observed four seasons worth. Of their problematic behavior, and that Taylor has also alleged violent behavior towards her from her ex for years now. And

Pointed to the suspicious timing of this video resurfacing right before a big moment for her in this premiere. Again, not defending her behavior at all. I'm just saying.

I know how it is very possible for a woman to be seen or portrayed as the progressor as an aggressor when they are in a perpetual cycle of psychological and physical abuse on both sides. I think it's a really important point to make. But my God, th what I really thought was like, wow, The Bachelorette, Disney took a swing for ratings for their own sake. They were banking on messiness.

And it has backfired on them tremendously. I just think it was so irresponsible because they knew what they were doing. Like Taylor. Taylor's on and off again problematic relationship was well documented, as well as her arrest. She's spoken openly about her struggles with mental health recently and also how this impacts her decision making in relationships. Like that is something that she has.

incorporated and s is part of her social media for a while now. And the Bachelorette has seen that and gone, that's gonna make great TV then. Yeah, and that's disgusting. You know? Also, as revealed on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, she was with her ex romantically the night before they went

To go film The Bachelorette. I I'm not saying that people who are who have gone through trauma and that have been in toxic relationships shouldn't be looking for love. Like absolutely, that is not what I'm saying. But it means they are still likely in a healing stage. And should not be cast as entertainment or banking on them making poor decisions in a high stakes invasive environment with thirty men and a camera crew around them. Like that is

cutthroat dangerous casting that's very math coded to me. I also think it's very generous that you referred to it as a healing stage. I think that's incredibly generous. Do you know what I mean? Well no, I mean I think she should be in one. No no no but not in this. No, you know what I mean though to say that like at best The read here is this person needs to take some time to heal, you know, like that's very generous as well. I agree. Yeah.

Okay, we are now at the QA for this week. Thank you so much to everyone who has written in. Um we might try and do some more on the stories because there has been actually quite a few QA's, but What I actually wanted to use this for was a few people asking about the next big talk. Excited to say it comes out tomorrow and it's on the history of the contraceptive film. A normal topic.

But I actually like this is it was very different being talked to usual because women also women in STEM, but also at every paragraph we could be like happened to me actually. Yeah, no I know. If you wanna hear about Adam's personal journey with the Big Talk but it's just us from when we were twelve to now.

Uh no, it was really interesting. There was so much I didn't know about this, um, but about how we got the the pill actually approved. Pretty fucked up story actually. Yeah. Also about the male contraceptor pill and what that won't be approved. The women that fought for it, how it links in with abortion rights, like

Like also so much in it. Going even into the pop culture moments of the last couple of years, like Lord's interview where she talked about kind of like ovulating for the first time and this kind of MAGA movement against contraceptive, like there's a lot to unpack here that we're really excited about. So yeah, that's out tomorrow morning and then Thursday is small talk with Baggy Zow. Yeah. We'll see you next Tuesday.