The Conditional Release Program

Jack the Insider and Joel Hill
  • 4.9 (155)
  • Politics
  • Updated Fortnightly

Welcome to The Conditional Release Program, a podcast that delves into the netherworld of cults, crims and con artists. Who would have thought a spicy chest cough would turn everyone so completely mad? Our weekly show covers the conspiracy theorists that created a 'shadow pandemic' of political idiocy and violent ideation within the fringe of politics. From time to time we get our hands even dirtier with true crime deep dives. Jack is a seasoned expert in the true crime genre, having written and spoken extensively about Roger Rogerson, Stan 'the man' Smith and, of course, the Fine Cotton Fiasco. In various episodes he guides us through the dark underbelly of Australian crime in his trademark storytelling style. The world is getting weird and we are getting weird with it. Let's watch as democracy crumbles into a smouldering heap - and take note of the kids carrying the matches and the metho. Hosted by Jack the Insider and Joel Hill with an occasional rotation of guests that generally share our distaste toward the lunatic fringe.

  1. 5 days ago

    The Two Jacks - Episode 172 - Hanson Doubles Down, Burgess Sounds the Alarm, and the Populist Playbook Goes Global

    Oh no, China! That's what all the techbros are saying. Let's test that theory with some shownotes generated by Qwen 3.8 Max. The max is for MAXIMUM. This is the maximum. EPISODE SUMMARYIt is Hong Kong Jack's birthday, and the Two Jacks mark the occasion with a long, wide-ranging episode recorded on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The show opens with Pauline Hanson's refusal to remove a cartoon from her website branding Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a traitor — eight times over. Barnaby Joyce has apologised, One Nation candidates are expressing discomfort, but Hanson will not budge. Jack the Insider argues her truculence is a delusion shared by populists everywhere: the belief that backing down is weakness. Ironically, the affair has burnished Hastie's credentials as a potential Coalition leader. From there, the hosts turn to the Prime Minister's handling of the Marrickville Golf Club membership controversy — a one-day story turned into a one-week saga by Albanese taking umbrage rather than simply admitting an oversight. The conversation broadens into the global rise of populism: revelations about a One Nation candidate in Victoria; ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess's expression of deep regret over the October 9 Opera House rally and his warning that normalised behaviours raised the temperature and increased the permission for politically motivated violence; and Germany's state elections, where the AFD's surge in Saxony comes despite the state having one of the lowest foreign-born populations in the country. Chancellor Merz, with 75 per cent disapproval, may be finished. A proposed Constitutional Court ban on the AFD is, in Hong Kong Jack's view, just about the worst thing Germany could do. Across the Atlantic, the Lindsay Clancy mistrial in Massachusetts — a jury split 11-1 for acquittal after 40 hours, with postpartum depression at the centre of the defence — prompts a wider discussion of the US justice system. Donald Trump's midterm rally speech earns scrutiny too: the pledge of five thousand dollars for every adult male, his claim to have outrated the NFL (2.5 million viewers against 28.3 million), and his falling asleep during the reading of the names at the 9/11 commemoration. The hosts close that section with reflections from John Howard and Kevin Rudd on where they were 25 years ago. Finally, the footy: an NFL crowd of 100,000 at the MCG to watch the 49ers beat the Rams; Russell Jackson's ABC story on racism allegations at Hawthorn and North Melbourne, which the Jacks find lacking in evidence; Cricket Australia's BBL privatisation push; and finals predictions for the AFL and NRL. The birthday show signs off, fittingly, with the arrest of a Nigerian prince in California. TIMESTAMPSAll times include the 25-second theme music. 00:00:27 — Welcome; happy birthday Hong Kong Jack00:01:19 — Pauline Hanson refuses to remove Andrew Hastie "traitor" cartoon00:05:30 — The PM and the Marrickville Golf Club: a one-day story becomes a one-week saga00:07:03 — Populists and the delusion that they can do no wrong00:08:08 — One Nation's Victorian candidate: drugs and sexual deviance allegations00:18:17 — ASIO's Mike Burgess on the October 9 rally and politically motivated violence00:40:13 — Germany's state elections: the AFD's surge in Saxony00:48:15 — The AFD, remigration rhetoric and anti-Semitism00:57:44 — Chancellor Merz at 75 per cent disapproval; the proposed AFD ban00:59:34 — The Lindsay Clancy mistrial in Massachusetts01:10:03 — Trump's midterm speech: five grand for every adult male and the ratings claim01:11:38 — 9/11 at 25: Trump asleep at the commemoration; Howard and Rudd remember01:25:42 — NFL at the MCG: the 49ers down the Rams before 100,00001:28:33 — Russell Jackson, the ABC and the Hawthorn–North Melbourne racism allegations01:38:01 — Cricket Australia and BBL privatisation01:39:42 — AFL finals: Freo, the Swans, the Hawks and the Lions01:41:27 — NRL finals: Panthers, Warriors, Sharks and Cowboys01:42:43 — A Nigerian prince finally caught — in California

  2. 10 Sept

    The Two Jacks - Episode 171 - By-Election Blowouts, Pacific Soft Diplomacy, and Tobacco Policy Smoke & Mirrors

    Google has updated their gemini model to 3.8 - it's pretty flash! PUN INTENDED. I know you guys only come here for the AI generated shownotes so this is brought to you by 3.8 Flash (Extended) which I got for free on a google program for students. Hit me up if you want to know how to cash it in - it's pretty sweet. You too could be making shownotes for several Jacks. Episode SummaryIn Episode 171 of The Two Jacks, hosts Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack unpack a consequential week in Australian federal and state politics, international developments, and sporting turmoil. The show begins with an in-depth post-mortem of the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia, where One Nation secured a shock victory amid massive double-digit swings against both Labor and the Liberal Party. The Jacks dissect focus group findings illustrating the visceral disconnect between ordinary Australians and the major-party political class, alongside the cringe-inducing social media gimmicks employed by politicians who talk down to the public. The discussion turns to diplomatic missteps, including Australia's pre-COP attendance troubles in the Pacific and the limitations of using a new PNG NRL franchise as a soft-diplomacy counterweight to foreign influence. In New South Wales, the hosts examine Premier Chris Minns's second-guessing of police crowd control at the Sydney Opera House protests and push back against a controversial parliamentary inquiry into historical cold cases that threatens to air unsubstantiated allegations against Ivan Milat under parliamentary privilege. The episode also tackles the economic catastrophe of Australia's runaway tobacco excise, which has created a thriving organised crime black market, before debating listener feedback on teenage alcohol consumption at private school functions and overzealous RSA crackdowns. On the world stage, the Jacks cover Spain's escalating border crisis in Ceuta and Melilla, undercover foreign-funding scandals surrounding Nigel Farage's Reform UK, European Union proposals to pool private savings, and the technique of "flooding the zone" in US politics. The show concludes with analysis of North Melbourne parting ways with Alastair Clarkson, an update on the AFL and NRL finals races, reflections on crowd declines in Test cricket, and a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Indigenous boxing great Tony Mundine. Timestamped Highlights00:00:25 — Welcome & Hong Kong Weather Check: Seasonal transitions, humidity, and the noisy return of school terms. 00:01:25 — Secret Harbour By-Election Shock: One Nation candidate Luke Kurtigan sweeps to victory amid severe swings against both major parties in Western Australia. 00:07:35 — "They're Not Us": Focus group revelations, the collapse of major party credibility, and local council bin collection frustrations. 00:11:39 — Crossbench Reality: One Nation's mixed messaging on immigration, David Farley's uneasy party ties, and the structural irrelevance of a single upper-house seat. 00:15:43 — Social Media Condescension: Politicians explaining policy with Ooshies, car-seat videos, and the scourge of political "theatre kids" as media advisors. 00:20:01 — Pacific Diplomacy & Soft Power: Weak interest in Chris Bowen's pre-COP talks and whether a PNG NRL franchise can counter regional diplomatic shifts. 00:23:47 — Sydney Opera House Protests: Premier Chris Minns's retrospective criticism of police management versus the practical realities of crowd control. 00:28:42 — Cold Case Inquiries & Parliamentary Privilege: Jeremy Buckingham's push to investigate missing persons and the debunked theories linking Ivan Milat to the Wanda Beach murders. 00:32:45 — Illicit Tobacco & Failed Public Policy: How unchecked excise tax escalation since Nicola Roxon fueled a lucrative black market and organised crime. 00:37:13 — Teenage Drinking & Southern Highlands "Prohibition": School function alcohol debates, parental attitudes, and extreme RSA enforcement during local race days. 00:44:56 — Spain's Border Flashpoint: Mass migrant arrivals in Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish Supreme Court rulings on summary returns, and domestic political backlash. 00:52:54 — UK Politics & Reform UK Scandal: Undercover stings expose illicit foreign polling funds for Nigel Farage, while Labour ties Reform in the polls. 01:03:43 — Public Ownership vs. Economic Growth: Andy Burnham's push to renationalise UK rail and water infrastructure. 01:06:14 — Australia's Economic Stagnation: Negative productivity data, sticky inflation, and why Hawke-Keating style deregulation remains essential. 01:09:12 — European Union Capital Schemes: Ursula von der Leyen's plan for EU-wide voluntary savings accounts and the risks of centralised investment. 01:14:41 — US Political Landscape: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's natural communication skills, James Talarico in Texas, and Donald Trump's "flood the zone" messaging. 01:20:19 — AFL Coaching Shakeup: Alastair Clarkson dismissed at North Melbourne, Todd Viney's candid press conference, and the obsolescence of authoritarian coaching. 01:28:30 — AFL Wildcard Debate & Adelaide Crows Leaks: Carlton's finals entry and board pressure on Matthew Nicks. 01:31:18 — NRL Final Round: The New Zealand Warriors' surge, finals positioning, and the top-eight outlook. 01:32:19 — Cricket Diplomacy & Declining Test Crowds: Imran Khan's detainment tensions and the vanishing spectator base for Test matches in South Africa and the West Indies. 01:35:36 — Vale Tony Mundine: Honoring the middleweight world title contender, Redfern gym mentor, and Indigenous sporting hero. 01:37:02 — Episode Sign-Off: How to contact the show via email, Twitter, and Substack.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 171 - By-Election Blowouts, Pacific Soft Diplomacy, and Tobacco Policy Smoke & Mirrors

  3. 9 Sept

    Episode 217 - Dezi - MFA - Bird Flu - TVL in Secret Harbour - SignalSandra - STAUNCH!

    Bloody hell it's a big one listeners. There's a lot to go through. We are only scratching the surface. Mr. Insider alongside John Ferguson and Liam Mendes have unearthed new details about who may or may not have been harbouring Dezi Freeman after he murdered two police that were executing a search warrant in relation to alleged child sex offences. A few pseudolegal sovcits are going to be even more paranoid than usual. March for Australia was a raging success. Don't believe your lying eyes, it was massive. Just ask Nepo Nazi Hugo Lennon and the Neo-Nazi Newspaper 'the noticer' - it was massive bro just trust me. Bird flu is reaching new heights of stupidity with penguin death panels meeting to plot the murder of little gay penguins across our great land. Follow the money! It's a conspiracy! They can't say no! TVL approaches Michaelia Cash at the Secret Harbour by-election (where TVL was a candidate) and puts herself forward as Governor-General. We play the clip. It's kinda funny but mostly sad. AND Chris sends us a lead on SignalSandra - an antivax scammer who is promising to submit vaccination certificates to medicare for a price. But it looks like it's just a scam. But hey, if you want a testimonial to the success of the proposition just ask Sandra - she reckons it worked really well. And Zippy Babet, who is an idiot, launches a print on demand merch line where a $100 gift card is an absolute bargain at $141.69 - staunch pricing from a staunch patriot. Enjoy!

    Episode 217 - Dezi - MFA - Bird Flu - TVL in Secret Harbour - SignalSandra - STAUNCH!

  4. 31 Aug

    The Two Jacks - Episode 170 - Farley and One Nation's Immigration Muddle, AI Bubble Warnings and the Swans Self-Destruct

    This one was Meta AI - it's a free model and it did a pretty good job. Obviously I am not going to read that and neither will anyone else, but outside of the lack of brevity here it's a decent write up. Well done, Mark. EPISODE TITLE OPTIONSUse one as main title, others as alternates for SEO: One Nation's Immigration Muddle, 18C on Trial, and Tampa 25 Years OnFarley the Throwback, AI Bubble Warnings and the Swans Self-DestructFrom Narrandera to Norway: Immigration, Data Centres and Banning AI in SchoolsThe Two Jacks on Pauline Hanson vs 18C, the UK's Boat Camps and America's Voting MessCocaine Capital, $600 Grams in Perth and a 49ers Billionaire in a Trailer Park StingBloods Culture to Boarding School: Tampa, Tribunals and What Went Wrong at the SwansEPISODE SUMMARYEpisode 170 is a wide-ranging end-of-winter news wrap from Sydney and Hong Kong. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack start with One Nation's confused immigration numbers - David Farley suggesting an intake not far from Labor's, Pauline Hanson unclear on net overseas migration - and ask whether vagueness matters when neither government nor opposition has a clear story either. Farley, the Narrandera-based former Labor aspirant now with One Nation, is singled out as a throwback to old Country Party-style ministers like Doug Anthony, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon - rural common sense and real-world experience. The conversation moves to energy and tech. The Albanese government's proposal that new data centres from mid-next year need their own water source and 100% renewable power triggers a debate about global electricity demand. Data centre consumption is projected to double from 460 TWh in 2024 to over 1000 TWh by 2030. The Jacks question small modular nuclear reactors in Australia and warn of an AI investment bubble, with 15% of the S&P 500 now AI-configured and Chinese open-source models undercutting expensive US startups. On law, they unpack Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Context is Pauline Hanson's 2022 tweet to Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi telling her to "piss off back to Pakistan" after Faruqi's comments on Queen Elizabeth, which led to a Federal Court finding and a reported $200,000 penalty. Hanson is seeking leave to appeal to the High Court. The Jacks also discuss the White Australia Party's attempt to circumvent hate-group laws linked to the National Socialist Network and ASIO's role, and debate whether repugnant speech should be illegal. Twenty-five years on from the MV Tampa, they revisit the Howard-era response, children overboard, the excision of Christmas Island and other northern territories from the migration zone, and the legacy of mandatory detention introduced under Keating. Hong Kong Jack draws on his ten years on the Refugee Review Tribunal, including a harrowing self-harm incident during a video hearing in Woomera. Internationally: the UK's new camps for unscheduled boat arrivals after the High Court blocked the Rwanda plan, and the problematic Daily Mail reporting of gyms, football pitches and halal-only food; the US Supreme Court allowing state-based moves to restrict mail-in ballots, the stalled SAVE Act requiring birth certificates to vote and its impact on married women, and why America needs an AEC-style independent electoral commission. The Jacks note Norway banning generative AI in primary schools and restricting it in upper years after a decline in reading and writing, and pay tribute to Dolly Parton and the Dollywood Foundation's 325 million books program as a springboard into phonics vs whole-language teaching. Jack the Insider credits his mother and the Whitlam-era disadvantaged schools program for championing phonics. Court and crime: a mistrial in Pennsylvania after a juror allegedly smoked marijuana in the jury room during a murder trial; and Australia's cocaine problem in the context of the Sydney Swans hotel-room scandal. The Jacks discuss the legal risk of supply of a trafficable quantity (15 years in Victoria), self-reporting data suggesting 4% to 11% usage, 1500 possession arrests in the Eastern Suburbs, $600 a gram in Perth creating a Nullarbor business model, and the shift to crystal meth where cocaine is scarce. Sport to close: Italy's Giorgia Meloni becoming the longest-serving PM of the Italian Republic, polling 25-26% for Brothers of Italy as a buffer against the harder right; the Swans culture piece by Andrew Webster - the end of the Bloods self-sacrifice era of Kirk and Kelly, late nights at the Beach Road and Clovelly Hotels, adult entertainment in the team hotel, four-week bans, presumption of innocence, and Nick Blakey demanding a trade to North Melbourne where his father played; NRL - Roosters and Panthers as premiership threats; AFL - Carlton vs Melbourne as a clash of new game plans; cricket - England vs Pakistan at Lord's, Pakistan in disarray, Babar Azam out of form, and whether Marnus Labuschagne should tour South Africa or if he is at the "thanks for your service" stage; and finally the NFL - the San Francisco 49ers CEO caught in a police sting in East Palestine, Ohio, $140 agreed on WhatsApp, no trailer or brothel at the lot, two days jail with credit for time served and $1000 in fines and costs. Next week: listener feedback on booze and upper-middle-class parenting. SHOW NOTES - TOPICS COVEREDAustralian Politics: One Nation immigration policy split between David Farley and Pauline Hanson, net overseas migration confusion, Albanese wedge politics, Opposition property ban for temporary residents, Labor's delayed immigration announcement and refugee intake numbers. Energy and Technology: Data centres in Australia, water and renewable requirements, small-scale nuclear reactors in Russia and China, global power demand, AI bubble vs dotcom bubble, US vs Chinese AI models, S&P 500 exposure. Law and Free Speech: Section 18C - offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate, Pauline Hanson vs Mehreen Faruqi Federal Court decision, High Court leave to appeal process, White Australia Party and National Socialist Network, hate group laws, implied freedom of political communication. Immigration History: 25th anniversary of Tampa, MV Tampa and Captain, Merak and Christmas Island, children overboard, excision of Australian territories, mandatory detention, Woomera, Port Hedland, Villawood and Maribyrnong, Manus Island and Nauru costs. UK and US: UK mandatory processing centres, minibuses, no-document arrivals, security risks and Nick Radev case, Daily Mail coverage; US mail-in ballots, electoral rolls, SAVE Act, automatic voter registration in Oregon/Washington/California, gerrymandering and partisan control, Ross Perot and third-party candidates. Education and Culture: Norway AI ban, iPads in schools, national testing decline, phonics revival in Australia, Dr Seuss, John and Betty readers, Dolly Parton and literacy, scholarships for Year 7 retention. Courts and Drugs: Pennsylvania juror and devil's lettuce mistrial, field sobriety and judge's chambers process, Christian Brothers at St Pat's Ballarat, Sydney Swans scandal and allegations of indecent assault, white powder found, trafficable quantity laws, Australia as highest self-reported cocaine users, Double Bay and Waverley Local Court, cardiac risks. Sport: Swans culture, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey trade to North Melbourne, Andrew Webster SMH column, AFL finals odds Sydney at $34, NRL Warriors Roosters Panthers, Carlton vs Melbourne injuries, England vs Pakistan second Test, Marnus Labuschagne technique and Steve Smith comparison, Ricky Ponting assessment, San Francisco 49ers CEO East Palestine sting. All timestamps below are adjusted by +25 seconds to account for theme music at the top of the episode. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS (Adjusted +25s)00:00:25 - Open: End of winter in Sydney and the Highlands, mid-20s, bracing for a stinking hot summer. Hong Kong Jack on the Hungry Ghost Festival heat and humidity. 00:01:54 - One Nation's immigration numbers: David Farley vs Pauline Hanson, does vagueness matter? 00:03:36 - Old Country Party ministers: Doug Anthony, Ian Sinclair, Peter Nixon, Peter Walsh, John Kerin, Mick Young. Farley as a rural common-sense throwback and best new MP in ages. 00:04:39 - How long will Farley stay with One Nation? History of independents. 00:06:07 - Government and Opposition also unclear on migration, cabinet donnybrook, Albo's populist instincts and a potential wedge. 00:14:50 - Data centres are coming to Australia: Albanese plan for own water source and renewables from July 1 next year. 00:15:52 - Small modular nuclear: one in Russia, one in China, cost issues, worldwide energy growth before AI. 00:16:47 - Electricity to double: 460 TWh in 2024 to 1000+ TWh by 2030, S&P 500 AI exposure, trillions invested. 00:18:50 - Tech bubble vs AI bubble: companies with no revenue then vs Meta and Google with revenue now, but startup risk for Anthropic and others. 00:21:41 - What is Section 18C? Offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate explained. 00:22:23 - Pauline Hanson tweet to Mehreen Faruqi "piss off back to Pakistan", Queen Elizabeth context, Federal Court appeal, $200k fine, High Court leave. 00:23:12 - White Australia Party, National Socialist Network, ASIO recommendation to Home Affairs Minister to shut down hate groups. 00:25:38 - Will Hanson succeed? Prediction 18C rendered toothless on offend/insult/humiliate. 00:28:08 - 25 years since Tampa: ABC docudrama, Norwegian tanker MV Tampa, 2001. 00:29:26 - Children overboard, Peter Reith gilding the lily. 00:30:43 - How Tampa changed the rules permanently: no unscheduled arrival lands in migration zone. 00:32:12 - Refugee Tribunal reality: Woomera/Port Hedland video hearing, self-harm incident, need for thick skin. 00:35:00 - UK's new camps after Rwanda failure, mandatory processing, fingerprints, 17 minibuses, not locked up like Villawood. 00:38:27 - Security risk: Nick Radev - Nick the Russian/Bulgarian, wiped criminal history, prison tattoos, arriving with clea

    The Two Jacks - Episode 170 - Farley and One Nation's Immigration Muddle, AI Bubble Warnings and the Swans Self-Destruct

  5. 26 Aug

    The Two Jacks - Episode 169 - Bloods on the Brink, Political Cash Stashes, and Royal Commission Fatigue

    This using Google Gemini 3.7 Flash using extended mode. Got a free thing for uni so giving this a whirl. It's not that good. The Jacks dive into the ongoing debate surrounding the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, examining the limits of royal commissions in resolving complex social and security issues compared to criminal investigations. They scrutinise the announcement of Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and Fiona Brown’s $2 million Commonwealth settlement. The conversation turns to explosive reports of Exclusive Brethren members funneling cash to far-right political agitators, before shifting overseas to assess Andy Burnham's opening month as UK Prime Minister, shifting European politics, and the tragic fallout of the Jason Arday media storm. Finally, the hosts dissect the massive fallout from the Sydney Swans hotel scandal on the eve of the AFL finals and examine the Australian cricket team's shock Test defeat against Bangladesh. 00:00:26 - Episode Introduction: Ghost Month in Hong Kong and local headlines. 00:01:57 - The Royal Commission into Antisemitism: High-profile critics, scope limitations, and the Bondi trial boundary. 00:07:15 - Broken systems: Australia's fragmented firearms registries and the limits of public inquiries. 00:13:34 - Free speech, social cohesion, and the ethics of doxxing. 00:21:35 - Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission: Dan Andrews, CFMEU costs, and the special prosecutor role. 00:27:18 - Fiona Brown's $2M Commonwealth settlement and John Howard's rebuke of political handling. 00:30:55 - Duffle bags of cash: Exclusive Brethren funding of political disruptions and the legal hurdles of regulating campaign conduct. 00:38:55 - The legal definition of a cult, Scientology High Court precedents, and Nick Xenophon’s Senate battles. 00:45:13 - International Brief: Mélenchon and the French Left, plus Andy Burnham's first month as UK Prime Minister. 00:49:55 - Populist dynamics: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK versus Pauline Hanson's One Nation. 00:53:25 - The lighter side: Andrew Tate supporters performing push-ups outside prison. 00:55:10 - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's social media mastery and emerging US Democratic contenders. 01:00:32 - The Jason Arday tragedy: Media scrutiny, academic vetting, and press freedom debates. 01:07:05 - Sydney Swans hotel scandal: Player suspensions, finals derailment, and cultural damage at the Bloods. 01:23:25 - Cricket wrap: Bangladesh stuns Australia in Darwin, selection dilemmas ahead of Mackay, and Nathan Lyon's future. 01:32:03 - Update on Imran Khan’s hospitalisation and episode wrap-up.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 169 - Bloods on the Brink, Political Cash Stashes, and Royal Commission Fatigue

  6. 17 Aug

    The Two Jacks - Episode 168 - Melons, Migrants and Meandering Polls

    This one is Claude Sonnet 5 - did a decent job. Got Gemini to do it at the same time and it was SHIT. -------------------------- Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open with an air-conditioner instalation story that would give any WHS officer a heart attack, before diving into the immigration debate consuming the Western world, Albo's cringeworthy podcast melon gag and the diplomatic fallout with Japan, Angus Taylor's Twitter misfire, a grim Newspoll for Labor, the conviction of former Bishop Christopher Saunders, the unravelling Mahmoud Fazal/Four Corners scandal, an AI Royal Commission, Israel's rejection of the Gaza peace plan, Ukraine's drone edge, a spot of Marxism 101, and a bumper sports wrap covering the Ashes build-up, Geelong's concussion waiver scandal and the NRL's new PNG and Perth franchises. 00:00:26 — Cold open: Hong Kong air-con drama. Hong Kong Jack recounts tradesmen scaling the building exterior, tying off to a sewer pipe and rigging a platform in under an hour — a workplace safety non-starter back home. 00:01:20 — Immigration policy in limbo. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke pulls his National Press Club address after Cabinet gets cold feet on migration numbers; One Nation capitalises on the vacuum. 00:02:17 — Paul Kelly on the West's immigration reckoning. The hosts unpack Kelly's column on multiculturalism's failures in Europe versus its comparative success in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, and why a clear pathway to national identity matters. 00:04:23 — The politician/public disconnect. A Financial Times study (John Burn-Murdoch) showing big gaps between public and political opinion on migrant assimilation across Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. 00:06:10 — Is the far right the cause or the symptom? A robust back-and-forth on whether One Nation, AfD, Reform UK and Le Pen's party are driving the backlash or simply capitalising on governments that lost control of migration systems. 00:08:50 — Albo's podcast melon gag fallout. The PM's crass "melons" line about the Japanese Prime Minister on a comedy podcast draws a diplomatic complaint from Tokyo and calls for an apology he still hasn't given. 00:10:39 — Why politicians chase the "youth" podcast circuit. Discussion of Albo's ties to Sandilands-style FM radio and whether the audience numbers justify the reputational risk. 00:12:32 — Latika Bourke's double standard question. Would a corporate CEO survive the same scrutiny as a Prime Minister? The Jacks disagree on how novel the standard really is. 00:14:14 — Angus Taylor's Twitter misfire. A dissected, over-written tweet accusing the "socialist" Albanese government lands badly — "people might think they're bumbling fools, but they don't think they're socialist." 00:15:53 — Angus Taylor and the ICAC donation question. A circular exchange over an unresolved email regarding a potential donation tied to a group under ICAC scrutiny. 00:17:52 — Coalition social media strategy. Jane Hume's five-a-day Instagram habit and whether the Coalition's messaging is landing with anyone at this point in the electoral cycle. 00:18:52 — Productivity and work-from-home. Westpac CEO Anthony Miller warns rates could stay elevated into 2028 without a productivity fix; Victoria shelves its work-from-home legislation ahead of the planned 1 September start. 00:21:36 — Red tape and the housing/business regulation debate. Building approval bottlenecks, the Coalition's building-standards rollback proposal, and why company/tax reporting (not ABN registration) is the real handicap for small business. 00:24:14 — Newspoll: Labor's primary vote "plunges." Labor down to 29 percent (from 31), described by the Jacks as more "meandering" than plunging — with a look at how far off Labor is from its 34.5 percent election benchmark. 00:25:31 — Kos Samaras/RedBridge on the new voter blocs. A breakdown of Labor's inner-city, under-45, migrant-heavy base; One Nation's mortgage-stressed, outer-suburban trades vote; and the Coalition's shrinking, wealthy, over-55 remnant — plus where the Jacks think the analysis oversimplifies. 00:28:42 — How the Coalition lost its heartland. Reflections on 19 years of Coalition government since Howard, the failure to read demographic warning signs, and the loss of both the "asset rich" and "asset poor" ends of its old coalition. 00:31:49 — Content warning: child sexual abuse. Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders, 76, found guilty of one count of sexual penetration and multiple indecent assault charges against a young Indigenous man; sentencing yet to be scheduled. 00:32:50 — Saunders' pattern of behaviour. Allegations of financial mismanagement, smuggling alcohol into dry Indigenous communities, a 2019 police raid uncovering exploitation material, and a Vatican finding he likely abused Indigenous youth. 00:34:59 — The Bishop Ronald Mulkearns parallel. The Ballarat bishop's Royal Commission appearance and mysterious final holiday hosted by Saunders in Broome shortly before his death. 00:37:06 — The Four Corners/Mahmoud Fazal scandal. Fazal's background as a self-described former Mongols bike gang sergeant-at-arms turned journalist; his Cocaine Nation and Meth Highway reports pulled from air, along with a Background Briefing program. 00:38:33 — Media Watch's verdict. Linton Besser's assessment that Fazal was "embellishing his journalism," and how ABC's editorial oversight failed across two flagship programs. 00:39:39 — The Jordan Shanks (Friendly Jordies) threat allegations. Fazal's alleged role relaying threats from the Alameddine crime family after Shanks' house was firebombed twice; Fazal disputes the death-threat characterisation. 00:41:36 — Where journalism crosses into participation. Jack the Insider's personal rule against interviewing active criminals, and a wider discussion of when reporters become "players" rather than observers — including a detour to the "Poison Dwarf," Clayton Milne. 00:46:20 — A 2006 ice epidemic documentary as the gold standard. A comparison piece where public health officials and police saw the crystal meth wave coming years before government — done properly, without masked, unverifiable sources. 00:48:21 — South Australia's $3 million AI Royal Commission. Premier Peter Malinauskas announces the inquiry; the Jacks are sceptical it will produce much, suspecting it's more about attracting AI investment. 00:49:27 — The AI investment bubble risk. Massive capital flowing into Anthropic, Meta and Google versus cheaper, competitive Chinese models — and what that imbalance could mean for the S&P 500's AI-heavy weighting. 00:51:00 — Israel rejects Trump's 15-point Gaza plan. Distrust that Hamas will disarm, and why the stakes feel existential rather than abstract for Israelis. 00:52:32 — Israel's 27 October election. Netanyahu's fragile coalition, Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich's collapsing poll numbers, and the growing backlash over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from IDF service. 00:57:09 — Ukraine: Starlink access and drone warfare. Elon Musk restricting Ukrainian Starlink use against Russia, a declined meeting with Trump, and Ukraine's drone successes — including a joint exercise with US forces in Germany. 01:00:29 — Reports of distress aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Unconfirmed accounts of sailors going overboard after roughly ten months of continuous deployment. 01:01:52 — Stephen Kotkin on Marxism's enduring appeal. Why intellectuals keep returning to Marxist ideas despite the historical body count — and a tangent on campus recruitment, ASIO and the "special role" intellectuals imagine for themselves. 01:05:15 — Iran, Cambodia and the fate of the intellectual class. Historical examples of revolutions turning on the intelligentsia that helped bring them about. 01:06:06 — Sport check: the Ashes build-up begins. Australia's shaky start against Bangladesh, Steve Smith's lucky reprieve, and questions over Alex Carey's batting position and the middle order. 01:08:24 — Selection headaches: Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon. Marnus Labuschagne's technical struggles and whether Lyon plays out the year, with the World Test Championship and next year's Ashes on the horizon. 01:11:03 — Geelong's concussion contract waiver scandal. A player reportedly signing away his right to sue over concussion management; questions over why the club didn't submit the waiver to the AFL or AFLPA, and calls for points deductions rather than fines. 01:16:04 — Jake Kelly's likely retirement and player consent. Whether it matters who initiated the waiver, and why players will "sign anything" to keep playing despite long-term brain injury risks. 01:18:30 — NRL expansion: PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears. Tax-free salaries giving PNG Chiefs an effective cap advantage, players relocating to a purpose-built village in Port Moresby, and Perth's 2027 entry into the competition. 01:22:36 — Poaching rugby fans, AFL's expansion and wildcard finals. The Perth Bears' leadership, Tasmania Devils' draft concessions, Nigel Lappin's coaching move, and early impressions of the AFL's new wildcard finals round.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 168 - Melons, Migrants and Meandering Polls

  7. 17 Aug

    Episode 216 - Census - Antivax Lawsuit - Paedo Priest - ABSOLUTE PROOF - RFK Jr.

    It's back to back news finishing up with a bit of heroin and a bit of crack. First up we look at the census. This segment could have gone for about 3 days but we highlight some dumb shit surrounding the entirely uncontroversial 2026 census. Yeah, you really made albo upset by not filling it in. Nice work champion Dr Daniel alerts us to an antivax lawsuit being run by a legal professional. But not a lawyer? Hmmm. Jack discusses the guilty verdict of Bishop Chris Saunders who is a terrible piece of paedo shit who will hopefully die in gaol. AND Mike Lindell loses his primary only to suggest - to everyone's surprise - that there were irregularities. Does he have ABSOLUTE PROOF of election fraud? Probably not, but there's enough crack left in this baggie to get us through to the next conspiracy theory in the midterms. Lastly, instead of Babet or Pete we just smack RFK Jr on the end, the only man in the administration that makes Trump look healthy by comparison. Maybe ease up on the peptides there mate.

    Episode 216 - Census - Antivax Lawsuit - Paedo Priest - ABSOLUTE PROOF - RFK Jr.

  8. 10 Aug

    Two Jacks 167: From Pettingill to Perrottet — Corruption, Concussion, and Carlton’s Revival

    This week it's NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra through Perplexity - my sub is running out soon. It made some pretty amazing mistakes and totally made up the references list at the end. I dunno, stick to making chips fellas cause this is a bit shit. Still, it's better than nothing. The clankers are still doing okay at the shownotes thing. Enjoy! --------SummaryMr. Insider and Hong Kong Jack open with the passing of Melbourne matriarch Kath Pettingill (91) and the grim, darkly comic history of the Pettingill–Allen clan — Dennis “Dr Death” Allen, the Stevenson Street fortress, and the Wall Street executions. They pivot to Victoria’s suppression-order addiction (half the national total) and the Ralph Carr rape conviction that took 48 hours to un-suppress, then dissect IBAC’s Operation Richmond into the UFU/CFA/FRV stitch-up — six years, no corruption findings, just “serious and concerning conduct.” Cross the border to NSW: ICAC’s Operation Rosne is live, Jean‑Claude Perrottet is squirming in the box as Nassif’s $2M bribe tapes play, and Jeremy Greenwood is ghosting from London. A detour through minority-government history (Gillard–Greens–Oakeshott–Windsor) segues into a housing-market stoush: banks forecasting −10%, the Budget saying +2%, and Tanya Plibersek claiming “best time ever for first‑home buyers.” The Cambridge sociologist Jason Arday unravels — non-verbal till 11, 600 miles in six days, 30 marathons in 35 days, a brain tumour, 7‑Up kid, £5.5M raised, AI‑written resignation letter — and the ABC’s Four Corners hiring ex‑Mongol Mahmoud Fazal is flagged for next week. Fauci’s diaries, RFK Jr.’s peptide purge, and COVID revisionism draw a furious rant. Ukraine’s drone supremacy, PLA drone investment, and why NATO spending metrics miss the point. Sport: Trump’s “club champ” grift, Geelong’s secret concussion waiver (chaired by AFL Commission boss Craig Drummond), the wildcard-round tanking farce driven by betting partners, Tasmania signing Nigel Lappin, and Carlton’s miraculous turnaround under Josh Fraser — Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Wade Derksen, and a game plan now built on turnover footy. Matthew Stokes on club culture and troubled players. The Hundred’s kid‑focused gimmickry, AFLW Ireland’s skill explosion at North Sydney Oval, and a teaser on NRL/AFL media capture for next week. Timeline Time Segment 0:25 Intro & Housekeeping – 7 Aug 2026, Hong Kong weather (“it’s called summer”), Melbourne heat. 1:18 Kath Pettingill & the Pettingill–Allen Dynasty – “Granny Evil” dies at 91; Dennis Allen (Mr Death), Peter Allen, Victor Pierce, Wall Street murders, Stevenson Street Richmond/Cremorne, Brian Murphy’s $1,400/week payoff, chainsaws & 44‑gallon drums. 7:03 Victoria’s Suppression‑Order Addiction – >50% of national total; Ralph Carr (Dusty Martin’s ex‑manager) convicted of raping employee; 48‑hour delay lifting suppression; “if you’ve got money you get away with it.” 12:29 IBAC Operation Richmond (UFU/CFA/FRV) – Six‑year inquiry; “serious & concerning conduct” but no corrupt conduct; political fix for metropolitan/country fire boundary; “vanilla ICAC” vs NSW theatre; Dan Andrews’ golf clubs. 20:39 NSW ICAC Operation Rosne – Young Liberal operatives (Assaf, Ellis, Greenwood, Perrottet brothers); Jean Nassif ($2M bribe allegation, now in Lebanon), Michael O’Hara, Catholic Schools NSW (Dallas McInerney); targeting David Elliott & Building Commissioner David Chandler; Jean‑Claude Perrottet in the box, audio ambush. 32:41 Minority Government & Coalitions of Convenience – Gillard–Greens–Oakeshott–Windsor “wedding ceremony”; Paul Kelly’s verdict; “you don’t need formal agreements”; Jim Cairns 1970s parallel; all the 2010 plotters now in gaming. 40:52 Housing Market: Crash or Soft Landing? – Banks: −10% / $230B wiped; Budget: +2%; Tanya Plibersek’s “best time ever” claim; negative equity, bank forbearance, 1990s commercial‑property playbook. 46:30 Cambridge Professor Jason Arday: Fantasist or Fraud? – Youngest Black professor; didn’t speak till 11, illiterate till 18, 600 miles/6 days, 30 marathons/35 days (last 9 with hairline fracture), 7‑Up claim, £5.5M raised (walked back), brain tumour during PhD; Cambridge defends, then folds; AI‑written resignation letter; Guardian pile‑on; “sociology standards are fuzzy.” 51:23 ABC Four Corners & Mahmoud Fazal – Ex‑Mongols sergeant‑at‑arms hired; journalistic ethics vs “great life story”; teed up for next episode. 56:34 Fauci, RFK Jr & COVID Revisionism – Fauci takes the Fifth; HHS servers now under Kennedy; “ICUs were empty” lie; double‑blind placebo ethics (Salk polio regret); FDA pulls six peptides off ban list with zero human data; “grifters at 4,000% markup”; healthcare workers threatened. 1:04:05 Ukraine–Russia: Drone Wars & Asymmetric Shift – Ukrainians lead in AI‑guided, radar‑invisible drones; defender’s advantage today ≠ tomorrow; PLA investing heavily; US big‑bureaucracy lag; Taiwan lesson — boots still needed. 1:08:56 Golf: Trump’s “Club Championship” – 80‑yo, 180‑yard drive, four‑handicap in prime; member confirms nudging, caddy collusion, card‑swapping; “four or five handicap? I’d never play again.” 1:10:48 AFL: Geelong’s Secret Concussion Deal – Undisclosed player, multiple concussions, waiver signed, cleared by board (chair Craig Drummond → AFL Commission chair); rival clubs furious; enforceability doubtful; “Geelong get umpired different.” 1:14:41 Wildcard Round Tanking & Betting Partners – Greg Swan memo: “pick on merit or scrutiny”; Fremantle 2023 precedent; clubs 6–10 resting stars to keep week off; bookies complain → “don’t bet that week.” 1:17:13 Tasmania Devils: Nigel Lappin as Head of Development – “Best development coach in the comp”; development = sustained success (cf. Geelong under Lappin). 1:18:45 Carlton’s Blues Revival – Josh Fraser interim; Voss “coached like everyone was Michael Voss”; Fraser: “back yourselves”; turnover footy now elite (1st/2nd in every stat vs Brisbane); Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Taylor Byrne; Wade Derksen’s Darwin-to-rookie fairytale; Curnow→Sydney, Florent/Hayward win‑win; Jacob Weitering return looms. 1:27:41 Matthew Stokes on Club Culture & Troubled Players – Ex‑Cat’s own history; secrecy enables; consequences (pay cuts) needed; “don’t let it fester inside the four walls.” 1:29:25 Cricket: The Hundred (UK) – 100 balls, 5/10‑ball blocks, 20‑ball max per bowler; ECB: “engage 7–10 year olds”; dominates July/August; “poor man’s T20,” wallpaper cricket; IPL money > Hundred money. 1:34:21 AFLW: Ireland v Australia at North Sydney Oval – Sell‑out, Irish diaspora everywhere; skills unrecognisable from Year 1; Gaelic football base; “terrific spectacle.” 1:36:09 NRL/AFL Media Capture Teaser – Gus Gould fined $20K for “game’s stupid”; concussion denialism; AFL.com/ NRL.com in‑house content; “incestuous relationship” — deep dive next week. 1:38:43 Wrap – Episode 167 recorded 7 Aug; thanks to Hong Kong Jack; see you next week. People & Entities Mentioned Category Names Category Names Melbourne Underworld Kath Pettingill, Dennis Allen, Peter Allen, Victor Pierce, Vicki Pierce, Brian Murphy, Jack (Murphy’s sidekick), Dennis “Dr Death” Allen Victorian Politics/Law Ralph Carr, IBAC, Operation Richmond, UFU, CFA, MFB, FRV, Dan Andrews, Craig Drummond (AFL Commission), Premier Ben Carroll NSW Politics/ICAC Jean‑Claude & Charles Perrottet, Robert Assaf, Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood, Jean Nassif, Michael O’Hara, Dallas McInerney, Damien Tudehope, ICAC Operation Rosne Federal/Historical Julia Gillard, Bob Brown, Adam Bandt, Wayne Swan, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Jim Cairns, Gough Whitlam, Kevin Rudd, Stephen Conroy Housing/Economy Tanya Plibersek, RBA, major banks Academia/Media Jason Arday (Cambridge), The Guardian, Mahmoud Fazal (Four Corners), ABC COVID/Health Anthony Fauci, RFK Jr, FDA, NIH, HHS Geopolitics/Defence Ukraine, Russia, PLA, Taiwan, NATO GDP metrics Sport — Golf Donald Trump AFL Geelong Cats, Craig Drummond, Greg Swan, Fremantle, Ross Lyon, Tasmania Devils, Nigel Lappin, Carlton, Michael Voss, Josh Fraser, Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Taylor Byrne, Wade Derksen, Charlie Curnow, Ollie Florent, Jack Hayward, Jacob Weitering, Matthew Stokes Cricket ECB, The Hundred, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, IPL AFLW Ireland women’s team, North Sydney Oval Media Gus Gould, Phil Gould, AFL Media, NRL Media Links & References (for show notes) IBAC Operation Richmond Report — https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/investigations/operation-richmond NSW ICAC Operation Rosne Hearings (live) — https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/operation-rosne Ralph Carr Conviction & Suppression Order Lift — The Age / Herald Sun (early Aug 2026) Cambridge / Jason Arday Coverage — The Guardian “Grotesque racism” piece; Times Higher Education investigation FDA Peptide Decision (6 peptides delisted) — Federal Register / FDA press release, late July 2026 AFL Wildcard Round & Tanking Memo — AFL.com.au / The Age (Greg Swan memo leak) Tasmania Devils Announce Nigel Lappin — AFL.com.au / The Mercury (early Aug 2026) The Hundred 2026 Schedule & Rules — ECB / Sky Sports AFLW Ireland v Australia Highlights — Kayo / Fox Footy / AFLW YouTube

    Two Jacks 167: From Pettingill to Perrottet — Corruption, Concussion, and Carlton’s Revival
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About

Welcome to The Conditional Release Program, a podcast that delves into the netherworld of cults, crims and con artists. Who would have thought a spicy chest cough would turn everyone so completely mad? Our weekly show covers the conspiracy theorists that created a 'shadow pandemic' of political idiocy and violent ideation within the fringe of politics. From time to time we get our hands even dirtier with true crime deep dives. Jack is a seasoned expert in the true crime genre, having written and spoken extensively about Roger Rogerson, Stan 'the man' Smith and, of course, the Fine Cotton Fiasco. In various episodes he guides us through the dark underbelly of Australian crime in his trademark storytelling style. The world is getting weird and we are getting weird with it. Let's watch as democracy crumbles into a smouldering heap - and take note of the kids carrying the matches and the metho. Hosted by Jack the Insider and Joel Hill with an occasional rotation of guests that generally share our distaste toward the lunatic fringe.

Information

  • Creator
    Jack the Insider and Joel Hill
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    483
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Conditional Release Program

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