300 episodes

A small independent Australian podcast about news, politics, sex and religion. An easy and entertaining way to keep up to date with the weekly news.

The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove

    • News
    • 4.7 • 52 Ratings

A small independent Australian podcast about news, politics, sex and religion. An easy and entertaining way to keep up to date with the weekly news.

    Episode 437 - Biden Drops Out, Cloud Strike Mishap, and CFMEU Controversy

    Episode 437 - Biden Drops Out, Cloud Strike Mishap, and CFMEU Controversy

    In Episode 437 of the Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove podcast, Trevor, Scott, and Joe delve into a range of topics including Joe Biden pulling out of the presidential race, the recent CloudStrike incident that caused widespread computer crashes, and a spirited debate on the effectiveness of the CFMEU in advocating for workers. They also touch on the differences between American political candidates, the potential repercussions of a Trump presidency, and the challenges faced by Australia's private and public schools in terms of funding. Additionally, the hosts discuss the influence of conservative Christianity in Australian politics and offer critical perspectives on a variety of current events.
    00:00 Introduction and Greetings
    00:21 Internet Incident Explained
    00:36 Biden's Withdrawal from the Race
    01:20 CrowdStrike Antivirus Issue
    08:12 Debate on Biden's Withdrawal and Kamala Harris
    09:14 Abortion and Supreme Court Discussion
    15:50 Trump vs. Biden: Policies and Implications
    17:24 US Foreign Policy and NATO
    26:03 Healthcare and Kamala Harris's Prospects
    27:27 Debating Kamala Harris's Popularity
    28:31 Biden's Wife and Kamala Harris Feud
    29:42 Trump's New VP Pick
    30:10 Nixon's Wisdom and Education System
    31:52 Nikki Haley's Flip-Flop
    34:06 Carrie Lake's Controversial Interview
    38:01 Copper Wire Theft in America
    40:43 Liz Truss and the Liberty Bell Showerhead
    45:57 Labor Party and Private School Funding
    51:07 CFMEU's Impact on Workers
    01:00:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use this link to search our transcripts. Type "iron fist velvet glove" into the search directory, click on our podcast and then do a word...

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Episode 436 - Attempted Assassination and Surplus Value

    Episode 436 - Attempted Assassination and Surplus Value

    In this episode, Trevor, Scott, and Joe discuss Donald Trump's close brush with death after an assassination attempt, the conspiracy theories that followed, and the political ramifications. They also dive deep into the economic concepts of surplus value in capitalism, the need for foreign markets, and the role of imperialism, referencing classic theories and contemporary critiques. The trio also touches on China's approach to capitalism through intense competition and limiting monopoly power. Moreover, the episode covers a recent controversial decision by the US Supreme Court affecting administrative authority and the potential dystopian shifts in American democracy.
    00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
    01:11 Trump's Near Miss: A Detailed Discussion
    04:03 Conspiracy Theories and Political Ramifications
    13:51 Hypocrisy in Political Violence
    24:30 The Iron Heel and Capitalism's Flaws
    29:31 Understanding Wage and Capital Distribution
    30:23 The Need for Foreign Markets
    32:35 Capitalism and Surplus Value
    33:25 Service Industry and Capitalism
    35:09 Radhika Desai's Insights on Capitalism
    39:42 China's Economic Model
    46:57 Technological Dependence in Modern Vehicles
    51:26 US Supreme Court and Political Implications
    53:35 Future of US Democracy
    01:00:01 Concluding Thoughts
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use this link to search our transcripts. Type "iron fist velvet glove" into the search directory, click on our podcast and then do a word search. It even has a player which will play the relevant section. It is incredibly quick.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Episode 345 - Election Discrepancies

    Episode 345 - Election Discrepancies

    In episode 435, hosts Trevor and Joe discuss various topics, including election results and voting discrepancies in the UK, comparisons to French elections, and the concept of proportional representation. They delve into generational differences in problem-solving approaches, citing a desire for simple solutions among older generations and a lack of nuance in millennials. The episode also tackles identity politics versus class-based economics, and the perceived failures of neoliberalism. They analyze current Australian politics, including the controversies surrounding Labor Senator Fatima Payman's actions and the support for nuclear energy. Furthermore, the discussion touches on Joe Biden's recent poor performance, Trump’s immunity claims, US foreign policy, and the role of Huawei in global infrastructure. The show finishes with lighter anecdotes, such as humorous political ads.
    00:00 Welcome Back to the Show
    00:32 Discussing UK Elections
    01:01 The Complexity of Modern Politics
    02:59 Identity Politics vs. Economic Issues
    04:59 UK Election Results Analysis
    12:11 Proportional Representation Debate
    23:56 French Elections Overview
    27:40 Joe Biden's Performance and Age Concerns
    29:10 Trump's Legal Immunity
    30:04 Presidential Powers and National Security
    31:12 Huawei and US Government Dilemma
    32:40 Cryptocurrency Sanctions and Anonymity
    34:35 Humorous Political Advertisement
    36:45 Australian Politics: Fatima Payman and Palestine
    41:37 Religious Political Parties Debate
    45:33 Malcolm Turnbull on Peter Dutton
    47:09 Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy
    56:02 Electric Vehicles and Battery Innovations
    58:32 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use a href="https://transcriptsearchtool.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    • 59 min
    Episode 434 - 9 years of watching democracies fail.

    Episode 434 - 9 years of watching democracies fail.

    Reflections on 9 Years of Podcasting and Critiques of Modern Democracy
    In the 434th episode of the Iron Fist Velvet Glove podcast, the hosts Trevor, Scott, and Joe celebrate their nine-year anniversary and discuss a range of topics focusing on democracy, political integrity, and systemic reforms. They reflect on their past achievements and the ongoing influence of propaganda in shaping public opinion. They critically analyze the financial management of past governments, the influence of powerful oligarchs on democracy, and propose ideas for reducing corruption and enhancing political transparency. The episode also touches on topics like the failure of ‘The Voice’ referendum, the importance of unbiased media, and the impact of wealth disparities on governance. Finally, they express optimism about potential changes through preferential voting and stress the need for fundamental political and institutional reforms.
    00:00 Introduction and Anniversary Celebration
    00:52 Reflecting on Achievements and Challenges
    02:42 Debating Democracy and Political Systems
    06:24 The Influence of Propaganda
    11:40 Proposing Radical Political Reforms
    24:04 Media Influence and Political Competency
    32:06 Political Landscape: No Major Differences
    33:30 Climate Change and Energy Policies
    35:59 Post-Politics Careers and Corruption
    37:09 Freedom of Information and Government Secrecy
    39:52 War Declarations and Public Service Outsourcing
    44:01 Electoral Reforms and Abolishing States
    48:38 COVID-19 Response and National Infrastructure
    55:39 Julian Assange and Political Repercussions
    01:04:22 Concluding Thoughts on Democracy
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use this link to search our transcripts.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Episode 433 - Dutton's Nuclear Thought Bubble

    Episode 433 - Dutton's Nuclear Thought Bubble

    Debunking Peter Dutton's Nuclear Energy Proposal
    In this episode of the Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove podcast, Trevor and Joe delve into Peter Dutton's controversial nuclear energy proposal. They discuss its impracticalities, economic disadvantages compared to renewables, and the tribalism in Australian politics. The episode also examines public opinion on the matter, scrutinizes media coverage, and touches upon unrelated political issues like Joe Biden's behavior and Israel's military actions.
    00:00 Introduction and Greetings
    00:47 Peter Dutton's Nuclear Proposal
    02:05 Nuclear Energy Debate
    04:43 Joe Biden's Odd Behavior
    06:10 Historical Presidential Health Issues
    06:57 Dutton's Nuclear Thought Bubble
    10:30 Renewable Energy Alternatives
    15:23 Public Perception and Media Influence
    25:43 Legal Hurdles for Nuclear Power
    40:31 Expert Insights on Energy Projects
    41:03 Offshore Wind Capacity and Benefits
    41:57 Comparing Energy Sources: Wind, Coal, and Nuclear
    42:26 The Urgency of Replacing Coal Energy
    43:24 Debunking Nuclear Myths
    43:46 Political Commentary on Energy Policies
    44:31 Media and Public Perception of Energy Issues
    45:21 Critique of Opposition's Nuclear Plan
    52:12 Lucas Heights and Nuclear Medicine
    55:13 France's Nuclear Energy Experience
    01:03:57 Public Opinion on Energy and Emissions
    01:12:00 Concluding Thoughts on Renewable Energy
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use this link to search our transcripts. Type "iron fist velvet glove" into the search directory, click on our podcast and then do a word search. It even has a player which will play the relevant section. It is incredibly quick.

    • 1 hr 16 min
    Episode 432 - Racism, Democracy and Propaganda

    Episode 432 - Racism, Democracy and Propaganda

    In Episode 432, Trevor, Scott, and Joe reunite for a diverse panel discussion on local and international political issues. The episode starts with personal updates and what the hosts are grateful for, followed by a review of recent Facebook stream issues. They delve into various pressing topics: the proposed increase in social media access age by the Coalition, recent polls showing Dutton's rise over Albanese, and the skewed narratives in media. The crew dissects the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, its parallels to the Voice debate in Australia, and brings attention to the propaganda permeating mainstream media. Global matters such as the surge in far-right politics in France, the upcoming UK elections, and details about the controversial AUKUS submarine deal are discussed. Additionally, discussions cover the state of democracy in the U.S., China's rising technical prowess, and emerging geopolitical movements in Georgia.
    00:00 Introduction and Greetings
    00:38 Panel Discussion and Gratitude Segment
    03:04 Facebook Issues and Social Media Policies
    07:43 Defence Spending and National Security
    13:01 Submarine Deal Controversy
    24:00 Gaza Conflict and The Voice Debate
    32:18 French Elections and Political Dynamics
    36:54 Propaganda and US Military Campaigns
    39:27 Pentagon's Propaganda Operations
    41:02 Trump and Duterte's Relationship
    41:31 Soft Propaganda in Media
    47:04 UK Election and Rishi Sunak
    54:56 US Democracy and Election Concerns
    01:11:16 China's Technological Advancements
    01:18:21 Conclusion and Sign-Off
    To financially support the Podcast you can make:
    a per-episode donation via Patreon or one-off donation via credit card; orone-off or regular donations via Paypal orif you are into Cryptocurrency you can send Satoshis.
    We Livestream every Monday night at 8:00 pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.
    You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.
    We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.au
    You can send us a voicemail message at Speakpipe
    We have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
    Transcripts started in episode 324. You can use this link to search our transcripts. Type "iron fist velvet glove" into the search directory, click on our podcast and then do a...

    • 1 hr 18 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
52 Ratings

52 Ratings

DonMarn ,

General review of the podcast

From a political and society perspective I have found this podcast to be a terrific and sometimes challenging listen. Terrific because of the topics abs diversity of guests and challenging because of the topics which have made me rethink some of my understandings based on my ‘non-white’ male perspective of the world around me.

By far the biggest challenge has been the ongoing whispering of one of the regulars that requires a constant adjustment of the volume. I now generally ignore most of what this person says because it’s seems he does not want to be heard. I’m sure he has great comments /ideas, and perhaps the producers can bring up his volume!

Otherwise a great show - thanks for the effort and the opportunity for insights to the ideas you share.

Algy ,

Non-woke authoritarian lefties

This once-innovative Aussie podcast has lost its mojo. Trevor has run out of ideas and is down to regurgitating Guardian talking points and whatever he reads on the John Menadue blog (plus the occasional limp challenge to woke ideology). The co-host / “tech guy” mostly offers dull sycophancy. If only they had the chemistry of the early days or were as important, informed and intelligent as they seem to think. This one is beyond repair, I’m afraid. Time to retire it: it’s only of interest to the cat ladies now.

Jwt1234 ,

TIFGG Podcast

Without the support for free speech this podcast would likely go into receivership!

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