The Talking Sense Podcast

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The Common Sense's main weekly podcast focusing on the state of the world.

  1. 2h ago

    UCT Moves to Oust Mark Oppenheimer, the Mini-Budget's Smoke and Mirrors, France Burns, Russian Oil

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

  2. 6d ago

    Will Zuma's Death Boost MK? DA's Rubio Blunder, Guilfoyle, Ilhan Omar, the IMF and the Mini-Budget

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

  3. Oct 9

    Should the DA Refuse to Govern Joburg? Record Diesel Prices and Mbalula's Expropriation Lies

    New News24/SABI polling puts the DA at about 40% in Johannesburg. Frans Cronje makes the case that the DA should refuse to govern the city on those numbers, win Gauteng in 2029 and fix it from a position of strength. James Myburgh asks whether this is the moment to seize. Also this week: why the diesel price is at a record high while oil sits at $100, Simon Lincoln Reader on Margaret Thatcher and whether Andy Burnham ends Thatcher capitalism, Richard Tren on the US Supreme Court's new term, Frans on the classical liberals and the Black Consciousness Movement, and James Myburgh on Fikile Mbalula's misleading defence of the Expropriation Act. Plus three years on from October 7. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:How Do News24/SABI Polls Compare to The Common Sense/SRF Polls?: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/how-do-news24-sabi-polls-compare-to-the-common-sense-srf-pollsNew Poll Shows DA on Track to be Biggest in Gauteng but Jo'burg: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/new-poll-shows-da-track-be-biggest-gauteng-jo-burgThis is Why the Diesel Price is So High: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/why-diesel-price-so-highANC Lies to the US About Expropriation Without Compensation: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/anc-lies-us-about-expropriation-without-compensationThree Years After October 7, We Will Not Apologise for Standing: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/three-years-after-october-7-we-will-not-apologise-standingOctober 7 Three Years On: A Pearl Harbour Moment in the Middle East: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/october-7th-three-years-pearl-harbour-moment-middle-eastMbuyiseni Ndlozi: South Africans Must Stop Waiting For The State to Save Them: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/listen/conversations-with-gabriel/mbuyiseni-ndlozi-south-africans-must-stop-waiting-for-the-state-to-save-themPrincy Mthombeni Wants to Rewrite the South African Constitution: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/listen/conversations-with-gabriel/princy-mthombeni-wants-to-rewrite-the-south-african-constitution On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 A Pierneef-inspired AI painting, October 7 and the Green Party3:51 George Galloway in Cape Town and the Greens' 'Zionism is racism' motion8:33 Welcome to Talking Sense: why diesel is at a record price15:11 The new News24/SABI poll and how it compares with ours18:58 Should Helen Zille govern Johannesburg on 40%?22:03 Coalition options, ActionSA and the ANC's sabotage strategy26:15 James Myburgh: is this the moment for the DA to seize?32:08 Can the DA fix Johannesburg without a real majority?35:19 Lessons from the DA's last time in Johannesburg39:57 Has the GNU helped the DA? Black voters and the Zille gap44:19 Simon Lincoln Reader: what Thatcher capitalism was48:52 How Thatcher remade Britain: the City, finance and common sense51:56 Is Andy Burnham the final nail in Thatcher capitalism's coffin?56:19 Richard Tren: Thatcher, Reagan and the moral case for freedom1:03:06 Richard Tren: what to watch in the US Supreme Court's new term1:10:43 Is this a Trump court? Roberts, compromise and free speech1:12:29 Frans Cronje: the liberals and the Black Consciousness Movement1:19:23 A third way? Ndlozi, Princy Mthombeni and the two nationalisms1:23:49 Fikile Mbalula's misleading defence of the Expropriation Act1:27:23 Who is the ANC's weasel language meant to persuade? If this was worth your time, subscribe and like the video. It costs you nothing and helps The Common Sense reach more South Africans.

  4. Oct 2

    Mbeki's Counter-Revolution Theory, Myburgh in Washington and the 10 Million SA Left in Poverty

    Thabo Mbeki's 120-page thesis says a counter-revolution planted inside the ANC brought the party down. Frans Cronje explains why its own policies did it, and why growing at 5% a year since 2008 would have lifted more than 10 million South Africans out of poverty. Also this week: James Myburgh on his National Press Club speech on the history of farm attacks and why the violence was normalised, how the foot-and-mouth crisis was fixed once farmers could buy their own vaccines, Ronald Lamola questioning debt repayments within earshot of Wall Street, Andy Burnham and the UK's bond market problem, and Richard Tren on how US student loans drove up university fees. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeWatch or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3BPffxR8ZZLUByFmsRCz7B Read the articles discussed:Mbeki Says the ANC was Brought Down by an Orchestrated Counter-Revolution: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/mbeki-says-anc-was-brought-down-orchestrated-counterAsk Not for Whom the Revolution Bays, It Bays for You: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/ask-not-whom-revolution-bays-bays-youIf SA Had Grown at Emerging-Market Rates, More Than 10 Million People Would Have Been Lifted Out of Poverty: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/if-sa-had-grown-emerging-market-rates-more-than-10-millionRethinking Empowerment Policy for South Africa's Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/rethinking-empowerment-policy-for-south-africas-futureExpert Explains Origins, History, and Consequences of South Africa's Farm Attack Crisis to America: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/expert-explains-origins-history-consequences-south-africa-sJust How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/just-how-dangerous-south-african-farm-we-ran-numbersSpecial Report: South Africa's Predatory Crime Problem: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/special-report-south-africas-predatory-crime-problemBlow for Steenhuisen as Free State Agriculture Wins for Farmers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/blow-steenhuisen-as-free-state-agriculture-wins-farmersSimon Lincoln-Reader, Lamola's Ill-Considered Jaunt to the US: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/lamola-s-ill-considered-jaunt-usInvestors Think South Africa Is Safe Again. November's Elections Could Prove Them Wrong (Bheki Mahlobo on the bond market): https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/videos/investors-think-south-africa-is-

  5. Sep 23

    The GNU Risk Markets Are Missing, the DA Takes SA's Cities, AI Doomers, and Germany's Split

    Markets have priced South African risk down to almost zero on the belief that the GNU holds after November. Frans Cronje and Bheki Mahlobo explain why the foundations are weaker than in 2024, what would reprice SA's bonds overnight, and how that reaches your bond and credit card rates. Also this week: Marius Roodt's research showing the DA is bigger than the ANC in the eight metros, more than 100 hung councils ahead, Cape Town's ConCourt win against racial procurement rules, Simon Lincoln-Reader on Dario Amodei's push to regulate AI, Ronald Lamola with Bernie Sanders in New York, and why Germany's hard left and hard right both won. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:SA's Cities Have Moved Away from the ANC: Is the Country Next? https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/sa-s-cities-have-moved-away-anc-country-nextCourt Blocks Government's Most Prescriptive Racial Procurement Regime Yet: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/court-blocks-government-s-most-prescriptive-racialHard Right, Hard Left Each Win State Election in Germany: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/hard-right-hard-left-each-win-state-election-germanyThe enclave guide, What Families Must Do to Thrive in South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/special-report-a-guide-to-what-families-must-do-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-futureSimon Lincoln-Reader, Are Calls for AI Regulations Just an Excuse for More Government Control? https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/columns/are-calls-ai-regulations-just-excuse-more-government-control On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje and Simon Lincoln-Reader, with guests Bheki Mahlobo, The Common Sense's economics editor, and Marius Roodt, its deputy editor. Chapters:0:00 Why markets are so optimistic about the GNU9:28 Welcome to Talking Sense11:22 Is the GNU still what it was in 2024?17:26 Overhang and the Constitutional Court wildcard22:53 Markets have priced South African risk at zero25:48 Why bond yields reach your bond and credit card28:21 Why the DA may be right to leave the GNU35:47 Cape Town's ConCourt win on racial procurement42:09 If the 8 metros were a country, the DA would win45:11 Why the ANC is losing rural South Africa too52:55 More than 100 hung councils in November55:09 Why the markets are complacent this time58:03 Dario Amodei, AI regulation and the effective altruists1:17:25 Lamola, Bernie Sanders and the national interest1:27:39 Germany: the AfD and Die Linke both win1:32:19 How bad policy compounds, from Berlin to MK1:36:41 Thanks and goodbye If this was worth your time, subscribe and like the video. It costs you nothing and helps The Common Sense reach more South Africans.

  6. Sep 17

    Springboks For Sale, America Sanctions the ANC, a Serial Killer, Somaliland, and the Enclave Future

    Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month: https://thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe This week the Talking Sense panel talks about the Springboks' Baltimore experiment and the bid to buy the Boks, the United States' first sanctions against South Africa, the serial killer in Ekurhuleni, Reform's £72 million weekend in UK party donations, two good things out of Britain, Somaliland's pitch to the West, The Common Sense's special report on the enclave future, and why the DA is a middle-class party. Chapters:0:00 Bongani Baloyi, MK and the ANC's electoral court defeat5:58 Intro7:20 The Springboks for sale: Baltimore and the diaspora17:52 The United States sanctions South Africa25:52 The serial killer in Ekurhuleni37:25 Reform's £72 million weekend: UK party donations55:26 Two good things out of Britain: Jackdaw and assisted dying1:02:52 Somaliland's pitch to the West1:12:41 The Common Sense's enclave special report1:25:44 The DA is a middle-class party1:28:20 Outro Read the pieces discussed in this episode:The Diary — A Summer Night's Eve in Baltimore: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Columns/common-sense-s-diary-summer-night-s-eve-baltimoreUS Announces Sanctions Against South Africa Over Racial Policies: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/us-announces-sanctions-against-south-africa-over-racialSevere Blow to ANC in Six Municipalities Ahead of the Local Government Elections: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/severe-blow-anc-six-municipalities-ahead-local-governmentSPECIAL REPORT — What Families Must Do to Thrive in South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/special-report-a-guide-to-what-families-must-do-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-futureMembers video — How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/videos/how-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-future-members-special Watch Gabriel's interview with Bongani Baloyi of MK: https://youtu.be/bnOBffnfNXk

  7. Sep 10

    South Africa's Election Maths Problem, the Black Vote Shatters, the Falklands, and Wouter Basson

    Become a member of The Common Sense for just R99 a month: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe This week on Talking Sense: the election maths problem that could throw November's local government results into chaos — how a party that loses the vote can still end up running the council — plus the fragmenting Black vote in our latest poll, the Falklands back in the news (and what Milei is playing at), the Chagos giveaway, the American midterms and Trump's own goals, the strange return of Wouter Basson, and a rare piece of good news — the Supreme Court of Appeal clears the way for the Western Cape's school reforms. Timestamps:0:00 Pre-show: drinks and banter1:50 The overhang problem: November's election maths10:52 Welcome and this week's menu12:10 The Black vote fragments17:50 How not to read a poll: Ipsos and the SRF24:48 The Falklands: a brief history30:18 Why now? Milei, oil and a weakened Britain40:27 The South African angle: Simon's Town and the South Atlantic43:48 The Chagos giveaway57:42 The American midterms1:09:16 Trump's own goals1:15:09 The strange return of Wouter Basson1:18:48 Basson, Libya and the ANC1:31:02 Good news: the courts clear the Western Cape's school reforms1:36:24 Connect the dots: who funds the obstruction?1:43:52 Wrap-up Read the articles discussed in this episode:— Black Vote Fragments: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/black-vote-fragments— How Equal Education and SADTU Work to Stunt Poor Black Children: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/how-equal-education-sadtu-work-stunt-poor-black-children— Estimating What South Africa Would Gain from Exploiting Its Oil and Gas Reserves: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Economics%20&%20Policy/estimating-what-south-africa-would-gain-exploiting-its-oil On the panel this week: Gabriel Makin (host, London), Frans Cronje, Richard Tren (Washington, D.C.), James Myburgh (Bremen) and Simon Lincoln-Reader (London). The Common Sense is South Africa's home of independent news and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za

  8. Sep 4

    Milei's Argentina, the US Bond Spike, SA's Strange Crime Stats and Nike Going Woke.

    Richard Tren reports from Buenos Aires on Milei's revolution, Frans Cronje explains what the US bond yield spike actually means, James Myburgh unpacks South Africa's mysterious murder decline and the party funding declarations, and Simon Lincoln-Reader tells the story of how Nike went woke and lost its way. Plus: the ANC misses its own candidate registration deadline, the impossible economics of being a domestic worker, and Helen Zille's water project. Articles referenced in this episode:Just How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/just-how-dangerous-south-african-farm-we-ran-numbersWhat's Driving the US Yield Spike — And the Bessent-Warsh Standoff Behind It: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/what-s-driving-us-yield-spike-bessent-warsh-standoff-behindThe Impossible Economics of Domestic Work: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/impossible-economics-domestic-workRichard Tren — President Trump's Misread of South Africa (RealClearWorld): https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2026/09/02/president_trumps_misread_of_south_africa_1203862.html Become a member of The Common Sense and get all the facts and analysis for R99 a month: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeSign up for the newsletter: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/newsletters Talking Sense is The Common Sense's weekly panel: host Gabriel Makin with James Myburgh, Frans Cronje, Richard Tren and Simon Lincoln-Reader. Chapters0:00 Before the show: Trump's misread of South Africa and the farm murders data9:31 Show open and this week's rundown10:57 Richard in Argentina: Milei's revolution up close30:14 What is a bond? Frans explains from first principles39:48 Why are US yields spiking? The Common Sense breakdown1:04:51 The UK's gilt problem: 5.89% and climbing1:09:14 Nike goes woke: Shoe Dog, share prices and shutting up1:24:18 South Africa's crime stats: the mysterious murder decline1:36:52 The ANC misses its own candidate registration deadline1:43:08 Party funding declarations: who funds whom, and who declares nothing1:50:06 The impossible economics of domestic work1:56:32 Helen Zille's water project and the battle for Johannesburg2:03:02 Wrap-up: a record-length episode If this was worth your time, like the video and subscribe for the full weekly episode.

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The Common Sense's main weekly podcast focusing on the state of the world.

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  • Creator
    The Common Sense ZA
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Common Sense ZA
  • Show Website
    The Talking Sense Podcast

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