Lamestream

It appears like there's been a shift in political and circles this week, with the UK and France moving to recognise Palestine as a state, the Australian government accusing Israel of breaching international law, and media outlets finally recognising the catastrophic situation in Gaza. But how real and significant is this apparent change in tone? Os and Scott discuss what has shifted, what hasn't,...

More than 200,000 people have voted in Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time poll, but an event that was supposed to celebrate the history of Australian music has also put a spotlight on the huge problems facing the industry, and the shrinking role Triple J is playing in helping make hits and break artists. Os and Scott discuss the dire state of music media, why Triple J is increasin...

The federal government has unveiled its review into combating anti-semitism which includes a number of radical recommendations that would censor the media and sanction universities and artists if they facilitated criticism of Israel. Os and Scott talk about the background to the review, the problems with its extreme recommendations and how reactions to it shifted over the past week. Also in the ep...

The verdict in the trial of Erin Patterson has been handed down but it looks like we're just at the beginning of a true crime, mushroom-related media deluge. Os and Scott dive into the coverage of the verdict, look at how the media reacted to the decision and highlight some of the strangest stories to come out of the trial. Then, they look at how anti-Israel protests in Melbourne are being reporte...

On this week's episode, Os and Scott step through a turbocharged Keeping Tabs segment, covering the unhinged media reaction to Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayoral Democratic primary, and the calls from Republicans to deport him over his position on Israel, police violence against protestors and revelations that was exacerbated due to new anti-protest laws, and some of the dumbest take...

After the biggest media trial of the year a federal court judge has found the ABC fired Antoinette Lattouf in order to appease pro-Israel lobbyists. Os and Scott explore the background to the case, breakdown what the trial revealed about secretive lobbying efforts targeting journalists and what the decision means for journalism, and the right of journalists to express political opinions. Later in...

In this special episode of Lamestream, Os and Scott react to the news that the US has taken the extraordinary step of joining Israel's war against Iran by bombing the country. They discuss the details of the US attack, why Trump made the decision to support Israel and what could happen next. Plus, they look at how the media reacted to the bombing, including the bizarre decisions from the ABC to in...

With the US on the brink of joining Israel's war against Iran, likely causing mass civilian deaths and plunging the region into chaos, Os and Scott look at the way media outlets actively helped lay the groundwork for this new conflict. They discuss how the war is being reported, and which civilians are humanised more. They revisit the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and compare how the same narratives are...

The shooting of multiple Australian journalists by police in Los Angeles has focused attention on media safety in Trump's America, and right around the world. Os and Scott look at why journalism seems to becoming less safe, the impunity with which police and military seem to be acting towards reporters, and why news organisations are struggling with the basic principles of defending their staff. A...

It's the criminal trial that has launched a wave of new daily podcasts and dominated headlines for months. But what's driving the media's obsession with Erin Patterson and the mushroom deaths, and is there a downside to the amount of energy news outlets are spending on true crime? Scott and Os decided to listen to every single daily mushroom trial podcast to help inform the discussion, and they de...

Has Rupert Murdoch's News Corp lost its ability to influence Australian politics and society? Os and Scott debate how powerful the right-wing media empire really is, and unpack how it influences the rest of the media landscape and every aspect of Australian politics. Also in the show they examine the messy state of sports broadcasting and sports media in Australia, and the Russian oligarch who now...

As Israel executes its plan to conquer Gaza, drawing condemnation and sanctions from even if its closest allies, Os and Scott look at the role the media has played in paving the way for this moment. From abandoning fundamental journalistic principles in favour of propaganda, to blacklisting journalists who spoke up, and targeting artists, actors, academics and more who opposed genocide, they chart...

Scott takes Os on a deep dive into the world of commercial radio, focusing on the mammoth $200m deal Kyle and Jackie O signed to help take their show national. Where do media companies get this kind of money? Why are they spending it on shock-jocks? Is the future of radio as grim as it looks? They also cover the media reporting of the new Liberal party leader Sussan Ley and discuss whether she is...

Os and Scott discuss how the Australian media is covering the Israeli government's announcement it will "conquer" Gaza and and forcibly relocate the Palestinian population. They talk about why the local outlets like the ABC seem to be doing a worse job at telling the truth compared to mainstream outlets in the US and Europe, and who influences reporting of the issue here in Australia. Then they lo...

A Labor landslide! Peter Dutton lost his seat! The Greens are in trouble! Sky News hosts lose their minds! In this special, post-election episode of Lamestream Scott and Os talk through the topline the results of the federal election and how they compare to the media's predictions (including their own). They discuss the emerging post-election narratives, examine whether this election is confirmati...

In this pre-election episode of Lamestream Os and Scott share their tips for watching the results, highlight what contests they're keeping a close eye on and even boldly make a few predictions. They dive into the latest crisis engulfing the ABC with fresh allegations the broadcaster's chair, Kim Williams, inappropriately interfered to help promote a controversial comedian. Plus, they examine the g...

On the first episode of Lamestream, Os and and Scott explain why they created the show and what they're hoping to achieve by launching a new, independent media outlet. They unpack the idea of the "podcast election" and the significance of politicians ditching traditional media interviews in favour of conversations with social media influencers and podcasters like Abbie Chatfield and The Betoota Ad...

Trust in media and politics has collapsed, and the world feels more fractured than ever. It's never been more important understand what's shaping our society and our culture, but it's also never been harder. That's why we're creating Lamestream. It's a new, fully independent, weekly podcast and newsletter that tackles the crisis in media. Hosted by award-winning journalists Osman Faruqi and Scott...