Lokal Politics

Send us Fan Mail Dan and Vanan sit down with Minister K Shanmugam to talk tariffs, financial markets losing trillions, and how Singapore can thrive in such muddy waters. Plus, how to keep making long term plans when there's more political contestation and how does Min Shanmugam deal with people who dislike him? 👀 Stay tuned and make sure you’re subscribed with notifications on! Follow us for...

Send us Fan Mail It’s a Majulah Presents crossover! Singapore Confidential co-host Benjamin Chiang joins forces with Vanan on this special General Elections series of Majulah Presents Lokal Politics.  Dive into the highlights from Nomination Day where 206 candidates will be vying for 92 seats across 32 constituencies.  Tune in as we track every twist in this race!  👀 Stay tuned and make sure you’...

Send us Fan Mail  What’s the purpose of a PAP team in an opposition stronghold like Aljunied GRC? In this episode of Lokal Politics, Vanan grills Faisal and Dan (surprise!), who are part of the newly-unveiled PAP team going up against the Worker’s Party for Aljunied GRC in the upcoming General Elections. What does this mean for Aljunied residents and opposition supporters?  From policy improvement...

Send us Fan Mail  Are manipulated videos swaying opinions ahead of GE2025? Should volunteers be protected, or are they fair game?  Join Dan and Vanan in this episode of Lokal Politics as they discuss the controversy surrounding the Marine Parade viral video, the doxxing incident that followed, and the wider implications of politically charged videos in Singapore. Plus! Trump's tariffs have fi...

Send us Fan Mail How do you find humour in politics? And how can a comedian walk the thin line between humour and being cancelled?  Dan and Vanan sit down with comedian Rishi Budhrani to unpack the power of political humor. From navigating censorship to almost getting banned in Malaysia, Rishi shares what it takes to make people laugh—without crossing the line. Plus, why satire matters and how com...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating change, a life-changing lunch, and the future of this podcast. Join Dan and Vanan as they address the real reason why Lokal Politics has been on a break and the impact of the Budget 2025. Plus, a deep dive into Pritam Singh’s ‘turbocharging inflation’ statement - when the government is criticised for having a budget surplus. 👀 Stay tuned and make sure you’re subscribed...

Send us Fan Mail What’s next for the People’s Action Party? Can they continue to win over Singaporeans in an evolving political landscape, or is it time for change? Join Dan and Vanan in this episode of Lokal Politics as they discuss the PAP70 event and explore whether the party can continue to maintain its influence in a rapidly changing political landscape.  Plus, don’t miss the fun Q&A sess...

Send us Fan Mail How does tiny Singapore keep getting a seat at the table in global meetings? And how do we keep pushing for free trade when barriers are rising all over the world?  Join Vanan and Dan in this episode of Lokal Politics as they delve into Singapore's geopolitical advantages and the significance of events like APEC and the G20 Summit. Don't miss this insightful discussion o...

Send us Fan Mail What strategic missteps of the Democratic party lead to Trump’s victory? How did unexpected voter engagement shift the election? And how will a second Trump term impact global politics? Join Vanan and Dan in this gripping 🚨 Emergency Podcast 🚨 episode of Lokal Politics as they dive deep into this monumental election, unpacking its implications for the U.S. and on the internation...

Send us Fan Mail Is Lee Hsien Yang Too Privileged For Political Asylum? Are his claims of persecution genuine? And what message does this send? Join Vanan and Dan in this week’s episode of Lokal Politics as they dive into the ongoing Lee Hsien Yang saga. Plus updates on Pritam Singh's ongoing trial and its implications for Workers’ Party morale, along with key insights into the upcoming U.S....

Send us Fan Mail It’s another big political story in Singapore this week with the start of Pritam Singh’s court case. Join Vanan and Dan in this gripping 🚨 Emergency Podcast 🚨 episode of Lokal Politics as they unpack the latest developments! 

Send us Fan Mail It’s a deep dive into political scandals and gift giving for public servants, here on Lokal Politics! With former Minister S. Iswaran reporting for jail, Dan and Vanan revisit the facts of the case. What is Section 165 of the Penal Code, and why is it criminalized in Singapore? And why are UK and US politicians entangled in scandals for accepting gifts?  Join Vanan and Dan on anot...

Send us Fan Mail Former Minister S. Iswaran has been sentenced to 12 months jail! How did the judge come to this decision? And what is next for S. Iswaran?  Join Vanan and Dan on an 🚨 Emergency Podcast 🚨 Episode of Lokal Politics as they digest the court judgment, and what this means as a precedent for the future.  👀 Stay tuned and make sure you’re subscribed with notifications on! Follow us fo...

Send us Fan Mail Do unions in Singapore really fight for workers' rights? Should they be independent? What is the relationship really like between the NTUC and the PAP?  Join Vanan and Dan, as they grill Mike Thiruman, General Secretary of the Singapore Teachers' Union, on life as a unionist. A deep dive into the role of unions in Singapore, on a  very special episode of Lokal Politics!...

Send us Fan Mail 🔥 From colonial police chasing illegal hawkers, to UNESCO Heritage status, dive into Singapore's hawker history! In this episode, Vanan and Daniel chat with Ryan Kueh, the author of "From Streets to Stalls", a history of Hawker Culture in Singapore. Discover the fascinating evolution of hawker culture — and uncover the surprising ways politics and policies have sha...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Dive into this week's Lokal Politics, as Dan and Vanan debate unemployment insurance, and whether it truly prevents joblessness.  Plus, Dan was at the National Day Rally! We break down the NDR crowd’s reaction to 10 extra weeks of parental leave, and find out if the Hainanese curry rice catered at the event really hit the spot! 🇸🇬🍛 👀 Stay tuned and make sure you’re subsc...

Send us Fan Mail 🔥 HOW FAIR ARE OUR ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES, REALLY? 🔥 Vanan and Dan have spent some sleepless nights reading every report from the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.  And they've also battled sleepiness watching all two hours of the Parliamentary debate on Electoral Boundaries! All this, just to give YOU the clearest analysis of our electoral boundaries. You could say they...

Send us Fan Mail The lads are back with a (not so) new show. The Lokal Dispatch is now Lokal Politics by Maju Lah Media.  In the first episode back, Dan and Vanan examine how the current escalating crisis in the Middle East has important public policy implications for Singapore. 

Send us Fan Mail This week the lads are back to discuss PAP's succession plan, and the potential 'Prime Ministership' of Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. Dan and Vanan discuss how he became the chosen 4G successor, what works for and against him and if Singapore is ready for a new PM. Follow us on Instagram @thelokaldispatch Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLokalDisp...

Send us Fan Mail Vanan got married! And so we thought the best way to celebrate was to get some public policy practitioners who flew in for the wedding to discuss the value of Trust in democracy. This week we are joined by groomsmen Mark, Toby and Oliver!  Follow us on Instagram @thelokaldispatch Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLokalDispatch Follow us on Twitter @Lokaldispatch @D...

Send us Fan Mail The lads welcome Ukraine's ambassador to Singapore, Kateryna Zelenko onto the pod. Madam Ambassador gave her insights on the question that is on everyone's mind - "Why is this war happening?". She also touched on what her country's interests are, and what a peaceful resolution might look like. She highlighted why this conflict represents an existential str...

Send us Fan Mail With the budget debate coming up this week, the lads wanted to talk to someone actually taking part in it. This week, Dan and Vanan talk to legendary Singapore activist-turned-politician Louis Ng. Aside from his budget speech, the lads discuss how he balances his activism with politics, and some of the key areas he is looking to address during this year's committee of supply....

Send us Fan Mail Dan and Vanan are back for emergency use of the podcast to quickly react and reflect on the committee of privileges final report on Raeesah Khan's lie before the report goes for debate in parliament next week. Things take a tangent when the lads discuss not just the responsibility of parliamentarians, but the how political activists can behave better to foster better politica...

Send us Fan Mail A Chinese New Year treat: The lads discuss the current state of Money in the year of the Tiger. Also, Dan and Vanan try to understand how MAS (Singapore's central bank) tries to fight inflation, and how pulling policy levers in this fight may destabilise other parts of Singapore's economy. All in prep for the upcoming debate speech in parliament soon Follow us on Instagr...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year Everyone! The lads are back for the new year and the first instalment of their new monthly segment #ParliMates (name not fixed) - where they each cover a topic that resonated during the previous parliamentary session. This week Dan talks about changes to the Women's charter and how it impacts married couples and divorcees. Next, Vanan walks us through the adjou...