No holding back: Mehdi Hasan – 'Trump Administration is a sh*t show'
In this hard-hitting episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi sits down with influential broadcaster, journalist and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan for an unflinching conversation on global politics. From the chaos brought by Trump's administration to the genocide in Gaza, Elon Musk's DOGE distractions, and President Ramaphosa's punchlines, no topic is off-limits.
In this episode of the Readiness Report, Redi takes a hard look at Elon Musk's comments about South Africa — and the controversy surrounding the government's reported efforts to lure Starlink, Musk's very own telecommunications provider, into the country. She's joined by outspoken activist, academic, and Daily Maverick columnist Khaya Sithole for a sharp, no-holds-barred conversation.
00:53 Drama in the United States
01:21 Elon Musk and Disinformation
02:30 Mehdi Hasan's Take on Trump
03:01 Trump's Impact on America and the World
04:00 Trump's End Game and Erratic Behaviour
06:01 International Reactions to Trump
08:38 Trump's Relationship with Russia
12:05 Trump, Israel, and Middle East Politics
15:50 Escalating Crisis in Gaza
16:21 Ethnic Cleansing and Personal Reflections
17:35 Global Sentiment Shift
20:10 Media's Role and Responsibility
27:14 Free Speech and Political Hypocrisy
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Daily Maverick
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- Daily Maverick
Violence of whiteness laid bare in Trump-Ramaphosa meeting for all the world to see
This week marks two years since journalist and sociopolitical commentator Eusebius McKaiser died, a loss to both journalism and South Africa's critical intelligentsia community. I yearned to hear his unfiltered take on the humiliating events in the White House's Oval Office during the meeting between Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa. What unfolded there made me feel quite ill. McKaiser was never one to baulk at challenging racial prejudice and discrimination, particularly the weaponisation of whiteness, and that is exactly what we were made to endure on Wednesday, 21 May. The whole engagement enraged me, not only as a South African but also as a black woman watching the all-too-familiar dance of slave and master playing out live on international television, forcing our President to have to beg and perform for his humanity. No amount of cool, calm and factual interventions from his side stood a chance against the dismissive and irrational Trump onslaught. I guess that, at this point, these kinds of things should not still be eliciting such visceral reactions from me, as they have been happening since before I was born. My response, however, came from a sense of anger at the spectacle of white violence demonstrated by Trump, who could not be bothered to know the difference between African countries, never mind listen to the government delegation Ramaphosa led. Instead, he chose to listen to privileged white golfers and a fellow bullish businessman because they have more in common. I also found myself thinking that American people are the ones who gifted the world with Trump after electing him at the polls last November, something I attribute to a culture of worshipping celebrity and money as opposed to reason and moral values. The likes of Trump are what happens when a society lets popular culture dictate people's aspirations amid disinformation and fearmongering. A song titled This Is America by actor and musician Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, has been playing in my head, illustrating this point. 'We just wanna party (yeah) Party just for you (yeah) We just want the money (yeah) Money just for you (you)… This is America Don't catch you slippin' now Don't catch you slippin' now Look what I'm whippin' now' Time magazine explained that, after Gambino's lighter 'We just wanna party, party just for you', 'things quickly take a darker turn… as he investigates just what that 'party' really means, alluding to everything from police violence to racial stereotypes and social media obsession as components of the modern American experience'. Though I was heartened by South African journalists' spirited defence of our country on various US news stations, what continued to gnaw at me was the bold-faced violence that is the constant psychological warfare against black people. The suffering of millions of black people tossed aside simply because of the colour of their skin and the elevation of 49 white lives defy any laws of logic. But in a world run by brash billionaires and celebrity adoration, what is even logical? DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
Mail & Guardian
2 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Starlink raises questions about necessity and relevance of BEE laws
The licensing of Elon Musk's Starlink has sparked debate about whether South Africa's black economic empowerment laws are an impediment to growth or path to an inclusive economy The South African government may have said that black economic empowerment is not negotiable, but Starlink's battle to enter the market has brought into play the influence of international trade. During a Q&A session in parliament last week President Cyril Ramaphosa said his administration is seeking to create an inclusive economy making broad-based clack economic empowerment (broad-based BEE) legislation critical. Ramaphosa was asked a barrage of questions about racial categories by members of the National Assembly on Tuesday and whether he was willing to do away with BEE laws. Starlink's efforts to set up shop changed in February shortly after US President Donald Trump was inaugurated into office and the company withdrew from licensing hearings. Instead the company argued in submissions that its global policy does not allow local ownership. Democratic Alliance (DA) member George Michalakis asked Ramaphosa whether he would do a cross-departmental review of legislation that stifles investment and limits growth at 1%. This came after Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi, a DA member in the coalition government, issued a policy directive to review ownership requirements in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Malatsi Portfolio committee chairperson Kusela Diko had invited Malatsi to explain the policy directive and said other telecom companies do business in the country without complaint. Malatsi told committee members that his department sought to allow contribution to transformation besides share ownership to historically disadvantaged groups. Portfolio committee members accused Malatsi of seeking to draw back transformation for the sake of one multinational company and for using a ministerial policy directive instead of tabling a bill to amend legislation. After receiving public comments in the next 30 days, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will conduct a six-month study on whether equity equivalent programmes (EEIPs) can be implemented in the ICT sector. While the ANC is considering EEIPs under the Transformation Fund as an alternative to the 30% share requirement, it rejected Malatsi's policy directive, stating there was no deal struck during the Washington visit. Economic Freedom Fighters committee member Sinawo Tambo criticised Malatsi for using a ministerial directive to amend legislation, and said the tactic sought to circumvent parliamentary processes. uMkhonto weSizwe party portfolio committee member Colleen Makhubele said Malatsi was using a 'clandestine unilateral approach' to fast-pace licensing of Starlink instead of empowering 490 already licensed network providers. Although South African billionaire Johann Rupert, When answering Michalakis' question during the Q&A Ramaphosa said he would initiate a 'regulatory review process' that would unleash 'speed of execution' in government administration but doubted BEE was the issue holding the economy back. Corné Mulder, leader of the Freedom Front Plus, asked whether Ramaphosa was prepared to take a different approach, away from BEE and the Expropriation Act, to stimulate the economy. Ramaphosa said his starting point was the redress of past black economic exclusion and cited an International Monetary Fund report that highlighted the concentration of capital and ownership, where the top 10% own 86% of the wealth as the hurdle for growth. 'I'm rather surprised and taken aback when I hear that the policy of BEE militates against the growth of our economy. That I find surprising,' he said. 'If we accept that ownership of our economy is imbalanced, the clause on equality in our constitution seeks to undo that. So therefore ownership in our economy should be broadened,' he said. Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane agreed that the EEIPs as an alternative to share holding are important to attract foreign investment and asked Ramaphosa whether these will be extended to South African companies. Ramaphosa said his government was looking at a number of laws that would address both past racial exclusion and growth to build an inclusive economy. 'To do so we need to take into account where we come from, what our constitution says, what our laws say and be able to move forward in a very determined way,' he said.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Investment in ESG is irresponsible
By taking punitive action against what they condemn as carbon polluters like Sasol, the ESG disciples push up the cost of living and exacerbate impoverishment, says the writer. It is saddening to note that the Coronation Fund Managers Stewardship Activities Report (Business Report, May 29) uncritically embraces the false globalist ideology of ESG (environmental, social, governance). Proudly, the Coronation Fund Managers declare that they 'assess and advocate for improvements in their climate change strategies.' Clearly, despite Coronation's research capacity, they have wittingly or unwittingly allowed themselves to be shepherded by the controlled sirens of pliant science and the mass media in believing that human activity can influence climate change. Uncorrupted science and history have proved that warming periods occurred in millennia before fossil fuels were being widely used as they are today. Uncorrupted science has also shown that temperature changes occur as a result of the inconsistency of the Earth's elliptical path around the sun and the slight variations that occur in the Earth's tilt. So, ignoring true science and history is inexcusable. But what is worse is the agenda of the climate change globalists. It requires investing in the hugely expensive green deal – lithium-powered vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. It ignores the vast environmental damage the extraction of lithium causes and the unreliability of wind turbines, with their terrible toll on bird life. By taking punitive action against what they condemn as carbon polluters like Sasol, the ESG disciples push up the cost of living and exacerbate impoverishment. Of course, if they studied the science and history of carbon dioxide, they would note that although it comprises less than one percent of the atmosphere, it is vitally important for plant and vegetation growth. The section of the Stewardship Report that reveals double standards is Coronation's focus on the potential oil and gas bonanza off the Namibian coast. Despite their green commitment, the temptation of lucrative investment in fossil fuel exploitation is enticing. Although the Stewardship Report does not address the social aspect of ESG, it is important to note that it relates to DEI – diversity, equity, and inclusion. One wonders how that aligns with Coronation's commitment to 'responsible investment,' especially when it is evident that the principle of merit is overlooked in the implementation of DEI policy. Given the Trump Administration's recognition of the globalists' green deal for the scam it is, in keeping with their commitment to responsible investment, Coronation's Fund Managers ought to be ditching ESG and focusing on the massive fossil fuel exploitation that is about to take off in the US. Investment in ESG is irresponsible. DR Duncan Du Bois Durban
