– Introduction & The HK Power Situation The Jacks open episode 155 with a look at Hong Kong’s infrastructure. HKJ reports on building-wide power outages to install 220 new EV chargers—a feat of density that Australia’s regional infrastructure is still struggling to match. 00:01:33 – Defining the "Iran War" The hosts discuss the nomenclature of the current conflict. Is it the US-Iran War, or just the "Iran War"? They explore the complex web of proxies and the long-standing hostilities dating back to 1979. 00:03:51 – Polling & The One Nation Surge A breakdown of the latest Redbridge poll shows One Nation at 27%, the Coalition at 22%, and Labor steady at 31%. Despite the right-wing rupture, Anthony Albanese’s approval rating sees a surprise boost. 00:05:18 – By-Election Analysis: Nepean & Farrah A post-mortem of the Nepean by-election, where One Nation underperformed its polling. Looking ahead to the Farrah by-election, the Jacks debate the impact of "Teal" candidates and the reliability of how-to-vote cards. 00:09:39 – Scrutineering with Julia Gillard HKJ shares a personal anecdote from his time working at the same law firm as former PM Julia Gillard, recalling how she could always spot his unique (and rebellious) preference flows during internal elections. 00:11:30 – Global Economic Strain: Oil, Food, & Fertilizer The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the largest energy disruption in history. Brent Crude is sitting at $113.40 per barrel. The hosts discuss the dire warnings from the UN World Food Programme: an additional 45 million people could face acute food insecurity by June. 00:18:34 – The Fertilizer Crisis Farmer and listener Lawrence provides boots-on-the-ground intel: nitrogen and phosphorus prices have skyrocketed, creating a "price issue rather than availability issue" that will hit developing nations like Vietnam and Thailand the hardest. 00:30:42 – Inside Iran: Economic Collapse Iran is facing 67% inflation, with red meat prices soaring beyond the reach of those on a $130/month minimum wage. Post-war reconstruction is estimated at $270 billion—nearly 80% of the nation's GDP. 00:37:22 – The Australian Budget & The Housing Divide A preview of the upcoming federal budget. Will the government risk the "demographic card" by making changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing to appease disenfranchised Millennials and Gen Z voters? 00:41:06 – Productivity & The Ghost of Keating HKJ argues that the road to recovery is productivity growth, lamenting the lack of "courageous" leadership seen during the Hawke-Keating era. 01:02:47 – Money Sinks: NDIS & Snowy Hydro 2.0 A look at the $20 billion blowout of Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the sustainability of the NDIS. 01:07:30 – Was the 90s the Pinnacle? A philosophical debate on whether Western civilization peaked in the decade following the fall of the Berlin Wall. JTI and HKJ reflect on the Cold War, nuclear disarmament talks between Reagan and Gorbachev, and our current "downward slope". 01:12:41 – The Scandinavian Model vs. The Mining Lobby Why are the Danes and Norwegians so much happier than us? The hosts discuss Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and why Australia has struggled to implement similar national-building royalty programs due to effective mining industry lobbying. 01:16:03 – Sport: Premier League, NRL, & AFLPremier League: Arsenal and Man City are neck-and-neck with only one point between them. NRL: The Melbourne Storm are in a freefall with seven losses in a row. AFL: Carlton’s "astonishing" lapses continue as St Kilda rips them apart. Is Michael Voss’s coaching future in jeopardy? 01:34:48 – Wrap Up & Next Week’s Preview The Jacks prepare to look at the UK political landscape next week, specifically the "woes" of Sir Keir Starmer and the potential comeback of Nigel Farage. "Eventually, people will get hungry enough and angry enough and will do something. But when that happens, who knows?" — Hong Kong Jack on the situation in Iran. What do you think about the government's approach to the fuel excise and the housing crisis? Drop us a line and let us know!