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Artwork for News Weakly

News Weakly with Sami Shah

Sami Shah
Australia
Gaza
Donald Trump
Israel
Peter Dutton
Iran
Hamas
News Satire
Pakistan
Palestine
Anti-Semitism
Pauline Hanson
Climate Change
United States
Anthony Albanese
Sudan
Kate Middleton
Ukraine
Trump
Islamophobia

News Weakly is the sharpest, funniest, and most professional news satire podcast in Australia—where we punch the news in the headlines… weakly.

Hosted by multi-award-winning comedian, journalist, and author Sami Shah, the show delivers a fast-paced, fiercely intelligent breakdown of the biggest stories in politics, global affairs, and culture. With a background that spans stand-up comedy, radio br... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes244Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Comedy

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Artwork for News Weakly

Latest Episodes

Twenty-five years after 9/11, everyone knows where Ground Zero was. But where did the blast radius end?

This special edition of News Weakly follows one country through the aftermath: Pakistan. From the CIA-backed Afghan jihad and the rise of the Tal... more

This week on News Weakly, Sami Shah revisits a 2022 argument about the Sydney Festival boycott after The Shot brands him a “liberal Zionist coward” for criticising two of its headlines as demonstrations of antisemitism.

From Israel and Gaza to Mossa... more

Everyone agrees the world is ending. The only disagreement is which catastrophe gets top billing.

Starting with Jimmy Carter’s 1979 “crisis of confidence” speech, Sami Shah travels through Bangladesh, Munich, Chile, Watergate, oil shocks, coups, ter... more

NEWS WEAKLY 226 – What Is The Sentence?

Last week, News Weakly opened with Jason Arday. This week, after his sudden death, Sami Shah asks a harder question: what is public accountability actually supposed to achieve?

From Arday to Louis C.K., Warre... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Grace Tame
Tasmanian survivor advocate and public figure
Autistic AF podcast host, advocate for survivors
Episode: Grace Tame, Charlie Pickering & The Cancellation Olympics
Charlie Pickering
Australian television host and comedian
ABC programs (The Weekly, The Project)
Episode: Grace Tame, Charlie Pickering & The Cancellation Olympics
Jessica Maggio
State political reporter
ABC Victoria
Episode: 207 - Ceasefire Pending, Rejected, Threatened, Walked Back, Re-Threatened!
Ahmed Al Ahmed
Syrian immigrant and hero who disarmed a gunman
Not mentioned
Episode: News Weakly 194 - Ahmed Al Ahmed teaches Journalism 101
Mark Humphries
One of Australia's funniest political satirists
ABC TV, Channel 7
Episode: 168 - Mark Humphries gets thoughtful about satire
Dave Anthony
Host of the comedy history podcast The Dollop.
The Dollop
Episode: News Weakly: Dave Anthony Edition
Mushfiqul Faisal Ansari
DC-based Bangladeshi journalist
Episode: News Weakly Issue 122
Nuzrat Chowdhury
Associate Professor of Anthropology at Amherst College
Amherst College
Episode: News Weakly Issue 122
Dr. Shamara Mirza
Scientist and social activist from the Bangladeshi diaspora
Episode: News Weakly Issue 122

Host

Sami Shah
Comedian, journalist, and author with a background in satire, radio, and serious journalism. Hosts a politics and current affairs show with rigorous analysis and sharp humor.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 362 ratings
  • Not at all weak

    Sami is insightful and witty - what more do you want?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kitsune_chan77
    Australiaa month ago
  • Brilliant

    Sami’s a national treasure in at least two nations. Could rent his giant brain out by the hour and get many many takers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    absharp
    Australiaa month ago
  • Reading between the lines

    This was brilliant! More of these please….

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Soosall
    Australia2 months ago
  • Sami's frustration with our rapidly declining collective media literacy is helpfully focused into 30 minutes of intelligent content each week. The algorithms are clearly destroying our lives, so hopefully this 5 star rating helps marginally slow that destruction.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    julian
    2 months ago
  • “Reading Between the Headlines” long form commentary is a winner

    Sami is doing it again, with a longer story with a theme of news->ideology laundering. Great work…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Keith Duddy
    Australia2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans note high intelligence, tight analysis, and humorous delivery.
Listeners praise the host's clarity, wit, and integrity in cutting through noise.
Audiences appreciate nuanced takes on tough topics without being preachy.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

168 - Mark Humphries gets thoughtful about satire
Q: How does your comedy approach differ between mainstream news and satire?
Mark notes that while mainstream media needs to maintain a more neutral stance, satire has the freedom to express opinions and elicit emotional reactions, often grounded in factual concepts.
168 - Mark Humphries gets thoughtful about satire
Q: What brought you to this genre? Why news satire?
Mark explains that he fell backwards into news satire through an internship on a daily news comedy show, where he gradually learned and engaged with political topics.
News Weakly: Dave Anthony Edition
Q: What's your prediction for the upcoming election?
I honestly have no idea who will win this election; it's the first time I have no clue.
News Weakly: Dave Anthony Edition
Q: What do you think is the logic behind Democrats considering former enemies like the Cheneys?
They're attempting to gather support from anti-Trump Republicans while risking their traditional voter base.
News Weakly: Dave Anthony Edition
Q: What the fuck is going on in the United States of America?
It's really hard for people to understand because honestly, most people in America don't understand either.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About News Weakly

What is News Weakly about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Dexterous and sharp-witted, this show dissects politics, international affairs, and culture with rapid-fire satire and meticulous analysis. Episodes blend historical context, media critique, and personal insights to unpack how news is framed, amplified, and sometimes distorted by rhetoric, sensationalism, and online discourse. The host leans into fearless, principled commentary that welcomes nuance while skewering hypocrisy, making it a go-to for listeners who want smart humor paired with substantive analysis. Notable strengths include consistent weekly cadence, a strong narrative voice, and a willingness to tackle difficult topics without turning preachy, which can be especially appealing to audiences who value integrity, clarity, and punc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to News Weakly?

These podcasts share a similar audience with News Weakly:

1. The Chaser Report
2. 7am
3. Full Story
4. If You're Listening
5. Politics Now

How many episodes of News Weakly are there?

News Weakly launched 5 years ago and published 244 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on News Weakly?

Recent guests on News Weakly include:

1. Grace Tame
2. Charlie Pickering
3. Jessica Maggio
4. Ahmed Al Ahmed
5. Mark Humphries
6. Dave Anthony
7. Mushfiqul Faisal Ansari
8. Nuzrat Chowdhury

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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