News Weakly

About News Weakly

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 broadcasting, and serious journalism—including bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, and ABC RN—Sami cuts through the noise with biting satire, relentless wit, and just enough sarcasm to keep us all from screaming into the void. News Weakly isn’t just about the headlines—it’s about the hypocrisy, the absurdity, and the sheer chaos behind them. Whether it's Australian politics, international disasters, or billionaires doing dumb things, Sami delivers a fresh, fearless take that keeps listeners informed and entertained. With a growing and engaged audience of news junkies, comedy lovers, and politics obsessives, News Weakly is the perfect space for advertisers looking to reach smart, curious, and highly engaged listeners. Get in on the conversation. Stay ahead of the spin. And never trust a headline again. New episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Sami Shah

Category

comedy

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Sept 2021

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 of 251 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Saudi Arabia Executes Two Bangladeshis: Migrant Worker Abuse & a Hajj/Umrah Boycott

   Host Sami Shah interviews himself about Saudi Arabia's execution of two Bangladeshis, migrant worker abuse, and the potential for a Hajj/Umrah boycott.

2. 

   16 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Malala, Gaza, Conspiracies & the Collapse of Trust

   Host Sami Shah explores how justified skepticism morphs into a worldview where disbelief feels intelligent, examining Malala, Gaza, and conspiracy theories.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   October 7 Mourning, Flydubai Conspiracies, Coalition Migration Cuts & OpenAI’s Medicare Breach

   Sami Shah, a comedian and writer, explores the complexities of grief, misinformation, migration policy, and AI's impact on government systems in this episode.

Inside a recent episode

Saudi Arabia Executes Two Bangladeshis: Migrant Worker Abuse & a Hajj/Umrah Boycott

Published 23 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] The joint letter by the human rights groups described abuse rooted partly in racist stereotypes about African, South Asian and Southeast Asian women. These are workers with contracts and families and a system that gives employers enormous power over their ability to change jobs or leave the country, which makes resisting abuse dangerous. It's called the sponsorship system or kafala. There have been reforms, but domestic workers haven't received many of the protections extended to other workers. A separate domestic worker regulation still falls short of equal protection under the main labor laws. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

21 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

135 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 66 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

93

Contact News Weakly

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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