Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

There are those who believe Artificial Intelligence will lead to the extinction of mankind. There are those who believe AI will save the world.On Free State today, journalist and author of the Empire of AI Karen Hao explains why AI is an imperialist project and how the colonising is already taking place. She says why she believes the doomer vs boomer debate is a distraction and how Ireland is on the frontline of this imperialist project. Water and energy resources will be drained as empires are built while humans will be expendable.Karen also tells us why the term Artificial Intelligence was a marketing term in the first place which set the technology on a destructive path. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world seems to be intent on tapping into humanity’s worst instincts.Tech companies ensure the algorithms keep us enraged and fearful, but is there a resistance movement? On Free State today Dion tries to persuade Joe that Test match cricket is part of a broader cultural phenomenon but will Joe buy it?Joe looks at how Kilkenny was transformed from a cricket county to the cradle of hurling.They also consider the All Ireland quarter finals and Dion’s credentials as a Kerry supporter are challenged by Joe, who definitely isn’t buying it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Donald Trump gave the order to bomb Iran, the language of war was mobilised. It is a language where death and misery means peace and love.On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how war is sold and why the language of war is hard to distinguish from erotica. The Old Testament was cited by many in America as why they stood with Israel. But did the contributions of AIPAC have more to do with than the bible? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan Drury trained as a journalist before becoming a hugely significant figure in Irish corporate life, something he has talked about previously with honesty and some regret.He returned to his journalistic roots and the tragedy in Gaza compelled him to speak out. His new book Catastrophe is the story of Nakba II. On Free State today, he explains why he had to go to the West Bank to find out the truth and why Netanyahu is running rings around the US when it comes to war with Iran. He explains why the establishment desperately wants to take his side. He talks too about why Joe Biden, not just Netanyahu, should be facing charges at the International Criminal Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Kneecap arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court, the scene was like Beatlemania if the Beatles’ fans were supporting a Free Palestine.Kneecap were in court for the first hearing in the case against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara.On Free State today Joe explains why he isn’t part of the legal team and what will happen next.They look at the politically motivated charges and why taking a stand against genocide and Israel’s warmongering matters more than ever.Emotions are tested in the podcast when Joe accuses Dion of both-sidesing what is happening in Iran. The argument gets heated and ends in an unexpected fashion... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast dives into the cyclical nature of war, particularly the current tensions between Israel and Iran, critiquing warmongering narratives. Joe humorously points out the Mayo footballers' struggles, juxtaposing sports culture with deeper themes of mortality. Discussions touch on missed diplomatic chances regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions and the indifferent global reactions to ongoing crises in the Middle East. Engaging personal anecdotes add flavor to the complex geopolitical issues and highlight the disconnect between politics and civilian experiences.

Historian Padraic X Scanlan, author of 'Rot,' delves into the political and economic causes of the Irish famine, revealing how colonialism transformed a potato failure into a devastating crisis. He discusses figures like Charles Treveleyan and critiques the flawed ideology that prioritized market principles over humanitarian aid. Scanlan also explores the potato's symbolism in the famine narrative and reflects on its lasting impact on Irish identity and memory. His insights shed light on the profound complexities surrounding this tragic chapter in history.

In Ballymena this week, those who have come from abroad to make their lives in the town were putting union jacks in the window in the hope it would prevent them being attacked.In the random and brutal rioting that saw the homes and businesses of foreigners attacked and terrorised this was they did to protect themselves and their families. On Free State today, Joe and Dion ask what is the root cause of this savagery which the police described as feral. Is it hatred or fear, supremacy or inferiority? Joe looks at how hate has been transferred from nationalists to other minorities - with plenty held back for nationalists too and projects like Casement Park. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The kids were coming down for breakfast when these five men wearing cargo pants, big jackets arrived. They came into the third floor, stood in front of the bedroom door, took the three kids back in and told them to pack up. We heard them say: ‘You are going to be deported.’ As soon as the other children heard then they were all crying. It was such a horrific scene.”This was how a resident in an IPAS centre in West Dublin described the scenes when families were deported last week and sent back to Nigeria.“This is not a pleasant part of my job,” Jim O’Callaghan said on RTE. On X he said, “Another deportation flight left Dublin last night and landed safely this morning in Lagos, Nigeria. There were 35 people on board who had received but had not complied with Deportation Orders.”On Free State today, Dion and Joe asked who these messages are aimed at? What is Ireland doing to combat the fantasies being spun by people like Conor McGregor about a lost Ireland that never existed?Is appealing to those with concerns about immigration necessary to head off the far right or is this world without compassion and empathy Ireland’s dystopian future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TP O’Connor was elected as MP for the Liverpool constituency of Liverpool Scotland in 1885. He represented that constituency from then until his death in 1929. TP O’Connor was an Irish Nationalist MP and he is the only Irish Nationalist ever elected to a constituency outside the island of Ireland.On Free State today, we look at the story of Liverpool and Ireland and the tensions that travelled from Ireland to the city. While it returned a nationalist MP, it also had 50 Orange Order lodge by the start of the 20th century and a 12th of July parade still takes place in the city today. Writer David Swift discusses his book Scouse Republic. We ask if the city’s Irish heritage contributed to its sense of separateness and its determination to fight the establishment when attacked by Thatcher and the media that demonised the city after Hillsborough.They also ask if Jurgen Klopp’s Christianity contributed to his status in the city and tell the extraordinary story of the time capsule Jim Larkin buried in Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.