E26: Comisiún na Meán is coming for you

This week, we're asking for your support. You can do so by subscribing here: https://www.johnandsarah.ie/subscribeWe're doing so for several reasons, but mainly because in the face of ongoing threats to Irish media freedom, we want to grow our offering, reach more people, and get out on the road taking our message to Irish people who don't get to hear alternative views from the state-funded media.This week we discuss those threats to media freedom - but also Simon Harris's fake right turn, Micheál Martin's big conference, and the reverberations from the Russell Brand conviction.Thank you, as ever, for listening.00:00 The week’s agenda01:04 Why we need you to support the podcast06:39 The investigation of TIPP FM and Southeast Radio08:13 How Coimisiún na Meán compares with the BAI11:08 Impartiality and alternative media15:19 Fine Gael’s political identity18:21 Why welfare soundbites suck25:06 Dublin’s summit week31:21 School bomb scares, freezer attacks and cyber resilience36:36 Russell Brand: separating character from trial evidence43:09 Consent, historical allegations and reasonable doubt49:18 A complainant’s rights and a defendant’s robust defence51:02 Brand’s public persona, religion and political celebrity57:07 Why due process matters 58:37 How to support Something Different