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The ANC is heading for about 32% in the local government elections, down from 62% in 2011. Frans Cronje explains where its voters went: not to the DA, which has held steady at around 26%, but to MK, the EFF and ActionSA. In Johannesburg the ANC is projected under 20%, and in Tshwane it sits third behind the DA and ActionSA. For the first time, the ANC, MK and EFF together fall short of 50%. The panel asks whether the DA should do a deal with the ANC, or whether the DA and ActionSA can put their feud aside long enough to run Gauteng's metros. Richard Tren on the US midterms: a Republican wipeout bigger than the polls predicted, James Talarico's win over Ken Paxton in Texas, Susan Collins's defeat in Maine, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and Alaska's two Dan Sullivans. Why the Republicans lost, JD Vance's verdict, and what the Democrats do next. Simon Lincoln Reader on Britain's budget and the Caribbean's $33 trillion demand for slavery reparations, and the panel on the West Africa Squadron, the Royal Navy patrol that freed some 150,000 people from slave ships. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeWatch or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3BPffxR8ZZLUByFmsRCz7B On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: deadlock everywhere7:35 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel9:05 The US midterms: a Republican wipeout14:21 Alaska's two Dan Sullivans18:09 Why the Republicans lost23:21 The ballot measures went conservative26:25 JD Vance's verdict and the race for 202830:47 Good ideas taken too far: borders, tariffs and Iran37:53 What the Democrats do next44:46 The end of MAGA and the race to the centre47:18 South Africa: the ANC at 32%, halved since 201153:28 The liberation movements fall below 50%56:05 Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Gqeberha and East London1:00:53 The polls got it right1:02:54 ActionSA in the townships1:05:24 Limpopo and the Free State1:08:55 MK, the PA and ActionSA win councils1:10:50 Should the DA do a deal with the ANC?1:17:36 The DA and ActionSA: an open goal in Gauteng?1:23:18 Britain's budget: managed decline1:27:54 The $33 trillion reparations bill1:34:21 The sins of the fathers1:36:09 The West Africa Squadron1:44:19 History without nuance1:49:26 Wrap-up

The new SRF and Common Sense poll puts the ANC at 31% to 33% nationally, its lowest yet. Gabriel Makin reads the results. The DA leads in Johannesburg on 36% to 38% and in Tshwane on 31% to 35%, where its support has fallen since July. MK leads in eThekwini on 42% to 43%, with the ANC third on 12% to 13%. Voters are split on whether a BEE compliant newcomer should build a new school, but 79% say the best company should get the job. James Myburgh explains why the ANC calls it disinformation when Mark Oppenheimer and AfriForum quote the ANC's own words on expropriation in Washington. Simon Lincoln Reader on Wes Streeting, the web outage that took down 32 UK government websites, and Streeting's warning that Britain has 1,000 days to war. Richard Tren on the US midterms a week out, Vivek Ramaswamy's race for governor of Ohio, and Barack Obama's speech for the Democrats. James reviews Roelf Meyer's memoir and what it leaves out about the 1992 referendum. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:LGE 2026: Latest Polling: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/lge-2026-latest-pollingFewer Than a Third of South Africans Support the ANC: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/fewer-than-a-third-of-south-africans-support-the-ancDA Leads in Jo'burg, But Likely Short of a Majority: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/da-leads-in-jo-burg-but-likely-short-of-a-majorityTshwane Remains on the Brink in Latest Polling: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/tshwane-remains-on-the-brink-in-latest-pollingMKP Dominates in eThekwini, ANC Support Craters: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/mkp-dominates-in-ethekwini-anc-support-cratersFarmer Shot, Tortured, Even as Legacy Media Continues to Deny Farm Attack Crisis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/farmer-shot-tortured-even-as-legacy-media-continues-denyNetanyahu Leads Israel Vote but Falls Short of Majority: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/netanyahu-leads-israel-vote-falls-short-majorityDispatch from Washington: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/dispatch-washington On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Israel's election and the farm attack coverage4:46 Gabriel's retraction: Jackdaw, Rosebank and North Sea oil9:45 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel11:12 The new SRF poll: national results12:38 Johannesburg: the DA leads, short of a majority13:11 Tshwane: the DA slips as ActionSA rises13:38 eThekwini: MK takes Durban17:07 Can the non-liberation parties govern Joburg and Tshwane?20:48 Would an ANC and DA deal end the coalition chaos?24:27 Voters back the state in theory, not in practice26:21 BEE and the new school: what voters really want29:55 James Myburgh on the citizenship fight and 'disinformation'37:43 Who is Wes Streeting, Britain's Defence Secretary?43:23 The web outage that took down 32 government websites47:41 '1,000 days to war'51:41 Britain's military, Hegseth and DEI56:37 A week out from the US midterms57:19 Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio advert1:02:56 Newsom caught on camera1:05:41 Obama's speech for the Democrats1:09:29 The Democrats' November surprise1:16:07 James Myburgh on Roelf Meyer's memoir1:19:50 The 1992 referendum and de Klerk's promises1:24:41 What the panel makes of Meyer1:32:29 Wrap-up

UCT's Council is deciding whether to remove advocate Mark Oppenheimer over a podcast he recorded with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Mark explains the Navsa report, the R200 million the Donald Gordon Foundation withdrew over the university's Israel boycott, and why 300 Jewish students chose Stellenbosch over UCT this year. Frans Cronje reads the medium-term budget, released an hour before recording. Debt is revised down to 78.4% of GDP and the deficit to 3.9%. But spending rises to 33.4% of GDP and revenue to 29.5%. "It looks good. It's very bad." Simon Lincoln Reader explains the riots in France and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's part in them. Richard Tren is angry about Trump allowing Russian diesel imports, and explains why median household incomes in America are rising while young people's real wages are flat. Mark on Supra Mahumapelo's threat to strip his citizenship and why Parliament backed down. Frans closes on new polling: 80% of South Africans back AfriForum and March and March working together. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month: thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:US Ambassador Says South Africa Can Be as Successful as AmericaUCT Should Reject the Punishment of DissentWhy South Africans Loathe News24 and What to Do About ItThe Madness of King Zack (and his Greens)Dispatch from Washington (Russian diesel)Expect a Very Good Mini-Budget Next WeekFree Speech Union Demands Mahumapelo Drop Citizenship ThreatSouth Africans Back Cooperation Between AfriForum and March and MarchVoters Want ANC and DA to Work Together in Municipalities On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, Mark Oppenheimer, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas and the Harvard case8:03 Mark on the Johannesburg Bar's race quotas9:29 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel11:09 Mark Oppenheimer on the UCT Council and the move to remove him17:56 Is UCT leading the woke takeover of universities?21:13 What the Israel boycott has cost UCT25:02 Why Wits and Stellenbosch kept their sanity28:07 Simon on Ayaan Hirsi Ali31:47 France on fire: debt, the education budget and Mélenchon39:48 What the riots mean for Europe42:37 Would Marine Le Pen fix France?49:36 Trump allows Russian diesel imports55:47 Frans: should Ukraine settle on territory?1:03:14 US incomes are rising, young Americans' wages are flat1:08:39 The mini-budget: 'It looks good. It's very bad.'1:12:44 Mark: South Africa needs Milei-style reforms1:18:23 Lamola, Mahumapelo and the threat to Mark's citizenship1:25:51 Why deny the expropriation policy exists?1:31:30 Frans's plan for black and white farming partnerships1:34:20 Has the ANC stripped anyone's citizenship before?1:36:59 South Africa's greatest strength: AfriForum and March and March1:41:02 Wrap-up

Ryan Coetzee answered Marco Rubio's speech at the Acropolis by calling the tradition Rubio defended "the wrong one" that must be defeated. Simon Lincoln Reader takes him apart, and Frans Cronje argues the DA now has to let Coetzee go if it wants to repair South Africa's relationship with the United States. Bheki Mahlobo then makes the case that Jacob Zuma's death would not see the MK Party wither, because of how seriously most South Africans treat death and because Duduzane Zuma is a capable successor. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:The Impossible Economics of Domestic WorkLamola's Ill-Considered Jaunt to the USWhy a $100 Oil Price is Manageable for the Global EconomyThe Global Economy Keeps Defying the Wars, Tariffs, and PessimistsSouth Africa Less Politically Polarised Than Most Other CountriesTaking the MKP SeriouslyThe Amazing Story of the Fall and Rise of South Africa's Government Debt LevelThe Common Sense's Diary On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, Bheki Mahlobo, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 Pre-show: Cape Town, a fighter jet and the new White House press secretary3:45 Frans's friend who bought an oil rig, and Simon on Dallas's boom11:27 Welcome to Talking Sense: this week's panel13:02 Who is Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, and why are the elites blaming her?18:25 Simon on News24's 'huge story' about her husband's tenders20:26 Marco Rubio's speech at the Acropolis: why it mattered25:39 Richard Tren and Frans: Rubio, Vance and the Republican centre ground28:57 Bheki Mahlobo on Rubio, risk-taking and why the West demonises winners30:25 Was Rubio's speech a warning to Europe?32:22 Ryan Coetzee calls Rubio's tradition 'the wrong one': Simon replies36:43 Frans Cronje: Coetzee's remarks are 'fatally bad' for the DA and America42:05 Kimberly Guilfoyle, 'Fancy James' and the end of an ambassadorship49:13 Ilhan Omar: the federal raid and the immigration questions56:00 Diplomats behaving badly: the US ambassador to Nepal59:45 Is Trump baiting the Democrats into defending Ilhan Omar?1:01:26 The IMF's global outlook: why the bullish call held up1:07:17 Where South Africa fits: growth cut to 1% and investment below 15%1:10:06 V-Dem study: South Africa is less polarised than most democracies1:16:16 Death: would Jacob Zuma's passing sink the MK Party?1:21:03 How death is honoured in Black South African culture, and the Buthelezi poll1:25:25 Western elites, Charlie Kirk and celebrating a political opponent's death1:30:42 Taxes: why Frans expects the mini-budget to surprise the markets1:35:52 The Laffer curve in practice: Thomas Sowell on 1920s America1:37:29 Could a strong mini-budget set up a credit upgrade?1:42:07 Bheki's forecasting record and Schlemmer's block of marble1:43:44 Wrap-up

New News24/SABI polling puts the DA at about 40% in Johannesburg. Frans Cronje makes the case that the DA should refuse to govern the city on those numbers, win Gauteng in 2029 and fix it from a position of strength. James Myburgh asks whether this is the moment to seize. Also this week: why the diesel price is at a record high while oil sits at $100, Simon Lincoln Reader on Margaret Thatcher and whether Andy Burnham ends Thatcher capitalism, Richard Tren on the US Supreme Court's new term, Frans on the classical liberals and the Black Consciousness Movement, and James Myburgh on Fikile Mbalula's misleading defence of the Expropriation Act. Plus three years on from October 7. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:How Do News24/SABI Polls Compare to The Common Sense/SRF Polls?: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/how-do-news24-sabi-polls-compare-to-the-common-sense-srf-pollsNew Poll Shows DA on Track to be Biggest in Gauteng but Jo'burg: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/new-poll-shows-da-track-be-biggest-gauteng-jo-burgThis is Why the Diesel Price is So High: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/why-diesel-price-so-highANC Lies to the US About Expropriation Without Compensation: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/anc-lies-us-about-expropriation-without-compensationThree Years After October 7, We Will Not Apologise for Standing: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/three-years-after-october-7-we-will-not-apologise-standingOctober 7 Three Years On: A Pearl Harbour Moment in the Middle East: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/october-7th-three-years-pearl-harbour-moment-middle-eastMbuyiseni Ndlozi: South Africans Must Stop Waiting For The State to Save Them: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/listen/conversations-with-gabriel/mbuyiseni-ndlozi-south-africans-must-stop-waiting-for-the-state-to-save-themPrincy Mthombeni Wants to Rewrite the South African Constitution: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/listen/conversations-with-gabriel/princy-mthombeni-wants-to-rewrite-the-south-african-constitution On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader and Richard Tren. Chapters:0:00 A Pierneef-inspired AI painting, October 7 and the Green Party3:51 George Galloway in Cape Town and the Greens' 'Zionism is racism' motion8:33 Welcome to Talking Sense: why diesel is at a record price15:11 The new News24/SABI poll and how it compares with ours18:58 Should Helen Zille govern Johannesburg on 40%?22:03 Coalition options, ActionSA and the ANC's sabotage strategy26:15 James Myburgh: is this the moment for the DA to seize?32:08 Can the DA fix Johannesburg without a real majority?35:19 Lessons from the DA's last time in Johannesburg39:57 Has the GNU helped the DA? Black voters and the Zille gap44:19 Simon Lincoln Reader: what Thatcher capitalism was48:52 How Thatcher remade Britain: the City, finance and common sense51:56 Is Andy Burnham the final nail in Thatcher capitalism's coffin?56:19 Richard Tren: Thatcher, Reagan and the moral case for freedom1:03:06 Richard Tren: what to watch in the US Supreme Court's new term1:10:43 Is this a Trump court? Roberts, compromise and free speech1:12:29 Frans Cronje: the liberals and the Black Consciousness Movement1:19:23 A third way? Ndlozi, Princy Mthombeni and the two nationalisms1:23:49 Fikile Mbalula's misleading defence of the Expropriation Act1:27:23 Who is the ANC's weasel language meant to persuade? If this was worth your time, subscribe and like the video. It costs you nothing and helps The Common Sense reach more South Africans.

Thabo Mbeki's 120-page thesis says a counter-revolution planted inside the ANC brought the party down. Frans Cronje explains why its own policies did it, and why growing at 5% a year since 2008 would have lifted more than 10 million South Africans out of poverty. Also this week: James Myburgh on his National Press Club speech on the history of farm attacks and why the violence was normalised, how the foot-and-mouth crisis was fixed once farmers could buy their own vaccines, Ronald Lamola questioning debt repayments within earshot of Wall Street, Andy Burnham and the UK's bond market problem, and Richard Tren on how US student loans drove up university fees. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeWatch or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3BPffxR8ZZLUByFmsRCz7B Read the articles discussed:Mbeki Says the ANC was Brought Down by an Orchestrated Counter-Revolution: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/mbeki-says-anc-was-brought-down-orchestrated-counterAsk Not for Whom the Revolution Bays, It Bays for You: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/ask-not-whom-revolution-bays-bays-youIf SA Had Grown at Emerging-Market Rates, More Than 10 Million People Would Have Been Lifted Out of Poverty: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/if-sa-had-grown-emerging-market-rates-more-than-10-millionRethinking Empowerment Policy for South Africa's Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/rethinking-empowerment-policy-for-south-africas-futureExpert Explains Origins, History, and Consequences of South Africa's Farm Attack Crisis to America: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/expert-explains-origins-history-consequences-south-africa-sJust How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/just-how-dangerous-south-african-farm-we-ran-numbersSpecial Report: South Africa's Predatory Crime Problem: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/special-report-south-africas-predatory-crime-problemBlow for Steenhuisen as Free State Agriculture Wins for Farmers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/blow-steenhuisen-as-free-state-agriculture-wins-farmersSimon Lincoln-Reader, Lamola's Ill-Considered Jaunt to the US: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/editorials/lamola-s-ill-considered-jaunt-usInvestors Think South Africa Is Safe Again. November's Elections Could Prove Them Wrong (Bheki Mahlobo on the bond market): https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/videos/investors-think-south-africa-is-

Markets have priced South African risk down to almost zero on the belief that the GNU holds after November. Frans Cronje and Bheki Mahlobo explain why the foundations are weaker than in 2024, what would reprice SA's bonds overnight, and how that reaches your bond and credit card rates. Also this week: Marius Roodt's research showing the DA is bigger than the ANC in the eight metros, more than 100 hung councils ahead, Cape Town's ConCourt win against racial procurement rules, Simon Lincoln-Reader on Dario Amodei's push to regulate AI, Ronald Lamola with Bernie Sanders in New York, and why Germany's hard left and hard right both won. Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month and get all the facts and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe Read the articles discussed:SA's Cities Have Moved Away from the ANC: Is the Country Next? https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/sa-s-cities-have-moved-away-anc-country-nextCourt Blocks Government's Most Prescriptive Racial Procurement Regime Yet: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/court-blocks-government-s-most-prescriptive-racialHard Right, Hard Left Each Win State Election in Germany: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Global/hard-right-hard-left-each-win-state-election-germanyThe enclave guide, What Families Must Do to Thrive in South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/special-report-a-guide-to-what-families-must-do-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-futureSimon Lincoln-Reader, Are Calls for AI Regulations Just an Excuse for More Government Control? https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/columns/are-calls-ai-regulations-just-excuse-more-government-control On the panel: host Gabriel Makin, Frans Cronje and Simon Lincoln-Reader, with guests Bheki Mahlobo, The Common Sense's economics editor, and Marius Roodt, its deputy editor. Chapters:0:00 Why markets are so optimistic about the GNU9:28 Welcome to Talking Sense11:22 Is the GNU still what it was in 2024?17:26 Overhang and the Constitutional Court wildcard22:53 Markets have priced South African risk at zero25:48 Why bond yields reach your bond and credit card28:21 Why the DA may be right to leave the GNU35:47 Cape Town's ConCourt win on racial procurement42:09 If the 8 metros were a country, the DA would win45:11 Why the ANC is losing rural South Africa too52:55 More than 100 hung councils in November55:09 Why the markets are complacent this time58:03 Dario Amodei, AI regulation and the effective altruists1:17:25 Lamola, Bernie Sanders and the national interest1:27:39 Germany: the AfD and Die Linke both win1:32:19 How bad policy compounds, from Berlin to MK1:36:41 Thanks and goodbye If this was worth your time, subscribe and like the video. It costs you nothing and helps The Common Sense reach more South Africans.

Become a member of The Common Sense for R99 a month: https://thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe This week the Talking Sense panel talks about the Springboks' Baltimore experiment and the bid to buy the Boks, the United States' first sanctions against South Africa, the serial killer in Ekurhuleni, Reform's £72 million weekend in UK party donations, two good things out of Britain, Somaliland's pitch to the West, The Common Sense's special report on the enclave future, and why the DA is a middle-class party. Chapters:0:00 Bongani Baloyi, MK and the ANC's electoral court defeat5:58 Intro7:20 The Springboks for sale: Baltimore and the diaspora17:52 The United States sanctions South Africa25:52 The serial killer in Ekurhuleni37:25 Reform's £72 million weekend: UK party donations55:26 Two good things out of Britain: Jackdaw and assisted dying1:02:52 Somaliland's pitch to the West1:12:41 The Common Sense's enclave special report1:25:44 The DA is a middle-class party1:28:20 Outro Read the pieces discussed in this episode:The Diary — A Summer Night's Eve in Baltimore: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Columns/common-sense-s-diary-summer-night-s-eve-baltimoreUS Announces Sanctions Against South Africa Over Racial Policies: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/us-announces-sanctions-against-south-africa-over-racialSevere Blow to ANC in Six Municipalities Ahead of the Local Government Elections: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/severe-blow-anc-six-municipalities-ahead-local-governmentSPECIAL REPORT — What Families Must Do to Thrive in South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/special-report-a-guide-to-what-families-must-do-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-futureMembers video — How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/videos/how-to-thrive-in-south-africa-s-enclave-future-members-special Watch Gabriel's interview with Bongani Baloyi of MK: https://youtu.be/bnOBffnfNXk

Become a member of The Common Sense for just R99 a month: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribe This week on Talking Sense: the election maths problem that could throw November's local government results into chaos — how a party that loses the vote can still end up running the council — plus the fragmenting Black vote in our latest poll, the Falklands back in the news (and what Milei is playing at), the Chagos giveaway, the American midterms and Trump's own goals, the strange return of Wouter Basson, and a rare piece of good news — the Supreme Court of Appeal clears the way for the Western Cape's school reforms. Timestamps:0:00 Pre-show: drinks and banter1:50 The overhang problem: November's election maths10:52 Welcome and this week's menu12:10 The Black vote fragments17:50 How not to read a poll: Ipsos and the SRF24:48 The Falklands: a brief history30:18 Why now? Milei, oil and a weakened Britain40:27 The South African angle: Simon's Town and the South Atlantic43:48 The Chagos giveaway57:42 The American midterms1:09:16 Trump's own goals1:15:09 The strange return of Wouter Basson1:18:48 Basson, Libya and the ANC1:31:02 Good news: the courts clear the Western Cape's school reforms1:36:24 Connect the dots: who funds the obstruction?1:43:52 Wrap-up Read the articles discussed in this episode:— Black Vote Fragments: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Politics/black-vote-fragments— How Equal Education and SADTU Work to Stunt Poor Black Children: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Editorials/how-equal-education-sadtu-work-stunt-poor-black-children— Estimating What South Africa Would Gain from Exploiting Its Oil and Gas Reserves: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Economics%20&%20Policy/estimating-what-south-africa-would-gain-exploiting-its-oil On the panel this week: Gabriel Makin (host, London), Frans Cronje, Richard Tren (Washington, D.C.), James Myburgh (Bremen) and Simon Lincoln-Reader (London). The Common Sense is South Africa's home of independent news and analysis: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za

Richard Tren reports from Buenos Aires on Milei's revolution, Frans Cronje explains what the US bond yield spike actually means, James Myburgh unpacks South Africa's mysterious murder decline and the party funding declarations, and Simon Lincoln-Reader tells the story of how Nike went woke and lost its way. Plus: the ANC misses its own candidate registration deadline, the impossible economics of being a domestic worker, and Helen Zille's water project. Articles referenced in this episode:Just How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/politics/just-how-dangerous-south-african-farm-we-ran-numbersWhat's Driving the US Yield Spike — And the Bessent-Warsh Standoff Behind It: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/what-s-driving-us-yield-spike-bessent-warsh-standoff-behindThe Impossible Economics of Domestic Work: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/economics_and_policy/impossible-economics-domestic-workRichard Tren — President Trump's Misread of South Africa (RealClearWorld): https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2026/09/02/president_trumps_misread_of_south_africa_1203862.html Become a member of The Common Sense and get all the facts and analysis for R99 a month: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeSign up for the newsletter: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/newsletters Talking Sense is The Common Sense's weekly panel: host Gabriel Makin with James Myburgh, Frans Cronje, Richard Tren and Simon Lincoln-Reader. Chapters0:00 Before the show: Trump's misread of South Africa and the farm murders data9:31 Show open and this week's rundown10:57 Richard in Argentina: Milei's revolution up close30:14 What is a bond? Frans explains from first principles39:48 Why are US yields spiking? The Common Sense breakdown1:04:51 The UK's gilt problem: 5.89% and climbing1:09:14 Nike goes woke: Shoe Dog, share prices and shutting up1:24:18 South Africa's crime stats: the mysterious murder decline1:36:52 The ANC misses its own candidate registration deadline1:43:08 Party funding declarations: who funds whom, and who declares nothing1:50:06 The impossible economics of domestic work1:56:32 Helen Zille's water project and the battle for Johannesburg2:03:02 Wrap-up: a record-length episode If this was worth your time, like the video and subscribe for the full weekly episode.

In the latest episode of Talking Sense, with James Myburgh, Richard Tren, and Simon Lincoln-Reader, and hosted by Gabriel Makin, the panel looks at new SRF polling showing that South Africans support closer alignment with the United States. Majorities back exemptions for American companies from BEE, guarantees against expropriation, and protecting America’s security interests. Black voters were also more supportive than white voters on BEE exemptions, with 60% backing the policy compared with 55% of white voters.The panel also also looks at the ANC's two eras, the new Water Bill, the Constitutional Court's Shell ruling, primaries in the United States, and the Jason Arday affair. Become a member and support The Common Sense — Common Sense Plus is 99 rand a month and gets you the full archive of articles, explainers and the data behind South Africa's most important trends: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeSite: https://www.thecommonsense.co.zaPanel: Gabriel Makin (host), James Myburgh, Richard Tren, Simon Lincoln-ReaderChapters:0:00 Pre-show: the AI wunderkind vs Wall Street4:25 March on March and the AfriForum model8:32 US fundraising spam and ActBlue12:03 Show start: this week's stories13:14 Did the ANC ever really deliver? (subscriber question)22:35 The new Water Bill25:59 The Shell ruling, Eskom and net zero36:29 The United States' primaries: Florida50:01 Jason Arday and the DEI reckoning1:06:14 New poll: South Africans on American companies1:11:52 Closing thoughtsIf this was worth your time, like the video and subscribe for a new episode every week.

Black South Africans are more willing than white South Africans to move to the US as refugees, according to new polling discussed in this week’s episode of Talking Sense. The panel discusses South Africa's "useless men" problem and why young men are abandoning women to leave them to raise children alone. The panel also examines Duduzane Zuma’s appearance at the BizNews conference, where he told Alec Hogg that the MKP is real and here to stay, with Frans Cronje arguing that South Africans should take the party seriously. Simon Lincoln Reader looks at the Church of England’s £100 million slavery reparations pledge and asks what happens when the church stops being a church. The panel delves into the deep splits within the Church of England which has seen its Global South leadership break away, stressing the Bible should be at the centre of its work, whereas its Western community stresses socialist dogma and ideology. Bheki Mahlobo discusses US inflation and why young Americans feel alienated from their country’s economy, while James Myburgh analyses the DA’s local government manifesto and the fight inside UCT’s council. The panel also looks at questionable US climate data.Gabriel Makin hosts. Panel: Frans Cronje, James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader, Bheki Mahlobo.Common Sense Plus is R99 a month.https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/subscribeChapters0:00 Female-headed households3:03 Richard Tren, Yorktown, Kings Mountain6:57 Clacton and Count Binface8:36 Fake polls12:29 Show open14:08 Duduzane Zuma on BizNews, MK and the ANC24:36 Church of England reparations45:22 US inflation, jobs, cost of living1:00:24 DA local government manifesto1:14:11 UCT council and the vice-chancellor1:19:13 America’s “hottest month”1:28:34 Refugee poll1:31:21 Closethecommonsense.co.za

Read the full analysis and more data-driven insights: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Become a Common Sense Member for R99/pm https://bit.ly/3QJWRIdThis week the panel discusses the Social Research Foundation and The Common Sense new national and Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria polling. The ANC sits at 34% nationally and under 20% in Johannesburg. Frans Cronje explains why Phala Phala and the immigration campaigns have become a vice around the ANC, why MK now commands two thirds of the ANC's support among black voters, and what a party polling below 50% in every one of its historical constituencies means for November.Also on the show: the reinstatement of Tshwane city manager Johan Mettler after Solidarity and the DA went to court; Willie Aucamp's approach to the foot-and-mouth crisis and the return of Dawie Oudendaal and Theo de Jager to the industry coordinating council; News24's partial climbdown on IDAC and the still-unanswered question of who exposed the Pretoria safe house; the death of Rod Liddle; and Abdul El-Sayed's razor-thin victory in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary.

Read the full analysis and more data-driven insights: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Become a Common Sense Member for R99/pm https://bit.ly/3QJWRIdSouth Africa's new anti-corruption body, IDAC, was supposed to clean up the state. Instead it appears to have run interference against the people investigating one of the country's most murderous criminal syndicates.The panel works through IDAC's capture, and the media complicity around that, and what the Madlanga Commission has exposed about it all, and then traces the same playbook back to the SARS "rogue unit" operation against Johann van Loggerenberg in 2014.Also this week: the SANDF is training a special warfare unit to fight deep underground in an effort to win back the mineral resources the state expropriated 20 years ago and then lost control of. Richard Tren goes through Anthony Fauci's newly released diaries and what Fauci knew about the origins of COVID - whilst the panel suggests what those origins most likely were. Simon Lincoln Reader takes apart The Economist's interview with Elon Musk. And Frans Cronje explains why South Africa already has the electricity it needs to grow at 4 percent.0:00 — Opening banter and setup9:14 — Show intro and guest lineup10:11 — IDAC capture and the Madlanga Commission24:21 — Media complicity and the SARS rogue unit playbook30:04 — South Africa’s underground military unit and illicit mining43:03 — Dr. Fauci’s diaries and the COVID response61:15 — Elon Musk’s Economist interview76:33 — South Africa’s energy needs and growth potential94:45 — Closing remarks

Read the full analysis and more data-driven insights: https://www.thecommonsense.co.za/Become a Common Sense Member for R99/pm https://bit.ly/3QJWRIdThis episode opens with the Financial Mail controversy then examines the Ann Widdecombe murder and political violence. Next it covers UK think tanks, the new prime minister and the policy rebuild. The discussion to the Hopefield environmental dispute. It analyses the Democratic Socialists of America and elite left politics, looks at Israel, public opinion and the war of ideas. It compares China’s improving global image with the West and addresses the Madlanga Commission and IDAC concerns. It ends with a discussion on black engineering graduates.Chapters0:00 — Opening and Financial Mail controversy4:02 — The Ann Widdecombe murder and political violence8:31 — UK think tanks, the new prime minister, and policy rebuild12:04 — Introducing the week’s topics and Hopefield environmental dispute23:23 — The UK’s new prime minister and cabinet reshuffle41:21 — The Democratic Socialists of America and elite left politics68:16 — Israel, public opinion, and the war of ideas77:26 — China’s improving global image versus the West85:35 — The Madlanga Commission and IDAC concerns89:44 — Black engineering graduates in South Africa95:13 — Closing remarks and sign-off