Episodes

  • Episode 207 - Desi Freeman - Monica Parties - Iran - WWN or Trump?

    Episode 207 - Desi Freeman - Monica Parties - Iran - WWN or Trump?
    Apr 9 2026

    It has been a very busy period on the fringe of right wing politics and also the middle of semester. Which is annoying. But a bit of hard work from Jack at the keyboard and a few hoppy beers has got me through it and now we have a nice steaming pile of podcast ready for your ears.

    First up, of course, Desi is dead. What a lovely guy. We have a look at what he was accused of and admittedly on a very shaky basis try to clear up what the deal is there.

    Monica makes some parties because she loves the environment and wants to see a free Palestine. She even loves renewables! Not big on boars.

    Iran is not going well. At all.

    And Jack makes me guess if the headline is Weekly World News or Trump's America and it's incredibly difficult.


    Oh and Babet is an misogynistic unloveable potato.


    Enjoy!

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 151 - Egg Hunts, Air Strikes & the ASX

    The Two Jacks - Episode 151 - Egg Hunts, Air Strikes & the ASX
    Apr 5 2026
    Same prompt as last time except this one is claude 4.6 opus. taking bloody ages no wonder they don't to be robot executioners they wouldn't fire until the target was in another postcode. LLM more like Lame Loading Model. At least Grok was fast. Oh wow Claude is brutal. I think I will stop doing roast shownotes after this but it's pretty funny. Okay yeah this will be the last roast notes so enjoy while it lasts. I ran it again telling it to be less harsh and yeah, it's still harsh. G'day, you legends! Welcome to the notes for Episode 150 of The Two Jacks, where Jack the Insider teams up with Hong Kong Jack (the ex-Labor bloke who's wandered off into conservative wilderness—mate, what happened? We view that shift with the contempt it deserves, like watching a once-solid pub mate switch to light beer). It's all fair dinkum Aussie banter here: politics, elections, wars, strikes, and sport, with a bit of arsehole flair thrown in. We've bumped timestamps forward 25 seconds to account for the theme music—because who doesn't love a dramatic entrance?This ep clocks in at around 1:13:40 (post-theme), recorded on 26 March 2026. Jack the Insider keeps it real, while Hong Kong Jack reminisces about his glory days before his puzzling pivot to the dark side. Strap in for a ripper discussion shaded with our signature contempt for conservative flip-floppers.00:00:25 - Intro & Midsomer Murders BanterJack the Insider kicks off with a warm welcome to Episode 150, "Cause for Raising the Bat." Hong Kong Jack dives into his love for Midsomer Murders—showing his age, but hey, at least it's not as outdated as his politics. Quick chat on media strikes and a teaser for political affiliations. (Light-hearted start, no harm done.)00:00:44 - Political Shifts: Hong Kong Jack's "Evolution"Hong Kong Jack claims his views haven't changed since the Hawke era—pull the other one, mate! He admits ditching faith in government enterprises like Telecom (fair call) but then bangs on about defending Western civilization after eyeing failed states. Jack the Insider wisely points out that's 43 years ago—plenty of time for a bloke to go from Labor loyalist to conservative crank. We shade this with contempt: once a worker's champion, now just another right-leaning relic. Key quote: "My views aren't very different to what they were in 1983." Yeah, nah.00:01:40 - US Democracy Woes & Aussie StrengthsDeep dive into America's broken system—Trump as symptom, not disease. Jack the Insider praises Australia's compulsory voting, independent electoral commission, and preferential system as rock-solid. Hong Kong Jack chimes in on voter registration pitfalls in the US (fair point, even from a turncoat). Education smackdown: Insider calls out red states' poor outcomes; Hong Kong Jack disputes it—next week's debate fodder.00:09:11 - South Australian Election TsunamiLabor surges to 33+ seats, Libs collapse, One Nation rises (but probably won't last—history says they'll implode like always). Insider debunks the "orange tsunami" hype; it's just Lib votes bleeding to One Nation, handing wins to Labor. Shade on Hong Kong Jack's conservative lean: This is what happens when ex-Labor types like you defect—chaos for the right! Big swings in blue-collar seats, but Insider sees two Australias emerging. One Nation's David Payton congratulated... for now. Bet on him bolting to the crossbenches within a year.00:22:39 - Immigration, Patriotism, & Pauline's PerksInsider calls out xenophobia's ugly history in Oz (thanks, White Australia policy—Labor's brainchild, ironically). Hong Kong Jack pushes addressing concerns without dismissing voters—solid, but coming from a conservative convert, it's rich. Chat on embracing migrants as "new Australians" and embracing patriotism (not jingoism). Quick roast: Pauline Hanson cops flak for undeclared flights on Gina Rinehart's jet—quid pro quo much? Insider: Personal attacks won't stick, but policy takedowns will.00:39:44 - Albo's Mosque Visit & Aussie Heckling TraditionPM Albo and Tony Burke get razzed at Lakemba Mosque—fair play in our democracy! Insider recalls Howard and Hawke copping boos too. Hong Kong Jack shares Gough Whitlam's 1974 rugby league zinger. All in good fun—unlike switching political sides mid-life crisis.00:42:25 - ABC Strike DramaABC staff walk out for 24 hours over pay (10% over three years, below inflation). Insider: Not ideal timing with news alternatives booming. Hong Kong Jack jokes about staff showing up just to strike—classic. Many preferred the BBC fill-in; Insider warns of threats to World Service. Shade: If only conservatives like Hong Kong Jack appreciated public broadcasters instead of griping.00:48:00 - Iran War Update: Closer to Peace?Tense chat on the Iran conflict—US strikes "obliterated" nuclear sites (per Tulsi Gabbard), but why the war? Straits of Hormuz choked, petrol prices spiking ($2.50 unleaded in Oz). Insider questions regime change; Hong Kong Jack sees ...
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 150 - Landslides, Losers, and Raised Bats

    The Two Jacks - Episode 150 - Landslides, Losers, and Raised Bats
    Mar 28 2026
    So the shownotes are brought to you by Grok this week and this is the prompt. Please make podcast shownotes based on this transcript. Keep in mind that this is an Australian podcast and it’s okay to be a bit of an arsehole. In fact, I encourage it. But not toward jack the insider - just toward hong kong jack who is an old lawyer who used to be a labor voter but now is more of a conservative which we view with contempt. Feel free to shade the shownotes with that perspective. It's just not a good model. These shownotes are fine, I guess, but what it thinks 'Australian' is has truly made me want to move to New Zealand. Oh Grok, you did your best. The transcript says my name instead of Jack and I tell Grok that but it clearly did not listen. Terrible, terrible LLM. Show Notes: Two Jacks Episode 150G'day, you legends! Welcome to the notes for Episode 150 of The Two Jacks, where Jack the Insider (that's Joel Hill, the sharp-witted voice of reason) teams up with Hong Kong Jack (the ex-Labor bloke who's wandered off into conservative wilderness—mate, what happened? We view that shift with the contempt it deserves, like watching a once-solid pub mate switch to light beer). It's all fair dinkum Aussie banter here: politics, elections, wars, strikes, and sport, with a bit of arsehole flair thrown in. We've bumped timestamps forward 25 seconds to account for the theme music—because who doesn't love a dramatic entrance?This ep clocks in at around 1:13:40 (post-theme), recorded on 26 March 2026. Jack the Insider keeps it real, while Hong Kong Jack reminisces about his glory days before his puzzling pivot to the dark side. Strap in for a ripper discussion shaded with our signature contempt for conservative flip-floppers.Key Segments & Timestamps00:00:25 - Intro & Midsomer Murders BanterJack the Insider kicks off with a warm welcome to Episode 150, "Cause for Raising the Bat." Hong Kong Jack dives into his love for Midsomer Murders—showing his age, but hey, at least it's not as outdated as his politics. Quick chat on media strikes and a teaser for political affiliations. (Light-hearted start, no harm done.)00:00:44 - Political Shifts: Hong Kong Jack's "Evolution"Hong Kong Jack claims his views haven't changed since the Hawke era—pull the other one, mate! He admits ditching faith in government enterprises like Telecom (fair call) but then bangs on about defending Western civilization after eyeing failed states. Jack the Insider wisely points out that's 43 years ago—plenty of time for a bloke to go from Labor loyalist to conservative crank. We shade this with contempt: once a worker's champion, now just another right-leaning relic. Key quote: "My views aren't very different to what they were in 1983." Yeah, nah.00:01:40 - US Democracy Woes & Aussie StrengthsDeep dive into America's broken system—Trump as symptom, not disease. Jack the Insider praises Australia's compulsory voting, independent electoral commission, and preferential system as rock-solid. Hong Kong Jack chimes in on voter registration pitfalls in the US (fair point, even from a turncoat). Education smackdown: Insider calls out red states' poor outcomes; Hong Kong Jack disputes it—next week's debate fodder.00:09:11 - South Australian Election TsunamiLabor surges to 33+ seats, Libs collapse, One Nation rises (but probably won't last—history says they'll implode like always). Insider debunks the "orange tsunami" hype; it's just Lib votes bleeding to One Nation, handing wins to Labor. Shade on Hong Kong Jack's conservative lean: This is what happens when ex-Labor types like you defect—chaos for the right! Big swings in blue-collar seats, but Insider sees two Australias emerging. One Nation's David Payton congratulated... for now. Bet on him bolting to the crossbenches within a year.00:22:39 - Immigration, Patriotism, & Pauline's PerksInsider calls out xenophobia's ugly history in Oz (thanks, White Australia policy—Labor's brainchild, ironically). Hong Kong Jack pushes addressing concerns without dismissing voters—solid, but coming from a conservative convert, it's rich. Chat on embracing migrants as "new Australians" and embracing patriotism (not jingoism). Quick roast: Pauline Hanson cops flak for undeclared flights on Gina Rinehart's jet—quid pro quo much? Insider: Personal attacks won't stick, but policy takedowns will.00:39:44 - Albo's Mosque Visit & Aussie Heckling TraditionPM Albo and Tony Burke get razzed at Lakemba Mosque—fair play in our democracy! Insider recalls Howard and Hawke copping boos too. Hong Kong Jack shares Gough Whitlam's 1974 rugby league zinger. All in good fun—unlike switching political sides mid-life crisis.00:42:25 - ABC Strike DramaABC staff walk out for 24 hours over pay (10% over three years, below inflation). Insider: Not ideal timing with news alternatives booming. Hong Kong Jack jokes about staff showing up just to strike—classic. Many preferred the BBC fill-in; Insider warns of threats to ...
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Episode 206 - SA Election - Cobalt or Death - Florsheim Shoes - Monica & Guru in Court -

    Episode 206 - SA Election - Cobalt or Death - Florsheim Shoes - Monica & Guru in Court -
    Mar 26 2026

    It's been a huge week on the lunatic fringe.

    We have the SA election where One Nation basically won the whole thing while Peter Malinauskas and his stupid giant biceps are crying into some non alcoholic beer that someone served him WITHOUT AN RSA!

    But yeah it's South Australia so outside of the whole One Nation litmus test don't tell me you care about ambulance ramping in Adelaide because I know you don't.

    One can only assume Marco Rubio is channeling Trump when he says to Zambia - give us your rare earth minerals or we will kill your kids.

    Wish we were kidding. They are holding PEPFAR hostage for a deal. Insane.

    Trump is making people wear clown shoes which is bizarrely apt but not for the right reasons

    AAANNNNDDD

    We look at Monica and Guru back in court. Monica has come back for her hat and Guru is having a crack at self rep for a defo case that is going very badly.

    Also sovcits and BABET!

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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • SAMPLE - Black Label 39 - Iran - Naughty Jan 6ers - Farrer and SA elections - HCA Vic donations case

    SAMPLE - Black Label 39 - Iran - Naughty Jan 6ers - Farrer and SA elections - HCA Vic donations case
    Mar 19 2026

    In my legally unqualified opinion we didn't defame anyone in the first 30 mins so we will give y'all a bit of content to chew on while we get the next main ep going.

    Notes are slop as declared! Enjoy and sign up if you want more!

    patreon.com/theconditionalreleaseprogram


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Big one here! Was a fun record. At the end we also have a quick chat about Monica's upcoming appeal though limited because Jack needed to scurry off for a durry and watch his beloved Carlton play (and win) a game. Bless - he will be in a good mood this week.


    Here's some AI slop show notes. This one's from Gemini Pro - thinking model.


    PS gemini is lying there's a ton that's off limits but we do push the envelope a bit in the second half. Enjoy :-)


    Show Notes

    In this extended Black Label episode, Jack and Joel dive deep into the unfolding chaos of the Iran War, the disturbing criminal fallout of Donald Trump’s January 6th pardons, and the "rigged" nature of Australian electoral finance laws. From dirty bombs to "demonic realms" in South Australian politics, nothing is off-limits.


    The Middle East: The Bad Sequel

    The Iran War: Jack and Joel discuss the lack of an exit strategy in the escalating conflict involving Israel, Iran, and Lebanon


    Intelligence Gaps: A look at the "gutting" of the U.S. security apparatus and why the duo currently trusts ASIO over the FBI.


    The "Dirty Bomb" Threat: A breakdown of radioactive materials like Cesium-137 and Americium—and Joel’s childhood plan involving a smoke detector.


    The Matildas & Bravery: The team discusses the defection of five Iranian women’s soccer players in Australia.


    U.S. News: Pardons and Predators

    The Crime Wave: A startling analysis of the 1,600 January 6th insurrectionists pardoned by Trump. At least 33 have already re-offended or were revealed to have extensive records.


    Disturbing Trends: Discussion on the over-representation of child sex offenders among the J6 pardoned group compared to the general population.


    Prison Politics: Jack explains the "Aryan Brotherhood" intake process in federal penitentiaries.


    Australian Politics: Rigged Systems & Religious "Fruit Loops"

    The Farrer By-election: Why the Liberal Party might run third in Susan Ley’s old seat as an Independent looks to "piss it in".


    South Australian "Demons": The rise of Liberal candidate Carsten Woodhouse, his views on "demonic realms," and why the SA Liberals are facing a 60-40 wipeout.


    Electoral Finance Lawsuit: A deep dive into the High Court challenge by Paul Hopper and Melissa Lowe against Victorian donation laws that appear designed to entrench the major parties.


    The Cooker Corner: Monica’s Day in Court

    The Appeal: Monica Smit returns to court to challenge her costs order.


    Calderbank Offers: Joel explains how Monica's rejection of a settlement offer led to her current financial peril—and why she admitted on Twitter that she "knew the risks".
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    33 mins
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 149 - How We Consume News (and Why It Matters)

    The Two Jacks - Episode 149 - How We Consume News (and Why It Matters)
    Mar 19 2026

    Okay so it seems that episode 148 hasn't actually gone up yet. So I will do that later. Yes, 148 goes before 149 but we are post modern and cool like that. And hey, now you can liten to episode 148 and know HKJ is wrong instead of wondering if he will be wrong. Hindsight is 20/20 indeed.

    This AI slop is brought to you by Copilot 'premium' which is the one that makes the talky guns and tracky cameras.

    Episode summary

    A non‑news episode that examines personal media habits, the shifting political spectrum (using the ABC Vote Compass), the economics of modern journalism, social platforms and the disruptive risks and benefits of AI — plus a run through books, magazines, streamers and sport. The hosts compare how they start the day, which outlets they trust, and how AI is already changing creative and legal work. Key theme: media survival depends on business models, editorial craft and sensible regulation of new technologies.

    “Well, g'day listeners and welcome once again to the Two Jacks. We've got a slightly different program today for you. We're not going to cover the news. We're going to cover media and who we like in it and and the pressures that are on media at the moment, where that all might lead to, the role of social media, AI, et cetera.”.



    Show notes with timestamps (all timestamps shifted +25 seconds to allow for theme music)

    - 00:00:25 — Intro & episode focus — Hosts set out the plan: a media‑focused episode rather than the usual news rundown.

    - 00:01:47 — Political identity & background — Hong Kong Jack describes his political journey (centre‑left, former Socialist Left faction).

    - 00:03:38 — On the “well‑trodden path” — Discussion of how political views used to shift with age and why that pattern is changing for younger voters.

    - 00:06:54 — ABC Vote Compass exercise — Jack completes the Vote Compass and they discuss how algorithms and question framing shape results.

    - 00:21:08 — Vote Compass results & interpretation — Jack’s alignment scores (e.g., 75% with Coalition, 54% with Labor, 20% with Greens) and the hosts’ take on what that means.

    - 00:27:13 — Daily media routines — What each host reads and listens to first thing (newspapers, RN, X/Twitter scans, US/UK outlets). Practical notes on tabloids vs broadsheets for breaking local news.

    - 00:39:32 — Opinion vs reporting — How to spot news reporting vs opinion pages and why craftful writing (examples: Marina Hyde, Andrew Sullivan) matters.

    - 01:03:35 — Magazines & books — Short detour on the decline of magazines, favourite authors (PG Wodehouse, Ian Rankin, Patrick Radden Keefe).

    - 01:03:35 — Streamers & sport viewing — How the hosts manage subscriptions, Foxtel/streamer fatigue and watching AFL/NRL.

    - 00:50:45 — AI: opportunities and risks — Start of the AI segment: research uses, creative pitfalls, and legal/compliance concerns.

    - 00:56:21 — ByteDance / C‑Dance & IP concerns — Discussion of AI‑generated video, likeness rights and the potential for major intellectual‑property disputes.

    - 01:01:46 — Regulation debate — Should AI be regulated now or allowed to evolve? The hosts weigh the tradeoffs and recall missed regulatory opportunities with social media.

    - 01:13:03 — Sport roundup — AFL, NRL and international sport highlights and controversies (Sydney Swans commemoration, fixture fairness, early season form).

    - 01:29:08 — Wrap & final thoughts — Media matters; paying for quality journalism and the need to balance innovation with safeguards.


    Key takeaways

    - Media habits shape perception — where you start your day (tabloid, broadsheet, radio, X) affects what you notice and how you interpret events.

    - Quality writing still matters — craft, clarity and wit keep readers engaged and build trust.

    - AI is a double‑edged sword — powerful for research and diagnostics, risky for copyright, fabrication and legal accuracy; human verification remains essential.

    - Business model = survival — subscriptions and reliable revenue streams determine whether outlets can afford deep reporting.
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • The Two Jacks - Episode 147 - Khamenei Down, Carney in Town & the AFL Kicks Off

    The Two Jacks - Episode 147 - Khamenei Down, Carney in Town & the AFL Kicks Off
    Mar 10 2026
    Claude wrote these. I did not. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack are back for Episode 147, recorded on 5 March 2026. It's a massive week of news — a record Kiwi exodus to Australia, a leaked Liberal Party post-mortem, the Star Casino legal fallout, a landmark war in Iran, and a bumper AFL season preview. Settle in.Record Kiwi Migration & Trans-Tasman Economics[00:00:41]The BBC reports New Zealand citizens are leaving at record levels — over 60,000 departed in a single year, the equivalent of 180 people per day. Former PM Jacinda Ardern has joined the exodus, reportedly house-hunting on Sydney's northern beaches. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack debate the merits of the northern beaches vs. the eastern suburbs, and the real net migration figures behind the headlines.Net migration loss from NZ: over 30,000 in 2024 to Australia aloneLong-term departures hit 101,932 in 2023 — remarkable for a nation of 5.3 millionNZ GDP per capita: USD 49,000 vs. Australia's USD 69,000New Zealand has been in negative GDP growth since December 2024, but is forecasting ~4% growth in the next financial yearAustralia has maintained consistent positive GDP growth post-COVID (0.8%–2.5% p.a.)The two countries are described as being at opposite ends of the economic cycleBrief discussion on Jacinda Ardern's post-Harvard career options and what Julia Gillard's post-PM trajectory looks like by comparison🗳️ The Leaked Liberal Party Review[00:07:44]The suppressed post-mortem of the coalition's catastrophic 2025 federal election loss has been leaked — ultimately tabled in Parliament by PM Albanese himself, making it public. Jack the Insider has read the first version of the 64-page document.The review was always going to leak; opposition leader Angus Taylor's attempt to suppress it backfired spectacularlyKey findings: breakdown in relationship between Peter Dutton's office and the federal campaign director; policy made without clear authorshipJane Hume named for two damaging gaffes — claiming Chinese spies were handing out how-to-votes for Labor, and overstating the case against work-from-home (she later apologised to The Australian's industrial relations reporter Ewan Hannan)The work-from-home policy has no identifiable authorDutton still insisting he was ahead in polls in FebruaryDiscussion of Labor's own 2019 review and the broader lesson for parties about not releasing policy too early🏢 Star Casino Federal Court Ruling[00:19:05]A breaking story: the Federal Court has handed down adverse findings against two former Star Entertainment executives in a landmark corporate governance case.Former CEO Matt Bekier and former Chief Legal Officer Paula Martin found to have breached Section 180 of the Corporations Act (duties of care and diligence) between 2017–2019Justice Michael Lee (described as "the busiest judge in the country") cleared seven other board members including former ARU chair John O'NeillSanctions yet to be handed down; ASIC likely to weigh inThe broader discussion covers the structural problem with casino business models: regulatory compliance around money laundering may be fundamentally incompatible with profitabilityCrown Melbourne's tribulations and multiple royal commissions also referenced, including a colourful anecdote about a criminal money-laundering operation that went badly wrong🏠 Victoria's Work-From-Home Legislation[00:24:46]The Allan government is moving to enshrine the right to work from home in Victorian legislation.Jack the Insider sees echoes of the dying days of the Cain-Kirner government — a paralysed administration unable to confront the CFMEU, reaching for popular populist measures to shift the narrativeGenuine doubt raised about whether the Victorian government has the constitutional authority to extend this beyond the state's own industrial relations jurisdictionIronic observation: the CFMEU may now be able to commit its alleged crimes from the comfort of home, enshrined in law by the very government it dominates🏏 R.I.P. Dennis Cometti — A Legend of Australian Sporting Commentary[00:27:41]A sad farewell to one of Australia's greatest sports broadcasters, Dennis Cometti, who passed away aged 76 after an illness.Remembered for his wit, calm authority, extraordinary phrasing ("centimetre perfect") and versatility across AFL, swimming, and OlympicsHis long partnership with Bruce McAvaney celebrated — both were known for generously lifting their co-commentators rather than hogging the spotlightMatthew Richardson recalled how Cometti and McAvaney would share stats and ideas with sideline reporters to make the whole program better — rare generosity in the industryBruce McAvaney described the loss of his "great mate" as losing "something truly precious"Jack the Insider teases a future story about his own interview with Bruce McAvaney🇮🇷 The Iran War — A Deep Dive[00:30:51]The episode's centrepiece: a thorough analysis of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that...
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Episode 205 - Epstein Fury ft Hillary + Pizza - GC Trump Tower - Woke AI - BABET!

    Episode 205 - Epstein Fury ft Hillary + Pizza - GC Trump Tower - Woke AI - BABET!
    Mar 6 2026

    We are back and it's been a huge fortnight on the fringe of right wing politics. We have forgotten about Epstein thanks to Operation Epstein Fury - but is that really why Trump went ahead with his 'definitely not a war for the sake of congress' military operation? Probably not. But hey, that's what we said when Clinton did a PR campaign for Tomahawk Cruise Missiles over in Serbia when things heated up at home. Either way, there's a slim chance this won't end terribly.

    The Epstein files are going great with Hillary Clinton - for some reason - being pulled into a closed door session with career idiot Lauren Boebert who asked her about pizzagate because, well, this entire thing is a farce.

    Trump Tower is definitely happening on the Gold Coast which will be a billion stories high and run by a very competent former Yeppoon pub owner. Can't think of a better bloke to make this thing definitely happen. What could possibly go wrong?

    Anthropic are woke because they don't want to implement mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons but don't worry, Sam Altman is happy to do that one. We are all going to die.

    SovCits sees Dale Doback turn a $500 speeding fine into a protracted courtroom shitfight for no apparent reason and...


    BABET HAS NOT BEEN IDLE!


    Enjoy folks. Thanks for your support - please give us money on Patreon but if that kind of thankless behaviour is unsatisfying go to cbco.beer and enter CRP10 at the checkout and get some discounted good beer. It doesn't really help us but the beer is legit good and well priced!!!

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    2 hrs and 1 min