Thank you. Great and important listen.

That was so embarrassing! Watching from Australia, these people are supposed to our allies and we go to war for you? Bullies and thugs who push someone around and publicly humiliate him because ‘you don’t hold the cards’. Truly revolting.

Fair point. I’ve been in abattoirs and always found them very confronting. I don’t see the industrial killing as being any less stressful for the animals (or humans who work there) than what happens in the Faroes. But the purpose is different, for sure.

Not true. They are island people who traditionally had to be tough to survive the long and difficult winters. They are not unpleasant, I found them friendly. They’re strong. DV sadly exists too much everywhere, inc your country and mine. I don’t think it’s related to the fishing.

It’s a very strong tradition in the Faroes & it’s an occ. event that has a lot of social significance. Every islander gets some of the meat, in the past it’s helped feed people. I agree that hunger is not really a big part of it these days. But living off the sea is a huge part of their identity.

Actually I’ve seen what happens in the Faroes (made a film there) and in abattoirs and I don’t agree that it’s any less frightening for the animals. It’s more industrial but that doesn’t make it kinder. And the sheep and cows have had less enjoyable lives up to that point.

It’s a mad suggestion that you shouldn’t go. It’s a beautiful place. Have any of those opposed visited an abattoir lately?

This is a silly assertion by conservationists. The Faroese have been doing this for centuries and it is an important part of their culture. I once made a film about it. Has anyone been to an abattoir in the UK lately? It’s mad! Go @lewisgoodhall, it’s a beautiful country.

I don’t think Presidents should have any pardon powers at all, regardless of which party they’re from. It undermines the justice system. I’m from Australia - and I’d love to get rid of our monarchy. But no one here has kingly powers like this. It’s crazy.

Coming from Australia, I find this whole Presidential pardons business really weird. It seems king like, and yet wasn't America founded on the basis of getting away from all of that? I don't understand why any President can pardon any one, it totally undermines the justice system.

I have to figure out how this place works now. Sigh. Is it basically Twitter in the way it functions?

Well they can use this to point to their substacks … we won’t find them if they’re not present in a place like this, it’s like searching for a needle in a …

I want a broader selection of perspectives. I feel like our political reporting is in the dark ages. If you don’t watch tv news or read a paper you don’t get anything. We don’t seem to have good websites and substacks and the variety of voices and opinions that you get in the US, it’s disappointing

Whatever. I happen to like it here downunder. You enjoy what you enjoy and leave me to enjoy mine.

Awful

Have you discovered any good starter packs for Aussie content? I’m trying to consciously get up to speed on more local content and trying to wean myself off my US politics obsession. As our own democracy also needs protecting and theirs feels like a lost cause.

I’m sad about the destruction of Twitter but I guess all good things come to an end. Not sure if I have the energy to learn about a build a profile on yet another platform. Tried threads but it doesn’t really do it for me like the old Twitter did.