2 Crickets In A Thorn Tree
133 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★ - 3 ratingsNicholas Lorimer and Gabriel Crouse provide their unique take on everything and anything going on in South Africa and the world at large, with a focus on history, philosophy and current affairs.
Getting away with murder in South Africa, Russian oligarchs, American elections and geopolitical strategy all feature in this unconventional podcast.
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Episodes
What is journalism ?
January 20, 2023 12:05 - 2 hours - 115 MBNick and Gabriel chat about flying cars, the DA's march to Luthuli House and what the definition of journalism is. Recommendations: Gabriel: https://youtu.be/3vkgROIINEs Nick: Greyhound https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6048922/
Year of the Rabbit
January 13, 2023 14:46 - 2 hours - 104 MBGabriel and Nick chat about loadshedding, America at the end of last year, South Africa at the end of last year and if AI is going to destroy us all.
The wrong impeachment!
December 06, 2022 16:40 - 1 hour - 75.6 MBGabriel tells Nick about why he thinks that Ramaphosa's impeachment case is the wrong one, and why it matters. Recommendations: Nick Century of Crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwXlr4_pGhM Gabriel: Supreme Court oral arguments https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-476
The tribe, the child, parole and the rule of law
November 26, 2022 09:08 - 2 hours - 95 MBNick and Gabriel chat about a U.S. supreme court case involving Native American children, the release of Chris Hani's killer, the ongoing Zuma legal battles and Ramaphosa's visit to the UK. Recommendations: Nick: Walking Streets of South Sudan https://youtu.be/sNSIhIzr3io Gabriel: The Soccer World Cup https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/1abAi3NllBGQ1Q92mXqDWq
The affirmative vote
November 11, 2022 10:06 - 2 hours - 111 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the U.S. Supreme Court case on Affirmative Action at Harvard. They then chat about the recent U.S. mid-terms and what they mean for the future of the Republican Party. Recommendations: Nick: BLOODYWOOD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKjSCTxke8 Gabriel: Copenhagen https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340057/
The terror of gerrymandering
October 28, 2022 13:01 - 2 hours - 94.4 MBNick and Gabriel chat about terror threats and the problem of gerrymandering. Recommendations: Nick: Pennsylvania Senate Race Full Debate 2022: Dr. Oz vs Fetterman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9wb0423dxs Gabriel: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-1086
The Puritanical impulse
October 22, 2022 12:27 - 2 hours - 105 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the direction of the country and how it could be gravely threatened by the wrong kind of puritanical impulse. Recommendations: Nick: TikTok Parent ByteDance Planned To Use TikTok To Monitor The Physical Location Of Specific American Citizens: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2022/10/20/tiktok-bytedance-surveillance-american-user-data/?sh=140674c36c2d Gabriel: The Unbearable Peace https://granta.com/the-unbearable-peace/?ref=The+Browser-newsletter
Frames of reference, Truss and Prince
October 14, 2022 15:04 - 2 hours - 93 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the current messy state of British politics, and then head into a winding discussion of some of the cases before the U.S. supreme court, notably on the issue of copyright. Recommendations: Nick: WeBuyCars: https://www.webuycars.co.za/ BB King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp0rRff7gWk Gabriel: Vanity Fair: PURPLE FAME https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1984/11/purple-fame FT: Positive feedback: the science of criticism that actually works
A bad week for South Africa
September 30, 2022 22:53 - 2 hours - 87.3 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the difficult week for freedom and prosperity in SA with the retaking of Joburg by the ANC as well as the passage of the land courts and expropriation bill. Recommendations: Nick: The Dispatch https://thedispatch.com/ Gabriel: How Nickelback became the most hated band ever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFC4OFWIPtw
Rounding out two big weeks
September 18, 2022 15:56 - 2 hours - 87.2 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the latest threats to property rights in SA, the abortion debate, their thoughts on the upcoming U.S. midterms and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Recommendations: Nick: "The weakness of Xi Jinping" https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/xi-jinping-china-weakness-hubris-paranoia-threaten-future Gabriel:The Antislavery Activist That Time Forgot: Historian Walter Stahr on Salmon P. Chase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yJAJarVmU0&ab_channel=HooverInstitution
What is incitement anyway?
August 28, 2022 19:14 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the EFF-Afriforum hate speech court case and some of the principles of free speech. They also chat about the Trump-FBI raid. Recommendations: Nick: https://dailyfriend.co.za/2022/08/26/sorcery-in-samlesbury/ Gabriel: https://youtu.be/pAeoJVXrZo4
The power of theater
August 19, 2022 15:25 - 1 hour - 74.6 MBNick and Gabriel take a meander through the place of Bloemfontein in SA today, the Zuma medical parole trial, the speech Gabriel gave at UNISA, the power of theater and Republican Party Reptiles. Recommendations: Nick: Inda and Pakistan https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/partition-wasn-t-inevitable Gabriel: The danger of one thingism https://dailyfriend.co.za/2022/08/18/against-the-silver-bullet-or-one-thing-ism/
The Conservative Iceberg: SA Edition
August 05, 2022 16:26 - 1 hour - 45 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the life of John Kane-Berman and then about the powerful and undiscussed conservative soul of South Africa which is rising to the surface with the collapse of the ANC. Recommendations: Gabriel: Lord Sumption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YleLkFnwqK0 Nick: Fusionism: https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/07/why-both-types-of-conservative-fusionism-still-matter/
Zuma's 2 steps to freedom
July 26, 2022 10:23 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the IRR's legal arguments for why Jacob Zuma should not have been released from jail at the direction of Arthur Fraser and what Zuma can do to turn around his reputation and the country. Recommendations: Nick: Heilung https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVbc_Fwbt50 Gabriel: Sibelius Theme and Variations for Solo Cello (1887) https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ-BIEutAWc&feature=share
What even is the Middle East?
July 15, 2022 15:25 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBNick and Gabriel ask the question, What is the Middle East? They also discuss the plans for an Eskom 2, South Africa's wild west past and Biden's trip to the Middle East. Recommendations: Nick: Tolkien Lore https://www.youtube.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/videos Gabriel: The Churchill factor https://www.amazon.com/Churchill-Factor-How-Made-History/dp/1594633983 Philip Glass - Violin Concerto & Company Complete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsX5gldmmFE
The passing of a PM and the resignation of a PM
July 09, 2022 11:43 - 1 hour - 41.1 MBGabriel and Nick chatt about the shocking murder of Shinzo Abe and Abe's legacy they also discuss Boris Johnson and his final defeat lastly they mention Bheki Cele and his racist tirade. Recommendations: Nick: Goodbye, Boris https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/07/goodbye-boris/ Gabriel: https://twitter.com/TheKiffness/status/1545002632913342464
Maybe we should try convincing people?
July 02, 2022 13:23 - 2 hours - 53.1 MBNick and Gabriel discuss recent rulings by the United States supreme court, the arguments that underpin them and the politics involved. Specifically the lies about the repeal of Roe v Wade, the underpinning of the administrative state and the opportunity for Democrats to win big. Recommendations: Nick: The Absurd 2nd Century Space Opera You'll Never Read https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBpDdlirzH0 Gabriel: Pentagon finds concerning vulnerabilities on blockchain https://www.techrepublic....
Talking about difficult things
June 25, 2022 11:38 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBGabriel and Nick chat about how not talking about the difficult things can very quickly backfire on you. Recommendations: Nick: Saudi Arabia and the U.S. https://thedispatch.com/p/saudi-arabia-welcomes-a-likely-reset Gabriel: The right thing to do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY Supreme court ruling https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf
There is a disturbance in the force
June 18, 2022 10:13 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBNick and Gabriel chat about urban decay the end of ANC dominance and the cynicism of American politics. Recommendations: Nick: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/06/birthplace-saudi-state-becomes-tool-new-nationalism Gabriel: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/opinion/bimbo-tiktok-feminism.html
Just deserts
June 10, 2022 16:56 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBThe internet assures me that the title's spelling is the correct one. Nick and Gabriel chat about a recent spate of firings, or more accurately a suspension, a firing and two election losses. Recommendations: Gabriel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1oeJwF5tG4 Nick: https://dailyfriend.co.za/2022/06/10/the-amritsar-crisis/
Changes are in the air
June 06, 2022 07:32 - 1 hour - 46.9 MBGabriel and Nick discuss a little more about the Depp and Heard trial, and then move on to talk about the recent by-elections and how they suggest the age of the ANC is drawing to an end. They also discuss the criminal accusations made about President Cyril Ramaphosa and what these might mean for the country. Recommendations: Nick: Pirates of the Caribbean curse of the Black Pearl Gabriel: Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Pox, defamation and drinking
May 28, 2022 10:40 - 1 hour - 30.8 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the latest on the Monkeypox outbreak, the Amber and Johnny Trial and the incident at Stellenbosch university. (Warning the later half of the podcast contains some fairly gross stories of urine related university stories.) Recommendation: Nick: Star Trek The original series Gabriel: Professor Katz https://paw.princeton.edu/article/word-freaks https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/23/us/princeton-fires-joshua-katz.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/joshua-katz-princeto...
The Centre Folds, Black Stars & Leaky Robes
May 16, 2022 16:47 - 2 hours - 54.2 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the latest scientific discovery about our galaxy and then move onto the problems with and consequences of, the leak from the U.S. supreme court regarding its draft opinion on abortion legislation. Recommendations: Nick: Worldle https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/ Tradle https://oec.world/en/tradle/ Gabriel: The Tragedy of Macbeth https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10095582/
All things French
April 26, 2022 08:27 - 1 hour - 33.9 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the weirdness that is French politics and the results of the latest French presidential election. Recommendations: Nick: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkFeltonProductions/videos Gabriel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/
The Elon-Twitter affair
April 14, 2022 16:07 - 1 hour - 46.2 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the Elon Musk's offer to buy Twitter as well as the state of the media world today. They also manage to have a (relatively) short discussion on the situation in the Ukraine, Russia war.
The problem with childhood
April 08, 2022 16:09 - 2 hours - 50.3 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the problem with "wet noodle" centerists, a new law in Florida and the latest toxic development in the U.S. culture war. Recommendations: Gabriel: https://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Jesus-J-M-Coetzee/dp/0143125761 Nick: https://dailyfriend.co.za/2022/04/04/race-lessons-from-rwanda/
Comedy, courts and war
March 23, 2022 16:24 - 2 hours - 56.8 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the need for new topics for South African Comedy , the nomination of a new American supreme court justice and their thoughts on how the Russo-Ukrainian war is going so far. Nick: Equipment losses of the war https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html Gabriel: George Orwell's review of Mein Kampf https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/military-review/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20160228_art020.pdf
Celebrating a step on the road to peace in South Africa.
March 18, 2022 12:51 - 1 hour - 31.3 MBNick and Gabriel chat about the 30 year anniversary of the 1992 whites-only referendum on ending Apartheid. Recommendations: Gabriel: Remember St. Patrick's day is 1992 referendum day Nick: Jim Geraghty from National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/author/jim-geraghty/
How can we escape the nightmare of war?
March 01, 2022 14:41 - 2 hours - 52.9 MBNick and Gabriel fail to keep the show short again in a sober reflection on the horror unfolding in Ukraine as war once again breaks out in Europe. Recommendations: Gabriel https://www.yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300259933&%20M.%20E.%27 Nick Life of Boris cooking playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKfmRhfuI8g&list=PLbS0HkS8Xsorrdr3pPk4lP80tUAzfyxP1
Hate speech laws
February 21, 2022 16:07 - 2 hours - 51.5 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the Afriforum vs. EFF court case around the chant "shoot the Boer". Recommendations: Gabriel: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/commandante-lushaba-and-the-fhrer Nick: https://www.pricecheck.co.za/search?search=Steri+Stumpie
What's in a word?
February 13, 2022 19:27 - 1 hour - 43.6 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the controversy around Joe Rogan and his use of the 'n-word', they dive into a deeper examination of language, codes of conduct and race. Recommendations: Iran's new missile: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/02/iran-hard-liners-overjoyed-new-missile Moscow times: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/09/putins-white-table-in-macron-talks-sparks-endless-memes-a76300
Should bloodlines be borderlines?
January 28, 2022 14:59 - 1 hour - 45.3 MBNick and Gabriel talk about Ukraine and Russia again and how the conflict intersects with race and the nation state, this time with more history focus. What was a planned 5-minute segment turns into almost the whole discussion, as fits their style. They also briefly talk about Gabriel’s theory that Ramaphosa is indeed the real head of the RET faction of the ANC. Recommendations: Anton Petrov: https://www.youtube.com/c/whatdamath/videos Superbowl of economics: Inflation Debate between P...
Thought inflation
January 21, 2022 15:16 - 1 hour - 26.6 MBGabriel explains to Nick and the world about why he fears "thought inflation"
Good news, Zondo and the inscrutable East
January 17, 2022 17:20 - 2 hours - 50.9 MBNick and Gabriel are back with a discussion of the good Covid news, the good Zondo commission news and a long argument with each other over the attitude of Russia and the West to each other.
Slaves, mandates and devolutionary holidays
December 03, 2021 12:31 - 2 hours - 56.4 MBWe suggest you listen to this podcasts in parts because it is really long. Nick and Gabriel stumble into a discussion of slavery and then move onto chatting about vaccine mandates, what connects them and the magic of federalism. Recommendations: Gabriel: www.strongvote.co.za/post/thestrongvote, and Tick tick....Boom the play or the film. Nick: Moth Light Media https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOh5Ht3eB4914hMUfJkKa9g
Omicron, SA2 electric Boogaloo
November 28, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 38.2 MBNick and Gabriel chat about the new Covid-19 variant and then proceed to complain about state of global institutions. Recommendations: Gabriel: The new bond movie No Time to Die Nick: ElectroBoom https://www.youtube.com/c/Electroboom
Modern war: war has changed or have we?
November 20, 2021 20:50 - 1 hour - 24.9 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the return of conventional conflict with a modern twist, with a focus on the conflict in Ethiopia and with a dash of the war on the Ukrainian border.
3 Crickets: Discussing de Klerk with Rian Malan
November 15, 2021 15:22 - 1 hour - 40.1 MBA somewhat less messy, chaotic and distracted version of the now lost episode. Gabriel and Nick chat to Rian Malan about the life of F.W. de Klerk and what his life meant for SA.
The Liberal Slideback
November 09, 2021 11:49 - 1 hour - 38.4 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the concepts of the Liberal Slideaway and the the Liberal Slideback
Frans Cronje joins the Crickets
October 30, 2021 13:16 - 1 hour - 35.9 MBGabriel, Nick and Frans Cronje discuss the decadence of "the west" and the fate of civilization.
Don't walk the dog with an upset stomach
October 25, 2021 06:15 - 1 hour - 37.1 MBGabriel and Nick discuss the Cliff central Nandos saga, the importance of anti-body tests and what's going on in the U.S.
Princeton Nobel gongs
October 12, 2021 08:48 - 1 hour - 35.6 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the Princeton university members who have recently won Nobel prizes they also discuss the global energy crisis and the DA poster mess.
Smoothing it over with hypocrisy
October 04, 2021 16:53 - 1 hour - 35.2 MBThis meandering episode discusses tigers, treason and hypocrisy
Seeing things from a French perspective
September 21, 2021 13:30 - 1 hour - 33.5 MBIn this wildly tangential episode, Nick and Gabriel discuss what makes the Geo-politics of France tick among other things. Note:We had to upload the episode without the intro music, the intro music will return next episode.
The curious case of Larry Elder and the Egg
September 12, 2021 08:57 - 1 hour - 30.1 MBGabriel and Nick chat about the egging of Republican Larry Elder, and what the media response says about race esteem teams. They also discuss the death of the man accused of the first internationally recognized Apartheid political murder
The end of the war in Afghanistan
September 01, 2021 15:03 - 1 hour - 40.2 MBNick and Gabriel talk about the end of Afghan war and ask the question, how did it come to this? "Where is the Horse and the Rider?"
The battle for the soul of South Africa's democracy
August 24, 2021 10:16 - 1 hour - 33.8 MBNick and Gabriel return after Gabriel's recovery from Covid to bring you some news about how depressed Nick is about Afghanistan and more importantly for us, about the IRR's battle to protect our elections
The Ramaführer hypothesis
July 31, 2021 14:56 - 1 hour - 26.2 MBNick and Gabriel peer into the future and discuss the way dictators come to power.
3 Crickets in a Thorn Tree with Rian Malan
July 23, 2021 17:36 - 1 hour - 41 MBNick and Gabriel interview Rian Malan about his recent article in the New York Post.
It was the best of riots it was the worst of riots
July 19, 2021 14:02 - 1 hour - 34.4 MBNick and Gabriel discuss the week of chaos and anarchy that hit South Africa.