SUBPLOTS 006 (The Truth Sells... But Who's Buying)
- Subplots Production Team
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Meet Tameem Barakat, a highly entertaining and intelligently outspoken journalist behind the New Zealand digital news website The CENTRIST, as we dive into woke politics, the truth behind the headlines and a plethora of other interesting topics.
In this long awaited episode, Phil hosts and reunites Tameem with his former Vancouver Co-op radio host Louvens (No Apologies Necessary). The boys journey through the chaos of the Downtown East Side (DTES), vaccine madness, moving to New Zealand during COVID hysteria, artificial intelligence in the news media, globalism and the mental gymnastics of race baiting, media manipulation behind an agenda, Kiwi politics, Jacinda Arden's legacy, book publishing and political game-playing—all focused within the usual Subplots magnifying glass of objective scrutiny. A MUST LISTEN.
Some topics are controversial & divisive in nature, but we mean no harm. Please open your mind while keeping your arms & legs inside the vehicle at all times.
Here's all the links from Episode 006's discussion with Tameem Barakat for your own discovery, inquiry and amusement...
Well done if you've researched this far... Currently under development and using various AI tools to work on this. Consider this a sneak peak into the work in progress. Will have it all completed soon.
Media & Creative Projects
The Centrist (New Zealand Media): A media outlet focused on digestible, non-partisan news.
Link: centrist.nz
CFRO 102.7 FM (Vancouver Co-op Radio): The station where Tameem and Lou hosted their show.
Link: coopradio.org
"No Apologies Necessary": Tameem and Lou's long-running community radio show.
Threat from Outer Space: The band Tameem played in for several years.
Odd Squad Productions Society: A film production group founded by police officers that Tameem encountered during his studies.
Link: oddsquad.com
Books & Literature
"Jacinda: The Untold Stories": A book co-authored by Tameem’s wife that provides an in-depth look at former PM Jacinda Ardern.
Link: Aotearoa Books
Jacinda Ardern’s Autobiography: Mentioned as being outsold by the "Untold Stories" book.
Global Health & Science
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: A global health partnership discussed in relation to Bill Gates.
Link: gavi.org
Andrew Wakefield: The doctor who first published a (now retracted) paper linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
BC Vaccine Registry: A policy discussed as a prelude to mandatory vaccinations.
Politics & Legislation (New Zealand & Canada)
The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975: Legislation that brought the Treaty into legal force and established the Waitangi Tribunal.
Link: legislation.govt.nz
Three Waters Reform Programme: A controversial water infrastructure policy involving technocratic governance.
Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF): A government fund for NZ media discussed for its specific policy definitions.
Link: NZ On Air
UNDRIP: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit): Pandemic-era financial support in Canada.
Link: Canada.ca
Key Figures Mentioned
Jacinda Ardern: Former Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017–2023).
David Seymour: Leader of the ACT Party in New Zealand.
Winston Peters: Leader of the NZ First party.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Kennedy): Mentioned for his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
Anna Maria Tremonti: Former host of CBC's The Current.
Justice Morgan: The local Vancouver figure from whom Tameem and Lou inherited their radio show.
Major Events & Concepts
2022 Wellington Parliament Protest: A large-scale protest in NZ inspired by international "Freedom Convoys".
Link: IPCA Official Review
Vancouver Fentanyl Crisis: Discussion regarding the worsening drug crisis in the Downtown Eastside.
Co-Governance: The political concept of shared governance between the Crown and Māori.
Victim Trade-Offs: Tameem’s concept regarding the societal costs of lockdowns.
