Podcasts

Makin Sense

The Makin Sense show features a panel of South African born analysts scattered across the world bringing you world-beating global economic, political, geo-strategic, and national security analysis of the major events shaping the world and South Africa's place within it.

Gabriel Makin

August 29, 2025

All Episodes

Makin Sense of Cyril Ramaphosa's possible resignation, Gates's climate u-turn, and the war in Sudan

In this episode of Makin' Sense, Frans Cronje answers the question of whether Cyril Ramaphosa will resign, and what that would mean for the ANC. Furthermore, the panel dissects the South African government's latest (good) economic recovery strategy. Reine explains whether Trump will lose on tariffs in the US Supreme Court, and what that would mean for SA's trade negotiators. The panel also sets out the vastly positive global implications of Bill Gates' about-turn on climate change. Lastly, the panel savages global moral duplicity around the Sudanese civil war, and explains how SA's bumbling spooks are only fooling themselves—and that Pretoria needs to up its game in Washington

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Makin Sense of South Africa's economy, Milei, Starmer, Mamdani and Electoral Thresholds

In this episode of Makin Sense, Gabriel Makin and his panel discuss a range of topics from South Africa's fiscal policies to international political dynamics.

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Makin Sense - Episode 9

Makin Sense of the DA's Empowerment Policy, ANC Energy Plan, Oxford Union, Diamonds and US Education

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Makin Sense of Israel/Gaza, why the GNU is a Bad Idea, Federalism and Gold

This episode examines South Africa’s widening gap between public opinion and state policy, unpacking polling data that shows deep skepticism of state involvement in the economy. The panel analyses the Gaza peace deal and South Africa’s exclusion, before hearing from David Ansara of the Free Market Foundation, who warns that the GNU merely delays an inevitable collapse and argues for a federal future. The discussion closes with sharp insight into gold’s record highs and what they signal for South Africa and the global economy.

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Makin Sense Of Ramaphosa's Economic Plan, The ANC Running Out Of Money Free Speech and Digital IDs

In this episode, the panel discusses the implications of digital IDs in the UK, the challenges facing South Africa's economy, and the ANC's new economic action plan. They explore the shifting voter preferences in South Africa, the state of freedom of speech in the UK compared to the US, and the ANC's financial struggles. The conversation highlights the disconnect between government policies and public sentiment, emphasizing the need for reform and accountability.

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Makin Sense of The DA, Polling On The ANC, SA-US Deal Potential and James Comey's Indictment

In this episode, the panel discusses the rise of antisemitism in Europe, R.F.K and food, the potential deal between the US and South Africa, internal conflicts in the DA, South African polling and much more.

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Makin Sense of South Africa's US trade trip, Charlie Kirk, The Fed and Peter Mandelson

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Makin Sense of the UK's Deputy Prime Minister resigning, South African party funding, the woke right

In this episode the panel discuss the UK's Deputy Prime Minister resigning, political party funding in South Africa, the woke right, free speech in the UK and energy in the U.S

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Makin Sense of Trump in D.C, The End of History, the UK Economy and South Africa's debt and deficit

The panel discuss crime and policing in Washington D.C, the end of history delusion, the looming economic crisis in the UK and South Africa's debt and deficit

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US Fed, inflation, flag protest in the UK, SA's latest political data and outages in Iran

The panel discusses the US Fed, flag protests in the UK, the future of South Africa's ANC and utility crises in Iran.

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