Stand Up! Business

Daily Maverick

Investment banker Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen unwrap the news. A new edition of StandUp!Business midweek, every week.

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The new world (dis)order: is that an iceberg we see?
Like much of the world, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen were mesmerised by the Oval Office showdown between US president Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which ended in name-calling, finger pointing, and no deal. It's tempting to extrapolate too far, but it's clear a rift has developed between the post-war diplomatic reality. In this podcast we discuss this issue and how it affects South Africa, particularly our delayed budget discussions. TL;DR - self-sufficiency is the new global watchword.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.
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19:53
What’s brewing in that VAT?
What was that phrase, “Vat hom!”? Well, I think we can all agree that suggesting a two percentage point increase in VAT, was really going for it. The budget and the proposed VAT increase was, somewhat inevitably, the main topic of conversation between entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen. One question remains: what about looking at a few savings here and there? Just asking. We also cover other issues of national and global importance, like investments, sovereign wealth funds and smelly feet.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.
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20:11
Everybody’s war and nobody's budget.
It's budget week, which means it's a period of festivity and celebration as we all look forward to higher taxes. Not necessarily. We will see on Wednesday. In the meantime, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor at Large Tim Cohen discuss the budget this week among many other topics, somewhat in trepidation. And we reach the conclusion that the country needs to confront its weaknesses head-on and not keep looking for incremental improvements. Will that happen? Not sure. And will there be peace in Ukraine? And who drilled a hole in the Gautrain tunnel? These are things we need to know.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.
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19:49
Legalise artisanal mining, leave for the USA, and stealing without a conscience
When you turn your friends into your enemies, don’t all your enemies suddenly become friends - with each other? There is an intrinsic design flaw when it comes to alienating your friends, but US President Donald Trump doesn’t seem to care. But hey, he’s not totally friendless - Trump has reached out to Afrikaners and initiated a new great trek. It sticks in the craw that it takes someone like Trump to point out weaknesses in local legislation like the Expropriation Act, but that’s what entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor at Large Tim Cohen discuss. “When you apply force to achieve an objective, and not persuasion, you end up with a fight and not a result,” says Barns. Listen up.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.
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21:07
Exciting Deep Seek, middling mining, boring repairs and maintenance
There are few things more fun than buying a new car, and few things more boring than taking it in for regular and expensive services. But the utility of making regular repairs can extend the life of everything, including as it happens, your own life. In South Africa, repair culture is in urgent need of repair. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen try to keep their sagacity in repair by talking through the latest Trump Tantrum, the state of mining in South Africa and the news of the week. By all means, join us.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.
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18:34