Welcome to January 2026. In this episode, we do a full catch up and prediction roundtable covering the biggest political and economic fault lines shaping the year ahead.
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MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS: truthreport.co.za/polls
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We start in the United States, where the doom predictions after Trump’s election have collided with a very different reality on the ground. Stock markets near record highs, stronger than expected growth momentum, and a policy mix built around tariffs, tax incentives, deregulation, and rate cuts. We unpack what is driving the optimism, what risks are being ignored, and why US debt and deficits still sit like a ticking time bomb underneath the headlines.
Then we bring it back home to South Africa, where the conversation gets real. Population growth is outpacing economic growth, municipalities are drowning in debt, and the country is watching deindustrialisation accelerate in real time. We discuss what deindustrialisation actually means for ordinary people, why manufacturing is hollowing out, and how cheap imports can feel great as a consumer while quietly destroying local capacity.
We also get into the political calendar that matters: 2026 is a big year. The US has midterms, and South Africa is heading into municipal elections with the ANC continuing to bleed support. We debate what that means for coalitions, whether the “stay away” voters finally move, and which parties could gain the most ground.
A major theme in this episode is South Africa’s international positioning. We talk about AGOA, the growing appetite in Washington for targeted action against corrupt and destabilising political actors, and the simple truth that foreign policy, trade policy, and industrial policy are now tied at the hip. If South Africa keeps poking the bear, it should not act surprised when consequences follow.
Then we wrap with the lighter stuff. 2026 rugby predictions. All Blacks touring, England later in the year, and the big question. Do the Springboks drop any games in 2026, and if so, which ones?
Drop your predictions in the comments:
• Does Trump outperform expectations at the midterms?
• Does the ANC take another major hit in the municipal elections?
• Who are your 2026 business winners and losers?
• How many games do the Springboks lose this year?
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro + 2026 setup
01:05 US growth shock: tariffs, markets, and “doom” narrative
03:10 Debt vs growth: why GDP matters more than panic
04:21 Tariff billions + Supreme Court risk
06:10 DOGE + state fraud scandals (Minnesota/California)
08:32 South Africa outlook: growth, markets, and the ANC bottleneck
12:10 Deindustrialization: closures, skills, and investment reality
17:15 China dumping vs consumer prices vs jobs
22:30 Midterms + SA municipal elections: what’s coming
25:30 SA sanctions + AGOA: the US pressure point
29:40 Winners/losers: SA, US, Europe politics
36:55 Business winners: AI, health, agriculture, markets
41:35 Business losers: SA mining, US blue states, SA manufacturing
45:20 SA risks + opportunities: EWC, Western Cape, state decay
47:50 Springboks predictions + closing
