
Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created a bingo card for 2026. A set of 25 things that might happen. Well, we’re half-way through the year, so let’s see how we went.
We discuss music, SpaceX, OpenAI, the war with Iran, and much more. You might want to follow along with this chart showing which ones we discussed — or go back to the original post.
| The Islamic Republic of Iran collapses NOT YET, UNLIKELY | King Charles III dies | Significant upswing in GenZ alcohol consumption | OpenAI collapses | New metro line officially announced for Sydney THE OPPOSITION DID, DOES THAT COUNT? |
| US mid-term elections just work properly | Thai elections: People’s Party (formerly Move Forward, formerly Future Forward) wins and stays THEY DID NOT WIN | Teens drive the revival of long-form content, with 30–60 minute videos outperforming short clips in certain niches | McDonalds or Hungry Jacks introduces a rendang burger | Home and Away cancelled |
| Atlantic Conveyor ocean current collapses | BLACKPINK announces indefinite hiatus | FREE SQUARE: Elon Musk embarrasses himself publicly | Sussan Ley lasts as Liberal leader for all of 2026 LOL NO, ROLLED AND REPLACED BY ANGUS TAYLOR | Commonwealth Games abandoned |
| Harry and Meghan get divorced | WNBA season 2026 does not go ahead NO, IT DID GO AHEAD | NSW Premier Chris Minns gets boned | SpaceX IPO flops DEPENDS HOW YOU MEASURE IT, AND WHEN | A Chinese electric vehicle becomes the top-seller in Australia [See note 1] |
| Mercury-sized planet or greater is discovered in the Kuiper Belt or further out in the solar system | PRC and Japanese ships exchange live fire | A PRC/Taiwan pop star hits the Top 10 in the US | The Spice Girls release a new album | Putin tosses a nuke |
Note 1: If measured by manufacturer, China’s BYD now sells more electric cars in Australia than Tesla. If measured by individual models, the Tesla Model Y still has the top slot.
This podcast is available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, and Speaker.
You can also subscribe to the generic podcast feed.
Episode Links
If the links aren’t showing up, try here.
Thank you, Media Freedom Citizenry
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners. Please check out the new season’s crowdfunder, The 9pm Spring Series 2026, now on Ko-Fi rather than Pozible.
If you miss the deadline, you can always throw a few coins into the tip jar or subscribe for special benefits. Please consider.
For this episode it’s thanks once again to everyone who supported The 9pm Stilgherrian’s Dramatic Decamp to Campsie crowdfunding campaign: Adam Kent, Ashley Walsh, Benno Rice, Bernard Walsh, Briana Bowmer, Craig Crompton, Damian Maclennan, Dave Gaukroger, Donna Benjamin, Evan Hughes, Frank Filippone, Garth Kidd, Geoffrey Brent, Jim Campbell, Keith Duddy, Lucas James, Maria Conidaris, Mark Newton, Martin English, Matt Arkel, Michael Cowley, Michael Harris, Michael Lines, Mindy Johnson, Miriam Mulcahy, Mitch Jeffers, Oliver Townshend, Paris Lord, Paul Williams, Peter Blakely, Peter Blakely again, Peter Hopkins, Peter McCrudden, Peter Wickins, Regina Huntington, Ric Hayman, Sally Ruth, Sam Spackman, Sonia Cuff, Steven Kambouris, and Tom Carding.
Thanks also to another 22 people who chose to remain anonymous. You know who you are.
Series Credits
- The 9pm Edict theme by mansardian via The Freesound Project.
- Edict fanfare by neonaeon, via The Freesound Project.
- Elephant Stamp theme by Joshua Mehlman.
