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🎙️ Episode 124 — Elaine Mullally: Spoiling Your Vote, Free Speech & The State of Irish Politics
In this episode of The Uneducated PT Podcast, Karl O’Rourke sits down with independent political voice Elaine Mullally for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation about Ireland’s political landscape and the growing “spoil your vote” movement ahead of the 2025 presidential election. Elaine talks about how she first became politically active, why she chose to remain independent rather than join a party, and how the whip system shapes trust and accountability in government. She shares her views on recent events in Citywest, the impact of IPAS facilities on local communities, and her concerns about media and government responses. The discussion also covers free speech, Catherine Connolly’s presidential campaign, and the controversy surrounding Maria Steen’s exclusion from the ballot. Elaine speaks candidly about social-media division, the treatment of differing opinions online, and the struggles faced by families awaiting autism and disability services. Finally, Karl and Elaine dig into the idea behind “spoiling your vote”—why some citizens feel none of the candidates represent them, and how disengagement and protest voting reflect deeper issues in Irish civic life. 💬 Topics include:
- How Elaine got into politics and why she’s independent
- The Citywest incident and asylum policy
- The presidential election and freedom of expression
- Maria Steen, media bias, and representation
- Party politics, the whip system, and public trust
- Social-media intolerance and division
- Autism services and government priorities
- The “Spoil Your Vote” campaign
Published on 2Â weeks, 4Â days ago