Listener Nikki asks: Why are an elephant and a donkey, the symbols of the Republicans and the Democrats respectively in the US? What do they mean?

Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson as they answer listener questions.

If you have your own question for Ask Fear & Greed, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!

Listener Nikki asks: Why are an elephant and a donkey, the symbols of the Republicans and the Democrats respectively in the US? What do they mean? Join Sean Aylmer &amp; Michael Thompson as they answer listener questions. If you have your own question for Ask Fear &amp; Greed, get in touch via our <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1731149563444382&amp;usg=AOvVaw0kFBXylvS21GVDxqYiUjjG">website</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1731149563444382&amp;usg=AOvVaw111OsmL59tqF3_KZl1XoBF">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1731149563444382&amp;usg=AOvVaw1a97CWewbs2ieY9sigCRrx">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1731149563444382&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ITCe2vLi62Ep6inER-m1F">Facebook</a>!

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics. 

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Got a&nbsp;question? Share it via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw1HZbjwVzd0KVNX_Nj77aql">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw2idXkiO2ADJk9vNayUJoEU">LinkedIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw2imBHzuvcQNVIjANKic57B">Instagram</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw10gu_Ebz3IYwqq_hchg7Km">Facebook</a>, and get it answered by the Fear &amp; Greed team.

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics. 

Fear & Greed Q+A

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Ask Fear & Greed: Why are Democrats donkeys, and Republicans elephants?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/728904d2-0f76-42de-aa90-b21e00c2428c/transcript

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


ASX down, gold hits high


One Nation support surges


Govt’s housing target cost blowout


UK poised to follow social media ban


ChatGPT to start showing ads

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear and Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li>
ASX down, gold hits high
</li>
<li>
One Nation support surges
</li>
<li>
Govt&rsquo;s housing target cost blowout
</li>
<li>
UK poised to follow social media ban
</li>
<li>
ChatGPT to start showing ads
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX dips on trade war fears

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/6ad7d4fd-85ab-4d54-a848-b3d7005ff8c2/transcript

Monday 19 January 2026

The World Economic Forum kicks off tonight in Davos, 48 hours after US President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on European Allies, which will remain until they agree to sell him Greenland. 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelves half his racial vilification legislation as parliament sits for a two day summer session
The remarkable improvement in cancer recovery rates
Holiday makers into Australia surge
The Australian Tennis Open kicks off

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, your money bounceback plan. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Monday 19 January 2026
The World Economic Forum kicks off tonight in Davos, 48 hours after US President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on European Allies, which will remain until they agree to sell him Greenland.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelves half his racial vilification legislation as parliament sits for a two day summer session</li>
<li aria-level="1">The remarkable improvement in cancer recovery rates</li>
<li aria-level="1">Holiday makers into Australia surge</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Australian Tennis Open kicks off</li>
</ul>
Join our<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup"> free daily newsletter here</a>.
And don&rsquo;t miss the latest episode of<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/"> How Do They Afford That?</a> - this week, your money bounceback plan. Get the episode from<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235"> APPLE</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14"> SPOTIFY</a>, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

US hits Europe with Greenland tariffs; PM waters down racial bill; cancer success soars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ea7cd851-f87b-4348-8182-b3d600c2ab17/transcript

This first Week Ahead episode of 2026 highlights a patchwork economy. Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas to look at why inflation data is still noisy, why Black Friday distortions matter, how consumer spending is improving, and what businesses should focus on as confidence and activity become the key drivers of growth.

Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson and the team as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This first Week Ahead episode of 2026 highlights a patchwork economy. Michael Thompson is joined by economist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.marketeconomics.com.au/stephen-koukoulas&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw3QYbHvsbycTed5PUKgUNtT">Stephen Koukoulas</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;look at why inflation data is still noisy, why Black Friday distortions matter, how consumer spending is improving, and what businesses should focus on as confidence and activity become the key drivers of growth. Fear &amp; Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer &amp; Michael Thompson and the team as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw2t4oQbCn7SEbAXDCSdA3vx">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw3GpvcxS5q_MxaL74vyQLbo">LinkedIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mO2gPQWnT4oB8sULk1Acy">Instagram</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw2VvpsnsMm2D0NJ6wHL1yIg">Facebook</a>! Join our<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1769168935597684&amp;usg=AOvVaw27z_V7y_JSV052McyMVVX1">&nbsp;free daily newsletter here</a>.

Q+A: The Week Ahead | 19 Jan 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/996e4ab0-4061-49d5-ba16-b3d600c2a8f7/transcript

Ask Fear & Greed: Why are Democrats donkeys, and Republicans elephants?

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