Waleed Aly halts co-host Kate Langbroekâs wild conspiracy take
<p>Waleed Aly is no stranger to making headlines for his work on <em>The Project</em>, but a debate with co-host Kate Langbroek has brought him back for perhaps the most bizarre reason yet. </p>
<p>On Tuesday night, Langbroek argued the merits of those who believe that walkable 15-minute cities are, as described by those deepest in the conspiracy, âa cynical ploy by climate obsessed autocracies bent on controlâ.</p>
<p>Conspiracy theorists are under the impression that the concept of a 15-minute city is actually a ploy for government control, and though that couldnât be further from the truth, Kate Langbroek had plenty to say about it. </p>
<p>As RMITâs Associate Professional in International Planning Marco Amati explained, âthe 15 minute city is actually about getting people to - or enabling basically - walking and active travel to shops, schools, and basically places that they want to go. </p>
<p>âMany Australian cities face a challenge of how to create community, how to build walkable suburbs really quickly, so that they are as liveable and as enjoyable as inner-city areas.â</p>
<p>As the showâs summary on the topic came to an end, Langbroek mused, âmm, you know I love a conspiracy.â</p>
<p>When asked if the panel believed in this one, she said âI donât know about you, but I have been locked down by governments recently.â </p>
<p>Langbroek was likely referencing the COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia in recent years, something that experts worldwide may have something to do with the traction this particular conspiracy has gained across the globe. </p>
<p>âSo, Iâm like, itâs kind of an easy thing to go âoh, conspiracy theoristsâ, however, let us just remember that in the 16 hundreds, a guy called Galileo was put in jail and I think died in jail because he said the Earth went around the sun,â she went on. </p>
<p>âOh, well, thatâs that then!â Aly responded. </p>
<p>âOkay,â Langbroek said, âwell, because that at the time was considered to be heresy, and now we know it to be the truth.â </p>
<p>âThatâs not a conspiracy,â Waleed pointed out. </p>
<p>âIt was then, Waleed!â Langbroek argued. </p>
<p>âWhat was the conspiracy?â </p>
<p>âThe conspiracy was that what he believed was wrong, what he was telling people was wrong.â </p>
<p>While Aly acknowledged that he heard what she was saying and could see where she was coming from with that point, Langbroek had more to say on the matter, cutting him off before he could finish his thought. </p>
<p>âI just feel increasingly like thereâs a battle for control of people,â she said. âClearly. Everywhere you go, there are cameras. Everywhere you go.</p>
<p>âI just donât think that conspiracy theorists in some cases are that crazy.â </p>
<p>In a desperate bid to defuse the situation, co-host Sarah Harris tried to inject some humour, saying, âbut that bird thingâs pretty crazy, right? All birds are robots?â </p>
<p>âI donât know about all of them, Sarah,â Langbroek powered on, âbut I do know birds have got tiny little brains capable of anything.â</p>
<p>âEasily influenced like the sheep,â she said, before emitting an uncanny bleat. </p>
<p>âI guess the case has been made,â Aly answered, before Langbroek went on to ask the panel if they understood why conspiracy theorists are feeling the way they are. </p>
<p>âI get the idea that people are losing trust in the government,â Aly allowed, striving to bring an end to the bizarre conversation. âBut the problem is, the logical extension of that, is that any time someone comes up with something that might be a good idea, weâll just want to kill it because weâll decide itâs a conspiracy somehow.â </p>
<p>âYou agree with me then?â Langbroek asked.</p>
<p>âNo,â Aly didnât miss a beat in stating, âI donât.â </p>
<p><em>Images: Network Ten</em></p>
