Topic: Sultan Of Brunei

George Clooney calls for a boycott of the Sultan of Brunei's luxury hotels in response to new Sharia laws punishing gay sex with stoning. The hosts argue Clooney is being used as a "distraction" to mask geopolitical tensions. They point to a joint venture between Brunei and China regarding a strategic port in the South China Sea, suggesting the boycott is actually a move to pressure a key partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The Sultan of Brunei announced that the kingdom will begin enforcing Sharia penal code within six months, including penalties such as amputations and stoning. In separate news, Pope Francis suspended the "Bishop of Bling" in Germany for spending $42 million on a residence renovation that included a $20,000 bathtub. The Vatican has not specified the length of the bishop's suspension.