--- title: "LISTEN: The inconvenience of knowing the whole truth" description: "For philosophers, the truth is indivisible. But sometimes, there are those among us who think that the truth should not be divided, as such, but … why use it all? Particularly when it's really only necessary to use part of it - for reasons of convenience and utility, you understand. You just use the part that makes them look good. In this podcast, Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor-at-Large Tim Cohen discuss politicians and businesses using the convenient segmental approach to the truth over the past week. And speaking of US President Donald Trump, what is going to happen when he meets President Cyril Ramaphosa later this week? The best guess is that the partial truth will be plain to see." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Podcasts" author: "Mark Barnes and Tim Cohen" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/mark-barnes-and-tim-cohen/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-20-listen-the-inconvenience-of-knowing-the-whole-truth/" published: "2025-05-20T10:22:25" updated: "2025-05-20T10:22:36" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 158 --- # LISTEN: The inconvenience of knowing the whole truth > For philosophers, the truth is indivisible. But sometimes, there are those among us who think that the truth should not be divided, as such, but … why use it all? Particularly when it's really only necessary to use part of it - for reasons of convenience and utility, you understand. You just use the part that makes them look good. In this podcast, Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor-at-Large Tim Cohen discuss politicians and businesses using the convenient segmental approach to the truth over the past week. And speaking of US President Donald Trump, what is going to happen when he meets President Cyril Ramaphosa later this week? The best guess is that the partial truth will be plain to see. By Mark Barnes and Tim Cohen · Published 20 May 2025, 12:22 SAST · Updated 20 May 2025, 12:22 SAST ## Key points - In a poetic twist of fate, Pope Francis, the humble reformer who aimed to modernize the Church, took his final bow just a day after delivering Easter blessings, leaving behind a legacy that even the most devout might find hard to ignore—especially when paired with a cheeky proposal for a new government office to tackle VAT woes. - Pope Francis passed away on Easter weekend, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and reform within the Catholic Church. - Known for his humility, he delivered Easter blessings just hours before his death at age 88. - In a podcast discussion, Mark Barnes and Tim Cohen reflect on Francis's impact and lessons for those beyond the church. - Barnes proposes a new government office to address fair market value, potentially mitigating VAT increases. ## Content [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DailyMaverickMasthead_BlackRed_VECTOR-2.svg)](http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/) ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1000x250-Banner-SUB_compressed-1.gif) [Media](https://player.simplecast.com/4a49995d-91e4-4618-877f-5d7b7527593a?dark=false&color=97CBD5) [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DailyMaverickMasthead_BlackRed_VECTOR-2.svg)](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/) ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/600x250-Banner-SUB-2_compressed.gif) [Media](https://player.simplecast.com/4a49995d-91e4-4618-877f-5d7b7527593a?dark=false&color=97CBD5) [![Listen On Spotify](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Listen-720x213.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/4yWQE0oBOuD5jG9SBv7629?si=ReMs2biHS-mQLm1REMcXkQ&nd=1&dlsi=e96bec2853b547ad) [![Listen On Spotify](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Listen-720x213.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/4yWQE0oBOuD5jG9SBv7629?si=ReMs2biHS-mQLm1REMcXkQ&nd=1&dlsi=e96bec2853b547ad) [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Apple-Podcasts-1-720x213.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/stand-up-business/id1671805186) [![Listen On Apple Podcasts](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Apple-Podcasts-2.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/stand-up-business/id1671805186) [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Youtube-Music-720x213.png)](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaPH68a91__unkVyhbGtGjlSWwoclPWzh) [![Listen On Youtube Music](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Youtube-Music-1-720x213.png)](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaPH68a91__unkVyhbGtGjlSWwoclPWzh) For philosophers, the truth is indivisible. But sometimes, there are those among us who think that the truth should not be divided, as such, but … why use it all? Particularly when it's really only necessary to use part of it - for reasons of convenience and utility, you understand. You just use the part that makes them look good. In this podcast, Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor-at-Large Tim Cohen discuss politicians and businesses using the convenient segmental approach to the truth over the past week. And speaking of US President Donald Trump, what is going to happen when he meets President Cyril Ramaphosa later this week? The best guess is that the partial truth will be plain to see. Hosted by Mark Barnes & Tim Cohen **Produced**by Tevya Turok Shapiro **Music & Design**by Bernard Kotze Hosted by Mark Barnes & Tim Cohen Produced by Tevya Turok Shapiro Music & Design by Bernard Kotze [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WhatsAppSHARE.png)](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymaverick.co.za%2Fstand-up-business%2F) [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/NewsletterFooter.gif)](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/dm-podcasts/) [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEWSLETTER-FOOTER.gif)](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/dm-podcasts/)