Full Story
Guardian Australia's daily news podcast. Every weekday, join Guardian journalists for a deeper understanding of the news in Australia and beyond. You can support The Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport.
Episodes
Alan Jones on trial: The journalist who broke the story speaks | Week 13
When the investigative reporter who broke the allegations against Alan Jones took the witness stand, the courtroom gallery was packed. Under cross-examination over interview recordings, headline phrases and text messages with police, what did Kate McClymont’s evidence reveal about how the story unfolded? Media correspondent Amanda Meade joins Nour Haydar to unpack McClymont’s testimony.
Chris Bowen on how he’ll reach consensus at the UN climate summit Cop31
The UN’s climate summit begins in Turkey on Monday, with Australia leading the negotiations for the first time. The challenge of bringing nearly 190 countries to consensus on climate action, when global heating is already falling short of the Paris agreement goal of 1.5C, will be a pivotal test for climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen. Speaking with Guardian Australia’s climate and envir
US midterm elections 2026: is this the end of Trump? - podcast
The Democrats have had a resounding win, taking control of the Senate and the House of Representatives in a historic midterms result. Hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine what went wrong for the Republicans and why voters turned out in droves to deliver the blue wave so many predicted. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Donald Trump accepting the result and vowing to wo
Has the tide finally turned on One Nation's 'crude and cruel' political cartoons?
When One Nation’s political cartoon Please Explain first launched in 2021, the general consensus – even from the left side of the political spectrum – was that it was surprisingly well-made. But back then, Pauline Hanson was still on the fringes of political discussions. Now, four seasons and a movie later, polls have One Nation as the second-most popular political party in the country, and its ca
High inflation and interest rates: can Labor escape the blame?
With the Reserve Bank poised to increase interest rates today, voters are increasingly pointing the finger at government spending rather than global headwinds. But with household budgets already stretched to breaking point, can Jim Chalmers tame inflation without triggering a recession? Guardian Australia’s economics editor, Patrick Commins, joins Reged Ahmad to unpack whether Labor is losing cont
The coming legal battle against Albanese’s social media ban
The first major legal challenge against Australia’s under-16s social media ban is set to heard in the high court on Tuesday – 11 months on from the policy taking effect. As similar bans are adopted across the world, the challenges – from online giant Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project - will argue that the ban prevents young people from political communication. Technology reporter Josh Taylor
Back to Back Barries: Is inflation driving Chalmers and Albanese apart?
Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss how the diving economy will impact Anthony Albanese’s – and Jim Chalmers’ – approval ratings. If the relationship between the prime minister and treasurer is so crucial for the nation, what happens when that relationship breaks down? They also examine the many elections playing out globally. Has Donald Trump’s association with rightwing parties around the worl
Covert recordings and alleged confessions: an update on the murder trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon
As the New South Wales supreme court trial of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon reaches its sixth week, the jury has heard covert recordings, witness testimonies and posthumous text messages. The court continues to weigh the prosecution’s case against the defence’s claim of self-defence in the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Taylah Strano is joined by Guardian reporter Kat Wong to u
Alastair Campbell on Trump, political violence and why populist politics doesn’t work
It’s election season: the US midterms are just days away and Israel, Brazil and Serbia have all had consequential elections this week. Alastair Campbell from The Rest is Politics podcast speaks with the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about our ‘high-octane political environment’ and why he argues that populist politics began in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. After last week’s allege
Obama v Trump
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy talk about Barack Obama’s war of words with Donald Trump, after the former president spoke at a campaign rally in Ohio and compared Trump’s White House changes to the Cheesecake Factory. But how effective is Obama on the Democratic party campaign trail? What are the risks around personal attac
Neck and neck in the 2026 New Zealand election
As consequential elections around the world make global headlines, another election closer to home is flying under the radar. New Zealand’s election on 7 November could define the hopes of a country desperate to change its future, where young citizens are crossing the Tasman in droves due to dwindling opportunities in their home country. The Guardian’s New Zealand correspondent, Eva Corlett, speak
Will Australia ever get Snowy Hydro 2.0?
Back in 2017 the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced an ambitious expansion of Australia’s towering public infrastructure project, Snowy Hydro 2.0. Estimated at a cost of about $2bn, Turnbull had made the decision after the closure of a number of coal-fired power plants and a political fight over major blackouts in South Australia. But nearly 10 years later, the project is still not f
Israel votes: Netanyahu’s future on the line
Israeli citizens are about to vote in what’s being seen as elections that are almost existential when it comes to the future identity of the country. That’s because since the October 7 attack by Hamas in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed, and the resulting war in Gaza that a UN commission of inquiry has described as a genocide, some say the country’s politics and views have shifted profoundly
Do politicians lack the courage to turn the temperature down?
Tony Barry and George Megalogenis (filling in for Barrie) examine the response to the horrific alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines this week. While the prime minister pleaded for all to ‘turn the temperature’ down, it didn’t take long for many to dial it right up, particularly online. So can politicians from all sides tell their tribes to tone down the rhetoric? And what lessons can we l
Alan Jones on Trial: Alleged victim’s mother “trusted” Jones | Week 11
The mother of the youngest complainant wept on the stand after being presented with a note written by her son alleging ‘something happened’ at Alan Jones’s property at Fitzroy Falls. As the prosecution questioned the mother, she told the court she had ‘trusted’ Jones with her then teenage son. She was also asked why she stayed in contact with the broadcaster after her son told her about the allege
Can Japan’s firebrand PM survive a second year in power?
One year ago, Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister, taking over a party in crisis. Since then, she’s defied the doubters, not just surviving as leader in a country that struggles with its gender politics – but winning convincingly at an election in February. She has faced President Trump, fraught relations with China over Taiwan and was even the subject of one of Anthony Alban
Katie Zacharia and Trump’s women problem
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad look at how Katie Zacharia broke the record for shortest tenure as White House press secretary. They then examine the pattern of how women in the Trump administration are treated when they’re perceived to have made mistakes – versus how men seem to survive their missteps. They also look at how
Why terrorism laws stopped Sally Rooney selling books in the UK
The bestselling author says her novels will no longer be supplied to British bookshops due to fears of prosecution. Zoe Williams and Haroon Siddique report
What the Helen Haines tragedy means for Australian democracy
Helen Haines, the independent federal MP for the Victorian seat of Indi, is in a critical condition and has lost a leg after an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday the alleged attacker and driver of the car was named by police as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent. A major investigation is under way into the incident, with Victoria police, the Austral
The allegations against the Greens’ Jordon Steele-John
The Greens senator for Western Australia, Jordon Steele-John, has blamed ‘nasty political games’ for the timing of allegations of misconduct towards women spanning nearly a decade. Steele-John has denied all allegations, but the scandal – and its subsequent handling – is fast becoming a test for the Greens’ leader, David Shoebridge, just three weeks into his new role. Political reporter Sarah Basf
NAZA: the film the Israeli government does not want you to see
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor on their new film interviewing Israeli military insiders on the vast, AI-assisted systems their sources say are being used to kill civilians in Gaza. They also talk about the political backlash against their documentary
Black Box: The Chatbots | What I Saw at the Double Six Ranch | Ep 6
From his remote property in rural Texas, the millionaire businessman Michael Samadi is plotting a new kind of civil rights movement – for the welfare and protection of AI systems. Guardian journalist Michael Safi spends an afternoon at the Double Six ranch, meeting Samadi’s AI chatbots and catching a glimpse of a possible vision of the future
Back to Back Barries: Why Josh Frydenberg isn’t the Liberals’ saviour
Tony Barry and Niki Savva (filling in for Barrie Cassidy) examine the ‘festival of Josh’ that played out in the media this week as the former treasurer spruiked his new memoir. The two former Liberal party advisers weigh in on whether Josh Frydenberg should run again for Kooyong and whether he can live his dream of one day becoming PM. They also discuss what they see as the Labor government’s fail
‘I couldn’t breathe’: Russell Brand trial hears from first alleged victim
Former comedian Russell Brand is on trial facing multiple charges of rape and sexual assault against six women, spanning a decade from 1999 to 2009. On Thursday the court heard evidence from a woman who alleged Brand told her “it’s just fun” as he raped her at the 1999 Labour party conference. He denies all the allegations against him. Lucy Hough speaks to senior national news editor Aaron Sharp
Alan Jones on trial: Will Alan Jones take the stand? | Week 10
After the youngest complainant began giving evidence, Judge Glenn Walsh placed a non-publication order on much of this week’s testimony. In this episode, Guardian Australia media correspondent Amanda Meade and host Nour Haydar answer your questions about the Alan Jones trial. They unpack why court reporters have to withhold certain details about complainants, and discuss the challenges of a high-p
Everything you need to know about the midterms
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy take a special look at the midterms which are coming up in early November. All 435 House seats are up in this election as representatives only serve fixed two-year terms. In the Senate, 35 of 100 seats are up for grabs too as senators serve six-year terms. There are many predictions of a blue
How Firmus went from Australia’s AI 'fairytale' to flop
It was supposed to be an Australian business success story. Just over a week ago local AI company Firmus was preparing to hit the market with a value that would put the startup in the same league as Woolworths. But last Friday, everything fell apart. At the centre was Firmus co-founder Oliver Curtis, an entrepreneur trying to rebuild his reputation after spending time in prison for insider trading
‘Gaza is a moral tear in the universe’ – Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Are we really living through ‘end times fascism’? The authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor think so. In a new series from the Guardian, the pair speak to Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty in an extended interview. From Trump 2.0 and the rise of the tech billionaire to Gaza and the ongoing climate emergency, Klein and Taylor argue we are not just lurching from crisis to crisis, but are in a
Why does Hegseth want the world to see a death by firing squad?
It has been nearly 100 years since the last public execution in the US but, on 3 December this year, that could change. The US secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, said last week that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the man who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, will be a public event – a claim that was later confirmed by a defence department official. On Saturday, the US president, Donald Trump, said he had
The Australians buried together in unmarked graves
Using evidence from family and friends, analysis of cemetery registries, and aerial and satellite imagery, a special investigation by Guardian Australia has found that ‘persons without means’ are being buried in bare patches of earth between walkways and old headstones in Sydney’s Rookwood cemetery. The vast majority of the graves do not have a plaque or tombstone. The investigation has prompted a
Black Box: The Chatbots | The Line | Ep 5
Five stories that feel like five answers to one important question: in a world where AI chatbots can help us through a breakup, listen like a friend, be a life coach, draft a difficult text message and do our work, where do we draw the line?
Back to Back Barries: How Labor should fight One Nation
Tony Barry and Jessie McCrone examine the latest Redbridge poll (‘the poll that stops the nation’) that shows a slump in support for the prime minister and weaker support for Labor. How would Jessie – a former senior Labor advisor – counsel Anthony Albanese, and what does she think could improve Labor’s chances against Pauline Hanson’s One Nation? The two former sparring partners also look at next
Alan Jones on trial: The youngest complainant’s testimony | Week 9
The fifth and final complainant has taken the stand to detail his allegations against Alan Jones. He is also the youngest of the alleged victims, telling the court he accepted an invitation to visit the former broadcaster’s rural home when he was 17. Guardian Australia media correspondent Amanda Meade joins host Nour Haydar to unpack the latest developments from the courtroom
France’s teens versus the riot police
Angelique Chrisafis on the pupils and students who are taking to the streets and closing down schools in France
The Coalition’s race to the bottom on migration
With a pledge to slash net overseas migration to just 100,000 people, with incremental increases in the years following, the Coalition has promised history-making immigration cuts as a solution to the housing crisis. But behind the steep figures is a strategy of luring voters from One Nation by out-doing their centrepiece policies. Political editor Tom McIlroy joins Matilda Boseley to discuss whet
What next after Christa Pike’s botched execution?
A warning for this episode - it covers details of a murder and an execution that some might find distressing. In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad examine what happened when the state of Tennessee tried to execute prisoner Christa Pike. They also look at the controversy over taxpayer-funded ads promoting US president Donald Trump
Is Australia ready for a datacentre boom?
As technology companies push to expand AI infrastructure across Australia, residents from suburban Melbourne to regional Queensland are raising concerns over noise, power demands and local impacts. Could growing community opposition slow down plans for a nationwide infrastructure boom? Technology reporter Josh Taylor joins Reged Ahmad to unpack why Australians are becoming so uneasy about datacent
Cornell University gang-rape allegations and the culture behind them
When a civil lawsuit brought horrific details of an alleged gang rape at a Cornell fraternity to light, international outrage followed. Questions remain over how initial reports were handled and why systemic issues continue to surface at elite institutions. Reged Ahmad speaks to Guardian US reporter Richard Luscombe to unpack the fallout at Cornell and examine whether this case will spark real cha
The Populist: The social contract | Episode 4 – Full Story podcast
One Nation was the first Australian political party with a website, and its online game today is recognised as some of the most effective in the business. The party specialises in shareable anti-immigration messaging – and in bypassing traditional media to reach voters directly. ‘She tells it like it is,’ Pauline Hanson’s supporters say. But her tactics come straight from the populist right playbo
Black Box: The Chatbots | Life Raft | Ep 4
More than a billion people are suddenly talking to AI chatbots designed to connect with us. We are sharing with them our deepest secrets, trusting them with our wellbeing and acting on their advice. Across two powerful stories – a woman who was struggling to leave a relationship and a man who was desperate to quit drinking – the Guardian journalist Michael Safi explores what this new way of living
Back to Back Barries: Can the Greens beat Labor?
Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry) discuss the Greens leadership change this week. Senator David Shoebridge defeated two women to take out the top job in a rare contested ballot. So what direction will he take the progressive party and can they ‘replace’ Labor as he claims? Also in this episode: what did the prime minister say at George Megalogenis’ Melbourne book launch tha
Greens’ David Shoebridge on his plan to beat One Nation and replace Labor
With a sharp, aggressive strategy, the Australian Greens’ newly elected leader vows to take on corporate power and bring a ‘red-hot fight’ to coal and gas approvals. But following a turbulent week and internal party room fractures, can Senator David Shoebridge and his polarising approach rally progressive voters without deepening splits? Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks w
Mid-air panic as pilot attacked on Israel-bound flight
A commercial flight travelling from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing after an apparent brawl between its pilots. The flight was in Jordanian airspace when it diverted to Saudi Arabia, after the plane fell 16,000ft in two minutes during the incident. Authorities are investigating a number of lines of inquiry including a hijacking attempt or a mental health incident. Lucy Houg
Why working parents are set up to fail
Georgie Dent’s National Press Club address recently went viral after laying bare the compounding pressures on modern families. Between soaring costs of living, rigid workplace expectations and an eye-watering gap between school days and work hours, is the current system setting parents up to fail? Reged Ahmad speaks with CEO of advocacy group The Parenthood, Georgie Dent, to unpack why raising chi
Inside the trial of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon
More than two years after Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were killed in a Sydney home, former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has gone on trial in the supreme court. Lamarre-Condon, who stands accused of the double murder, has pleaded not guilty. In the opening weeks the court has heard allegations, viewed security footage and witnessed emotional testimonies from friends of the young couple. Matil
From fuel wars to AI: the forces driving the RBA rate decision
With inflation proving stubborn and global economic pressures mounting, Australians are bracing for another potential interest rate rise. Could pushing the cash rate to its highest level since 2011 send struggling households over the edge? Guardian Australia economics editor Patrick Commins joins Reged Ahmad to unpack what’s driving the decision and what it means for the broader economic outlook
The Populist: Money nation | Episode 3
One Nation receives millions in public funding, but former members have accused the party of leaving candidates out of pocket, ‘funny money deals’ and letting donations get ‘lost in the system’. When senior correspondent Sarah Martin followed the money, she discovered even those on the inside are asking questions about accountability, and why some are saying the man brought in to improve the syste
Back to Back Barries: Should the media boycott One Nation?
Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry) look at the prime minister’s week in the US against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s ban of three news organisations from the White House. Would the Australian media ever join together like their American counterparts and boycott a political party or politician? The two former press advisers also examine press conference ethics and why Austra
Rogue AI hacks government system in world first
A government database has been hacked for the first time by a rogue OpenAI agent, which infiltrated part of the Australian healthcare scheme in June. OpenAI became aware of the hack in August, but only informed the government in September. Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has expressed his ‘extreme concern’ about the hack, which raises serious AI security concerns for governments arou
Alan Jones on trial: An unexpected change in the prosecution's case | Week 8
As the criminal trial of Alan Jones continues, prosecutors unexpectedly drop a charge against the former broadcaster while witnesses take the stand to address allegations surrounding complainant M and complainant H. Now, with a sudden shift in the trial timeline, how much closer are we to the conclusion of proceedings? Series producer Taylah Strano joins host Nour Haydar to unpack the latest devel
Xi Jinping meets Trump: who holds the cards?
AI, Iran and Taiwan – there will be no shortage of topics when the two most powerful men in the world meet in Washington. But what do they both want? Jonathan Czin explains
What Albanese has to lose from his US trip
Anthony Albanese is in New York campaigning for Australia to snag a seat on the UN security council for 2029. So how much power would a two-year seat actually give Australia to make change? Why does Albanese feel that now is the time? And given the hefty price tag attached to a security council campaign, how will his efforts be received back home? Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Matilda Bos
Decoding America: Trump’s war on the media
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s weekly US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy dive into what’s driving Donald Trump’s ban on journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico - and the significance of the response from major TV networks. They also cover the US president at the UNGA and why Trump’s decision making on international conflicts could be explained by the price
Jim Chalmers on how Australia’s economy can survive in an uncertain world
On Monday, Jim Chalmers released Treasury’s economic forecast for the next 40 years in the Albanese government’s second intergenerational report. The outlook predicts major challenges on geopolitics, the AI transformation, and for the first time, deaths will overtake births in Australia within a few decades. The treasurer speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, and economic
The Houthis’ shock advance and what it means for the world
The Houthis now control the Bab al-Mandab strait. But where is it and why does it matter? Patrick Wintour explains
What an AI deal could mean for Australian culture
The Albanese government is considering giving AI companies unrestricted access to Australian content. The sweeping copyright reforms could give AI companies – such as Anthropic and Open AI – permission to train on the open internet here in Australia. Host Reged Ahmad speaks to musician and communications strategist Holly Rankin on what an AI deal could mean for creators, artists and everyday Austr
The Populist: The favourite son | Episode 2 – Full Story podcast
Most Australians know the story of Pauline Hanson: the fish and chip shop, the maiden speech, the “please explain”. But Hanson’s top adviser, James Ashby, wields as much – if not more – power over One Nation as Hanson herself. When the party bars media from press conferences, it’s Ashby who makes the call. To understand how One Nation operates, it’s important to understand Ashby’s story, from his
Black Box: The Chatbots | Happy Accident | Ep 3
Why are AI chatbots pulling so many people down a rabbit hole? Our answer starts with the world’s first-ever chatbot, the strange effect it had on people and the ‘time bomb’ that exploded when ChatGPT was released four years ago. The result is a strange experiment we are all living through – whether we know it or not. You can find episodes one and two further back in the Full Story feed.
Back to Back Barries: Labor’s migration dilemma
Barrie Cassidy and Jessie McCrone, a former adviser to the former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and now managing partner for FMRS Advisory, examine the migration reforms as announced by the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, this week. Is One Nation controlling the narrative on this issue, and how will the Coalition respond? They also look at the Guardian’s new investigative podcast series The
Tony Burke on Labor’s immigration shake-up
Home affairs minister Tony Burke delivered a speech at the National Press Club on Thursday, announcing immigration reforms to achieve Labor’s forecasts for net overseas migration. After being postponed at short notice six weeks ago, Burke’s speech comes in the same week that One Nation announced its policy to significantly cut the number of temporary migrants in Australia. Political editor Tom McI
Alan Jones on Trial: A prominent athlete takes the stand | Week 7
For the first time, seven weeks into the criminal trial of Alan Jones, a complainant came face-to-face with his alleged offender in the courtroom. The former athlete, known as complainant M, was the third of six complainants and chose to give evidence in the same room as Jones. The courtroom – and the journalists squeezed into a separate room in the court – heard allegations against Jones that he
How Ed Sheeran’s ‘apolitical’ stance is causing his biggest crisis
All four supporting acts for the upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran’s tour have withdrawn in solidarity with fellow opener Macklemore. The American rapper was removed from Sheeran’s tour after comments made onstage in support of Palestine. Sheeran responded that venue owners – including Robert Kraft who owns the New England Patriots and its home stadium – had objected to Macklemore’s appearance on the t
The 'apex predator' of fires choking south-east Asia
Indonesia is in the middle of a climate emergency, experiencing what Nasa calls the ‘apex predator’ of wildfires. It’s burning an area three times the size of Singapore and choking millions across south-east Asia with toxic haze. But while Europe’s catastrophic summer made headlines in Australia, the climate emergency happening to one of our closest neighbours is less well known. Kate Lamb joins M
Decoding America: Why won't Donald Trump regulate AI?
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s weekly US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad look at whether there is any appetite across the political spectrum to put guardrails on artificial intelligence as around the world existential fears mount that the technology is developing too quickly. They also explain what the latest supreme court ruling on the Trump administration’
Is Andrew Hastie launching a Coalition fightback against One Nation?
As One Nation squeezes the Liberal vote, Andrew Hastie’s clash with Pauline Hanson over a video calling him a traitor has exposed deep faultlines across Australia’s political right. So is the MP becoming the face of the Liberal party fightback against One Nation? And what does this battle mean for the former SAS captain’s political ambitions? Reged Ahmad and Guardian Australia’s political editor T
AI isn’t going to end humanity ... right?
A series of figures in the tech world have been warning about – and even resigning over – the existential threat posed by artificial intelligence. How worried should we be? Today in Focus host Annie Kelly speaks with technology editor Robert Booth
How Icac turned into the ‘best show in town’ – Full Story podcast
This Independent Commission Against Corruption has spent eight weeks investigating allegations of Liberal party branch stacking and illegal donations in New South Wales, with hearings revealing an ideological political war rarely seen outside meeting rooms or private conversations. Guardian Australia’s Anne Davies has been following the inquiry, joining a packed public gallery to watch a ‘parade’
The Populist: Aeroplanes and bulldozers | Episode 1
‘If you’re trying to say I’m being funded by Gina Rinehart, the answer is no.’ That’s what the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, told the Guardian’s senior correspondent Sarah Martin in February. We now know that’s not true. Over months, Martin has pieced together flight-tracking data and expense records to uncover the true extent of financial support flowing from Australia’s richest person to th
Preview – The Populist: Pauline Hanson’s divided nation – podcast
Around the globe, rightwing politicians pushing nationalist and anti-immigration policies are on the rise. The Populist explores the growing appeal of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation – a party that has imported the modus operandi of the populist right, including Trump-style attacks on the media. Investigations correspondent Sarah Martin speaks to Reged Ahmad about the new four-part podcast series laun
Black Box: The Chatbots | 14 days | Ep 2
Virginia man Jon Ganz was rebuilding his life after spending more than two decades in prison for a horrific crime. Last year, he got a prompt on his phone that his wife, Rachel, believes changed their lives forever. It was from Google, inviting him to try the company’s AI chatbot, Gemini
Back to Back Barries: Andrew Hastie v Pauline Hanson
Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry this week) go straight to Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie’s stoush with Pauline Hanson over an animated cartoon. Is Hastie one of the few politicians willing to take on the One Nation leader? And could this be the beginning of the Liberal party fighting back? Staying with One Nation: what does the coverage of Warren Pickering’s press conf
Alan Jones on Trial: Fierce loyalty, fiery texts and a parade of witnesses | Week 6
After a slow start to the week, the criminal trial of Alan Jones accelerated with a swift succession of witnesses taking the stand. Through a former politician, close friends and loyal associates, the court heard details of alleged indecent touching, scornful text messages and declarations of an ‘unbreakable bond’ with Jones.Nour Haydar speaks to media correspondent Amanda Meade to unpack the cros
Greg Jericho on One Nation’s superannuation ‘sugar hit’
One Nation’s proposal to allow people to access 3% of their super contributions for three years is touted as a lifeline for lower-income earners who are struggling to get by. But with no modelling by the party to show the long-term effects, are we better off with our money in super or in our pockets? Economist and Guardian columnist Greg Jericho speaks to Matilda Boseley about One Nation’s ‘sugar
Decoding America: How Trump is powering the global right
In this episode of Guardian Australia’s weekly US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look across the water to Germany, where the rightwing political party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has had a landslide state election win. As some commentators draw parallels to the Maga movement, they examine how Donald Trump is influencing global leaders and movements. Also in th
Why the tobacco tax is lighting up Australian politics
Rates of smoking in Australia are the lowest they’ve ever been, but at the same time, the illicit trade has never been bigger. It’s estimated 80% of the tobacco trade is now illicit and the same taxes that helped curb smoking are now fuelling organised crime. One Nation and the Coalition both believe cutting the tobacco excise is the only way to stop crime. But with the potential for reform on the
How much control should we have over the algorithm?
As the federal government prepares to introduce digital duty of care laws, social media users could soon be given the option to turn off their recommendation algorithms entirely. But with the Coalition warning of internet censorship and big tech relying on these feeds for revenue, would an opt-out switch actually make platforms safer? Technology reporter Josh Taylor joins Reged Ahmad to unpack Lab
Could the US drag us unwillingly into war?
Dotted like an outline around parts of Australia’s coast are military bases – the majority of which the US has control of or access to. Now a special Guardian investigation reveals the breadth of Donald Trump’s US military presence in the country, to a scale that the Australian public might not be aware of. Some analysts are warning it represents a ‘saturation’ or ‘colonisation’ of the Australian
Black Box: The Chatbots | Spirals | Ep 1
Across the world, hundreds of people have come to believe they have made extraordinary scientific discoveries with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Others say their AI has ‘awakened’, or is leading them to a higher spiritual realm. Guardian journalist Michael Safi begins investigating a phenomenon labelled ‘AI psychosis’, travelling to the US to meet two people who have been on weir
Back to Back Barries: The forces that can stop One Nation’s rise
Barrie Cassidy and George Megalogenis (filling in for Tony this week) examine George’s new book, Three Shocks: Who We are Becoming in the 21st Century, and how these forces are reshaping our national identity and Australian politics. They also look at the politics of the housing market and Barrie responds to a listener who questions his analysis of One Nation’s inability to get over the “wall” aro
Alan Jones on trial: Radio rivalry and rabbit holes | Week 5 – Full Story podcast
As talkback titan Ray Hadley took the witness box in Alan Jones’s indecent assault and sexual touching trial, the court heard accounts of a tearful disclosure, a secret contract and decades of professional animosity. Under cross-examination, explosive text messages laid bare the full extent of the station’s high-stakes internal power struggle. Host Nour Haydar and Guardian media correspondent Aman
