The Morning Edition
The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.
Episodes
A health check on Australia's democracy exposes deep divides
This week the 2026 McKinnon Index was released, and it showed what so many of us feel – that trust in federal politicians has fallen further – from 35.9 per cent of people to just 30.5 per cent, in one year. The McKinnon Index is an annual survey that tracks public perceptions of Australian democracy, and this year’s is full of juicy insights. Joining Jacqueline Maley
Is Trumpism dead? What the Democrats sweep to power means for America and the world
It’s official – a political blue tsunami has hit the United States, with the Democrats gaining control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is seismic change, with wins in many states that have upended decades of political loyalty. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, discusses what this means for the US, whether "Trumpism" is dead, and if thes
A broken body clock has been linked to a new type of depression
In a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry of over 11,000 Australians who’d been diagnosed with depression, researchers from University of Sydney have discovered about one in four participants met the criteria for what they’re calling "circadian depression." Today, lifestyle and health writer Sarah Berry on the sleep habits that may point to this type of depression, and
An expected rate rise, and risk of recession
The Reserve Bank governor is expected to announce, today, the 17th rate rise under the Albanese government, in a bid to lower inflation.Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on the risk of recession. And when we can likely expect these rises to stop.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
US midterm elections: Trump faces his toughest test yet
Americans head to the polls tomorrow to vote in the pivotal mid-term elections, which many view largely as a referendum on President Donald Trump. Polls suggest voters are shifting away from Republicans amid high fuel prices and a perception the president is not focused on their needs. But are the MAGA faithful still loyal to Trump? Today, North America correspondent Michael Koziol sha
Is the PM at risk of "Albo derangement syndrome"?
This week, we take a look at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's incorrect claim about a $6 million grant to his local golf club – which has become another instance of the government fumbling potentially trivial political issues. Plus, tensions between the Liberal and National parties, and mounting pressure on treasurer Jim Chalmers to tackle Australia's economic challenges – notab
Is the tide turning on strongman politics?
Strong man populism has grown so much over the years that analysts have expressed despair about whether democracy could have a future. Even former US president Barack Obama, a famously hopeful politician, recently resorted to trolling Donald Trump in a bid to call out the current president’s alleged corruption. And yet, events of this week suggest we may be witnessing a new politic
‘Cracking the facade’: The unravelling of the Sam Wood empire
For more than a decade, Sam Wood was one of the greatest success stories to come out of the reality TV series, The Bachelor.He met the love of his life, Snezana, on the show. And he built a hugely popular, multi-million dollar fitness franchise, geared at women, off the back of their joint fame.But now the 46-year-old faces charges of domestic violence against Snezana, including an allegation that
Inside Politics bonus: ‘I should make more time for my colleagues’: Chalmers on party tensions
The treasurer's position is known to be one of, if not the, most difficult spots in any Australian cabinet in modern history, and the current climate is no exception. On the domestic front, interest rates are at a 15-year high, which could become an 18-year high if the RBA jacks them up again on Cup Day. Overseas, Donald Trump's war is keeping prices elevated.All this is happening as Labor c
Israel votes: Is Netanyahu's leadership over?
After the October 7 attacks, Benjamin Netanyahu’s prime ministership seemed in ruins. His government repeatedly looked on the verge of collapse. Today, Israelis head to the polls for Israel’s first national election since that harrowing day three years ago. So, how are they viewing the prime minister now?Today, foreign affairs and national security correspondent Matthew Knott repo
A 'moon landing moment': The new cancer drug therapy that could change medical thinking
It's being hailed as a cancer breakthrough so monumental, the lead scientist is describing it as a “moon landing moment”.And it's not just any scientist, but Professor Georgina Long - the Australian oncologist already credited with boosting the survival rate of advanced melanoma from 5 to 50 per cent.In a world first, a stage three clinical trial led by Long has shown success in using
Morality first, politics second – Waleed Aly on political violence
After the attack on Independent MP Helen Haines, it's been a real horror week in Australian politics. Last week SMH and The Age columnist Waleed Aly wrote a column titled, "More Australians believe in political violence than go to church each week. This won't end well". Given the chilling prescience of that column and its title, Aly joins Jacqueline Maley on Inside Politics this week to discuss th
Donald Trump is becoming Vladimir Putin: Hartcher
An increasing number of commentators and American politicians - including Republicans - are becoming vocal in their opposition to Donald Trump’s assistance of Russia, and the country’s dictator, Vladimir Putin. They say, variously, that Ronald Reagan would be rolling in his grave, and that Trump is “just plain evil”. Today, political and international editor Peter Hart
The attack on Helen Haines and what we know
It was only last week that independent MP Helen Haines spoke about why Australians were so angry – citing the cost of living, insurance premiums, the price of groceries, and fuel. And, for people living in regional areas like hers, access to healthcare was a massive issue.Now many are wondering how such a popular, uncontentious MP could have become the target of what appears to be an act of
On the ground in France after widespread riots
Riots broke out across France on the weekend, said to be the worst in decades. The violence began on Saturday after more than half a million people attended rallies to protest about the cost of living and school standards, with masked rioters setting fire to cars and buildings. Today, Europe correspondent David Crowe reports from Paris on what makes these protests and riots so different than the r
The Exclusive Brethren and the rare public grilling of its ‘Man of God’
On Friday, Exclusive Brethren world leader Bruce Hales gave evidence before a federal parliamentary inquiry. This was a significant moment in a story with many twists and turns about power and influence in Australian politics.Today, senior writer Michael Bachelard on the Exclusive Brethren, now called the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, and its "Man of God", Bruce Hales.Further reading &lsquo
Jim Chalmers’ facts, an ordinary voter’s feelings and the political reality
This week – again – is all about the economy, which includes a visit from a ghost of the past in the form of former treasurer Josh Frydenberg. But the big topic for today is current treasurer Jim Chalmers and a speech he gave this week, in which he warned progressives not to mock One Nation voters. The far-right strategy to divide people was working, he said, and although facts could p
A public execution and a Russian deal – will Trump’s midterm distractions work?
The Pentagon’s plans to livestream the execution of a former US army psychiatrist who murdered 13 soldiers at an army base has been met with disbelief in many quarters. Even so, the plan, which would mark the first US military execution by firing squad since the end of WWII, was overshadowed by even more destabilising announcements by President Donald Trump over the last week. Today, interna
The ‘glass cliff’ and why the McKinsey saga shows it still exists
A senior Australian partner at global consultancy firm McKinsey made global headlines this week when he was stripped of a key leadership position after deriding the so-called “glass cliff” for women at work. Chris Bradley, who remains a senior partner at the firm, was dumped from a leadership role after he said on LinkedIn that the glass cliff was a “very convenient way to a
Australia is incubating a dementia time bomb
Dementia is the No.1 cause of death here. And it’s a uniquely terrifying one, given it can often lead to an eroded sense of self, and lost memory of loved ones.The number of cases are set to double by 2061, when it’s expected 1 million Australians will suffer from dementia.But now, some Australians are accessing new therapies, which can, in the case of Alzheimer’s disease - the m
How a remote Ecuadorian village took on Gina Rinehart
Lucia Chicaiza lives in northern Ecuador, in a sleepy farming town of just over 2000 people, at the foot of the Andes.She also happens to live near a lucrative gold and copper deposit that has caught the eye of Australia’s richest person: Gina Rinehart.Investigative reporter Marta Pascual Juanola spent a month in Ecuador investigating a mining industry that operates in shades of grey, where
Coalition’s 'race to the bottom on migration' and former immigration official answers your questions
It’s been a year since Liberal MP Andrew Hastie quit Sussan Ley’s frontbench to speak his mind on migration. His decision fractured the Coalition and Ley’s ambition to woo back multicultural communities with a more moderate stance. How things change in a year. But through it all, migration has become a more heated political issue. On Tuesday, Angus Taylor announced the Coalition&
Godlike worship of AI is happening, and the Pope is its greatest opponent
While the rest of us have been dreaming of the promise of AI to cure diseases, and fretting about the threat of robots overtaking humanity, a growing number of people have started literally worshipping AI.At online churches, and in front of an AI deity, people around the world are asking this technology for advice, seeking guidance to life’s most difficult problems. Today, international and
Inside 'sandpapergate' – cricket's greatest scandal
Australians woke up on a Sunday morning in 2018 to extraordinary vision plastered across their television screens and mobile phones: Cameron Bancroft, the opening batsman on the Australian men’s cricket team, caught on camera using a piece of sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a Test match in Cape Town. It was one of the most brazen acts of cheating ever broadcast.This week, the Austra
The royals have a rich history of lawsuits, but Andrew’s action is different
There’s been big news from the UK overnight, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, launching legal action against police over his arrest in relation to the Epstein files. Not since the 1649 trial of King Charles I has a British royal mounted a legal challenge of this magnitude, according to the UK Telegraph, which broke the bombshell story. Today’s gues
I was a teenage boy online. It took 13 minutes for the manosphere to come
According to new analysis, screen time could damage children more than being born into poverty. The findings from the University of Calgary say higher doses of screen exposure are associated with lower overall academic achievement, poorer language development and emotional and peer problems. So what’s it actually like to be a 17-year-old on social media? What material are you fed – and
Interest rates and Labor's spending, and the Greens look to Mamdani
Anthony Albanese is back from the United Nations in New York to a slump in his approval rating and more economic pain. On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates to a 15-year-high due to continued inflation pressure. So what's driving inflation? How much is government spending contributing to this issue? Also this week, the Greens elected a new leader. NSW senator David Shoebridge is far m
Did Trump offer arms to Xi Jinping? What happened on the White House tour
When the competing leaders of the world's two biggest economies gather for a summit, there's usually a lot to tussle over – military build-up, trade, critical minerals or AI. But that's not what happened when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met last week. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses the moments that could signal a startling break with decades of American po
Bogong moths are swarming homes, and their story is miraculous
If you live in a certain part of Australia, you have probably noticed them – big moths flying around, clinging to glass doors and gathering around lights in massive numbers. But for all the freak-outs across the east coast, naturalists are rejoicing. Today, national environment and climate editor Nick O’Malley talks about the return of the bogong moth after a near-total population coll
Another interest rate hike? Experts say there are other ways to curb inflation
Interest rate hikes are stressing Australian mortgage holders across the country.But are higher rates the only way to get inflation down? Or are there alternatives to the Reserve Bank’s go-to, blunt-force measure?Today, senior economics writer Matt Wade, on the potential – and challenges – of four alternatives to help keep inflation in check, newly floated by an Australian think
How real is Australia's immigration problem?
The past five decades have witnessed immigration on a scale the globe has never seen before, and countries around the world are convulsing with anti-immigration sentiment. Australia might be an island, but it's no different. This is a dangerous moment, investigative journalist Eryk Bagshaw argues. Immigration has become a scapegoat because successive governments have lost control of policy levers,
Guardrails or ‘world leader’: How Anthony Albanese responds to OpenAI’s hack
Today we’re going international to talk about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.It’s been an eventful few days for the PM who has, among other things, spoken about Australia’s attempts to crack down on social media, met with US President Donald Trump and given a speech in which he declared the wo
OpenAI's hack of an Australian government website
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched a taskforce to investigate how AI apparently went rogue hacked into a portal belonging to one of Australia’s major healthcare systems. Albanese revealed on Thursday that an OpenAI agent infiltrated Medicare. It is believed to be the first known case of AI hacking into a government system. Today, technology editor David Swan explains how this breac
Inside the trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon
You might remember this case from Sydney in the summer of 2024 – the alleged double murder of TV presenter Jesse Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies. Baird was a television presenter, appearing on shows such as Totally Wild and Studio 10, while Davies was a Qantas flight attendant.A jury trial in the NSW Supreme Court began this week and we're finding out a lot more about the allegation
Trump and Zelensky meet again, and this time, Zelensky has the cards
The Republican Party is under enormous pressure, six weeks out from the midterm elections, with a new poll finding that most voters believe US President Donald Trump has hurt the economy. It comes as Trump faces another test of his power this week: a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in a bid to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia. Internatio
The surprising prediction for Australia in 40 years
What will our future look like 40 years from now? How, in a world growing in complexity, will we be faring economically and otherwise?Ahead of the release of the government's latest intergenerational report, Treasurer Jim Chalmers had warned of some "confronting" findings, but there were also some surprisingly positive predictions.Today, senior economics writer Matt Wade discusses the unique
Introducing Virginia: Our latest investigative podcast
Today we're sharing the first episode of Virginia – The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald's latest investigative podcast on Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent victim.Walkley-award winning journalist Melissa Fyfe and WA Today reporter Carla Hildebrandt spent more than six months investigating Virginia Giuffre's life in Australia and the months before her death.Despite Virginia's heroic bat
The new terror stalking Ukraine
For many Ukrainians, daily life continues four years and six months since Russia’s full-scale invasion.But something has shifted in the war recently, as Europe correspondent David Crowe reports from Kyiv. Today, Crowe discusses the new and dangerous phase of this war and what the rest of the world can do to help. Further reading: The workers who keep trains running under fire: https://tinyu
Migration plan revealed: Who comes, who leaves and what it all means
Today we’re hot off the press, to use an old newsroom cliche, to talk about the federal government’s new plan for migration. Immigration Minister Tony Burke gave a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday where he announced significant changes. These changes included curtailing visa hopping, targeting international students, implementing a ballot system for b
Could Australia join the European Union?
When Donald Trump announced his so-called Liberation Day tariffs in April last year, one question seemed to dominate: which country would suffer the most economic pain? But since then, one country after the next seems to have awoken to a starkly hopeful realisation: the United States accounts for only 15 per cent of total global imports and trade. So, could these countries join a newly powerful tr
Bestselling author Caitlin Moran on how to have hope when Trump and the world drives you 'crackers"
For nearly 35 years, hundreds of thousands of readers around the world have turned to Caitlin Moran for laughter and her signature nouse about how to cope with life's worst bits. Having grown up in poverty in a down-at-heels English town and helping to support her siblings from the age of 15, Moran was resilience personified. And then Trump, the universe and everything nearly stole her sanity. Tod
One Nation has revealed its migration policy
Pauline Hanson has finally announced her party’s migration policy, after weeks in which various One Nation MPs publicly contradicted one another on the plan. Today, hear federal political reporter Brittany Busch on which visa holders Pauline Hanson has in her sights – and whether her plan could risk our prosperity. Further reading: Slash the intake: Majority of Australian
Australia’s ‘Moneyball’: Finding the next big thing in footy
Finals in Australia’s major sporting codes are in full swing. And six weeks after the AFL grand final is played, the other biggest show of the year - the men’s, and women’s, draft - begins. But the work to find the next big thing starts years earlier, when scouts hunt for teenagers who possess unusual qualities. I’m Samantha Selinger-Morris, and you’re listening to Th
Superannuation and the One Nation press conference that had everyone watching
This week we’re joining the dots between two different stories: the fight over superannuation, and the colourful past of One Nation’s leader in Victoria, Warren Pickering. On Monday, Pauline Hanson told voters her party would allow renters and prospective home buyers to withdraw their superannuation early. The policy was scant on details, but it had the desired effect of controlli
From 9/11 to Donald Trump: Why Australia can’t afford to abandon the US
This week marks twenty-five years since the United States suffered a terrorist attack that was predicted to change the world forever. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher talks about the lessons that the US learned – and failed to learn – and examines the costs and rewards of Australia's full-throated support of its ally following the attack. Hartcher also discusses
Germany had ruled out extremist parties. Then came this election win
A far-right party in Germany has just trounced its rivals in a state election – the closest such a party has come to holding power in a German state since World War II. The result sent shockwaves through a country that has, since the destruction of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, created a political system that prevents extremist parties from returning to power. Today's guest, Europe corresponde
Government v the internet: Albanese eyes algorithm ‘off switch’
It’s the Australian government versus big tech yet again in parliament this week, with Labor planning to introduce a bill that would tackle online harm and hand back control of social media algorithms to users. It comes as toxic online content is increasingly linked to violent sexualised behaviour in young men.But is what we see on social media a matter for a government? Or has the algo
Sunscreen wars: The Ultra Violette scandal
It was a dramatic fall from grace for a brand that had taken the world by storm by making sunscreen sexy, with influencers around the globe extolling how flawlessly the products wore under make-up and felt virtually undetectable on the skin.Today, lifestyle reporter Lauren Ironmonger and business reporter Jessica Yun talk about the fallout a year on from the Choice findings, and whether the safety
What One Nation’s WA win means, and Hanson’s incitement claim
In this week’s episode, we dissect Labor’s brutal loss to One Nation in a supposedly safe seat in Western Australia. Does this byelection really signify, as victor Luke Herdegen put it, that no MP is safe from the “orange tsunami”? One Liberal MP who is worried is Andrew Hastie. Liberal strategists have been telling us his stance against accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smi
Mushroom murder appeal: The jury issue that could decide Erin Patterson's fate
In terms of criminal jury trials, what unfolded in the infamous death cap mushroom case was unique.Because when the jury was locked away from the outside world to consider a verdict, they were staying in the same hotel, in the same country town, as the police who investigated the case, the lawyers who prosecuted, and the media reporting on it. This strange arrangement has opened the case to sugges
Anna Wintour's biographer Amy Odell on John Galliano's Met cancellation
Fashion designer John Galliano announced yesterday that he would step away from being honoured with a retrospective at next year’s illustrious Met Gala, the so-called Oscars of the fashion world.Many had hailed Galliano as one of modern history's most important fashion designers, but he was also, as fashion insider Amy Odell puts it, "the industry's most famous antisemite”. Today Odell
Mud like quicksand: On the ground in Nepal
Six days ago, a massive flash flood descended like an avalanche through villages and towns on the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away homes, roads and bridges.Hundreds of people are dead and thousands are missing, including 43 Australians.Joining us today is South-East Asia correspondent Zach Hope, who is reporting from the disaster zone in Nepal. Background reading: ‘I must look for my sons&
'The CV is dead': How to get a job in the age of AI
If you’ve applied for a job in the past few years, you may have been humiliated by an AI program. Maybe while it interviewed you. Or threw out your CV.But lately, as AI recruitment programs have become way more sophisticated, so, too, have job hunters, enlisting AI agents of their own.Today, freelance writer Stephanie Wood on new ways that AI can discriminate against workers. And the best wa
The big business banking on women freezing their eggs
Egg freezing has become a popular choice for more and more young women, many of whom are looking for something of an insurance policy against missing out on becoming a mother.It’s become big business, which means fertility companies are beholden not just to their patients, but also to their shareholders.Today, reporter Bronte Gossling and deputy lifestyle editor Courtney Thompson discuss the
The magical mystery tour of immigration numbers, and the new One Nation voter profile
This week we reported on some interesting polling that grappled with what makes One Nation voters tick, and one issue stood out. There’s also been an argy-bargy in the party this week over immigration numbers, the net result of which being, perhaps, that One Nation is not totally against migration. Meanwhile, the Labor government is yet to announce its migration plan and which visa cla
Donald Trump’s ‘military intervention’ in the US economy
When news broke last week that America’s national debt had surged to a record high of $US40 trillion, it was notable enough. If the US economy shakes, the rest of the globe feels it. And then came the kicker: Donald Trump suggested he could use the military to stage an “intervention” on bond markets. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses the declining
Dezi Freeman killed two policemen, but to some he’s still an ‘outlaw hero’
It’s been a year since a murderous ambush in rural Victoria led to Australia’s biggest manhunt, and the consequences are being felt beyond the dense bush that Dezi Freeman fled into after he shot and killed two police officers. Today crime journalist Sherryn Groch on the underground network and doomsday preppers in the High Country. And why Freeman, a monster to some, has become a
ASIO’s new secret spy powers are extraordinary
Our domestic spy agency copped a lot of criticism in December after the Bondi Beach massacre for failing to prevent the attack.But is the answer expanded powers?A bill passed in parliament last week is proposing just that – laws that force suspects to answer questions, or face a jail sentence.Today national security correspondent Matthew Knott talks about the new expanded powers of ASIO
All-boys schools, elite sports and sexual assault
Chanel Contos is a young Sydney woman who, five years ago, made headlines after she collated and published the testimonies of thousands of women and girls about instances of sexual assault they’d experienced.Many had made allegations they’d been assaulted by teenage boys who went to some of Sydney’s most elite private schools.So have things changed, since then? Judging by the las
Tony Wright on the best and worst prime ministers, and the courage needed now
Today we have something special and a little bit different because Tony Wright, one of the stalwarts of Australian political writing, is stepping back from daily newsroom duties after 50 years in journalism.For about 30 of these years, Tony reported on federal politics. Bob Hawke was the first prime minister he covered, while Paul Keating often rang Tony at home in the mornings to, at first, berat
Trump's shock South Korea decision
We know that Donald Trump has made a habit out of rewarding dictators and throwing off the shackles of long-standing relationships with allies. Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses Donald Trump’s latest appeasement of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, and the threats he’s issued to Oman. Background reading Trump threatens to bomb ally Oman as US-Ir
The Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations
Another scandal involving an alleged sexual assault has erupted in the AFL.One player from the Sydney Swans football team was spoken to by police after an alleged sexual assault said to have taken place in the early hours of Monday.Today, The Age’s chief AFL writer, Jake Niall, discusses what's known, and not known, about what's unfolded.And, just a note, we're not suggesting the players are
Is our housing bubble about to burst?
Our four biggest banks say that fewer people are taking out mortgage loans. One has even forecast a significant fall in house prices in two cities. Meanwhile, Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has issued a stern warning ... Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright discusses whether the housing bubble is indeed starting to burst. Background reading Air is coming out of the hou
Science has given us another reason to love dogs
Which dog owners among us haven’t wondered about their pets: What are they thinking? Do they like me? Are they – oh no! – judging me?Well, a new study has revealed that dogs are even better at reading our emotions than chimpanzees, our closest evolutionary relative.Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on how researchers reached this conclusion, and how to help our dogs lead their
The melon story – Is the prime minister just really bad at saying sorry?
We’re back to talking about melons and the podcast interview that continues to cause dramas for the prime minister. Six weeks ago, Anthony Albanese appeared on a podcast called ‘Bush Deep’ and was asked about the worst gift he received. Melons, he replied, gifted to him by Japanese prime minister. What was said, and not said, has become the focus of attacks from the media, the Co
In the Middle East is anyone – friend or foe – taking Donald Trump seriously?
Donald Trump has suffered a cascade of humiliations at the hands of Iran and Iranian allies in the last two weeks.But, according to international and political editor Peter Hartcher, humiliation is the least of Trump's problems now.In today's episode, Hartcher discusses the strikes from Houthi rebels over the weekend, which confirm a new front to this war. And the significance of Saudi Arabia, Tur
Why car insurance premiums have gone up almost 50 per cent
Car insurance in Australia has leapt by nearly 50 per cent in the last six years and this week, the financial regulator blasted insurers for failing to adequately explain to customers why they have jacked up prices by so much.So what's behind the spike in premiums?Insurers talk about the cost of repairing cars these days and global volatility, but there's plenty of evidence that companies will red
Kyle Sandilands' new show: Political, glitchy, uncensored
Kyle Sandilands commanded massive audiences on commercial radio before his now infamous sacking. And on Monday, his new subscriber-only live show was launched.It was the old Sandilands but even more uncensored, and with a political bent, featuring guests such as NSW Premier Chris Minns and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.So why do we care, and what does this new era of media – free of the r
Trump’s USA: Republican revenge and a Democratic Hail Mary
In a win that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, an unabashedly left-wing epidemiologist has been chosen as the Democrat nominee to fight for a senate seat in Michigan in November.Some see it as a desperate move at a time when the Republican Party is moving full steam ahead to prosecute opponents such as Dr Anthony Fauci, Joe Biden's former COVID tsar, who was browbeaten just over a
Immigration, gambling and big tech: Labor’s big policy push
This week on Inside Politics, we take a look at some of the major policy challenges facing the Albanese government – from migration numbers, to gambling-advertising reform and the news media bargaining code between Australian media and big tech companies. Joining host Jacqueline Maley are chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos. If y
An AI bust is coming. But when? And who will be hit hardest?
There’s a battle brewing over which country will lead the world in Artificial Intelligence, and the US has bet the house, economically, that it will be the winner. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on what previous infrastructure booms – such as the craze for building railways in the 1840s or the dotcom boom of the 1990s – tell us about where all this will
‘Explosive’ evidence heard as Alan Jones’ trial begins
Is Alan Jones guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault? Or are the allegations against him - by six men - the result of treachery, desperation and opportunism, as Jones’ barrister has argued? Today crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe on the allegations aired in court, so far, in the trial of Alan Jones, which began this week. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, revie
Better sex life, mood and muscles, but there are risks to our testosterone obsession
It’s the latest health buzzword, proposed as a magic cure for everything from dementia to low libido. But is it safe, or even advisable, to take supplementary testosterone? Today, we talk to Madeleine Heffernan on what the experts want us to know, and what this latest cultural obsession says about us right now.If you like this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, revie
What really happened to Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre
Virginia Giuffre was fearless in taking down some of the world's most powerful people. As Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent victim, she helped expose his crimes and hold his friends to account, including the man formerly known as Prince Andrew.But despite her heroic battle in the most notorious sex trafficking case of the 21st century, few knew about one of her toughest fights. It was one she fough
The welcome miss on inflation, and the Victorian leadership fallout
It’s been another roller coaster this week for mortgage holders. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a stern warning about inflation, before the clouds parted a little when there was a welcome dip in the numbers. We check in with the state of the economy with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, before crossing to state political editor Chip Le Grand after quite a momentous
Deep misjudgements and awful consequences: Peter Hartcher on Trump and Putin
They are wars on different fronts, but both are showcasing what international and political editor Peter Hartcher says are the deep misjudgements of leaders. Reporting this week revealed US armaments are running low as war continues in the Middle East. And the ramifications of the “unbelievable” nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump signed with Saudi Arabia are beginning to surfa
The downfall of Victorian premier Jacinta Allan
Victorian politics is in turmoil. On Tuesday morning, Jacinta Allan stood down as the state's 49th premier after more than 25 years in parliament. In a bonus episode of The Morning Edition, state political reporter Kieran Rooney discusses what brought Allan down, who has replaced her and what it means for the state election in just four months’ time. Background reading: 'Slow, then fas
Is the Commonwealth Games on its last legs?
The Victorian government made headlines, for all the wrong reasons, in 2023, when it pulled out of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the grounds that it was too expensive. Now, the Games are on in Glasgow, with many locals barely registering that it’s even taking place in their city, according to our reporter on the ground. Today, senior sports writer Michael Gleeson on whether the competiti
Qantas and Alan Joyce – the CEO who can’t let go
There are not that many company CEOs who the general public knows by name. But Alan Joyce is one of them.In part, it's because of how customers and employees were treated by Qantas, the company he led, during the COVID-19 pandemic.Today, senior reporter Chris Zappone discusses why Alan Joyce is now telling his side of the story.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudi
The prime minister, a billionaire’s son and a dinner at a Point Piper mansion
The Labor party is facing fresh scrutiny over where it gets its money.Five days ago, it was the result of revelations that the party collected more than $4 million in gambling donations in five years – a chunk of that while it dithered on gambling reform.And now, another donation has raised eyebrows.Today investigative reporter Lucy Macken on the billionaire’s son who allegedly offered
