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Cut Through

Cut Through

Crikey 74 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

Cut Through is Crikey's spin-free analysis of Australian news, politics and power. Each week the podcast breaks down the biggest news stories, stripping away the noise to bring listeners the information that really matters. It delivers talking points every Friday in the Crikey way.

Episodes

Shady or smart? Labor and the Coalition’s backroom deals on gambling ads and the NDIS
Shady or smart? Labor and the Coalition’s backroom deals on gambling ads and the NDIS Aug 20, 2026 36:02 Two major bills passed parliament this week, with Labor and the Coalition coming together to get the job done on gambling advertising reforms and the NDIS overhaul.Crikey’s politics writer Rachel Withers joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and media reporter Daanyal Saeed to bring you up to speed on which MPs crossed the floor to vote against their party, the important details buried within both
Why the Australian media sensationalises men’s violence
Why the Australian media sensationalises men’s violence Aug 13, 2026 29:42 When it comes to what some call Australia's "epidemic" of men's violence against women, the media plays a significant role – as evidenced by the reporting on the trial of convicted rapist, Melbourne talent manager Ralph Carr. After a decade of media reform advocacy, Jane Gilmore says news headlines are still littered with rape myths, the villainisation of victims and favourable descriptions of per
What does good migration policy look like in Australia?
What does good migration policy look like in Australia? Aug 5, 2026 38:57 Immigration is one of the most dominant and heated political topics of the moment, with the media extensively covering an apparent surge in anti-immigration sentiment among Australian voters. Everything from housing shortages to unemployment is blamed on overseas arrivals, while the care economy is more reliant than ever on foreign workers.Bernard Keane joins the podcast to discuss the role of imm
NACC emails exposed, Tony Abbott’s strange mistake and Peter Malinauskas’ News Corp bestie
NACC emails exposed, Tony Abbott’s strange mistake and Peter Malinauskas’ News Corp bestie Jul 29, 2026 28:44 Internal emails exposing the National Anti-Corruption Commission trying to evade one journalist’s questions, Tony Abbott making a very strange mistake in his political commentary, and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas enjoying an intimate dinner with a top News Corp journalist.Daanyal Saeed and Crystal Andrews recap these stories, and many more compelling, illuminating and absurd items fr
Australia’s university sector is in tatters. Why?
Australia’s university sector is in tatters. Why? Jul 23, 2026 33:03 Australia’s most prestigious universities have been plagued by governance and corruption scandals over the past few years, all the while public debate continues on what role universities should play in modern Australian society. Julie Hare, one of the country’s most experienced higher education journalists, joins Cut Through to unpack the ICAC investigation into the University of Wollongong,
Bernard Keane Q&A: Big Build corruption, AI policy, and will Australia introduce a wealth tax?
Bernard Keane Q&A: Big Build corruption, AI policy, and will Australia introduce a wealth tax? Jul 15, 2026 36:39 Politics editor Bernard Keane returns to the podcast to answer subscriber questions in a dedicated Q&A episode. What does he think of critics who say there is “nothing to see here” on union corruption in Victoria’s Big Build? Is there any substance to rumours that Anthony Albanese would leave politics before the next election? Will the global campaign to introduce a wealth tax – advocated by t
Karl Stefanovic and the death of the TV star
Karl Stefanovic and the death of the TV star Jul 9, 2026 33:36 How did Karl Stefanovic rise to the pinnacle of TV stardom, and what does his move to even smaller screens say about the current state of Australian media? Tina Quinn joins the podcast to go behind-the-scenes of her latest article for Crikey, which saw her speak to a long list of sources who worked alongside Stefanovic — from junior producers all the way up to senior management — about how he real
Teal, Orange, Green: Who’s holding Labor to account?
Teal, Orange, Green: Who’s holding Labor to account? Jul 2, 2026 34:57 There was a flurry of activity in parliament as politicians tried to make the last sitting fortnight before the winter break really count. So it’s the perfect time to bring Cut Through back from our mid-year break – re-energised and ready to call it as we see it! Crikey’s politics writer Rachel Withers joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis to discuss the hi
2026 federal budget: does anyone care about broken promises?
2026 federal budget: does anyone care about broken promises? May 14, 2026 36:36 The 2026 federal budget was one of the more “memorable” in recent history. Despite the vast majority of measures having already been aired in the media weeks prior, Jim Chalmers kept one major reveal for budget night: a three-part tax reform, winding back the favourable settings of capital gains tax, negative gearing and private trusts.The mainstream media has been bleating about “broken promises”
Farrer by-election: A One Nation vs independent showdown
Farrer by-election: A One Nation vs independent showdown May 6, 2026 28:39 There are just three days until the Farrer by-election and – for the first time ever – it looks like voters won’t be electing a National or Liberal MP to represent them in Sussan Ley’s old seat.. Instead, the frustration with establishment politics has seen independent Michelle Milthorpe and One Nation’s David Farly emerge as the frontrunners in a fierce and unpredictable campaignTo help you follo
Grace Tame: The NDIS overhaul is a missed opportunity
Grace Tame: The NDIS overhaul is a missed opportunity Apr 30, 2026 27:41 Health Minister Mark Butler’s “major overhaul” of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will reduce the total cost of the scheme by $15 billion over the next four years. The majority of the savings will come from the 160,000 people who will be kicked off the scheme – a brutal decision given that the NDIS only supports a fraction of the 2 million Australians with a severe disability.The justific
Is “free speech” an Australian value?
Is “free speech” an Australian value? Apr 23, 2026 37:45 Is “free speech” an Australian value? We examine the latest developments concerning two state laws attempting to restrict political expression, and how the people are pushing back.First, the verdict is in on the protest-restricting laws introduced by the Minns government ahead of the divisive visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog: the changes are unconstitutional. Grata Fund founder Isabelle Rei

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