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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

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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 Labor’s proposed crackdown on social media algorithms

How much control should we have over the algorithm?

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 continent. Senior reporter Ben Doherty speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether America’s strong military presence in Australia could drag us unwillingly into war

Why can the US access so many Australian military bases, and could they drag us unwillingly into war?

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 weird journeys with their chatbots

Black Box: The Chatbots | Spirals | Ep 1

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” around the cities Best Australian books out in September House prices could fall 10%, analysts predict, as fourth interest rate hike looms

Back to Back Barries: The forces that can stop One Nation’s rise

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 Amanda Meade are back to take you through week five of the trial of Alan Jones

Alan Jones on trial: Radio rivalry and rabbit holes | Week 5 – Full Story podcast

The death of a 16-year-old in Sydney’s northern beaches from a suspected act of sexual strangulation has put a spotlight on the dangerous trend – a trend that more than half of people under 40 say they’ve tried. The case raises difficult questions about young people and risky sex, consent, and the responsibility of the porn industry. Today, Matilda Boseley speaks to global editor Lucy Clark and lifestyle editor Alyx Gorman about why so many people wrongly believe sexual choking is ‘safe’, and the education and regulation that can combat it

What’s behind the dangerous rise of sexual choking?

Thirty years after Tupac Shakur’s death, a man has been found guilty of killing the hip-hop legend. Helen Pidd talks to William Shaw and Jessica Hill about the conclusion to Tupac’s murder trial, and the star’s life, legacy and untimely death

Tupac’s murder: solved at last?

Nearly a week after a catastrophic glacier collapse struck the Nepal-China border, the death toll continues to rise as emergency teams search through heavy mud and submerged hydro tunnels. With thousands still unaccounted for, including dozens of Australian travellers, international rescue operations are racing against time. Guardian reporter Cait Kelly speaks to Rafqa Touma from Kathmandu about the devastation on the ground, the search for survivors and what happens next

One week on in Nepal

One Nation has claimed victory in the Western Australian seat of Secret Harbour, delivering a massive blow to a safe Labor stronghold. With voter frustration over cost-of-living issues boiling over, what does this mean for the major parties heading into the next elections? Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, joins Reged Ahmad to unpack One Nation’s rise and how Labor is struggling to respond

What One Nation’s latest victory means for the major parties

When Jackson Pollock painted Blue Poles, his masterpiece of American abstract expressionism, little did he know it would become one of Australia’s most fascinating political controversies. The piece ensnared everyone from Gough Whitlam to the shah of Iran, only to end up in Canberra’s National Gallery as a symbol of our nation’s burgeoning modernity. With the news that Blue Poles is relocating from Canberra to Perth, Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to Rafqa Touma about the colliding worlds of art and politics featured in his book, Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the painting that changed a nation

The American painting that sparked an Australian culture war

Tony Barry and Sean Kelly, sitting in for Barrie Cassidy, examine the politics of immigration and asylum after contradictory policy statements this week from Labor and One Nation. They discuss how much Labor is being led by One Nation and whether the government is doing enough to make the case for migration. They also talk about the concessions made by the Albanese government to the states on GST and renewable energy for datacentres, as well as the bumpy economic road ahead for Labor, with new inflation numbers suggesting possible interest rates hikes in the future Albanese vows refugee intake won’t be slashed, shutting down plans of Coalition-level cut Analysis: One Nation’s immigration policy is clear as mud – but that ambiguity could be a secret weapon for Pauline Hanson

Back to Back Barries: How is One Nation influencing Labor’s migration policy?

Hundreds of people are missing or have been killed after a catastrophic flash flood hit Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday. Entire villages have been destroyed, many of which were popular pilgrimage and trekking destinations for tourists. Lucy Hough talks to global editor Devika Bhat about how the devastating event unfolded

‘Tsunami from the sky’: floods leave trail of devastation in Nepal and Tibet – Full Story podcast

Week four of the Alan Jones trial zeroed in on a single afternoon 20 years ago, to a luncheon hosted by the veteran broadcaster. A man referred to in court as Complainant C alleges he was indecently assaulted in the presence of other guests, an allegation Jones denies. So what have witnesses recalled from that afternoon two decades ago and why has one high profile lunch guest been accused of ‘tailoring’ his evidence? Nour Haydar speaks to Guardian Australia’s media correspondent, Amanda Meade, to unpack a week of courtroom exchanges, revealing text messages, and an unusual turn by the prosecution.

Alan Jones on Trial: What happened at lunch? | Week 4 – Full Story podcast

In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast Decoding America, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad explore why datacentres in the US have provoked such anger – and whether that could harm Republicans in the midterms given Donald Trump is such a supporter of the growing industry. They also look at why the US and Canada are fighting over tariffs. The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, is pushing back and both countries could be on the cusp of a full-blown trade war. Finally: why does the Trump administration’s secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, have his very own YouTube show – and is he the only one?

Decoding America: Could datacentres lose Trump the midterms?

Following a sexual assault allegation linked to the Sydney Swans, the AFL community’s response quickly shifted to premiership points and player suspensions. But for many fans, the real issue isn’t on-field fallout, it’s how the football industry responds when allegations of violence against women emerge. Host Matilda Bosley is joined by sports writer and editor Martin Pegan to unpack why, and how, the conversation needs to change.

Who’s responsible for fixing the AFL’s culture problem?

More than two years ago, Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by the Israel Defense Forces while travelling in a convoy with humanitarian organisation World Central Kitchen. Israel’s decision on Wednesday to clear its soldiers of criminal liability has sparked widespread condemnation, from Frankcom’s family to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who called the move an “outrage”. Now, as calls grow for accountability, an apology and potential reparations, political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about a new low in Australia and Israel’s relations You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Are Australia-Israel relations at an all-time low?

Natalie Harp is Donald Trump’s most devoted aide: she travels the world with him, types his Truth Social posts, and even pens the US president ‘adoring’ letters. But reports that Harp had no official security clearance for a year has raised questions about the people Trump allows into his inner circle. So just who is Natalie Harp? The Guardian’s Washington bureau chief David Smith speaks to Reged Ahmad about Harp’s journey from cancer survivor to Trump supporter – and how one Democrat senator put her in the global spotlight

Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s most devoted aide is in the spotlight

This week, the Albanese government passed major reforms to online gambling advertising and deep cuts to rein in NDIS spending – all with the Coalition’s support. David Pocock has long been a vocal critic of the government’s approach to both of these issues, saying Labor and the opposition have failed to stand up to vested interests on gambling reforms. And while he agrees NDIS cuts are needed, he says major parties have ignored expert evidence on the value of community participation and are handing over important decisions to algorithms with little scrutiny. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the independent senator about what he thinks this notable week of deal-making means for the nation’s political future – while both major parties continue to be spooked by One Nation’s rise

David Pocock on the ‘real betrayal’ of Labor’s deal on gambling reforms

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine the two deals made this week between the Coalition and Labor on gambling advertising and the NDIS. They also look ahead to the upcoming byelection in the Western Australian electorate of Secret Harbour, which sits within Andrew Hastie’s electorate. Could One Nation again emerge victorious? If so, what threat would that pose to the federal Liberal MP’s political fortunes? And after the break the Barries take a question from Neil in Bendigo, a super fan of the show, about when Albanese is likely to go and who could take the leadership

Back to Back Barries: Political stitch-up or compromise? A tale of two political deals

In the third week of the trial of former talkback radio star Alan Jones, a complainant took to the witness box to recount his time working at 2GB. Complainant C detailed allegations of indecent assault, a power dynamic, and why he felt he had to ‘cop it’. The defence has argued Jones never indecently assaulted the complainant. Nour Haydar is joined by media correspondent Amanda Meade to unpack the evidence and intense cross-examination

Alan Jones on Trial: Alleged victim tells court he was ‘groomed for 10 years’ | Week 3

In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look at what the reported food shortages and mental health crisis on the USS Lincoln say about whether the US military is stretched too thin as the war on Iran drags on. They also look at Donald Trump’s vaccine executive order and why experts are fearful it could spread vaccine hesitancy to Australia. Finally, what’s the update on Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s long-running bromance?

Decoding America: Why Maga vaccine scepticism might be catching

New South Wales will become the first state to undertake Australia’s biggest gun buyback in 30 years in a jointly funded scheme in response to the Bondi beach terror attack. The move has been welcomed by many, but has also been met with opposition from the Coalition and One Nation who say it unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners. Rafqa Touma speaks to reporter Penry Buckley about whether the buyback will work and why the scheme has angered so many

Does Australia have a gun problem?

Christopher Berry-Dee has been a pioneer of the true crime genre for years. The UK’s all-time bestselling true crime author is a self-proclaimed expert in serial killers, persuading them to give interviews and laying out their crimes in extensive detail. ‘Persuasive,’ says Sirin Kale after speaking to many who know him, ‘that’s a word that comes up a lot.’ However, after an investigation with fellow investigations correspondent Lucy Osborne, Sirin tells Annie Kelly about a much darker side to Berry-Dee, who has been accused by multiple women of violence, rape and sexual assault. Berry-Dee denies the allegations

A bestselling true crime author and the crimes he’s accused of

With just months to go before New Zealand voters head to the polls, the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived his second leadership spill in just four months. As flagging poll numbers, a sluggish economy and high-profile gaffes build pressure on Luxon, can the embattled leader retain his grip on power through November? The Guardian’s New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett joins Reged Ahmad to look inside NZ politics and whether the PM can make it to election day

Why is the New Zealand PM fighting for his political life?

From immigration to inflation, housing sits at the heart of most political debates. But political parties are struggling to come up with a coherent message – and no one has a clear plan to fix the crisis. The Liberal senator and shadow housing minister, Andrew Bragg, last week said his plan to cut immigration is the solution – but so far he’s fuzzy on the details. And the government wants house prices to fall but doesn’t seem to want to take credit for it when they do. Reged Ahmad speaks to economist Saul Eslake on what really works and why politicians can’t seem to fix one of the biggest problems facing us all

The messy politics of a housing crisis

Federal parliament has returned from winter break with a frenetic start to the second half of the political year. There were days of commentary and squirming over ‘melon-gate’ and, with Labor planning to make a deal with the Coalition to pass gambling reforms, there are still doubts about the government’s ambition in its second term. In an ‘ask me anything’ edition of the Australian Politics podcast, Tom McIlroy, Krishani Dhanji, Josh Butler and Sarah Basford Canales from Guardian Australia’s Canberra bureau answer questions from listeners and readers

Ask me anything: ‘melon-gate’, One Nation’s media ban and the PM’s ambition

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry look at Liberal senator Andrew Bragg’s speech this week in which he outlined his plan to solve the housing crisis – a plan that doesn’t have the support of his own party. The Barries also discuss the ‘melon-gate’ controversy, with Tony asking if a conservative politician would be subjected to more or less outrage if they had done the same thing. Also in this episode, the deal on gambling between Labor and the Coalition

Back to Back Barries: what ‘melon-gate’ really reveals about our politics and the media

As week two of the criminal trial against Alan Jones draws to a close, intense cross-examination of the first complainant, known as J, comes to an end. After testimony from J’s witnesses, inconsistencies in timelines about the alleged offending 20 years ago threatened to delay proceedings. Guardian Australia media correspondent Amanda Meade joins Nour Haydar to unpack the latest evidence and courtroom roadblocks

Alan Jones on Trial: J’s witnesses take the stand, and a timeline shift | Week 2

After allegations that some betting companies provided gamblers with drugs and sex workers as enticements to keep wagering, pressure to act on gambling reform has mounted from all sides. And this week it seems Anthony Albanese is edging closer to a deal with the Coalition to pass new restrictions on advertising and inducements. But with backbenchers and advocates calling for stronger measures than those now on the table, will the prime minister go harder? Rafqa Touma speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about the negotiations between Albanese and Angus Taylor on the issue and whether the deal they reach will do what is needed to help those struggling with gambling addiction

Will Albanese deliver on gambling reform?

When the University of Cambridge appoints a new professor, it doesn’t usually make global headlines. But Jason Arday was different. He was just 37 in 2023 when he became Cambridge’s youngest black professor, specialising in the sociology of race and education. The achievement seemed all the more remarkable because of his incredible backstory. Yet almost as soon as he began his professorship at Cambridge’s Jesus College, the whispers began. Initially, the focus was on his academic scholarship. But, the Guardian’s arts and culture correspondent Lanre Bakare tells Helen Pidd, the allegations snowballed, and soon every aspect of his life story was put under the microscope. Last week, he resigned. But how did this happen? And what does this tell us about how black scholars are treated by academia and the media?

Plagiarism and a pig’s head: the rise and fall of Jason Arday

For the past three years, we’ve known him only as a ‘high-profile businessman’, accused and then convicted of raping a woman in his home. Until last week, when the court order suppressing his name was lifted and he was revealed to be Ralph Carr, one of Australian music’s heavyweights, a man who helped bring us the biggest pop stars of the 90s. Names like Kate Ceberano, Vanessa Amorosi and Tina Arena – his ex-wife. Guardian Australia can reveal that dozens of other women who worked for Ralph Carr Management accused him of verbally abusive and intimidating behaviour dating back to the 1990s. Some accuse him of sexual harassment. He denies the claims and maintains his innocence regarding his rape conviction. Reged Ahmad speaks to culture editor Steph Harmon about her exclusive report

‘Terrifying’, ‘abusive’: the women who worked for convicted rapist Ralph Carr speak out – Full Story podcast

Just a few weeks ago, the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, was riding high after a successful World Cup. Now, he’s on the brink of losing his job. Infantino has apologised for his controversial plan to sell off the World Cup, but it’s done nothing to dampen the calls for his resignation. So why was the plan so despised, and is it one controversy too far for the man who once awarded Donald Trump a peace prize? Host Reged Ahmad speaks to sport reporter Jack Snape on whether this is the final whistle for Infantino

Can Gianni Infantino survive as Fifa president?

It’s been a long time since a woman led the Labor party. This term, Tanya Plibersek will become the longest serving woman of the House of Representatives in Australia. Plibersek has held senior cabinet and shadow cabinet roles since 2004, was deputy leader to Bill Shorten between 2013 and 2019, and is one of the most recognisable politicians in the country. But in the conversation of who is in line to be Labor’s next leader after Albanese, Plibersek barely registers, nor do any other women. And this is despite the party achieving gender parity in its caucus. Political reporter Krishani Dhanji speaks to Rafqa Touma on why it’s been a long time since a woman led the Labor party

Why hasn’t Labor had another female leader?

Barrie Cassidy is back, and kicks off the episode by analysing the conflict in the Labor party over migration that led to the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, pulling out of his scheduled press club speech this week. Tony Barry delves into new Redbridge polling suggesting small gains for One Nation and the Coalition at a federal level. And as the conversation turns to Victorian politics, he surprises everyone – including himself – by defending a trade union leader. They also answer some listener questions, and Tony has his say on Jetstar’s new cabin luggage charges.

Back to Back Barries: why Labor is split on migration

The criminal trial of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has begun almost two years after he was arrested over multiple counts of indecent assault and sexual touching – charges he strongly denies. What did week one reveal about the prosecution’s case, and the way Jones treated his alleged teenage victim? Nour Haydar speaks to Guardian Australia’s media correspondent, Amanda Meade, to unpack opening statements and key evidence from the first week of the trial

Alan Jones on Trial: A ‘fearful’ friend and ‘generous’ payments

In this episode of Guardian Australia’s weekly US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad take a look at how the Michigan Senate primaries could decide the future of the Democrats. This is a race that has revealed the civil war raging inside the party, as some seek to take it further to the left, with candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed. But will this schism be the Democrats’ Maga moment, or will it leave the party open to a Republican communist ‘red scare’ campaign that could cost them the midterms? They also look at why the Senate unanimously passed a resolution declaring its opposition to any presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the next chapter in the reflecting pool saga and why Donald Trump said US attorney and Maga faithful Jeanine Pirro had ‘folded like an umbrella’

Decoding America: are the Democrats having their own Maga moment?

Despite most Australians supporting clean technology, the campaign against wind and solar infrastructure has proven to be effective, striking a chord with many of those living in remote and rural areas. So how do we bring everyone along on the transition to a renewable energy-focused future? And who’s putting up roadblocks? The Guardian’s environment and climate correspondent Graham Readfearn joins Reged Ahmad to unpack Australia’s relationship with renewables

The ‘extremely effective’ campaigns undermining support for renewables

The One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has repeatedly declared that he doesn’t ‘believe in multiculturalism’. But the reality on the ground in his New South Wales electorate of New England suggests otherwise. Joyce supported a campaign for the town of Armidale to become a refugee resettlement centre but, as a member of One Nation, his party advocates for a ‘monocultural’ Australia and for restricting migration to those who can speak English. Nour Haydar speaks to the Guardian’s community affairs reporter, Adeshola Ore, about what she learned on the ground from Armidale’s growing refugee community – and from an interview with Joyce himself

How does Barnaby Joyce’s support for refugees square with One Nation policies?

Alan Jones will today front court on 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges, spanning a nearly two-decade period. He denies all charges. But how did we get here? Once a media giant who enjoyed the height of influence and power, he is now the centre of one of Australia’s highest-profile criminal cases. The Guardian’s media correspondent, Amanda Meade, joins Nour Haydar to get us up to speed on the trial

Your guide to Alan Jones’ trial

Two years into her role representing King Charles, Australia’s head of state, the governor general, Sam Mostyn, says she has observed a “woeful lack of understanding” among the adult population about the civic underpinnings of Australia’s democracy – beginning with the constitution. Mostyn speaks to Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, at Admiralty House in Sydney about her decision to focus on a wide-ranging civics education for modern Australia, to address the “growing catastrophe” that undermines democratic participation

Governor general Sam Mostyn on the ‘growing catastrophe’ in our democracy

Tony Barry and Jon Faine (sitting in for Barrie Cassidy this week) examine the ousting of Jacinta Allan and the anointing of Ben Carroll as the new premier of Victoria. They discuss what it could all mean for the upcoming election and while they say anything can happen, Tony’s tummy compass points to a win for Jess Wilson. And, weeks into the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, Faine gives his take on the hearings so far

Back to Back Barries: the fallout from a Victorian coup

It has been a messy week in Australian politics. In NSW, the Liberal party faced the corruption watchdog over allegations of branch stacking and illegal donations. In Victoria, the noise around the so-called Big Build brought down a premier and threatens to further alienate already aggrieved voters. Josephine Tovey is joined by Mike Ticher, Patrick Keneally and Anne Davies to talk about a bad week for trust in politics

Newsroom Edition: ‘shit sheets’ and political scandals

Twenty-five years ago, on a desolate stretch of Australian highway, Bradley John Murdoch flagged down British backpackers Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio. Falconio was never seen again. Now, as police continue to try to bring closure for his family, one former British government expert says he knows the ‘most likely’ place where Falconio’s body was hidden Queensland correspondent Ben Smee joins Reged Ahmad as police try to finally close the case on the murder of Peter Falconio

Will we ever find Peter Falconio’s body?

In this episode of Guardian Australia’s weekly US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad discuss Donald Trump’s closed-door meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. They also examine the president’s escalating attacks on the Smithsonian National Museum of American History as well as his performance at the White House correspondent’s dinner

Decoding America: has Trump turned on Netanyahu?

Victoria has a new premier after the education minister, Ben Carroll, was voted in by the Labor party during a chaotic caucus meeting on Tuesday morning. His predecessor, Jacinta Allan, stood down after a tumultuous few months at the helm of a government diving in the polls and struggling to fend off a rising One Nation ahead of November’s state election. Victorian state correspondent Benita Kolovos tells Reged Ahmad how the day unfolded and whether a change in leadership can improve Labor’s chances at the ballot box later this year

Will a new premier save Victorian Labor?

Taking place once every three years, the Labor party conference can be a chance to have open debates on vexed policy issues – but this one was different. Reged Ahmad speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about whether the prime minister is insisting on too much control and what his tight hold means for his party’s chances of taking on One Nation

Does Anthony Albanese rule Labor with an iron grip?

This year the FBI issued urgent warnings to parents about 764, a global online community where children are manipulated into acts of violence. With hundreds of investigations under way worldwide, including in Australia, 764 and groups like it are accused of using coercion to turn vulnerable minors into victims and, in some cases, predators. Nour Haydar speaks to investigations reporter Ariel Bogle about the dangers to children these networks pose

Inside the violent online network coercing children to self-harm

Speaking with political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy at the 50th Labor conference in Adelaide, Peter Malinauskas talks about his own state contest with One Nation and why progressives should not speak down to Pauline Hanson’s supporters. And despite the US admitting this week that the production rate of Virginia-class submarines has not increased, the SA premier argues that abandoning Aukus would pose an even greater risk than the controversial agreement’s potential problems

SA premier Peter Malinauskas at the ALP national conference

Tony Barry and George Megalogenis (filling in for Barrie Cassidy) give their view on One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce’s viral moment this week and why they think it played well to his party’s base. George takes us back to past elections that produced favourable results for One Nation to remind us that we have been here before and that political predictions often don’t come true. And they sign off with a listener email asking if the rise in polling is damaging democracy

Back to Back Barries: Barnaby bends the media cycle

Political and media attention this week has once again been squarely focused on One Nation’s antics. But while Pauline Hanson had her Euro summer, many of that continent’s biggest cities were enduring their worst heat stress in recorded history. In Australia, an El Niño summer is not far away and we may be headed for our hottest winter on record. Jo Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher and assistant climate editor Donna Lu about whether Australia is being too complacent about the changing climate

Newsroom Edition: An El Niño summer looms – we need to talk about climate change

Tens of thousands of young protesters poured on to the streets of India’s capital, New Delhi, this week amid an explosion of anger over the country’s education system and youth unemployment. The protesters are supporters of the Cockroach Janta party, which started as an online joke but has quickly become an unexpected challenge to the powerful rightwing government of Narendra Modi. Nour Haydar speaks to the Guardian’s south Asia correspondent, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, about what’s behind India’s growing protests

What’s behind the protests in India?

Co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look at why Donald Trump chose to make a prime-time address about the US electoral system: was he trying to destabilise and undermine confidence before the midterms, and will it work? Also: why is the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, ordering annual testosterone deficiency screening for soldiers in the military aged 30 and older?

Decoding America: making the US military macho again

There has been no end to the negative headlines generated in response to comments made by Pauline Hanson on her trip overseas – and it has forced members of One Nation, including Barnaby Joyce, to defend and explain her actions back home. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Reged Ahmad about how the trip’s many controversies could play with One Nation supporters in Australia

The fallout from Pauline Hanson’s Euro Summer

Senior political correspondent Peter Walker and former No 10 press secretary Paul Harrison analyse Andy Burnham’s first day as PM

Burnham begins: what awaits the new British PM?

We know that the online world is awash with angry commentary, but why are we so compelled to keep scrolling, despite our best intentions? And how is it shaping our politics? Ed Coper is political adviser and communications consultant who works to harness that social media outrage machine, which he calls ‘angertainment’. And while there is no doubt it is shaping political strategy now, especially on the right side of politics, Coper says there is an antidote to all that outrage – one that could bring us back to the days of constructive conversation. He speaks to Reged Ahmad about his new book, Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything

The politics of an online outrage industry

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has opened in Australia to much hype and intense interest. The first film ever to be shot entirely on Imax film has prompted fans to go on their own epic journey – crossing oceans to see it at one of just 41 cinemas around the world equipped to screen it in its original 70mm format. But as Homer’s Odyssey plays out onscreen, a struggle is happening offscreen too, with some saying this film could help the prospects of an ailing cinema industry trying to stay alive in an age of streaming. Reged Ahmad speaks to the deputy culture editor, Sian Cain, on whether The Odyssey has the capacity to entice people away from their devices and back to the big screen.

Can Nolan’s Odyssey revive cinema?

Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy talks to Paul Kelly about his new book on the turbulent era of the Liberal party under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. In The Twilight of Exceptionalism, Kelly writes about how the Liberal leadership changed hands from a conservative to a progressive and then a transactional centrist. The Australian newpaper’s editor-at-large argues that this period demonstrated the party was fractured over its values and confused about its identity in a changing world

Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison: Paul Kelly on the Liberals’ identity crisis

This week Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine the One Nation leader’s podcast interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson and ask: will this interview cause fractures within the party and weaken her leadership? They also look at the rightwing party’s position on international affairs and new polling in the lead-up to the Victorian election

Back to Back Barries: will Tommy Robinson sink Pauline Hanson?

After a record-breaking 102 matches, the 2026 World Cup is drawing to a close. As Spain prepares to face Argentina in the final on Monday morning AEST, we unpack the tournament’s defining moments, from presidential interference to controversial video assistant referee (VAR) interventions. Nour Haydar speaks to football writer Sam Lewis about her final predictions and how this World Cup has changed the tournament for ever

The highs and lows of a very American World Cup

When senator Lindsey Graham unexpectedly died this week, he left behind a new uncertainty in US politics. Known as a critical deal-maker in Congress, Republicans have lost a key bridge between the Democrats – and Donald Trump. Graham was also one of the few remaining Reagan-style Republicans and his death leaves questions around the future of US foreign policy, particularly on Ukraine and Israel. Reged Ahmad speaks to the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief, David Smith, back from being on the ground in South Carolina, about whether Graham’s death marks a new moment in the future of the Republican party

Will the death of the ‘Trump whisperer’ change US politics?

Australia’s aged care regulator is investigating dozens of complaints that aged care providers are charging fees for services that older Australians can’t use or even understand. Meanwhile, a class action against one of Australia’s largest for-profit providers has also alleged it charged residents additional fees for basic services it is legally obliged to provide. Nour Haydar speaks to Guardian Australia medical editor, Melissa Davey, on the alleged illegal fees being charged to vulnerable Australians

Foxtel and wine: aged care residents billed for services they can’t use

The AI revolution is here, and with it a fear that soon it will replace many of us in the workplace. The Australian government is grappling with how to deal with the multi-layered disruption but so far reform has been slow as it weighs up regulation against the claims of investment opportunities an AI boom presents. Could that change on Wednesday when the prime minister delivers a landmark speech addressing the government’s approach to the technology? The chief political correspondent, Dan Jervis-Bardy, speaks to Reged Ahmad about the tightrope the PM needs to walk between embracing new technology and protecting workers

Can Labor save us from the risks of AI?

In the year since the federal election, Pauline Hanson with her brand of rightwing populism has successfully tapped into discontent, surging in the polls at the expense of the Coalition and Labor. Meanwhile, support for the other antiestablishment party – the Greens – has flatlined, if recent polling is anything to go by. So why is the progressive party failing to cut through to voters? And what strategies can the Greens employ to improve their chances at the next election? Nour Haydar speaks to political reporter Sarah Basford-Canales about why voters tired of the major parties are moving to the right rather than the left

Where are the Greens?

Darcy Byrne is the Labor mayor of Sydney’s Inner West council and he’s helping lead a grassroots movement on curbing gambling harm in the community – including pushing for a reduction in the number of poker machines in licensed clubs in New South Wales. This momentum comes while the federal Labor party continues to face criticism about the scale of its commitment to online gambling reform. The rising Labor star speaks to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about why he compares the poker machine lobby to the US National Rifle Association, and his successful motion at this month’s NSW Labor conference on gambling policy at the next state election

Meet Darcy Byrne, the Labor mayor taking on pokies reform

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine a long list of stumbles and missteps made by politicians this week. They also discuss the prime minister’s Pacific push as China tested a long-range missile – and Nigel Farage’s resignation from politics only to stand at an upcoming byelection

Back to Back Barries: The worst political gaffe of the week

Anthony Albanese offered an unequivocal apology this week after making an off-colour comment about Kylie Minogue while playing a ‘shag, marry, date’ game on a podcast. Josephine Tovey speaks with Patrick Keneally, Gabrielle Jackson and Josh Butler about what the prime minister’s latest podcast appearance says about an increasingly fractured media landscape

Newsroom Edition: the risks and rewards of the PM’s podcast era

Today, Telstra’s chief financial officer Michael Ackland fronted up to the nation’s media to apologise – and answer questions about a massive outage that plunged the country into chaos. It stopped trains, turned off traffic lights and forced shops to close after Eftpos systems failed. And some calls to triple zero didn’t go through. Technology reporter Josh Taylor speaks to Reged Ahmad about what happened, who will take the blame and what can be done to make sure crucial connectivity is not lost again

The Telstra outage fallout

Since Donald Trump threatened to ‘take’ Cuba, the Caribbean island has been on edge. Escalating US sanctions and an oil blockade has crippled essential services, plunged the country into blackouts and ground life for its 10 million people to a near halt.Nour Haydar speaks with Ruaridh Nicoll about what life is like on the ground in Havana – and if US military intervention could be next

Will Trump invade Cuba?

Co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look at the reported details emerging about Trump’s Fifa World Cup intervention and whether it will change the ‘beautiful game’. They also discuss the growing calls for Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race

Decoding America: Behind the scenes of Trump’s red card call

This week social media giants have faced questioning at the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion as it asks: what more needs to be done to combat online hate? Reged Ahmad speaks to senior reporter Tory Shepherd on what the platforms have to say about accusations they have fuelled antisemitic content online

Have social media platforms fuelled antisemitism?

In a busy week for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese will meet with the leaders of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and India. On Monday he signed a new defence alliance with Fiji, advancing the government’s strategy to limit China’s influence in the Pacific. Later this week Albanese will also host the leaders of PNG and Tonga at the State of Origin in Brisbane. Meanwhile, back home, Albanese’s team are dealing with criticism of the PM for comments he made about Kylie Minogue on a popular podcast. Nour Haydar speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, about the PM’s strategy to bolster Australia’s ties in the region, what he hopes to achieve with rugby diplomacy and whether comments made on a podcast could overshadow international relations

Australia’s power struggle with China in the Pacific

More than a year ago, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic nomination and went on to become the mayor of New York City. Now, his influence is spreading. Progressive and democratic socialist candidates endorsed by Mamdani have toppled established Democrats in New York and Colorado. But will this new way of doing politics connect with voters across the country?Nour Haydar speaks with the Washington DC bureau chief, David Smith, about whether the Democrats are still fit to take on Trump

Will the Mamdani effect make 2028 the year of the leftwing president?

The 2026 political year has already been surprising. Labor passed changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, which they had previously ruled out. The Liberals changed leaders again, and One Nation has seen a surge of support in multiple polls. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to press gallery colleagues Michelle Grattan, the chief political correspondent at the Conversation, and Melissa Clarke, political correspondent with ABC Radio National. They discuss their report card on the year so far, and the political contests to watch in the second half of the year

Michelle Grattan and Melissa Clarke on the political year so far

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss what led to the first drop in One Nation’s poll numbers in more than a year, and why the voters turning away from Pauline Hanson are not turning back towards the Liberal party. They also examine the politics of falling house prices and why it may end up being a challenge for Labor

Back to Back Barries: The Liberal party needs more than a rebrand

An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, 45, was charged over the weekend with the alleged murder of Thunchanok Donhomla. Her body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya, on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast, in the early hours of Saturday. Carman has denied the charges. Guardian reporter Natasha May speaks to Matilda Boseley from Pattaya about the arrest and the questions it raises about Thailand’s sex tourism industry

On the ground in Thailand: what we know about the Australian man charged with murder of a teenager

How much do our genes determine about our lives, and could they influence traits like risk-taking, antisocial behaviour or even violence? Ian Sample talks to Kathryn Paige Harden, a behavioural geneticist and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who studies how genetic factors shape human behaviour. In her book Original Sin she explores how nature and nurture combine to influence our likelihood of committing crimes, and asks whether the ‘cause’ of our actions matters for how we think about culpability

Nature or nurture: can genes make us behave ‘badly’?

In September 2025, Melbourne wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke decided to give birth at home, free of all medical help. No one else was present when she went into labour except her husband and a woman named Emily Lal. Warnecke later died in hospital. Lal, who describes herself as a ‘birth keeper’, had no formal medical training and had taken an online course offered by the Free Birth Society – a multimillion-dollar business that trains unregulated birth support workers. Warnecke is one of a growing number of women choosing medically unassisted births, known as ‘freebirths’, and non-medically trained supporters for their pregnancies. Unpacking why is a key question being considered by a coroner, Therese McCarthy. Reged Ahmad speaks to the medical editor, Melissa Davey, and investigations correspondent Sirin Kale on the inquest so far and what we know about the Free Birth Society

How a Melbourne woman's death is shining light on the dangers of non-medical births

Jenny Kleeman investigates ‘Biotech Barbie’ Cathy Tie, the controversial entrepreneur hoping to revolutionise human reproduction by letting parents edit their embryos

The dawn of the designer baby

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine a big week in politics. Will Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender prove successful with their new centrist political party? Is Angus Taylor in trouble after a week of stumbles responding to One Nation policies? And what lessons should Anthony Albanese learn from Keir Starmer’s downfall?

Back to Back Barries: Angus Taylor’s multiculturalism mess

This week, Anthony Albanese’s UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, succumbed to mounting pressure and resigned as prime minister. A number of comparisons have been made between the pair, including resounding election wins followed by a decline in the polls while insurgent rightwing parties gained ground. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher, Gabrielle Jackson and Guardian Australia’s international editor, Virginia Harrison, about how Albanese can avoid Starmer’s fate

Newsroom Edition: What can Albanese learn from Starmer's fall?

Earlier this year, Karl Stefanovic launched his own independent podcast, which has hosted a range of guests from the Anthony Albanese to Pauline Hanson. In one of his latest episodes, Stefanovic was in the UK to interview the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, a man with numerous criminal convictions who promotes Islamophobic conspiracy theories and is accused of inciting violent race riots. The episode was online for several hours before being taken down. Nour Haydar speaks to media correspondent Amanda Meade and senior correspondent Ben Doherty about why Stefanovic is embracing the far right and whether his future at Nine is in doubt

The podcast that ended Karl Stefanovic’s time at Nine

Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy are back after a short break and in this episode they examine the on-again, off-again talks to end the Iran war and why Donald Trump says it’s now all up to his deputy to deliver an outcome. Jonathan looks at the latest Kennedy to run for public office and asks: are Americans tired of political dynasties? And will Trump get his reflection pool finished in time for 4 July celebrations?

Decoding America: Is Trump making JD Vance the fall guy of his war?

Having wiped out millions of birds worldwide and devastated wildlife populations around the globe, Australia has watched as the H5N1 strain of bird flu crept ever closer. And now it’s here, on the last continent to be hit. Birds have been discovered on beaches in Western Australia and tested positive for the virus. Reged Ahmad speaks to Graham Readfearn about how governments and wildlife experts alike are anxiously waiting to see if this is just the beginning

How worried should we be about bird flu?

Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister less than two years after his election victory, kickstarting the race for who will be the next Labour leader. And with MPs nervous about the growing threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform, many are speculating that the ‘King of the North’, Andy Burnham, could be next in the top job after a thumping victory in a local byelection last weekend. Reged Ahmad speaks to the North of England editor, Josh Halliday, about the man expected to become the next British prime minister and why he says this next week could define UK politics for years to come

‘The King of the North’: who is the man tipped to be the next British PM?

Last week, the Reserve Bank kept interest rates on hold but the decision was followed by a warning that a future rate rise was on the table because prices are still rising too fast. It came as the US and Iran signed an initial agreement to end more than three months of war, which had sent global supply chains into chaos. Meanwhile, Australians are feeling the pinch and deepening economic disaffection has coincided with rising support for Pauline Hanson’s rightwing One Nation party. Nour Haydar speaks with Greg Jericho about why so many Australians are feeling pessimistic about the economy

Greg Jericho on the economic forces pushing Australia towards populism

Socceroo Nestory Irankunda is part of a new generation of players who have renewed hopes for Australia’s chances in the Fifa World Cup. Multimedia journalist Bertin Huynh says as One Nation surges in the polls, those who represent us deserve celebration

The Sunday Read: Nestory Irankunda and the Socceroos deserve celebration

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry dissect Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club appearance this week and ask: is the leader of One Nation treated differently to other political leaders by the media? They also give their take on Hanson’s attacks on minorities, her pledge to dismantle public broadcasting and they meditate on whether appealing to people’s prejudices will backfire. And also: will the government’s backdown on tax be enough to silence Anthony Albanese’s critics?

Back to Back Barries: Is the media giving Pauline Hanson a free pass?

Pauline Hanson’s ascendancy in Australian politics was underscored this week by her first address to the National Press Club. In a lengthy speech, the leader of the rightwing party railed against multiculturalism and Islam in particular, pledged to slash public broadcasting and asserted the so-called ‘hoax’ of global warming was the driving factor behind poverty in Australia. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher and political editor Tom Mcllroy about Hanson’s ‘ugly’ vision for Australia

Newsroom Edition: Pauline Hanson’s Trumpian attack on the press

Mason Jet Lee died at 22 months old after his stepfather punched him so hard his bowel ruptured. An exclusive Guardian Australia investigation has found that repeated warnings about his killer were ignored. Could an unpublished submission to the inquest of his death hold evidence of police failings? Nour Haydar and Queensland correspondent Ben Smee discuss what the violent death of Mason Jet Lee reveals about a broken system

Broken Trust: how police are failing to protect children from domestic violence

Russian affairs reporter Pjotr Sauer on Vladimir Putin’s increasing isolation – and seeming paranoia – as ordinary Russians become more restive over the toll of the war in Ukraine and a struggling economy at home

‘Grandpa in a bunker’: is Putin losing control?

More than four months since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Donald Trump and Iranian officials have announced an end to the war. News of the deal came as the president celebrated his 80th birthday by hosting a UFC match. Nour Haydar speaks to Washington DC bureau chief David Smith about whether the agreement can hold, when the strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen and how the the oldest elected US president went from announcing a geopolitical deal to hosting a cage-fighting match on the White House lawn

Trump celebrates with a peace deal and cage fight

The Australian music industry is in crisis, but it wasn’t always that way. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a healthy number of Aussie artists were making it to the charts. Now, local musicians are struggling to get air time and to earn a living making music. Nour Haydar speaks to culture editor Steph Harmon and data journalist Josh Nicholas about why Australian music is disappearing from the charts and what needs to be done to revive the industry

Is Australian music at risk of extinction?

A truck-mounted billboard featuring AI-generated images of Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, which has been travelling around Melbourne for several weeks now, has attracted a lot of scrutiny. It shows Allan wearing a black pointed hat alongside the phrase ‘ditch the witch’. Victorian upper house MP for the Animal Justice party Georgie Purcell, who faces sexist abuse every day as a female MP, argues misogyny isn’t a legitimate expression of political dissatisfaction

The Sunday read: I face sexist abuse every day as a female MP – Full Story podcast

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy discuss One Nation’s successful fundraising drive which raised nearly $3m this week. They look at how the major parties are handling the rise of the rightwing party and where they agree the prime minister made a missstep. Also in this episode: the return of the ‘Ditch the Witch’ slogan in politics and the likelihood of a Liberal win in the upcoming Victorian election

Back to Back Barries: Who is donating to One Nation?

Guardian reporter Hannah Al-Othman on the anti-immigrant rioting in Northern Ireland and the residents afraid for their lives

On the ground in the Belfast riots

One Nation’s predicted primary vote is ahead of both the Labor government and Coalition opposition for the first time, marking a new level of popularity for a party that has sat at the fringe of Australian politics for decades and sparking a flurry of questions about whether Pauline Hanson could actually become prime minister. Josephine Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher, Patrick Keneally and Dan Jervis-Bardy about whether One Nation’s policies will stand up to further scrutiny

Newsroom edition: Are the Liberals already surrendering to One Nation?

Kick-off is just hours away in what is already shaping up to be one of the most controversial and complex Fifa World Cups as geopolitical disputes and allegations of corporate greed cast a shadow over the tournament. Football journalist Samantha Lewis speaks to Nour Haydar about why she is more nervous than ever on the eve of the cup about the impact the many problems could have on the world’s most-watched sporting event

The politics and profit of a World Cup in Trump’s America

Australia is set to experience its first El Niño weather event since spring 2023, according to the Bureau of Meteorology and other agencies. The phenomenon historically signals the arrival of hotter, drier conditions for the east coast and can have devastating impacts on the environment as well as the farming of crops and livestock. Nour Haydar speaks to climate and environment correspondent Graham Readfearn about how our weather is about to change and what it means for Australians

El Niño is imminent. How worried should Australians be?

Allegations of rape and sexual assault on the UK’s Married at First Sight have brought a fresh focus on the Australian version. Former Mafs contestants and political figures, such as Tanya Plibersek, have spoken out calling for a broader reckoning around the show. Reged Ahmad speaks with reporter Caitlin Cassidy about safety concerns on set and whether the show still has a place on our screens