A sleek Chinese-made ute is suddenly one of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads. It’s cheap, fast and packed with tech. But behind its rise are questions security agencies are struggling to grapple with. Because the cars we drive today are no longer just cars; they’re also data collection tools. And in a tense geopolitical climate – the lines between convenience and surveillance are blurring. Today, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute and contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs, Rich...
Jun 29, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1601
In this inaugural episode of Read This , host Michael Williams and founding editor Sarah McVeigh head to Helen Garner’s house for cake and conversation. Helen shares what she’s writing about, how she problem solves, and the inspiration she gets from watching her grandson’s footy training. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 28, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1600
When US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the world watched for a response. But in Australia, there was silence. It took a day before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese or Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong addressed the media. When they did, they backed the US, tentatively, while calling for calm. For Albanese, a leader who once opposed the Iraq war, it’s a moment that reveals how far Labor has travelled on foreign policy and how little resistance that shift is meet...
Jun 26, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1599
Cyclone Alfred should not have tracked as far south as it did. But in March it tore through Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers, affecting about four million people. One of them was climate scientist and IPCC lead author, Joëlle Gergis. She says the storm’s freak southward drift, driven by record-warm ocean temperatures, shows the climate crisis is outrunning politics. Today, Joëlle Gergis on how far governments have fallen behind their climate promises – and the bold action Austral...
Jun 25, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1598
A mistake at an IVF clinic has led to a woman giving birth to a stranger’s baby. It’s a catastrophic error and not the first one that’s recently come to light. Such risks are not covered in the marketing material of Australia’s major fertility clinics. But this mistake – at one of the oldest and most reputable clinics in the country – has had devastating consequences that reach far beyond the affected families, and damaged the confidence of anyone relying on fertility treatment in Australia. Tod...
Jun 24, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1597
America’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend mark a terrifying turning point. Donald Trump has taken the US into direct conflict with Iran – and risked what the UN secretary-general is calling a “rathole of retaliation”. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth claims that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated, but questions remain about the extent of the damage, and whether the attack will only strengthen Iran’s resolve to rebuild. Moreover, Trump’s calls for regime change su...
Jun 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1596
Having fought his way to the top of the South Australian Liberal ticket, Alex Antic is working to reshape the party as a radical outfit more interested in ideology than governing. The Liberal senator calls himself an irrelevant backbencher, but he’s installed allies, toppled moderates and is pushing the party’s politics to the edge. His playbook mirrors Donald Trump’s: dominate the narrative, fight the culture wars and never aim for the centre – and moderates fear he will keep the Liberal party ...
Jun 22, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1595
Ian Rankin introduced Detective John Rebus in his 1987 novel Knots and Crosses . Since then, Rankin has published another two dozen books in the series and has sold almost 40 million books to date. Unsurprisingly, he’s now Sir Ian Rankin. This week, Michael sits down with Ian at Sydney Writers’ Festival for discussion about his latest Rebus book, Midnight and Blue . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1594
At the G7 summit in Canada, Anthony Albanese had prepared carefully for a meeting with Donald Trump – even reaching out to Trump’s golfing buddy, Greg Norman. But just before they were due to meet, the US president walked out of the summit and flew home to address the conflict between Israel and Iran. In some quarters, the snub has been portrayed as a personal slight against Albanese. Whatever Trump’s reasons, it highlights just how strained Australia’s relationship with its most important ally ...
Jun 19, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1593
Medicine in Australia could soon become more expensive and harder to come by. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – the safety net that keeps our prescriptions cheap – has been drawn into Donald Trump’s trade war, after the US president signed an order saying the United States should not pay more for medicines than its peer countries. Drug companies have now paused new PBS listings and warn some treatments may never reach Australian patients. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, J...
Jun 18, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1592
Abortion was fully decriminalised across Australia in 2023, meaning people can end a pregnancy without fear of prosecution. But that hasn’t stopped abortion being weaponised against women in the courtroom. Writer and producer Madison Griffiths, who has spent a decade covering reproductive rights, was shocked to learn that abortion records were surfacing in custody battles in the family court, and even sexual abuse trials. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper , Madison Griffiths, on the right...
Jun 17, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1591
On Friday, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, sending roughly 200 fighter jets to hit more than a hundred sites across Iran – including parts of its nuclear program. Israel says the attack was “pre-emptive”, meant to address an immediate and inevitable threat on Iran’s part to construct a nuclear bomb. As attacks from both countries continue, scheduled talks between Iran and the US over the future of Iran’s nuclear program have been cancelled. Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economi...
Jun 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1590
A quiet transformation is underway at Australian universities. Behind closed doors, powerful consulting firms are helping to reshape higher education; cutting courses, centralising power, and outsourcing staff. One firm in particular, Nous Group, is now embedded in some of the country’s most prestigious institutions. At the Australian National University, its role in a $250 million restructure has been concealed, even from parliament, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountabilit...
Jun 15, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1589
On the surface, Kaliane Bradley’s debut is a time-travel novel — it’s speculative fiction meets romance and espionage. But underneath? It's a sharp, satirical exploration of institutional control — of what happens when government red tape meets the impossible. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down for a conversation with Kaliane Bradley to discuss her bestselling book The Ministry of Time. (edited) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 14, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1588
As Anthony Albanese heads to the G7 summit, the future of Australia’s most important defence pact is suddenly uncertain. The Trump administration is reviewing AUKUS, pushing for more military spending, and condemning Australia’s new sanctions on Israeli ministers – all signs of a once stable alliance under pressure. Today, press gallery journalist and columnist for Inside Story, Karen Middleton, on what’s testing the US–Australia relationship, and whether a meeting on neutral ground can strength...
Jun 12, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1587
Elon Musk and Donald Trump were once political partners – sharing praise, power and ice-cream parties. Now the pair have been trading insults on their own social media networks. In what started with Musk’s opposition to the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”, that proposes extensive tax cuts, the feud has sparked threats that could ground NASA missions and blow holes in the US federal budget. Today, tech and power reporter for The Guardian , Nick Robins-Early, on the break-up and the dan...
Jun 11, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1586
US President Donald Trump’s agenda of mass deportations has reached a tipping point. After ICE raids in Los Angeles sparked street riots, the president dispatched the National Guard and active duty Marines to confront protestors, while threatening to arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom if he stands in the way. Today, senior political correspondent for Time magazine, Eric Cortellessa, on the LA riots, the political battle, and whether Trump’s commandeering of the National Guard is a forerunne...
Jun 10, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1585
When Anthony Albanese first became prime minister, he began dismantling the Home Affairs super-ministry, which had been overseen by Peter Dutton. Labor had long opposed a model which saw such significant power contained within one portfolio – and removed ASIO and the AFP from Home Affairs. Now, in a spectacular reversal, and without explanation, Albanese is making Home Affairs even more powerful than the super-portfolio first created in 2017 – and it’s all under the control of Tony Burke. Today,...
Jun 09, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1584
At the recent election, a generational shift became undeniable. Nearly half of all voters were Millennials or Gen Z – and their votes helped deliver Labor its biggest lower house majority ever, returned a sizable crossbench, and left the Coalition reeling. But despite their decisive influence, young voters are still waiting for answers – especially on one issue they’ve placed at the heart of their demands: a government duty of care in the face of the climate crisis. Today, climate activist Anjal...
Jun 08, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1583
Torrey Peters’ debut novel, Detransition, Baby , was an instant sensation. Longlisted for the Women’s Prize in the UK and named one of the New York Times’ best books of the 21st century so far, the book catapulted Torrey into the limelight. Her second and latest book, Stag Dance , is a collection of four stories that are brutal, funny, and brilliant. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down with Torrey to discuss the genesis of Stag Dance and why she isn’t interested in trans identity. Se...
Jun 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1582
Donald Trump’s return to power is testing Australia’s decades-old reflex to stand with the United States. When the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, demanded Canberra nearly double its military spend, Anthony Albanese answered that Australia will decide its own defence policy – and has been vocal in his criticisms of Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium. With public support for automatic alignment with the US fading, the prime minister is recalibrating the alliance in real time. Today, colum...
Jun 05, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1581
Greg Bourne, former BP Australasia president, once worked alongside Australia’s biggest LNG venture: Woodside’s North West Shelf. Now a councillor at the Climate Council, he warns extending the project will unleash billions of tonnes of emissions and threaten tens of thousands of ancient rock carvings, while delivering a “pittance” in economic benefit to Australia. Yet Bourne says the decision to keep the project running until 2070 was almost inevitable, after decades of lobbying in Canberra. To...
Jun 04, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1580
Labor is poised to move forward with its plan to increase the tax on superannuation balances over $3 million. Critics are calling the idea unfair and questioning why Labor’s super tax will apply to unrealised gains, rather than just money made. But with Labor’s super majority in parliament – and support from the Greens in the senate – their opponents can only complain. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Mike Seccombe, on Labor’s superannuation plan, and what it tells us about...
Jun 03, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1579
As the search to explain the Coalition’s disastrous election results continues, there’s one group being singled out inside Liberal campaign headquarters: the right-wing lobby, Advance. Flush with a multi-million dollar war chest, Advance promised to “take back” the country – yet Labor won 17 new seats and the Greens vote barely moved. As Advance and the Liberals blame each other for the failures, there are questions about whether the two will ever work together again. Today, national corresponde...
Jun 02, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1578
For anyone doubting her ability to rehabilitate the Coalition after its thumping May 3 loss, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has a message: people have questioned her capability and drive before. Ley says she’s proven them all wrong – as a roustabout picking up fleeces in 40-degree heat or piloting aeroplanes low over western Queensland to muster cattle when no one thought she could. Now, as the first woman to lead the Liberal Party, Ley promises to “meet modern Australia where they are” and to win...
Jun 01, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1577
Kevin Wilson writes weird books about weird people — in the best possible way. In 2019’s Nothing to See Here , two children have a condition that means they spontaneously combust. In Now Is Not the Time to Panic , two lonely young artists wreak havoc on their small town, prompting fears of Satanism. This week on Read This , Michael sits down with Kevin to discuss how he wrote his latest novel, Run for the Hills , why having children revealed the multitude of ways weirdness can manifest. See omny...
May 31, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1576
After a week of turmoil, the Coalition has patched things up and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has unveiled her new shadow ministry. The appointments show the Coalition’s wounds are still raw. Nationals Leader David Littleproud secured key concessions in the renewed pact, but his hardball tactics have colleagues wondering how long he’ll last. Meanwhile, Labor is wrestling with its own debate over Gaza, as party elders and backbenchers push for tougher action against Israel. Today, press gallery j...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1575
Philip Low’s brain-mapping breakthrough made him a billionaire. Now a blistering Facebook post has thrust the neuroscientist into a new fight – with his old friend, Elon Musk. Low called Musk a “narcissist with an obsessive lust for power” in a post shared nearly 50,000 times before it mysteriously vanished. Now Low is claiming X and other social media platforms are silencing dissent, and has set aside US$250 million to test in court whether their promises of “free speech” are really false adver...
May 28, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1574
Until late last year, the United States had a US$10 million bounty on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. A former leader of the al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda in Iraq, al-Sharaa was once an enemy of America. Now Syria’s transitional leader, al-Sharaa has just met US President Donald Trump, who called him “an attractive young guy” with “a strong past” and pledged to lift sanctions on Damascus. Today, Damascus-based correspondent, Heidi Pett, on meeting al-Sharaa in person, how he won an audience with...
May 27, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1573
Tony Abbott was on a layover in Dubai when he phoned Natasha Griggs – the president of the Country Liberal Party – and set off a chain reaction inside the Coalition. Hours later, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defected to the Liberals and a surprise leadership ticket was taking shape. For moderates, it was another sign that the former prime minister and his confidante, Peta Credlin, are still pulling the party’s levers from the outside. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jaso...
May 26, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1572
