One of the great things about owning an electric vehicle is that you’re not taxed for using the roads - those behind the wheel of other cars pay the fuel excise when they refill. But the government is looking to change that. Today, Giles Parkinson, founder and editor of Renew Economy and The Driven websites, on why a road user charge for electric vehicles is a "clunky" idea. Featured: Giles Parkinson, founder and editor the EV website The Driven
Sep 14, 2025•15 min
It was another act of political violence in a nation too accustomed to assassinations. Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing political activist and staunch Trump supporter, was shot and killed while he addressed a crowd at Utah Valley University. Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank the Niskanen Center on what unfolded, and whether political figures are safe in America. Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, D...
Sep 11, 2025•15 min
Donald Trump says he’s “not thrilled” following an Israeli attack on Doha, the capital of key US ally Qatar. The strike targeted Hamas "senior leadership", with five of its members killed alongside a Qatari internal security forces member. It’s clear the US was given very little notice before the attack unfolded - so will the US President do anything about it? Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on the consequences of Israel’s actions. Featured: Hussein Ibish, senior residen...
Sep 10, 2025•15 min
At 94, Rupert Murdoch has finally achieved his succession plan. The media mogul has secured a deal to have his son Lachlan take complete control of his empire once he dies, following a financial deal with his three older children, Prudence, Elisabeth and James. Today, journalist Paddy Manning, author of The Successor, the first unauthorised biography of Lachlan Murdoch, on the deal and what it means for the media landscape. Featured: Paddy Manning, journalist
Sep 09, 2025•14 min
Erin Patterson, the so-called mushroom murderer, will spend at least the next 33 years in jail with parole a possibility but not a certainty when she’s 81 years old. As she sat in the courtroom the convicted triple murderer and mother of two showed no emotion, often with her eyes closed as Justice Christopher Beale handed down the life sentences. Today, criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett explains what comes next for one of the most notorious killers in Australian history. Featured: Dr Xanthe Mallet...
Sep 08, 2025•19 min
America’s next mining venture could be deep below the sea’s surface, removing nodules on the seabed full of the metals vital for the green energy transition. Polymetallic nodules are like golf balls which sit more than four kilometres deep and haven’t been touched for millions of years. An Australian-born businessman is leading the push to extract potentially trillions of dollars-worth of the material and he has the support of US President Donald Trump. Today, Four Corners reporter Mark Willacy ...
Sep 07, 2025•16 min
Donald Trump’s been so busy upending the norms of democracy, igniting trade disputes and failing to end wars, it’s hard to see how he’s had time for renovations. But the US president’s real estate development roots are on full show, from splashing gold around the Oval Office, to ripping up the grass in the White House Rose Garden, he’s on a mission to Trumpify the symbol of American democracy and power. Today, policy editor at The Bulwark, Mona Charen on what Trump’s up to and what it says about...
Sep 04, 2025•15 min
Every year tens of thousands of Australians turn to IVF to start or grow a family. But is it an industry that can be fully trusted given recent revelations of embryo and sperm mix-ups and women giving birth to strangers’ babies? Today, ABC journalist Grace Tobin on her latest investigation into one couple’s fraught experience and why the rules need to change. Featured: Grace Tobin, ABC Investigations reporter
Sep 03, 2025•15 min
Since the fanfare surrounding Donald Trump’s face to face peace talks with the Russian President, perhaps unsurprisingly, the war continues in Ukraine. That’s partly because as part of any deal, Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to hand over the entire eastern region of Donbas. It’s a demand that Ukraine rejects. So, what is so important to Putin about that region? Today, John Haltiwanger from Foreign Policy magazine, explains why Donbas is at the heart of Putin’s war. Featured: John Haltiwanger, sta...
Sep 02, 2025•15 min
It’s one man against the might of the Victorian police force as accused police killer Dezi Freeman remains on the run. On Monday, Victoria Police suggested someone might be helping the fugitive and they should contact police. So, how are police approaching the search and how long are they willing to keep it going? Today, Vince Hurley, a criminologist and former police officer and hostage negotiator on the likely police tactics and whether they should re-consider how they approach so-called sover...
Sep 01, 2025•15 min
Could artificial intelligence be key to improving Australia’s living standards? A Productivity Commission report suggests the roll out of the technology could inject more than a hundred billion dollars into the economy over the next decade. But there’s a catch. If AI can take over from workers on some tasks, are swathes of humans set to lose their jobs? Today, Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the AI Institute at the University of New South Wales, on whether it's time for the government to step...
Aug 31, 2025•16 min
For a long time to buy a home in Australia you needed a 20 per cent deposit or you’d have to pay a big lender's mortgage insurance fee. It’s asking a lot, given house prices in our major cities are around the million-dollar mark or more. This week, the government expanded a five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, with no income caps and more expensive homes now eligible. Today, finance expert Alan Kohler on how it works, what it means for house prices and why he’s a huge fan of the s...
Aug 28, 2025•14 min
Victorian police officers had gone to execute a search warrant on a Wednesday morning in a sleepy alpine village. But the day turned to tragedy with self-identified ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman allegedly killing two of the officers and wounding another. Today, Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal who recently spent months investigating the movement and speaking with sovereign citizens on what’s unfolded and what we know about the anti-government movement. Featured: Mahmood Fazal, Four Corners...
Aug 27, 2025•17 min
The spy agency ASIO has revealed Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia last year and now all ties with Tehran have been cut. The attacks in Sydney and Melbourne terrified the Jewish community and were aimed at undermining social cohesion. Now the Iranian ambassador has been expelled and Australian diplomatic staff have quickly left Iran. Today, Greg Barton, professor of Global Islamic Politics on why Iran would order these attacks and what could happen next. Featured: G...
Aug 26, 2025•15 min
The growth in the cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is making it financially unsustainable. But is moving some children with autism off the scheme really a good idea? The government plans to have a new program called Thriving Kids in place by July next year to support children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism. Today, we speak with Jess Otter, whose son has autism and to the ABC’s disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella. Featured: Jess Otter, mother Nas Camp...
Aug 25, 2025•15 min
If you happen to visit Washington DC anytime soon, you could notice troops and even armoured vehicles on the streets. No, America is not at war, President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of members of the National Guard to crack down on crime. Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank the Niskanen Center in Washington on whether DC is actually dangerous and what Trump hopes to achieve. Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center in ...
Aug 24, 2025•15 min
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Anthony Albanese is a weak leader who has betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews. But do we really need to be in lockstep with Israel as it broadens its assault on Gaza? Today, global affairs editor Laura Tingle on the dramatic slide in relations. Featured: Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor
Aug 21, 2025•14 min
Why have so many hand car wash services replaced automatic machines? It has to do with immigration policies and there are implications for Australia’s productivity which is among the worst in the developed world. Economists insist boosting productivity is the only way to improve our living standards, but could delivering higher wages first actually help to fix the problem? Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on the key factors left off the agenda at this week's economic round table...
Aug 20, 2025•16 min
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been to the White House before in what became an infamous encounter with Donald Trump. This time he took an entourage of European leaders as backup as the US president pushes for a quick end to the war in Ukraine. At the heart of the talks are security guarantees from the US and a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Today, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst on why it could actually be a step forward towards peace. Featured: J...
Aug 19, 2025•15 min
If the Putin-Trump meeting on the weekend brought about anything, it was a closer relationship between the two leaders. One an accused war criminal, the other a convicted felon. So, with the US president rolling out the red carpet for his Russian counterpart, what will Vladimir Putin do next? Today, Russia expert Matthew Sussex from the Centre for European Studies at the ANU on Putin’s ultimate aim and how Trump’s helping him achieve it. Featured: Dr Matthew Sussex, Visiting Fellow, Centre for E...
Aug 18, 2025•15 min
In the month of April, China installed more solar power than Australia ever has. China is also now home to half of the world’s wind power and half of the world’s electric cars. Despite this, China remains the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. So, is it a climate hero or villain and how has the Chinese Communist Party managed to roll out green energy tech so quickly? Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder on why China is becoming the world’s first ‘electrostate’. Featured: Jo Lauder, ABC cl...
Aug 17, 2025•14 min
Donald Trump once declared mRNA vaccines a medical miracle, now his health Secretary is taking an axe to them. Robert F Kennedy Junior doesn’t believe in the science behind the vaccines that were deployed to save lives as Covid spread around the world and he’s cut nearly half a billion dollars in research funding. Today, professor of public health Julie Leask on what Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance means for global health. Featured: Julie Leask, social scientist and professor in the School of Publ...
Aug 14, 2025•16 min
This week, five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. Israel confirmed it had targeted one of the men it says was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell, an allegation Al Jazeera denies. So, who is telling the truth? Today, former Al Jazeera correspondent and executive director of the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom Peter Greste on the problems that arise when foreign reporters are blocked from covering a war. Featured: Peter Greste, professor of journalism at Macquarie ...
Aug 13, 2025•16 min
Donald Trump wants to win a Nobel Peace Prize and so he’s desperate to end the war in Ukraine. He’ll be in Alaska later this week meeting the Russian president in the first face-to-face encounter the two men have had since Trump returned to the White House. The problem is the Ukrainian leader won’t be there and Trump’s talking about some ‘land-swapping’ between the Russian invaders and Ukraine. Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on Trump’s theatrics and what the summit will really...
Aug 12, 2025•15 min
In a move that will further anger the Israeli leader, Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September following declarations from the UK, France and Canada. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu says recognising Palestinian statehood is a win for Hamas and he’s defending his decision to expand the war in Gaza. Today, ABC Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn on Netanyahu’s war plans and why his o...
Aug 11, 2025•15 min
Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles can not generally be used to power Australian homes. Why is that, when the batteries in Tesla EVs are much more powerful than most home batteries? As Australia transitions to more green energy, other models of electric vehicles are being used to power homes and even the grid, feeding in when electricity is needed most. Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer on the revolutionary technology and why the world’s richest man has been wary of it. Featured: Dan Mercer, AB...
Aug 10, 2025•15 min
Donald Trump didn’t like the numbers, so he sacked the messenger. So, what are the implications of the US President’s decision to get rid of the nation’s chief statistician, who dared to release revised jobs figures? Today, Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic on the jackhammer Trump is taking to democracy. Featured: Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic
Aug 07, 2025•15 min
This week a Chinese woman was charged with foreign interference, accused of spying on Buddhists in Canberra. Separately, the boss of Australia’s spy agency has warned that other nations are spying in Australia at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication. Today, ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic on the allegations against the woman in Canberra, how it affects the China-Australia relationship and the growing cost of espionage. Featured: Stephen Dziedzic, ABC foreign affa...
Aug 06, 2025•15 min
If reports are correct, Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu wants to expand the war in Gaza so his forces fully occupy the strip. As international outrage grows about the devastation and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, could more countries recognising a Palestinian state make a difference? France, Canada and the UK are trying to pressure Israel by announcing plans to do so in the coming months and Australia could join them at some point. Today, Guy Ziv, associate professor at American University’...
Aug 05, 2025•15 min
It was a protest the New South Wales government and police tried to stop but couldn’t. In the end, more than 100,000 protesters were permitted to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge demanding an end to the war in Gaza. But should we be concerned that organisers had to fight in court for the right to hold the rally? Today, associate professor in law at the University of South Australia Sarah Moulds on our right to protest and the barriers in the way. Featured: Sarah Moulds, associate professor ...
Aug 04, 2025•15 min
