The ABC’s Alan Kohler thinks the treasurer should nationalise the childcare system and take centres out of the hands of for-profit businesses. With lingering concerns about the quality and safety of some centres and families struggling to afford the bills, is now the time for such a radical shake up? Today, Alan Kohler on the case for change and childcare policy expert Elizabeth Hill on whether it could really work. Featured: Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert and host of “That's Business with Alan...
Apr 12, 2026•16 min
A fragile two week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel has raised hopes ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz will soon be on the move. Disruptions to the oil and gas supply have raised fears of a global economic slowdown as surging fuel prices punish households and businesses. Today, Susan Stone, the Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, on whether a ceasefire changes expectations about the economic fallout and whether petrol and diesel prices are set to fall. Featured: Susan Stone...
Apr 09, 2026•16 min
Donald Trump was threatening to wipe out ‘a whole civilisation’, then about an hour before his deadline the US president announced a ceasefire deal had been struck with Iran. Iran and the United States will now spend two weeks negotiating a peace plan, but it seems there’s little they can agree on. Today, Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center on why Trump ‘blinked’ and what comes next. Featured: Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a l...
Apr 08, 2026•15 min
As a Victoria Cross recipient, Ben Roberts-Smith is one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers. Now, he’s been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. It comes after he lost a landmark defamation trial in which a judge found that on the balance of probabilities, allegations the former special forces soldier was responsible for, or complicit in the deaths of four detainees in Afghanistan were substantially true. Today, international law expert Don Rothwell on the charges, which if pr...
Apr 07, 2026•15 min
We know that US President Donald Trump is the ultimate decision maker when it comes to the war in Iran, but who’s in his ear? From Pete Hegseth to Marco Rubio and JD Vance, they’re each playing a role in executing or trying to explain the rationale for the controversial action in Iran. If the war can’t be sold as a success in the end, who in Trump’s cabinet will end up paying the price? Today, David Smith from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney on Trump’s team and wheth...
Apr 06, 2026•15 min
Oil and financial markets have been swinging wildly with every social media post from Donald Trump. But a pattern of large, well-timed trades placed on commodity and prediction markets just minutes before major Iran war announcements has emerged. It’s raising concerns that some investors could be acting on inside information. Today, Andrew Verstein an expert on insider trading and law professor at UCLA on the money changing hands. Featured: Andrew Verstein, Professor of Law, and Faculty Co-Direc...
Apr 02, 2026•16 min
He's sending more troops to the Middle East, while insisting the war in Iran is nearly over. So is Donald Trump preparing to pull out or digging in? If the US steps back, it's signalled other countries could be left to secure the Strait of Hormuz-- a vital global oil route-- on their own. Today, defence strategist Kelly A. Grieco on why whatever comes next, the chaos is far from over. Featured: Kelly A. Grieco, Senior Fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center...
Apr 01, 2026•15 min
With the Easter break approaching, many motorists are wondering if they’ll be able to fill up their tanks and whether it’s worth travelling far from home. The fuel crunch has been triggered by the ongoing war in Iran which is disrupting global oil supply, making availability in Australia increasingly uncertain. Today, energy expert Saul Kavonic on what to expect and why government fuel incentives could make the situation worse.Featured: Saul Kavonic, energy analyst, MST Financial
Mar 31, 2026•15 min
Could the Iran war lead our economy into a recession? Past oil shocks have sparked economic downturns and as petrol and diesel prices climb now, it could happen again. Today, the ABCs finance expert Alan Kohler on why he thinks this could be one of the great disasters of our lifetime. Featured: Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert and host of the “That's Business with Alan Kohler” podcast
Mar 30, 2026•14 min
With the Iran war sending the price of fuel skyrocketing, the trucking industry is amongst the hardest hit and the costs will be passed on to consumers. So, are the latest electric trucks up to the job of moving goods around such a large country and can the challenges around cost, infrastructure and range be overcome? Today, Scott Dwyer from the Institute of Sustainable Futures at UTS on the advances in technology that could help us avoid the worst impacts of the next fuel crisis. Featured: Scot...
Mar 29, 2026•15 min
Donald Trump is in the midst of a messy war with Iran, but at the same time his sights are set on Cuba. The US leader says he’ll be having the “honour of taking Cuba”, which has been crippled by an oil embargo president Trump imposed earlier this year. Today, Lillian Guerra, professor of Cuban history at the University of Florida on Trump’s next move. Featured: Lillian Guerra, professor of Cuban and Caribbean history at the University of Florida
Mar 26, 2026•16 min
Donald Trump says Iran is negotiating with the US to end the war, but Iran says that’s ‘fake news’. So, are there efforts underway to bring the conflict to a close or not? And who’s winning the war? Today, Jonathan Panikoff from the Atlantic Council’s Middle East program on Iran’s stronghold on the Strait of Hormuz and why it will only stop the fighting on its terms. Featured: Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council...
Mar 24, 2026•16 min
When South Australians went to the polls on the weekend one in five voters put One Nation first. That’s the party’s best showing in that state ever and federal party leader Pauline Hanson says a movement is under way. Referring to the party’s colour branding, One Nation’s SA leader Cory Bernardi insists an ‘orange wave’ is here to stay. Today, the ABC’s Melissa Clarke on how the party is translating strong polling into votes and what that means for federal politics. Featured: Melissa Clarke, ABC...
Mar 23, 2026
For years, Australians heading to Europe have relied on flights that have stopovers in the Gulf. But as war in the Middle East disrupts travel plans for thousands, should we reconsider the region as a transit hub? And if you’ve already booked flights via the Gulf, what should you do now? Featured: Ian Douglas, aviation management lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Mar 22, 2026•16 min
Are the petrol stations price gouging and cashing in on the Iran war? If they are, is there anything that can stop them? Today, David Byrne, professor of economics at the University of Melbourne on how fuel companies justify the rapid price rises and what motorists can do to fight back. Featured: David Byrne, professor of economics at the University of Melbourne
Mar 19, 2026•16 min
Donald Trump’s top counterterrorism official has quit over the war in Iran. He says pressure from Israel, not an imminent threat from Iran, led the US president to start the conflict. Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on Benjamin Netanyahu’s goals in Iran and how long he wants the fight to last. He explains why, if regime change isn’t possible, Israel might keep going until the Iranian state fails. Featured: Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States In...
Mar 18, 2026•16 min
The RBA has lifted interest rates for a second consecutive month. Are we now in a long rate hiking cycle, accelerated by the war in Iran, or could this be the rise that finally brings inflation under control? Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on the uncertainty for the economy and the outlook for rates. Featured: Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent
Mar 17, 2026•16 min
As the Iran war enters its third week, the ripple effect is growing around the world as the global oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. In Australia, petrol and diesel prices are soaring and in some regional areas the bowsers have run dry. Today, David Leaney, an international supply chain expert from the ANU on how panic buying is driving prices higher and why the government should start restricting sales. Featured: David Leaney, international supply chain management consultant...
Mar 16, 2026•15 min
It was one of the worst environmental disasters to strike Australia’s oceans. When a massive algal bloom arrived in South Australia, devastating the coastline and killing marine life, the public was initially told it wasn’t toxic, when it later became apparent it was. Today, Four Corners reporter Angus Grigg on his investigation into what the South Australian government knew and whether it acted fast enough. Featured: Angus Grigg, Four Corners reporter
Mar 15, 2026•15 min
Almost two weeks into the war in Iran, Donald Trump's endgame remains elusive. He insists the US has won already, even as the bombs fall and Iran's drones cause havoc in the region. Did the US president misjudge how a war with Iran would play out and how significant the ripple effects would be across the world? Today, staff writer at the Atlantic magazine Tom Nichols on why the Trump administration is 'strategically incompetent' and why he thinks the president is suffering from 'victory disease'...
Mar 12, 2026•17 min
Artificial intelligence is playing a key role in the war in Iran, with AI tools suspected of being used to gather intelligence, pick targets and plan bombings. At the same time, a battle has broken out between the Trump administration and one of the leading AI firms, Anthropic, over what limits should be placed on the use of AI by the military. Today, Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the AI Institute at the University of New South Wales on why guardrails are crucial to avoid a nightmare future...
Mar 11, 2026•16 min
They stood on a field in the Gold Coast and bravely refused to sing their national anthem and they were condemned as traitors on Iranian state TV. A week later, members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who competed in the Women’s Asian Cup have been offered asylum in Australia. Today, lawyer and sport integrity expert Catherine Ordway on how it all unfolded. Featured: Catherine Ordway, sport integrity expert and a visiting scholar at the University of NSW School of Business based in Canberra...
Mar 10, 2026•16 min
Donald Trump wanted regime change in Iran and to personally choose who the next leader would be. Instead, Iran’s top clerics chose Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after he was killed in US-Israeli strikes. Today, Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre on what this appointment means for the war. Featured: Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington D.C.
Mar 09, 2026•16 min
Can you believe the construction of a high speed rail network could start in just two years? Scepticism is not unwarranted because we’ve been talking about fast train travel for decades, but it’s never happened because it basically costs too much. Today, Joe Langley, an urban planner who worked on the Gillard government’s study of high speed rail and who is a member of the advocacy body the Australian High Speed Rail Association. Featured: Joe Langley, urban planner and member of the Australian ...
Mar 08, 2026•16 min
One of Donald Trump’s stated reasons for going to war with Iran is to destroy the nuclear threat he says it poses. But by starting the conflict has he made the world less safe? There are concerns around what happens to Iran’s enriched nuclear material and the lessons other countries will take from Iran’s being hit while remaining at the threshold short of getting a bomb. Today, Kelsey Davenport from the Arms Control Association on why it could all lead to more nuclear weapons around the world. F...
Mar 05, 2026•15 min
It’s been less than a week since the war in Iran began but it’s already having an economic impact here. Oil and gas prices are rising and that has the Reserve Bank worried about inflation and analysts warn that could mean more interest rate hikes. Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on why we’re so economically vulnerable to a conflict so far away and what we can expect in the weeks ahead. Featured: Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent
Mar 04, 2026•16 min
The Iran war is expanding and already having ripple effects across the globe. How long will it last? US President Donald Trump says a month or longer, “whatever it takes”. Today, we speak to Rana Dadpour who fled the brutal Iranian regime in 2012 and founded the group Australian United Solidarity for Iran. We also speak with international relations expert Rajan Menon about why this could be a long war. Featured: Rana Dadpour, founder of Australian United Solidarity for Iran Rajan Menon, professo...
Mar 03, 2026•20 min
Donald Trump says the war with Iran will continue until all his goals are achieved and he’s warned more US troops are likely to die. But if one of the aims is regime change in Iran, can the US president achieve that without troops on the ground? The war is escalating in the region with Israel beginning strikes on the Iran-linked militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, after it launched missiles towards Israel. Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on why the war ...
Mar 02, 2026•14 min
For weeks Donald Trump threatened Iran with military strikes and on Saturday morning in Iran the bombing by US and Israeli forces began. He says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed. In a social media video, the US president urged the Iranian people to rise up and topple the regime. Iran has responded by targeting Israel and US military bases across the region with drones and missiles, hitting targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar. Today, Nate Swanson, Iran expert...
Mar 01, 2026•20 min
They tried to stop it happening, but Bill and Hillary Clinton had no choice in the end but to testify or face jail time. The political power couple is being hauled before a US congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Today, David Smith from the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University on what we can expect from their depositions. Featured: David Smith, associate professor at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney...
Feb 26, 2026•16 min
