ABC News Daily is the podcast that helps you understand the issues affecting your world. Every episode, host Samantha Hawley walks through one story with the help of an ABC colleague or expert in under 15 minutes. When you want coverage you can trust, listen to ABC News Daily.
Key topics of recent episodes include the Donald Trump administration, anti-Semitism in Australia, TikTok’s future, artificial intelligence, Israel-Hamas war and ceasefire, Australian dollar, bushfires, the Australians election, Peter Dutton, Anthony Albanese and incumbency.
From interest rates, real estate and the housing crisis, to scams and US politics, ABC News Daily brings you facts and analysis you need to understand the biggest news stories.
In this election year expect regular updates on Australian politics, with key comments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as they compete for votes in the 2025 Australian election. The podcast picks apart major policy areas, including energy policy, finance and the Federal Budget.
The podcast covers news from America, with analysis on the Donald Trump administration in the White House. His return to power has big implications for global politics and security and US journalists and experts will explain what's at stake.
As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, ABC News Daily looks at the causes of inflation, rising rental costs, house prices, insurance costs and the price of groceries. Key experts in business and finance join Samantha Hawley, explaining the state of the economy, the unemployment rate and the jobs market.
Whether you rent, own an investment house or apartment, or are repaying a mortgage, ABC News Daily offers unique insights and analysis. When there are big moves from the Reserve Bank (RBA) on interest rates, or remarkable reactions in the ASX or the Australian dollar, guest experts, including economists, explain why.
Look into ABC News Daily's archive to find episodes on electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), the big banks, supermarkets, TikTok, Ozempic, Tesla, Elon Musk, Twitter, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, COVID, cyber security, spies, espionage, education, schools, teachers, crime and issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) Australians.
ABC News Daily follows developments in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas, with insights into the mindset of Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinians and the role of Iran.
The podcast looks at the latest from Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky fights to repel the Russian invaders led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As China's Xi Jinping contemplates the future of Taiwan, ABC News Daily will sort fact from fiction. When North Korea's Kim Jong Un fires ballistic missiles, we'll assess the danger his regime poses.
When scammers target superannuation, your tax return and the ATO, you'll hear advice on what you can do to protect yourself.
As climate change fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions increases the risk of natural disasters, including fires and floods, ABC News Daily brings you fact-based analysis.
The future of electricity generation in Australia is being debated, and as claims are made about the merits of nuclear power, come to ABC News Daily for context around its potential role in replacing or augmenting coal and gas power plants and what it could mean for power bills. The podcast covers the future of renewable / green power generation, including the use of wind turbines, solar and hydro electric power.
The podcast looks at key businesses, including Coles and Woolworths, Qantas, the Commonwealth Bank and the construction, resources and manufacturing industries. When they report record profit, battle unions, or raise prices, the podcast pays attention.
ABC experts including Ian Verrender, Alan Kohler, Laura Tingle, Patricia Karvelas, John Lyons, and Annabel Crabb join Samantha Hawley to step through big issues and current affairs.
It shocked Silicon Valley and set tech stocks tumbling on Wall Street. When a little-known Chinese company DeepSeek launched its own surprisingly capable artificial intelligence chatbot, the sector panicked. DeepSeek claims to have developed its model despite spending far less money on expensive computer chips than its US-based competitors. Today, Professor Michael Blumenstein from the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute at UTS on what DeepSeek has managed to pull off and how it could c...
Jan 28, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
We all find the cost of insurance too high, but have you ever thought to actually fight against big hikes to your premium? A growing number of Australians are trying just that, with limited success. Today, national consumer affairs reporter, Michael Atkin, on why insurance costs continue to surge and how Australians are trying to force the insurance giants to justify the hikes. Michael Atkin explains that insurance premiums have jumped 11% in the past year, following even higher increases in pre...
Jan 27, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Working from home was an experiment that really took off during the pandemic. It worked so well, many employers and employees continue to enjoy it. But what if that was to all end in an instant? Some big companies like Amazon have had enough of WFH and have ordered their workers back to the office full time. It has implications for worker productivity and staff retention that any business considering a mandate will need to consider. Today, economist Leonora Risse explains the “return to office” ...
Jan 26, 2025•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Donald Trump has been back in the White House for less than a week, but already it’s been a wild ride. From immigration policy to pardons for the January 6 rioters, the president is quickly changing America. Today, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Molly Ball, on the defining moments of Donald Trump’s first days as the 47th US President. Molly Ball says Trump’s second term feels more focused and self-assured, with less infighting and more decisive actions. She highlight...
Jan 23, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
The firebomb attack on a childcare centre was the eighth anti-Semitic attack in Sydney in just three months. So, is enough being done to stop the crimes and are our political leaders making things better or worse? Today, social justice advocate Tim Costello on the unrest in our cities linked to the October 7 terrorist attack and the bloodshed in Gaza. He says there's an urgent need for political leaders to turn down the temperature. Mr. Costello shares his personal experiences and observations o...
Jan 22, 2025•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Donald Trump is back and after his inauguration it was down to business. One of his first acts was to pardon more than 1,500 defendants from the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He also withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation. Today, political scientist Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think-tank the Niskanen Centre on Trump’s busy first day back in the White House. Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, Vice President for political studies at the Ni...
Jan 21, 2025•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Donald Trump has brought the social media app TikTok back to life in the United States after an outage lasting less than 24 hours. The platform run by Chinese-owned ByteDance went offline for US users, with the firm saying it acted to comply with a law that banned it unless it sold its US operations to local owners. The law was passed with US politicians citing national security concerns. But it only took a promise from the incoming president to sign an executive order delaying the ban to get co...
Jan 20, 2025•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast
2024 was a huge year for artificial intelligence, with AI powered features integrated into everything from search engines to phones. So, what can we expect from the technology this year? Today, Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the AI institute at the University of New South Wales on whether this is the year that AI tools really start to make life easier. He explains what AI developments mean for job losses and why you should start using AI tools at work. Featured: Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist a...
Jan 19, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
After months of talks a deal has been done for a ceasefire in Gaza, with it set to start on the weekend with the first phase to include the release of some Israeli hostages. Incoming US president Donald Trump has taken credit for it and his impending inauguration did give the negotiations a boost. Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on whether peace will hold. He says there's enormous relief felt on both sides, with Israelis overjoyed at the prospect of getting hostages back...
Jan 16, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
The Australian dollar is at its lowest level against the US dollar in five years. That hurts travellers going to the United States for a holiday, but some economic commentators think it also means Australia’s Reserve Bank should hold off longer on cutting interest rates. Our chief business correspondent Ian Verrender doesn’t agree. Today, he explains why China and Trump are largely behind the fall in the Australian dollar and why interest rate cuts should still be on the table. Ian says the stre...
Jan 15, 2025•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Is there a risk that bushfires as intense and destructive as those that have ravaged Los Angeles could bear down on an Australian city? The head of Australia’s largest firefighting service says yes, Sydney, with its national parks so close to homes, could see similar devastation. Today, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers, who will leave the service at the end of this fire season, on how firefighters have responded to the threat in LA and how we need to prepare. Commis...
Jan 14, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
For almost two decades Australian artist Mark Whalen has called LA home. But last week as wildfires tore through communities, he and thousands of others saw their homes burn to the ground. Today, Mark describes the apocalyptic scenes he witnessed and the emotional toll of losing his home. We also speak with Vivien Thomson who has been a rural firefighter for decades and was a fire captain during the 2003 Canberra bushfires. Vivien speaks about the lessons learned over the years and whether we’re...
Jan 13, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
In 2024, voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in what’s believed to be the biggest year for elections in history. This year it’s Australia’s turn and if we follow the voting trends of other nations, we’ll either kick Anthony Albanese’s Labor party out of office or come close to it. That’s because there’s a big movement, particularly in western democracies against incumbent governments. Today, Mark Kenny from the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University exp...
Jan 12, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Seven people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have evacuated their homes as wildfires raging across Los Angeles continue to spread, fueled by dry vegetation and howling winds. These conditions have highlighted the dangers of climate change and how it’s making life harder for firefighters around the world, something that’s been felt deeply by Australians. Today, Former Fire and Rescue New South Wales commissioner Greg Mullins on the threat posed by increasing overlap in fire seasons bet...
Jan 10, 2025•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Five people have been killed in wildfires that have been ripping through the mountains and foothills around Los Angeles. Hurricane-force winds have sent fireballs from house to house, torching entire streets and destroying more than 1,000 buildings. Celebrities including actor Billy Crystal and heiress Paris Hilton are among the residents whose homes have burnt down across several affluent suburbs, where tens of thousands more people have been forced to evacuate. Today, LA-based meteorologist Jo...
Jan 09, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Two weeks before his second presidency begins, Donald Trump has laid down his hopes to take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even Canada. He told reporters the United States needs to acquire the Danish territory for national security reasons, and has threatened heavy tariffs on Denmark if they don’t agree. Today, ANU professor of International Law Don Rothwell on what Donald Trump wants with these territories, and how far might go to take them. Featured: Don Rothwell, professor of int...
Jan 08, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resigned from office after nine years in power. Despite his immense popularity when he was elected, in recent years he’s faced increased criticism from the public, with polls showing he was on track to lose badly when Canadians vote later this year. Now he’s bowed to pressure from his own party to step down. But what's behind the downfall of the former darling of Canadian politics? Featured: Lori Turnbull, Political analyst and Professor of Political Sc...
Jan 07, 2025•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast
It’s been four years since Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, trying to overturn the result of the 2020 election. Now, his win in last year’s election is about to be ratified in that very building, giving him the power to pardon convicted rioters. Will Donald Trump deliver on his promise? Today, Elie Honig, a former US federal and state prosecutor and senior legal analyst for CNN on how the incoming president will use his executive powers, and what it could mean for the US justice...
Jan 06, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Both men involved in the violent incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas on New Year's Day were US military veterans. It's unclear how much of a role their service played in their violence but data out of the US shows there has been an increase in veterans being involved in violent acts or being recruited by extremist groups. Today, Todd Helmus, an expert on military extremism with the US think tank RAND on what could be behind the rise in violent behaviour in ex-military personnel. Featured: Tod...
Jan 03, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast
At least 15 people are dead and dozens more are wounded after a US army veteran ploughed his pick-up truck into crowds celebrating the new year. Revellers were ringing in 2025 in the New Orleans' French quarter, the city's busiest party district in the early hours of New Year's Day. Federal authorities are describing it as an act of terror. Today, former FBI and department of homeland security official, Dr. Javed Ali on how the New Orleans investigation is unfolding and the planning required to ...
Jan 02, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Australians are guaranteed to head to the polls in the first five months of 2025. And while high interest rates and cost of living pressures are expected to be the top concerns for both major parties and voters, the battleground itself will also look different, with new changes to electoral seats and boundaries. Today, the ABC's Chief Elections Analyst Antony Green speaks with ABC News Radio’s Tom Melville about why the next parliament is set to change. Featured: Antony Green, ABC Chief Election...
Jan 01, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast
At least 300 prisoners of war have returned to their homeland in a highly anticipated New Years swap between Ukraine and Russia. It comes just days after Oscar Jenkins became the first known Australian citizen to be captured by Russian forces, after enlisting in Ukraine's foreign legion earlier this year. Today, international law expert Professor Don Rothwell speaks to ABC News Radio about whether Australia could make exchange negotiations similar to those used for the New Year’s prisoner swaps,...
Dec 31, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast
South Korea is now in seven days of mourning after 179 people were killed in the deadliest aviation disaster the country has ever seen. The plane, which was flying from Thailand to Muan International Airport in South Korea, was attempting an emergency landing when it crashed. There were only two survivors. Today, US aviation industry consultant Scott Hamilton speaks with ABC News Radio's Sarah Mourice about what could have happened in the cockpit moments before the tragedy. Featured: Scott Hamil...
Dec 30, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Don’t you get sick of the constant text messages warning that you haven’t paid a toll, or that you’ve missed a package delivery or have a refund owing? In many cases they’re clearly fake but there are scams that aren’t so obvious, and Australians have lost billions of dollars to them. Today, consumer affairs reporter Michael Atkin on why more of us are falling for the traps set by criminals and what the big banks should be doing to protect us. First published 10 May 2024. Featured: Michael Atkin...
Dec 26, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
You would have thought with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, China wouldn’t be too worried about the number of people living there declining a bit. But as it faces the challenges of an economic slowdown and an ageing society, Beijing is urging families to have more babies to stop a population decline that’s been recorded for a second year in a row. But is a falling birth rate necessarily a bad thing? First published 26 February 2024. Featured: Stuart Gietel-Basten, Professor of Social Science...
Dec 25, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Have you ever wondered just how much better electric vehicles are for the environment? It’s more complicated than you’d think. Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder compares the lifetime greenhouse gas footprint of an electric car with that of a petrol car and delivers the verdict. First published 31 May, 2024. Featured: Jo Lauder, ABC climate reporter
Dec 24, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
We all love a trip to Europe in summer, but have you ever felt like you’re not really welcome there? Melbourne woman Claudia had that inkling in Barcelona recently when locals made it clear they wanted her to go home. Today, we look at the growing anger in some of the most popular tourist cities and what is being done to try to ease the pressure. First published 24 May, 2024. Featured: Claudia, Australian tourist Sebastian Zenker, professor in tourism at the Copenhagen Business School...
Dec 23, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson said no when OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman asked if she could be the voice for a new version of ChatGPT. But they went ahead and released a chatbot that the actor thinks sounds “eerily similar” to herself. As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, how do we protect ourselves from being copied? First published 24 May, 2024. Featured: Sharon Goldman, AI reporter at Fortune
Dec 22, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Fifty years ago, Cyclone Tracy's ferocious winds destroyed 85 per cent of Darwin's housing and most of the city's infrastructure. It was the third time Darwin had been razed to the ground by a cyclone, but within three days the prime minister had committed to rebuilding Australia's northern capital in the same spot. In this final of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears how Tracy prompted an overhaul of the National Construction Code. It's supposed to ensure buildings on Australia...
Dec 19, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast
On Christmas Eve in 1974, Cyclone Tracy razed Darwin to the ground, killing 66 people and prompting a massive evacuation from the city of 35,000 people. Now, 50 years since the disaster that changed the nation, Darwin's population is three times what it was then. Why did so many survivors return to the cyclone belt to rebuild Darwin and their lives? In this first of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears first hand accounts of a night of terror and explores how the event became lif...
Dec 18, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast
