Episodes
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Esveidy Rodriguez is an undocumented immigrant living in Arizona.
She’s now thinking about what life will be like for her in Donald Trump’s America.
The president-elect has promised to start the process of deporting millions of illegal immigrants on day one of his return to the White House.
Many, like Esveidy and her parents, have lived in America for years.
Today, we speak with Esveidy and hear how she’s feeling about what happens in 2025.
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When the South Korean leader ordered martial law, a chaotic series of events got underway.
Troops were deployed to the streets of Seoul, politicians rushed to the parliament building and protestors made their voices heard.
After a parliamentary vote blocked the order, the martial law was rescinded in an embarrassing backdown.
So, what on earth was President Yoon Suk Yeol trying to achieve and what does it mean for South Korea’s future?
Today, Kyung Moon Hwang from the Australian National University who was in the capital Seoul when it all unfolded.
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Kyung Moon Hwang, Korea Foundation Professor and director of the ANU Korea Institute
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Many Australians would not have heard of Kim Williams, but most podcast listeners will be familiar with Joe Rogan.
Kim Williams is the current chairman of the ABC and Joe Rogan is a podcast host with tens of millions of followers around the globe.
Today, technology and online culture journalist Taylor Lorenz on the day Kim Williams took on Joe Rogan and how the podcaster became so popular and influential.
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Taylor Lorenz, writer of tech and online culture newsletter User Mag
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Is it a reasonable act of a loving father, or a president abusing his power to get a family member off the hook?
In his final weeks in office, Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden for gun and tax charges.
Today, host of the ABC’s Planet America John Barron on what it means for the outgoing president’s legacy.
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John Barron, co-host of Planet America
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Since Donald Trump won the US election, there’s been a fair bit of debate about how he did it.
One theory is the Democrats have all but abandoned the working class and Trump made them feel seen.
So, ahead of Australia’s own election next year, how are working class people feeling about politics?
Today, political strategist and pollster Kos Samaras on how their economic plight will affect the election result.
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Kos Samaras, former Labor strategist and director of the RedBridge Group
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For almost 20 years they’ve sat in prisons in Indonesia, for trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali, but the five remaining members of the so-called Bali Nine could be returned to Australia soon.
As a former foreign correspondent, it’s a story Sam Hawley knows well, because she went inside Kerobokan prison for a week in 2017.
She spoke with two members of the Bali Nine, Si Yi Chen and Matt Norman and has followed their story ever since.
Today, Sam speaks with Cindy Wockner, who was also a correspondent at the time, about the deal being worked on that might bring them home.
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Cindy Wockner, ABC journalist, author of The Pastor and the Painter and co-author of Bali 9: The Untold Story
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When police officer Kristian White tasered 95 year old Clare Nowland in an aged care facility last year, he said the great grandmother was a threat because she was carrying a knife.
But a jury has found him guilty of manslaughter.
Today, we speak with reporter Jason Om who has been covering the case and with criminologist Xanthe Mallett about how police use tasers.
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Jason Om, 7.30 reporter
Xanthe Mallett, associate professor of criminology from the University of Newcastle
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There’s been a flurry of activity in Canberra as the government rushes to get a huge amount of legislation through parliament before it rises at the end of the week.
So, what are the new and proposed laws and will they really help you?
Today, the ABC’s National Political Lead, David Speers on the bills passing and failing, as the government ponders a sooner rather than later election.
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David Speers, ABC National Political Lead
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When Bunnings started to use facial recognition technology to check on who was in its stores, without the consent of customers, it raised alarm bells.
It says the face scans were deleted within one second and the tech helped to make stores safer, by identifying thieves or people who’ve been violent.
But at what cost? The hardware giant has now been found to have breached Australians’ privacy.
Today, tech reporter Ange Lavoipierre on what Bunnings was up to, how the technology works and whether it’s something to be wary of.
She says the technology was used in 63 stores across Victoria and New South Wales over a three-year period.
The Privacy Commissioner, Carly Kind, ruled that Bunnings' actions interfered with the privacy of potentially hundreds of thousands of customers.
Ange Lavoipierre also discusses the broader implications of such surveillance technologies and the potential for misuse of biometric data.
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Ange Lavoipierre, ABC national technology reporter
Key Topics:
Facial recognition technologyPrivacy breach Retail surveillancePrivacy Commissioner Carly KindBiometric data misuseRetail security Consumer privacy rightsSurveillance technology -
You may have heard of home births, but free birthing, where there are no medical professionals present is a small, but increasing practice in Australia.
So, why are some women turning away from traditional hospital births and medical intervention?
Today, investigative reporter Charlotte King on the movement putting lives at risk.
She says free birthing is chosen by some women due to a deep distrust in the medical system and past experiences of birth trauma.
Charlotte King says the lack of regulation and medical oversight in free birthing can lead to dangerous outcomes, as seen in several cases she investigated.
She discusses the influence of online communities advocating for free birth and the role of unqualified birth workers in these scenarios.
The episode underscores the urgent need for better support and informed choices for women in the birthing process.
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Charlotte King, ABC Regional Investigations reporter
Key Topics:
Free birthingBirth traumaMedical intervention in childbirthWomen's rights in childbirthMaternity care services -
Thousands of us travel through South East Asia every year and it can, at times, be risky.
But the story out of Laos this week is devastating. Nineteen year old Melbourne woman Bianca Jones has died and her friend Holly Bowles is in intensive care after what appears to be methanol poisoning from drinks.
Three other travellers have died and at least 10 people have fallen ill after drinking the alcohol.
Today, what we know about the mass poisoning, how methanol ends up in drinks and the damage it causes to the body.
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Lauren Day, ABC South East Asia correspondent
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On the one thousandth day of Russia’s war in Ukraine this week there was a major shift on the battleground.
Russia declared that Ukraine, with the backing of US President Joe Biden, had fired US-supplied missiles into its territory for the first time.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has also unveiled new rules for his use of nuclear weapons.
Today, former Ukraine ceasefire observer Samir Puri on what it means for the war.
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Dr Samir Puri, former ceasefire observer in Ukraine, Associate Fellow at Chatham House and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing
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The former broadcaster Alan Jones is heading to court next month to defend charges including aggravated indecent assault, involving nine alleged victims.
But why are the charges for alleged offences between 2001 and 2019, only being laid now?
Today, former Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes on the power Alan Jones once wielded and how it wilted away.
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Jonathan Holmes, Media Watch presenter 2008 to 2013
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Almost every day since his election, Donald Trump has been unveiling new members of his team.
The picks say a lot. He’s chosen a vaccine sceptic as Health Secretary, a TV host to take charge of defence and an accused drug and sex offender as Attorney General.
Today, National Political Reporter for The Hill, Julia Manchester on what it all says about how Trump will govern.
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Julia Manchester, National Political Reporter for The Hill
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About 15 years ago, the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was spruiking a ‘Big Australia’, where our population would hit 35 million by 2050.
But the idea went away, without a big plan to deal with the pressures that come with that level of growth being prepared or acted on.
Now, we’re still heading for that kind of population growth without much consideration for what it means for the environment and how we could provide the services and housing for all those people.
Today, business and economics reporter Gareth Hutchens on how big Australia can really get.
He explains that Australia’s population is now over 27 million, largely due to immigration rather than natural increase.
He highlights that the national fertility rate has fallen to a record low, making immigration crucial for economic growth and maintaining the workforce.
Gareth Hutchens also discusses the need for a comprehensive population plan that includes projections for climate change, biodiversity, and infrastructure.
He says that without such a plan, Australia risks facing multiple crises, including housing and water shortages.
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Gareth Hutchens, business and economics reporter
Key Topics:
Big AustraliaPopulation growthImmigration in AustraliaNational fertility rateEconomic impact of population growthClimate change and populationHousing crisisWater shortages -
Donald Trump has promised to end foreign wars, but on whose terms and how is unclear.
When it comes to the Middle East, we can learn a lot from Trump’s approach to Israel during his first term as president.
Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC on what the president-elect’s return means for the prospects of peace and Israel’s ambitions.
He discusses the potential annexation of the West Bank and highlights the significant support Trump has shown for Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
Hussein Ibish also explores the views of key figures like David Friedman and Mike Huckabee in shaping US-Israel relations.
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Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute
Key Topics:
Donald Trump foreign policyIsrael annexation West BankGreater IsraelUS-Israel relationsMiddle East peace prospectsMike Huckabee ambassadorPalestinian statehood -
He writes pretty decent cookbooks, but Jamie Oliver’s sidestep into writing children’s novels hasn’t gone so well.
The celebrity chef has had to halt sales of his latest book ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’ around the world over its portrayal of first nations Australians.
One chapter features an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers living in foster care, who's abducted from her home in central Australia.
Today, Wiradjuri writer, poet and academic, Jeanine Leane, on what Jamie Oliver got so wrong.
Jeanine Leane criticises the book for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misrepresenting Aboriginal culture.
She emphasises the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need for proper consultation with First Nations communities.
Leane talks about the ongoing issue of cultural appropriation and the lasting damage it can cause.
She also discusses the role of sensitivity readers in preventing misrepresentations.
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Jeanine Leane, writer and poet and Associate Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne
Key Topics:
Jamie Oliver children’s book controversyCultural appropriation in literatureSensitivity readingAboriginal representation in mediaStolen GenerationsMisrepresentation of Indigenous culturesRole of sensitivity readers -
With Donald Trump back in the White House early next year, there’s a real possibility he’ll ignite a trade war with Beijing.
Given Australia does so much trade with China, that could have big consequences for our economy.
Today, we explore what could be in store for inflation, interest rates and our wider economy once Trump’s back in charge.
Economist Susan Stone explains that tariffs generally end up costing consumers and businesses more, and could lead to significant job losses.
She highlights that Australia’s high-tech exports to the U.S. might be impacted, and stresses the importance of finding new markets for these goods.
Dr. Stone also discusses the potential ripple effects on Australia’s economy if Trump’s policies slow down China, Japan, and Korea, our top trading partners.
She says retaliatory tariffs from other countries could further disrupt global trade.
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Dr Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics at the University of South Australia
Key Topics:
Donald Trump trade policiesU.S.-China trade warAustralian economyInflation and interest ratesTariffs High-tech exportsTrade with China, Japan, and Korea -
The government wants to ban under 16s from social media saying it’s harming children and parents need support.
It’s a move that has the support of the federal opposition and many parents, but does an outright ban risk cutting off important support and sources of information for young people?
Today, we explore some alternative ideas to help make social media safer with a cyber safety expert and an advocate for better mental health for young people.
Kriti Gupta emphasises the importance of educating youth on safe internet use rather than imposing a blanket ban.
She argues that social media can be a crucial tool for maintaining friendships and developmental skills.
Susan McLean highlights the challenges of enforcing such a ban and stresses the need for comprehensive education and parental involvement.
She says many young people rely on social media for community and support, especially those who are socially isolated or neurodivergent.
Both guests agree that while there are risks, a more nuanced approach is necessary to protect and educate young users.
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Kriti Gupta, youth mental health advocate with ALLKND
Susan McLean, Cyber Safety Solutions
Key Topics:
Social media ban for under 16sYouth mental healthCyber safety educationParentingAge verificationGovernment policies on social media use -
Elon Musk played a huge role in Donald Trump’s campaign, throwing at least $130 million at it.
But what role will the richest man in the world really play when Trump steps into the White House next year?
Today, political scientist Geoff Kabaservice from the Niskanen Centre in Washington DC on the people Trump will need if he wants to rule like a dictator, even for one day.
Geoff Kabaservice discusses the unpredictability of Trump’s promises and the potential for significant disruptions if he follows through on his more extreme proposals.
He highlights the importance of loyalists in Trump’s administration, contrasting it with the previous term where establishment figures curbed Trump’s instincts.
Kabaservice also touches on the controversial roles of Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., emphasising the uncertainty surrounding their influence.
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Geoff Kabaservice, Vice President for political studies at the Niskanen Centre
Key Topics:
Elon Musk’s financial support for TrumpRobert F. Kennedy JrUS PoliticsDonald TrumpWhite House - Show more