Travis Reyes, a 21-year-old US marine, remembers feeling smug as he sat with his feet dangling out the door of a military aircraft, soaring high above a gulf in the Northern Territory.

Yes, dozens of military personnel had died in these hybrid aeroplane/helicopters over the years. But the take-off from Darwin had been smooth.

Today, senior reporter Grant McArthur on the 23 marines who crashed in the bush, shocking the globe. And the world-first medical experiments by quick-thinking Australian doctors aimed at helping Travis Reyes survive against all odds.

Background reading
Grant McArthur's full story: 'A fiery air crash, a face-eating fungus and minutes from death in the Top End: How The Alfred’s doctors saved this US marine.'

Travis Reyes, a 21-year-old US marine, remembers feeling smug as he sat with his feet dangling out the door of a military aircraft, soaring high above a gulf in the Northern Territory. Yes, dozens of military personnel had died in these hybrid aeroplane/helicopters over the years. But the take-off from Darwin had been smooth. Today, senior reporter Grant McArthur on <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-fiery-air-crash-a-face-eating-fungus-and-minutes-from-death-in-the-top-end-how-the-alfred-s-doctors-saved-this-us-marine-20260427-p5zrdx.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">the 23 marines who crashed in the bush</a>, shocking the globe. And the world-first medical experiments by quick-thinking Australian doctors aimed at helping Travis Reyes survive against all odds.
Background reading
<ul>
<li>Grant McArthur's full story: <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-fiery-air-crash-a-face-eating-fungus-and-minutes-from-death-in-the-top-end-how-the-alfred-s-doctors-saved-this-us-marine-20260427-p5zrdx.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">'A fiery air crash, a face-eating fungus and minutes from death in the Top End: How The Alfred&rsquo;s doctors saved this US marine.'</a></li>
</ul>

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

New episodes

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

A fiery air crash in the Top End – and a miracle by Aussie doctors who saved a US marine

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/3e922fa0-eb5e-4534-94dd-b43d00611fae/transcript

The electorate of Farrer is holding a by-election this weekend and we’re expecting the contest will be a good one.

The NSW seat, which hugs the border with Victoria, belonged to former opposition leader Sussan Ley for 25 years. Now, it’s a microcosm of the pressures the Coalition is under from independent candidates and One Nation.

And as Inside Politics host Jacqueline Maley puts it, Labor has grabbed the popcorn and is sitting this one out.

Also this week, RBA boss Michele Bullock made some unusually pointed remarks about inflation and government spending when she raised the cash rate again. Plus, we’ve been reporting on tax relief that’s expected to be announced in next week’s budget.

Joining Maley today is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.



Background reading:
'‘F’ the lot of youse: Inside the deep political bitterness of the Farrer byelection.'
‘That’s assault’: One Nation volunteer grabs Liberal senator’s phone in clash outside polling booth

The electorate of Farrer is holding a by-election this weekend and we&rsquo;re expecting the contest will be a good one.
The NSW seat, which hugs the border with Victoria, belonged to former opposition leader Sussan Ley for 25 years. Now, it&rsquo;s a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/f-the-lot-of-youse-inside-the-deep-political-bitterness-of-the-farrer-byelection-20260506-p5zugm.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">microcosm of the pressures the Coalition is under from independent candidates and One Nation.</a>
And as&nbsp;Inside Politics host Jacqueline Maley puts it, Labor has grabbed the popcorn and is sitting this one out.
Also this week, RBA boss Michele Bullock made some unusually pointed remarks about inflation and government spending when she raised the cash rate again. Plus, we&rsquo;ve been reporting on tax relief that&rsquo;s expected to be announced in next week&rsquo;s budget.
Joining Maley today is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal. 
Background reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/f-the-lot-of-youse-inside-the-deep-political-bitterness-of-the-farrer-byelection-20260506-p5zugm.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">'&lsquo;F&rsquo; the lot of youse: Inside the deep political bitterness of the Farrer byelection.'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/fugitive-farley-ducks-tv-cameras-in-farrer-as-taylor-takes-firm-line-against-one-nation-20260506-p5zu63.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;That&rsquo;s assault&rsquo;: One Nation volunteer grabs&nbsp;Liberal senator&rsquo;s phone in clash outside polling booth</a></li>
</ul>

‘Popcorn out’ for Farrer by-election, plus the RBA’s pointed comments on government spending

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/0cb964a5-ec55-44eb-ae98-b4430067f88a/transcript

US President Donald Trump never fails to miss an opportunity to punish his allies. This week, it was Germany after Trump announced he’d be pulling 5000 troops from the country after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the US had been humiliated by Iran.

But away from the front-page news, Germany and Japan – another former enemy of the US – have been on the rise.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the stunning turnabout from the two countries that have threatened world peace the most in the past – and how all this will affect us.

US President Donald Trump never fails to miss an opportunity to punish his allies. This week, it was Germany after Trump announced he&rsquo;d be pulling 5000 troops from the country after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the US had been humiliated by Iran.
But away from the front-page news, Germany and Japan &ndash; another former enemy of the US &ndash; have been on the rise.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the stunning turnabout from the two countries that have threatened world peace the most in the past &ndash; and how all this will affect us.

Once dominant fascist powers, Japan and Germany are now saving democracy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/53f6a18b-baaf-4949-9156-b4420068e4d0/transcript

For millions of people, David Attenborough was the man who introduced us to the wonders of the natural world.

But, with Attenborough turning 100 years old on Friday, some are rethinking his legacy, and realising that his biggest achievement might have been missed entirely. 

Today environment editor Nick O’Malley and former BBC arts director Jonty Claypole talk about how the world’s most famous naturalist changed our culture.

For millions of people, David Attenborough was the man who introduced us to the wonders of the natural world. But, with Attenborough turning 100 years old on Friday, some are rethinking his legacy, and realising that his biggest achievement might have been missed entirely. Today environment editor Nick O&rsquo;Malley and former BBC arts director Jonty Claypole talk about how the world&rsquo;s most famous naturalist changed our culture.

David Attenborough is 100. His legacy may be very different than you think

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/847caaf8-9919-4982-9836-b441007d360b/transcript

A fiery air crash in the Top End – and a miracle by Aussie doctors who saved a US marine

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