Today we’re heading back to a court in Melbourne with crime writer Chris Vedelago. It was the day when one of the last remaining figures from the city’s gangland war, Tony Mokbel, was released on bail thanks to a legal scandal like no other. 

Mokbel had convictions quashed over the so-called ‘Lawyer X’ saga and since this episode was aired, he was freed from prison. 

We’re bringing you the best episodes of 2025 before your Morning Edition team returns next week.

 

 

Today we&rsquo;re heading back to a court in Melbourne with crime writer Chris Vedelago. It was the day when one of the last remaining figures from the city&rsquo;s gangland war, Tony Mokbel, was released on bail thanks to a legal scandal like no other.&nbsp;
Mokbel had convictions quashed over the so-called &lsquo;Lawyer X&rsquo; saga and since this episode was aired, he was freed from prison.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re bringing you the best episodes of 2025 before your Morning Edition team returns next week.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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.

Best of 2025: Why gangland figure Tony Mokbel could walk free 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/fbadcabc-4f3f-485e-ac61-b3b700ae948c/transcript

Gen Z in India are rebelling. Millions of young Indians have signed up to a movement that’s pushing against the unfair advantages that their elders have and they don’t. And though the political movement they've joined is satirical, the Cockroach Janta Party has the Indian government worried.

Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses how serious a threat this movement is to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the other recent youth-led movements that have toppled governments.

Background reading
Peter Hartcher: 'Young people are revolting. India’s ‘cockroach’ campaign is just the latest example.'

 

Gen Z in India are rebelling. Millions of young Indians have signed up to a movement that&rsquo;s pushing against the unfair advantages that their elders have and they don&rsquo;t. And though the political movement they've joined is satirical, the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/young-people-are-revolting-india-s-cockroach-campaign-is-just-the-latest-example-20260525-p600hz.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Cockroach Janta Party has the Indian government worried.</a>
Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses how serious a threat this movement is to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the other recent youth-led movements that have toppled governments.
Background reading
<ul>
<li>Peter Hartcher: '<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/young-people-are-revolting-india-s-cockroach-campaign-is-just-the-latest-example-20260525-p600hz.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Young people are revolting. India&rsquo;s &lsquo;cockroach&rsquo; campaign is just the latest example.'</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

How Gen Z in India turned an insult into a political uprising

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/fd44169a-6320-4988-930f-b4570062cfdd/transcript

State of Origin is rugby league’s night of nights, with Queensland and New South Wales battling it out for supremacy.

But as the teams take to the field tonight, there’s a battle of a different kind taking place in the NRL as power swaps between the biggest names in sports administration - Peter V’Landys and Andrew Abdo.

Today, national head of sport Neil Breen on the politics of the NRL, and whether too much power may land in the hands of one man.

For more:
'Peter V’landys says the NRL needs ‘Superman and Jesus’ as CEO. That person will be Peter V’landys.'

State of Origin is rugby league&rsquo;s night of nights, with Queensland and New South Wales battling it out for supremacy.
But as the teams take to the field tonight, there&rsquo;s a battle of a different kind taking place in the NRL as <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/peter-v-landys-says-the-nrl-needs-superman-and-jesus-as-ceo-that-person-will-be-peter-v-landys-20260525-p600de.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">power swaps between the biggest names in sports administration </a>- Peter V&rsquo;Landys and Andrew Abdo.
Today, national head of sport Neil Breen on the politics of the NRL, and whether too much power may land in the hands of one man.
For more:
<ul>
<li>'Peter V&rsquo;landys says the NRL needs &lsquo;Superman and Jesus&rsquo; as CEO. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/peter-v-landys-says-the-nrl-needs-superman-and-jesus-as-ceo-that-person-will-be-peter-v-landys-20260525-p600de.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">That person will be Peter V&rsquo;landys.'</a></li>
</ul>

The most powerful man in sport is about to get more powerful

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/ba2aaa2f-7dea-4159-80d2-b456006c7a22/transcript

Drugs and music festivals have gone hand-in-hand for decades. In recent years – especially since a string of overdoses – authorities have employed various strategies to try to curb drug use and avoid tragedies from occurring at festivals around the country.

Depending on where festivals are held, music lovers have been subjected to various degrees of intervention – from having to run the gauntlet of sniffer dogs to intrusive strip searches. That is now changing.

Today, culture reporter Kayla Olaya discusses the 3000 people who sued NSW Police last year over the legality of strip searches, plus we look at recent changes to the policing of drug use at large, live music events.

Background reading
Days of ‘going through a gauntlet of police lined with drug dogs’ are over, says a top cop.

Drugs and music festivals have gone hand-in-hand for decades. In recent years &ndash; especially since a string of overdoses &ndash; authorities have employed various strategies to try to curb drug use and avoid tragedies from occurring at festivals around the country. Depending on where festivals are held, music lovers have been subjected to various degrees of intervention &ndash; from having to run the gauntlet of sniffer dogs to intrusive strip searches.<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/days-of-going-through-a-gauntlet-of-police-lined-with-drug-dogs-are-over-says-a-top-cop-20260518-p5zyan.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom"> That is now changing.</a> Today, culture reporter Kayla Olaya discusses the 3000 people who sued NSW Police last year over the legality of strip searches, plus we look at recent changes to the policing of drug use at large, live music events.
Background reading
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/days-of-going-through-a-gauntlet-of-police-lined-with-drug-dogs-are-over-says-a-top-cop-20260518-p5zyan.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Days of &lsquo;going through a gauntlet of police lined with drug dogs&rsquo; are over, says a top cop.</a></li>
</ul>

Why the era of sniffer dogs at music festivals could be over

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/cd167415-ca4a-4ce7-aa54-b45500a3bb59/transcript

Best of 2025: Why gangland figure Tony Mokbel could walk free

In 2 playlist(s)

The Morning Edition

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips