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 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.

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.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, review & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

The Morning Edition&nbsp;brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/by/samantha-selinger-morris-p4yvwp">Samantha Selinger-Morris</a> from the newsrooms of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/">The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/">The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am.
If you enjoy this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, review &amp; subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511">Apple</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or whichever platform you&nbsp;find your pods.

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

This week we’re joining the dots between two different stories: the fight over superannuation, and the colourful past of One Nation’s leader in Victoria, Warren Pickering.

On Monday, Pauline Hanson told voters her party would allow renters and prospective home buyers to withdraw their superannuation early. The policy was scant on details, but it had the desired effect of controlling the national debate.

The same thing happened with the Pickering press conference.

Normally, a leader of a right-wing political party admitting to taking drugs would not be good for electoral prospects. But, as Victorian political editor Chip Le Grand argues, the mea culpa had the opposite effect.

Le Grand joins senior economics correspondent Shane Wright for Inside Politics. Today’s host is deputy national editor Stephanie Peatling, filling in for Jacqueline Maley.

 

Cut through the noise of federal politics with host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal on Inside Politics, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, every Friday.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

This week we&rsquo;re joining the dots between two different stories: the fight over superannuation, and the colourful past of One Nation&rsquo;s leader in Victoria, Warren Pickering.
On Monday, Pauline Hanson told voters her party would allow renters and prospective home buyers to withdraw their superannuation early.&nbsp;The policy was scant on details, but it had the desired effect of controlling the national debate.
The same thing happened with the Pickering press conference.
Normally, a leader of a right-wing political party admitting to taking drugs would not be good for electoral prospects. But, as Victorian political editor Chip Le Grand argues, the mea culpa had the opposite effect.
Le Grand joins senior economics correspondent Shane Wright for&nbsp;Inside Politics. Today&rsquo;s host is deputy national editor Stephanie Peatling, filling in for Jacqueline Maley.
&nbsp;
Cut through the noise of federal politics with host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal on Inside Politics, from the newsrooms of<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, every Friday.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/inside-politics/id1738365431"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/29UKjyueywTgAL0Pk4Er8v"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your pods.

Superannuation and the One Nation press conference that had everyone watching

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4695a5ca-6ee9-46bf-98ca-b4c1005954b1/transcript

This week marks twenty-five years since the United States suffered a terrorist attack that was predicted to change the world forever.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher talks about the lessons that the US learned – and failed to learn – and examines the costs and rewards of Australia's full-throated support of its ally following the attack.

Hartcher also discusses what Australia's alliance looks like today in the face of Donald Trump's presidency.


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.


If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

This week marks twenty-five years since the United States suffered a terrorist attack that was predicted to change the world forever.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher talks about the lessons that the US learned &ndash; and failed to learn &ndash; and examines the costs and rewards of Australia's full-throated support of its ally following the attack.
Hartcher also discusses what Australia's alliance looks like today in the face of Donald Trump's presidency.
 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<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am. 
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

From 9/11 to Donald Trump: Why Australia can’t afford to abandon the US

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/1c9547d9-35ba-45f3-83d8-b4c000868adb/transcript

A far-right party in Germany has just trounced its rivals in a state election – the closest such a party has come to holding power in a German state since World War II.

The result sent shockwaves through a country that has, since the destruction of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, created a political system that prevents extremist parties from returning to power.

Today's guest, Europe correspondent David Crowe, discusses what the rise of the Alternative for Germany party, otherwise known as the AfD, means for Europe and the rest of the world.

Further reading:
Election shockwave: Meet the smiling new leader set to bring hard-right upheaval to Germany



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.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

A far-right party in Germany has just trounced its rivals in a state election &ndash; the closest such a party has <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/election-shockwave-meet-the-smiling-new-leader-set-to-bring-hard-right-upheaval-to-germany-20260907-p60ux9.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">come to holding power in a German state since World War II.</a>
The result sent shockwaves through a country that has, since the destruction of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, created a political system that prevents extremist parties from returning to power.
Today's guest, Europe correspondent David Crowe, discusses what the rise of the Alternative for Germany party, otherwise known as the AfD, means for Europe and the rest of the world. Further reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/election-shockwave-meet-the-smiling-new-leader-set-to-bring-hard-right-upheaval-to-germany-20260907-p60ux9.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Election shockwave: Meet the smiling new leader set to bring hard-right upheaval to Germany</a></li>
</ul>
 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<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

Germany had ruled out extremist parties. Then came this election win

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/1db77f8a-83d8-4af6-b93a-b4bf00466e96/transcript

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

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