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;
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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.

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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

This week we debate the merits of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s national address before getting stuck into what’s happening with the budget. With the world in a bit of a shambles, we found it interesting that the PM hasn’t totally killed off the idea of reforms in the budget to things such as capital gains tax and negative gearing.

But, as our guest and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright says, this is the most difficult budget to piece together since the response to the global financial crisis in 2008.

Finally, host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal talk about a fascinating interview Andrew Hastie gave recently.

This week we debate the merits of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese&rsquo;s national address before getting stuck into what&rsquo;s happening with the budget.&nbsp;With the world in a bit of a shambles, we found it interesting that the PM hasn&rsquo;t totally killed off the idea of reforms in the budget to things such as capital gains tax and negative gearing.
But, as our guest and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright says, this is the most difficult budget to piece together since the response to the global financial crisis in 2008.
Finally, host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal talk about a fascinating interview Andrew Hastie gave recently.

A national address, nailing down the budget, and Hastie’s ‘striking’ interview

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/09e2d1da-ec70-4d4b-b9c0-b4200043dfb5/transcript

US President Donald Trump says he’s nearly done with the war in Iran, declaring: "We will be leaving very soon." His secretary of state also said on Wednesday that he can "see the finish line".

This would be significant, but only if the Americans were in control of the war.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher argues the United States has leached power in this war, while the Iranian regime is in its element.

US President Donald Trump says he&rsquo;s nearly done with the war in Iran, declaring: "We will be leaving very soon." His secretary of state also said on Wednesday that he can "see the finish line".
This would be significant, but only if the Americans were in control of the war.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher argues the United States has leached power in this war, while the Iranian regime is in its element.

Peter Hartcher: Donald Trump is on the cusp of walking away from Iran

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/6dc98464-5c84-4f3b-8722-b41f0060ab23/transcript

Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie logged on to a Zoom call to meet the man who said he was Aaron Pierson.

McKenzie was also hiding his real identity, posing as a recruiter for an Australian tech company. The whole thing was a set-up, a trap for someone McKenzie suspected to be a spy for North Korea.

Today, McKenzie talks about the new way spies are targeting Australian businesses, and what happened in that Zoom call.

Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie logged on to a Zoom call to meet the man who said he was Aaron Pierson.
McKenzie was also hiding his real identity, posing as a recruiter for an Australian tech company. The whole thing was a set-up, a trap for someone McKenzie suspected to be a spy for North Korea.
Today, McKenzie talks about the new way spies are targeting Australian businesses, and what happened in that Zoom call.

Nick McKenzie on how North Korean spies are infiltrating Australian companies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/470e7982-631f-43d7-8a81-b41e0058d801/transcript

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

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