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.
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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.

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

On the first day of the new year, Donald Trump wrote on his social platform Truth Social, what he wanted for 2026. And I quote, “Peace, peace on earth”. 

Two days later, Trump invaded Venezuela. And now, the American president is threatening to invade at least four other countries. 

Today, Bruce Wolpe, senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, and a former congressional staffer, on whether Trump’s imperialist aggression, and a recent mutiny of more than a dozen top-ranking MAGA members, might break his hold on power.

On the first day of the new year, Donald Trump wrote on his social platform Truth Social, what he wanted for 2026. And I quote, &ldquo;Peace, peace on earth&rdquo;.&nbsp;
Two days later, Trump invaded Venezuela. And now, the American president is threatening to invade at least four&nbsp;other countries.&nbsp;
Today, Bruce Wolpe, senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, and a former congressional staffer, on whether Trump&rsquo;s imperialist aggression, and a recent mutiny of more than a dozen top-ranking MAGA members, might break his hold on power.

First Trump invaded Venezuela. But it may not be Greenland that's next

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/9653cdfe-14ff-4070-a06c-b3cd0058e036/transcript

We’re on a break over summer, our dear chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal is probably off to a yoga retreat somewhere in Bali, and we return at the end of January for another fun-filled year of Inside Politics.

Well, we can’t ignore the impact that Donald Trump had on domestic politics last year and for this episode, we return to a point in time when most of the press pack was obsessed with whether Anthony Albanese will meet with the US president. It finally happened, and we recorded this episode about a week before the meeting would take place.

Paul is joined by our special guest star, and economics correspondent Shane Wright, to forecast the details of the meeting, before they argue about Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ abandonment of superannuation reforms.

We&rsquo;re on a break over summer, our dear chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal is probably off to a yoga retreat somewhere in Bali, and we return at the end of January for another fun-filled year of Inside Politics.
Well, we can&rsquo;t ignore the impact that Donald Trump had on domestic politics last year and for this episode, we return to a point in time when most of the press pack was obsessed with whether Anthony Albanese will meet with the US president. It finally happened, and we recorded this episode about a week before the meeting would take place.
Paul is joined by our special guest star, and economics correspondent Shane Wright, to forecast the details of the meeting, before they argue about Treasurer Jim Chalmers&rsquo; abandonment of superannuation reforms.

Best of 2025: Albanese meets with Trump next week. Anything could happen

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/8e3b7951-946d-4a4f-9028-b3b800509a09/transcript

Hi, it’s Samantha Selinger-Morris here, and I’m the host of The Morning Edition. We’re bringing you the best episodes of 2025 before your Morning Edition team returns on Monday.

In August, two police officers were shot and killed at a property in Victoria’s high country and suspected murderer, Dezi Freeman, went on the run. Now, more than four months later, he is still missing. 

In this episode, associate editor and special writer Tony Wright takes us to the whispering forests and deep valleys of the high country, which have long hidden those on the run.

Hi, it&rsquo;s Samantha Selinger-Morris here, and I&rsquo;m the host of The Morning Edition. We&rsquo;re bringing you the best episodes of 2025 before your Morning Edition team returns on Monday.
In August, two police officers were shot and killed at a property in Victoria&rsquo;s high country and suspected murderer, Dezi Freeman, went on the run. Now, more than four months later, he is still missing.&nbsp;
In this episode, associate editor and special writer Tony Wright takes us to the whispering forests and deep valleys of the high country, which have long hidden those on the run.

Best of 2025:  Is Dezi Freeman being glorified like the other 'daring, desperate or deranged' fugitives who came before him?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4e050752-ceb8-4c0f-a259-b3b700b76c02/transcript

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

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