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

Last May, the incumbent Labor government swept to power while the Liberal Party suffered an election wipeout, with women voters, in particular, shunning the party.

In this episode, recorded just after the election result, political and international editor Peter Hartcher traces the Liberals’ surprising history of embracing the female vote and how that crucial vote was lost in 2025.

We&rsquo;re bringing you the best episodes of 2025 before your Morning Edition team returns next week.
Last May, the incumbent Labor government swept to power while the Liberal Party suffered an election wipeout, with women voters, in particular, shunning the party.
In this episode, recorded just after the election result, political and international editor Peter Hartcher traces the Liberals&rsquo; surprising history of embracing the female vote and how that crucial vote was lost in 2025.

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: Women were once ‘essential’ to the Liberal Party. What happened?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/545c5bbe-22b2-44a9-978a-b3b700b4051c/transcript

This week, we talk about the incredible story of the Iranian women's soccer team, some of whom defected and were given asylum in Australia. It was a wonderful story, and a great public relations coup for the government. 

Plus, the legacy of outgoing Nationals leader David Littleproud, and we examine the somewhat controversial style of the incoming leader Matt Canavan.

Joining host Jacquline Maley is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and national security correspondent Matthew Knott.

This week, we talk about the incredible story of the Iranian women's soccer team, some of whom defected and were given asylum in Australia. It was a wonderful story, and a great public relations coup for the government.&nbsp;
Plus, the legacy of outgoing Nationals leader David Littleproud, and we examine the somewhat controversial style of the incoming leader Matt Canavan.
Joining host Jacquline Maley is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and national security correspondent Matthew Knott.

Why the timeline of the Iranian women’s football team defection makes some people liars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/e4ce881b-0c4b-4f01-a054-b40b004d6cf7/transcript

It could be argued that no American president has been as enamoured with violence as Donald Trump. He appears to relish all of it: the spectacle, the promise of it taking place, and, lately, its bloody reality, as - at the time of recording - American bombs continue to drop on Iran.

So, is this the key to to understanding the US president's motivation or all the other wars he’s planning?

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on which country Trump has set his sights on next, and whether Australia is now at war with Iran.

It could be argued that no American president has been as enamoured with violence as Donald Trump. He appears to relish all of it: the spectacle, the promise of it taking place, and, lately, its bloody reality, as - at the time of recording - American bombs continue to drop on Iran. So, is this the key to to understanding the US president's motivation or all the other wars he&rsquo;s planning? Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on which country Trump has set his sights on next, and whether Australia is now at war with Iran.

Trump's 'need for violence'. And have we joined the war on Iran?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/ddf8c0f7-13e8-4bc6-8648-b40a004b6866/transcript

Five female Iranian soccer players, in Australia competing for the Asian Cup, escaped in the night from their handlers to seek refuge from their home country, which is in the middle of a war with the US and Israel.
Initially another two women decided to join them and defected a day later, but on Wednesday afternoon, one of the pair changed their mind and contacted Iranian officials with the intention of returning home.
Today, in a bonus episode, crime and justice reporter Amber Schultz joins us from Malaysia, where she has been tracking the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran.

Five female Iranian soccer players, in Australia competing for the Asian Cup, escaped in the night from their handlers to seek refuge from their home country, which is in the middle of a war with the US and Israel. Initially another two women decided to join them and defected a day later, but on Wednesday afternoon, one of the pair changed their mind and contacted Iranian officials with the intention of returning home. Today, in a bonus episode,&nbsp;crime and justice reporter Amber Schultz joins us from Malaysia, where she has been tracking the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran.

How the Iranian women’s soccer team escape unfolded

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/209a9a80-8ca2-431c-a05c-b40a004ac0a8/transcript

Best of 2025: Women were once ‘essential’ to the Liberal Party. What happened?

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