US President Donald Trump never fails to miss an opportunity to punish his allies. This week, it was Germany after Trump announced he’d be pulling 5000 troops from the country after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the US had been humiliated by Iran.

But away from the front-page news, Germany and Japan – another former enemy of the US – have been on the rise.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the stunning turnabout from the two countries that have threatened world peace the most in the past – and how all this will affect us.

US President Donald Trump never fails to miss an opportunity to punish his allies. This week, it was Germany after Trump announced he&rsquo;d be pulling 5000 troops from the country after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the US had been humiliated by Iran.
But away from the front-page news, Germany and Japan &ndash; another former enemy of the US &ndash; have been on the rise.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the stunning turnabout from the two countries that have threatened world peace the most in the past &ndash; and how all this will affect us.

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.

Once dominant fascist powers, Japan and Germany are now saving democracy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/53f6a18b-baaf-4949-9156-b4420068e4d0/transcript

For millions of people, David Attenborough was the man who introduced us to the wonders of the natural world.

But, with Attenborough turning 100 years old on Friday, some are rethinking his legacy, and realising that his biggest achievement might have been missed entirely. 

Today environment editor Nick O’Malley and former BBC arts director Jonty Claypole talk about how the world’s most famous naturalist changed our culture.

For millions of people, David Attenborough was the man who introduced us to the wonders of the natural world. But, with Attenborough turning 100 years old on Friday, some are rethinking his legacy, and realising that his biggest achievement might have been missed entirely. Today environment editor Nick O&rsquo;Malley and former BBC arts director Jonty Claypole talk about how the world&rsquo;s most famous naturalist changed our culture.

David Attenborough is 100. His legacy may be very different than you think

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/847caaf8-9919-4982-9836-b441007d360b/transcript

Kylie Moore-Gilbert was imprisoned in Iran for more than years, accused of being a spy.

Five years after her release, the research fellow in security studies at Macquarie University is calling on the Australian government to change its strategy towards hostages.

Today, Moore-Gilbert speaks about how the era of "quiet diplomacy" is – in some hostage cases –over.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert was imprisoned in Iran for more than years, accused of being a spy.
Five years after her release, the research fellow in security studies at Macquarie University is calling on the Australian government to change its strategy towards hostages.
Today, Moore-Gilbert speaks about how the era of "quiet diplomacy" is &ndash; in some hostage cases &ndash;over.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert on why Australia's hostage strategy must change

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/f637ee3f-071c-4da6-a056-b44000640ca6/transcript

On the evening of Anzac Day, a man is alleged to have set in motion a series of events that sparked a national outcry, broke hearts, and ignited rage in Alice Springs.

Today's episode comes after the news that 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis was charged on Sunday with the murder of a five-year-old girl in a tiny Alice Springs community.

We cross to the Northern Territory to journalist Hannah Murphy, from WA Today, on the case of Kumanjayi Little Baby.



Background reading:
Jefferson Lewis charged with murder over death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
A week on, Alice Springs is a town forever changed.

On the evening of Anzac Day, a man is alleged to have set in motion a series of events that sparked a national outcry, broke hearts, and ignited rage in Alice Springs. Today's episode comes after the news that 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis was charged on Sunday with the murder of a five-year-old girl in a tiny Alice Springs community. We cross to the Northern Territory to journalist Hannah Murphy, from WA Today, on the case of Kumanjayi Little Baby. 
Background reading:
<ul>
<li>Jefferson Lewis <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/jefferson-lewis-charged-with-murder-over-death-of-kumanjayi-little-baby-20260503-p5zt87.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">charged with murder over death of Kumanjayi Little Baby</a>.</li>
<li>A week on, Alice Springs is a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-week-on-alice-springs-is-a-town-forever-changed-20260502-p5zt4q.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">town forever changed.</a></li>
</ul>

'This is far from over’: The case of Kumanjayi Little Baby

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/c3aad1c6-ef2a-40ea-bae4-b43f00439f10/transcript

Once dominant fascist powers, Japan and Germany are now saving democracy

In 2 playlist(s)

The Morning Edition

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips