The past week has seen two shocking stabbing attacks by lone actors in Sydney - one in the city’s east, and one in its west.  Both incidents have horrified the community, but the attack against a Bishop at an Assyrian Christian church on Monday evening has prompted a particularly strong political response.  These two destabilising events represent a test of Australia’s social cohesion, and a test of our political leaders’ capacity to nurture tolerance within the community at a time of great international tensions.  Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is political correspondent Paul Sakkal, national security correspondent Matthew Knott, and chief political correspondent David Crowe. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

It was scarcely more than 48 hours after the tragic attack in Bondi Junction when across town in Sydney, another confronting incident was unfolding. During a service that was livestreamed at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley, a teenager allegedly attacked Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. The attack, which has now been declared an act of terror, sparked chaotic and violent scenes outside the church, where hundreds of people rioted and clashed with a heavy police presence. Today, investigative reporter Patrick Begley on what we know about the attack and the trauma and fear felt across Sydney.

When Iran launched a direct missile and drone attack on Israel, over the weekend, it was the realisation of one of Israel’s worst fears. This was a historic first. And has always loomed as an existential threat. For decades, Israeli leaders have feared a direct attack from its sworn enemy, which has been experimenting with its nuclear capabilities for around 70 years. And now, much of the world is holding its breath, as it waits to see how Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu - a man not known for his military restraint - will respond.  Today, political and international editor Peter Hartcher on whether this latest escalation could see the war in Gaza evolve into a much wider sphere of devastation.

After five years, one aborted criminal trial and millions of dollars in legal fees, Justice Michael Lee handed down his judgment in the defamation case that Bruce Lehrmann brought against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson. Justice Lee found that Bruce Lehrmann had raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, and dismissed Lehrmann’s defamation claim. The judgment, which was delayed at the 11th hour, was delivered in great, and at times colourful, detail. The decision does not amount to a finding of criminal guilt. Lehrmann’s criminal trial was aborted in October 2022 due to juror misconduct and the charges were later dropped altogether owing to concerns about Higgins’ mental health. Today, legal affairs reporter Michaela Whitbourn on the extraordinary findings from an at-times squalid and politically and socially charged case, and what it means for everyone involved. And, a warning for listeners, this episode contains repeated descriptions of sexual assault.

When news broke last week that one of the most powerful people at Seven Network allegedly tried to cover up an internal fraud investigation, the network suffered reputational fallout. It’s just the latest scandal that has exposed the misogynistic, bullying and get-a-story-at-any-cost culture that has seemingly been thriving in pockets of the media company. Because, later today, a judgment is expected to be handed down in the multi-million dollar Bruce Lehrmann defamation case, which has also embroiled Seven in scandal. But to see the issue as a problem suffered by one media organisation is to miss the point, according to investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, who broke this latest story. Today, McKenzie, talks about what happens when journalists - the very people who are tasked with holding the powerful to account - allegedly engage in unethical behaviour. And just a heads-up, this episode mentions sexual assault, self-harm and suicide.

Australians across the country were shocked on Saturday, when a man brandishing a long knife stalked through a shopping centre in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. What resulted was horrific. At the time of recording, six people have been killed, including two mothers. A dozen other victims have been taken to hospital with stab wounds. The attacker was shot dead by police. Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker on a mass murder that took place in a location that many people - especially mothers of small children - often use as a refuge, from boredom, and the heat. And the shock and sadness that the whole country is feeling. And just a reminder, this episode contains confronting descriptions of violence. If you find anything in this episode distressing, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. 

Six months after the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas began, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has signalled a shift in Australia’s position on the question of Palestinian statehood. Wong said that recognising Palestinian statehood, without waiting for years of peace talks with Israel, could improve the chances for peace and build momentum towards a two-state agreement. The Federal Government’s position has been met with fierce backlash from pro-Israel groups and the Opposition, who say that would reward Hamas for its October 7 terror attacks. Plus the Government's plan to strengthen merger laws and help more businesses make products in Australia as it gears up for its May 14 budget. Today, foreign affairs correspondent Matthew Knott, chief political correspondent David Crowe and economics correspondent Shane Wright join Jacqueline Maley to discuss. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

For more than 75 years, Japan has had, at the centre of its constitution, a very particular promise. The country renounces war as a sovereign right. Forever. This means the country is forbidden from maintaining an army, navy or air force - and from using force as a means of settling international disputes. This so-called “peace constitution” was an instrumental part of Japan rising from the ashes of World War II, and the destruction that it both suffered, and meted out. But now, Japan is dramatically beefing up its military. Today, International and political editor Peter Hartcher on why Japan is arguably breaching its own constitution. And what it might mean for the global order.

For at least a year, we’ve been hearing allegations that our biggest supermarkets have been rorting us - paying the farmers who provide them with produce too little. And charging consumers way too much. As the stores themselves rake in tens of billions dollars each year, amid an ongoing cost of living crisis. The end result has been enraged consumers. And fiery political outbursts that have spilled over in senate inquiries in which politicians have grilled supermarket CEOs.  And now, a new review by the government has recommended that supermarkets be fined, potentially billions of dollars, if they breach a renewed code of conduct that has been proposed.  Today, national affairs editor James Massola on the political fight that’s led to this review. And whether it might finally result in lower prices at the checkout.

For decades, these chemicals were miracle ingredients for 3M, a company that has made billions from the products that used them such as Scotchguard and Teflon pans. Nicknamed “forever chemicals”, they repel everything from grease, to water and stains - and are found in everyday items like frying pans, household cleaning products, and even school uniforms. Now 3M is at risk of bankruptcy, with allegations that the company deliberately deceived the public from being aware of the serious risks posed by forever chemicals, with a growing body of science linking these chemicals to adverse health outcomes, including cancer. Today, investigative reporter Carrie Fellner on the factory that contaminated the whole world - including many Australian communities.

When Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election against Hilary Clinton it wasn’t just his grabbing the top spot in the White House that shocked Americans. So, too, did allegations by intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly ordered a campaign to interfere with the election.  This would play out on social media via troll factories, with fake profiles befriending real people to spread Kremlin propaganda.  And now, only seven months out from the next American election with Donald Trump ramping-up his campaign against Joe Biden, interference like this is happening again. Today, digital foreign editor Chris Zappone on the new tactics being used by Russian operatives, to disrupt democracy. Zappone's podcast, Dark Shining Moment, can be found here.

This week, national affairs editor James Massola and political correspondent Paul Sakkal join Jacqueline Maley to look at how the Albanese government is going ahead of the next election, likely to take place next year, after an interesting few months of political ups and downs. They also to examine the ups and downs of political behaviour, after leaked documents revealed potential punishments for MPs and senators who are found to breach parliamentary standards. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

Later today, we were meant to be hearing Justice Michael Lee’s judgment, in the multi-million dollar defamation case that Bruce Lehrmann has brought against Network 10. But then, in a surprise turn of events on Tuesday evening, lawyers for Network 10 made an eleventh-hour bid for Justice Lee to re-open its defence, and admit new evidence. This is just the latest twist in a case that has its origins more than five years ago, when former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleges that Lehrmann raped her in an office in parliament house. Bruce Lehrmann has always strenuously denied the allegations. Today, legal affairs reporter Michaela Whitbourn on the explosive new evidence, and why it might be key to Justice Lee’s decision. And just a heads-up, this episode contains references to allegations of sexual assault.

One-time Sydney real estate agent Sarah Dougan always dreamed of making a life for herself in the United States. At one time, her goal was to make it as an actress in New York City. That never happened. Instead, she’s become a successful CEO in the US, and the owner of a multi-million dollar mansion.  There’s just one problem. Australian authorities have been combing through her Australian business records since 2011. And the results have been damning. Not only did she leave Australia, in 2012, owing half a million dollars. But from the next year on, she was a wanted fugitive, with a warrant out for her arrest. Today, crime reporter Perry Duffin on what constitutes fairness in our legal system, and whether Sarah Dougan is obliged to return to Australia to face court. Or whether - as she argues - it would mean sacrificing her right to equality, and lead to her losing everything she has in the United States.

When Independent MP Andrew Wilkie made claims of secret illicit drug testing within the AFL, the sporting community went into damage control. At the centre of his parliamentary speech was a whistleblower - a former doctor for Melbourne Football Club who alleged that players in some instances underwent off-the-book drug testing ahead of a game. If they tested positive, he claimed, the player might fake illness or injury in order to avoid match-day testing conducted by the independent sporting integrity body. So what’s behind these allegations? And why does it matter what players do in their own time? Today, chief reporter Chip Le Grand on the latest AFL drugs scandal.

More than two years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have become accustomed to seeing vision on the news of drone attacks and bombed out buildings. But what of the psychological, emotional and physical toll on the country’s children?  Do they sleep safe at night? Do they go to school? Do they play?  Their experience has been lost in the fog of war, say teachers on the ground, who are struggling to give these children, and their mothers, a sense of normalcy. Today, Europe correspondent Rob Harris, who has just travelled to Ukraine, on how this war is affecting the country’s most vulnerable people. And what the impact on them might be for years to come.

In the final days of Parliament before a long break, the federal government tried to rush through drastic new deportation laws that would give it the power to threaten people with jail if they are not deemed refugees and refuse to leave the country. Labor says the laws close a loophole that prevents the country from deporting people who have exhausted all legal avenues to stay in Australia and are refusing to leave. But the move was met with strong opposition, and in a bruising loss for the government, all opposition and crossbench senators teamed up to send the laws to a committee for further scrutiny in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the federal government is also hoping to get its long-awaited fuel efficiency standards through the parliament soon, after making changes to get more car manufacturers on board. Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is chief political correspondent David Crowe, federal migration reporter Angus Thompson, and climate and energy correspondent Mike Foley. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

For decades, a downturn in the Chinese economy has meant a boon for investors in the West. But then came an unwelcome announcement, earlier this month, from the Chinese government. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on why this announcement isn’t just bad for our economy, but is a reminder of China’s dramatically revamped - and dangerous  - geopolitical goals.

It’s a church that preaches a hatred of people outside of its own flock. Women are treated as second-class citizens. And homosexuality is not tolerated.  So why does the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church have such extraordinary access to political power brokers? And does it actually perform the acts of charity that it says it does? For which it receives multi-millions of dollars in government funding and tax exemptions? Until last week, many remained questions without answers. That is, until the Australian Tax Office performed an astonishing raid on businesses owned by the church. Today, investigative reporter Michael Bachelard on the Plymouth Brethren Church, which has long flown under the radar, but is now being exposed to the light.

Once one of our most popular prime ministers, before experiencing stunning and repeated political rejection, Kevin Rudd has been out of the spotlight for years. But that was before Donald Trump let rip with a string of invectives against Rudd, in an interview last week.  It was a conversation that unleashed a barrage of think pieces. Why did Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appoint Rudd as the ambassador to the United States in the first place? And how can he possibly advance our interests in the White House now?  Today, foreign affairs and national security correspondent Matthew Knott on Kevin Rudd, the one-time power player who was cast-out to the political wilderness and is now back in the spotlight.

In the struggle for power and influence in the Pacific, there is one man Australian security agencies have their eye on. He’s allegedly a member of a powerful organised crime network spanning the Pacific. And, according to secret intelligence documents out of Canberra, he’s a potential threat to our national interest. Why? Because he’s also a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party. And his alleged activities are taking place amid China’s growing influence in the Pacific. All this comes at a time when a security agreement between Beijing and the Pacific Island nation of Fiji, once put on ice, now seems to be back on the table. Today, investigative journalist Nick McKenzie on his story with The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes on Zhao Fugang, and why his influence in Fiji matters to Australia. Watch full story on Nine's 60 Minuteshere. And just a note, there is no suggestion by our mastheads that Zhao Fugang is a convicted criminal or is guilty of the allegations, only that he is of such serious concern to Australia’s security agencies he has designated as a high priority target.

It is an issue that has come up for the last couple of governments, and one that none of them have yet been able to resolve.  Religious discrimination laws have been a contentious topic in our politics for the better part of a decade now, with the rights of gay and gender-diverse students and teachers set against the rights of religious schools to teach and hire according to the values of their faith.  During the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would settle this conflict if Labor won government. But this week the PM effectively abandoned the issue, as Scott Morrison did before him.  Also, the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister and Donald Trump’s rather hurtful comments about our Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd. Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss, is chief political correspondent David Crowe and political reporter Natassia Chrysanthos. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

The world’s biggest information and communications companies dominate our lives, in many ways. Google, Apple, Microsoft, among many others - we use their products to write up work reports, store our photos, and send messages to our loved ones. Sometimes hourly. And yet, these same companies, according to recent research, are arguably enabling paedophiles to commit the most heinous of crimes against children. On a scale never before seen in human history. These companies are also producing the technology needed to crack down on these crimes, so why aren’t they using it? Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the shocking social crisis that’s been hiding in the shadows. And the two government commissioners who are fighting to protect the most vulnerable people in our society.

Many know it as the platform of choice for people who love to share videos of themselves dancing, or, say, combing the fur of their toy poodles. But, to hear politicians and late night talk show hosts discuss TikTok, lately, you’d think the app was a one-way ticket to political and social chaos. It all kicked off, last week, when the American House of Representatives passed a bill that - should it become law - would require the Chinese company that owns TikTok to sell it to an American interest. Otherwise, the app would face being banned in the United States. Today, Bruce Wolpe, a former American congressional staffer, and now a senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, on what lit the fuse on this geopolitical explosion. And whether Australia is likely to follow suit, with its own TikTok ban

It was just 45 minutes. But what happened in that short space of time has set-off a frenzy of news stories, an aborted criminal trial, and a multi-million dollar lawsuit. In that time, a young Liberal Party staffer says she was raped by her colleague. He says he is innocent. A court decision on whose truth, is the truth, is expected to be handed down soon.  But amid the layer upon layer of conjecture, is a trail of evidence.  Today, legal affairs reporter Michaela Whitbourn what happened between Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins. The full interactive piece on the 45 minutes at the centre of the defamation trial can be read here. And just a heads-up for our listeners, this episode contains references to allegations of sexual assault. 

A new poll suggests that Australians no longer fear nuclear power the way they once did. Is this actually the case, and if so, how come? And are more young people open to nuclear power as a clean energy solution because they didn’t live through disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima? Today, environment reporter Caitlin Fitzsimmons on why we’re talking nuclear and just how realistic it is that nuclear power will be a part of our transition to a cleaner, greener Australia.

Wealthy Australians should pay more for aged care, and use their superannuation to do so. That’s one of 23 findings from a government-appointed taskforce that has examined how the country covers its rapidly growing aged care costs. Meanwhile, the Albanese government is also mulling an overhaul of a different kind. It’s planning to restrict the amount that can be donated to political parties and candidates, in a bid to limit big-money donations and restrict the influence of billionaires. The changes would be the biggest shake-up to Australian election rules in a generation. Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is chief political correspondent David Crowe, federal health reporter Natassia Chrysanthos and political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

Now that Donald Trump has secured his position as the Republican candidate for the American presidency, leaders around the globe have begun to worry. Can they Trump-proof their countries? In Australia, concerned government officials are turning to one man for advice. Mike Green is an expert on American policy in Asia, who worked in the George W Bush administration. So, what challenges could Trump pose for us? And how could we best combat them? Today, international and political editor, Peter Hartcher, on what Mike Green says we should, and shouldn’t, be worried about. And what the silver lining of a Donald Trump presidency might be.

It is the oldest fraternal organisation in the world; and began with a group of builders who first gathered in the Middle Ages in Europe to build cathedrals and, later, some of the world’s great architectural structures. But at the heart of the Freemasons, is secrecy, too. It’s against the rules to speak, publicly, about what happens in this order, which has chapters around the world. Today, investigative journalist Charlotte Grieve, about the 31 current and former freemasons who spoke to her to expose what they say is a crisis of bullying, nepotism and financial mismanagement, within the Victorian Freemasons chapter. And why some allege that the organisation’s focus has shifted from charity, to property development.

In the early hours of Sunday, February 4, Samantha Murphy left her home in Ballarat for her usual morning run. It’s what so many of us do, every day. But when Samantha failed to show up later, as planned, for brunch, her family raised the alarm. Police soon appealed to the public for help with finding the mother of three, and began searching hundreds of hectares near where Samantha regularly ran. Volunteers later joined in the effort, gathering from around the country to comb the dense bushland near Samantha’s home. Today, law and justice editor Chris Vedelago on the woman who vanished without a trace. And the man who’s been charged with her murder.

She is probably the most famous female athlete in Australia. A beloved - and extremely bankable - role model, who helped unite Australia last year, when she led the Matildas into the World Cup semi-finals. So when news surfaced, last week, that Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr had been charged with using a racist slur in England, the fallout was swift. There were questions about her future in the sport and her leadership of the Australian team. But people also questioned the likelihood of Kerr, who is not only of Indian heritage, but is also gay, harassing someone. Let alone a white police officer. Today, Europe Correspondent, Rob Harris, on how this story broke, and University of Sydney professor of social work and policy studies, Jioji Ravulo, on whether it’s possible to racially abuse someone for being white.

Last weekend the people of Dunkley, in south-east Melbourne, voted in a byelection, and delivered a respectable victory to the Labor candidate Jody Beylea.  Before the vote, Liberal Senator Jane Hume said that “what we’re hearing from voters on the ground is there is this white-hot anger, there is this fury”. But that turned out to be a massive overreach. There was only an average swing against Labor. Today on Inside Politics, chief political correspondent David Crowe and political correspondent Paul Sakkal join Jacqueline Maley to discuss what the Dunkley by-election tells us about the fate of the Opposition. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

For years now, global leaders have become somewhat accustomed to Russian president Vladimir Putin threatening nuclear attack on his enemies. He’s only pickedup on those threats, since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, just over two years ago.  To many, these were simply sabre rattling; a show of strength. And a bluff. But then came the leak, about a week ago, of Russian military documents that give new insights into Putin’s nuclear strategies.  Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on just how low Putin’s threshold might be, for launching nuclear weapons. And what global leaders may be thinking now.

You know it; I know it, and the politicians sure know it. We’re still in the grip of a cost of living crisis.  But while our two main political parties take pot-shots at each other, and try to score points over who’s doing a better job at providing relief, one main part of the discussion has been lost. What are we spending our money on now? And why? Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on the biggest shift in our spending habits that he’s seen, in his nearly 40 years long career. And what it says about us.

The alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in a terrace house in the inner city of Sydney, on February 19, stunned the nation. The case began after police found a bag with bloodied contents on February 21, in a skip near a police station in the south Sydney suburb of Cronulla. This led to a manhunt, across Sydney and beyond, after which time Beau Lamarre-Condon, an active police officer, handed himself in at a police station. Exactly a week ago today, Lamarre-Condon led police to the bodies of the slain couple. But many crucial questions have remained unanswered. Until now. Today, crime reporter Perry Duffin on the leaked police document, and conversations with former friends and colleagues of Jesse Baird, that tell us the inside story behind this tragic case. 

Tomorrow marks one of the most important dates on the American political calendar. It’s Super Tuesday, when 15 states hold mini-elections to help determine who will win their party’s presidential nomination, and then go on to vie for the top spot in the White House, in November.  So, which states are voting? And how might they tap into the personal and political vulnerabilities of the three main challengers: Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley? Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on the rage, disillusionment and hope she’s been seeing as she travels from state to state. And who might come out a winner tomorrow.

David McBride is awaiting sentencing for the leak of classified military documents from his time as an army lawyer in Afghanistan. In a candid conversation with senior Good Weekend writer Jane Cadzow, he speaks about what led him to do it, the personal fallout and his complex relationship with his father William, who blew the whistle on problems with thalidomide in the 1960s before his own fall from grace.

Well, it seems that spies walk among us.  This week ASIO boss Mike Burgess made an extraordinary revelation.  He said his agency uncovered a sophisticated foreign interference operation, which involved a former Australian politician betraying Australia, and trying to involve a relative of a Prime Minister in the web.  So just how bad is the threat?  And why won’t they tell us who this former politician is?  Plus, we already knew the average working woman is paid less than the average man. But this week, for the first time, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency revealed the median pay gaps at nearly 5000 of the country’s largest companies.      Businesses from major banks to women’s activewear brands have large pay gaps favouring men, while elite private schools have pay gaps favouring women. So what, if anything, can be done about it?  Today, economics reporter Rachel Clun and chief political correspondent David Crowe discuss the week in politics. 

She’s been ridiculed, and threatened. And though she continues to spend millions on her campaign, she has yet to win a single primary in the race to become the Republican presidential nominee. To top it off, there’s virtually no chance she can beat Donald Trump; her only other Republican opponent. So why does Nikki Haley stubbornly continue to fight in this race? Today, International and political editor, Peter Hartcher, on what Nikki Haley can still achieve, even when she’s destined to lose this nomination. And what Donald Trump still stands to lose, while she stays in the race.

For months now, officials in Israel and Gaza have been trying to negotiate another ceasefire. And now, according to experts, the enemies are within days of reaching one. But what might a ceasefire look like? Hamas has demanded a complete cessation of hostilities and an end, long-term, to the war. While Israel has insisted that nothing will stop an imminent ground invasion into the south of Gaza. Meanwhile, more and more Gazans risk starvation, while the world looks on in horror. Today, foreign affairs and national security correspondent, Matthew Knott, on what might lead Israel and Hamas to move beyond their current impasse. And the possible impact, on negotiations, of irritations that are growing, behind the scenes, between Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden.

A young couple in the prime of their lives missing from their Sydney flat, presumed dead, and a serving NSW police officer stands accused of their murders. A little over a week ago, flight attendant Luke Davies and AFL umpire Jesse Baird went missing. Their Paddington flat became a crime scene, and bloodied clothes were found in a rubbish bin just metres from a police station. Then the manhunt began for senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, Baird’s ex-boyfriend, who was later charged with two counts of murder after he finally handed himself in. Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker on the new details that have emerged in this shocking case as investigators continue their grim search for the bodies. And the broader issues at play, including the domestic violence allegedly committed by police.

When Brad Banducci, the long-time CEO of Woolworths, gave an interview last week that made headlines, for all the wrong reasons, the fallout was swift. The company’s share price fell. The prime minister piled on, scrutinising the supermarket for a potential “abuse of power”.  The issue of price gouging and lack of supermarket competition has been in the spotlight for months now. But, to what end?  Today, business columnist Elizabeth Knight on whether we’re likely to see any reform from six upcoming government inquiries into this matter.

Last week, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce made headlines after he was filmed lying on a Canberra footpath, intoxicated, swearing into his phone. The video went viral - and questions began swirling about the culture of drinking in parliament. But that wasn’t the end of the saga.  This week, Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey has come under scrutiny for slurring her words at a recent parliamentary hearing. She admitted to having a couple of drinks beforehand, but has blamed her style of speech on a medical condition.  Regardless, the question remains - how big a problem is alcohol in parliament? Should booze bans be considered?      And if most of us can’t drink on the job - why can our politicians?  Plus, we talk about the political storm surrounding the asylum seekers who recently arrived on our shores - and whether turning back the boats still wins votes.  Today, federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal and chief political correspondent David Crowe discuss the week in politics.

When Alexei Navalny died last week in a remote Arctic penal colony, many felt that it signified the death of hope for a future, democratic Russia. Because for nearly two decades, Navalny fought for fair elections, human rights, and freedom of speech; eventually rising to become Vladimir Putin’s most feared opponent. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has vowed to take over her late husband's work. And whether she will be able to unite the fractious democratic movement within Russia.

Can Taylor Swift really be everything, to everybody?Way before the pop star took Melbourne by storm with three sparkle and tear-filled concerts, earlier this week, she captured the hearts of everyone from toddlers, to our prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Reserve Bank governor Michelle Bullock recently cited the scrambling for Swift tickets as a lesson in fiscal responsibility. And educators and leaders now use Swift to teach us everything from urban planning to legal principles. But, on the eve of Swift’s Sydney shows, which begin Friday, we have to ask: is there something about Taylor that’s led to her all-encompassing cultural relevance? Today, culture and lifestyle reporter Nell Geraets tells me about this. Or whether there’s a perfect storm, of sorts, at work here.

It’s been almost 14 years since Julian Assange started leaking the largest tranche of American military and government secrets to the world. For most of that time, the Wikileaks founder has been fighting extradition to the United States, where he faces a possible sentence of 175 years in jail, for crimes under the espionage act. But that struggle has reached a critical juncture. Because the High Court in London will decide, in a hearing being held today and tomorrow, whether Assange will be sent to the United States to face trial. Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe, on the “diplomatic cliff” that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is having to navigate, in order to bring an Australian citizen home.

Has North Korea declared war on South Korea? This is the question many have been left wondering, ever since North Korea’s  leader, Kim Jong Un declared last month that South Korea is its “principal enemy”. Kim may be an erratic and paranoid leader, who has pushed much of his country to starvation with his isolationist policies. But this change was historic, marking the abandonment of a policy, held for more than 50 years, that the countries were aiming for peaceful reunification. Today, North Asia correspondent Eryk Bagshaw and explainer reporter Jackson Graham on what has prompted this stark change of events. And whether a Donald Trump presidency could prompt Kim to escalate things even further.

How would you feel if details of your private chats, including your name, were released publicly, making you a target for attacks?  That is precisely what happened to a group of Jewish creatives whose Whatsapp chats were leaked last week.  In response the Albanese government has vowed to legislate against the practice of “doxxing” as it is called.  But is it even possible to make laws against this?  Plus, we talk about the PM’s engagement to his partner Jodie Haydon, Barnaby Joyce’s little lie down on a Canberra street, and the final episode of Nemesis. Today, we are joined by Dr Simon Copland from Australia National University, and as always, our chief political correspondent David Crowe, to discuss the week in politics.

By the time you listen to this, Indonesia likely has a new president after the country held its much anticipated election on Wednesday. And who takes over Indonesia - the world’s third-largest democracy - after 10 years of relative democratic harmony under the hugely popular president Joko Widodo, gives Australians cause to pause. Today, International and political editor, Peter Hartcher, on whether the new leader might return Indonesia to the bad old days, when it was run by a fierce dictator. And what this could mean for Australia if they did.

When photographs and a video of politician Barnaby Joyce lying on a footpath late at night, seemingly incapacitated, went viral last week, it triggered a series of political explosions. Almost immediately, politicians started lobbing accusations. That the shadow minister for Veterans’ Affairs was undermining his party. And embarrassing the nation; even bringing the culture of parliament into disrepute. Today, national affairs editors James Massola on the political manoeuvring currently going on behind the scenes in Canberra, which could determine whether this incident spells the end of Barnaby Joyce’s long career. And the history of questionable behaviour, by our politicians.