It’s only been six days since what has become known as “the wildest dust-up ever televised from the Oval Office”. But of course, six days within the Donald Trump administration, isn’t your average person’s six days. 

In this time, Trump has made the extraordinary move to pull all military funding from Ukraine. Vladimir Putin’s press secretary has responded by saying that American policy now “largely aligns” with Russia’s interests. And Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a new peace plan on social media. 

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on how long Ukraine can survive without American support. And the signs we might have missed that show that Trump is incontrovertibly an agent of Putin.

It&rsquo;s only been six days since what has become known as &ldquo;the wildest dust-up ever televised from the Oval Office&rdquo;. But of course, six days within the Donald Trump administration, isn&rsquo;t your average person&rsquo;s six days.&nbsp;
In this time, Trump has made the extraordinary move to pull all military funding from Ukraine. Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s press secretary has responded by saying that American policy now &ldquo;largely aligns&rdquo; with Russia&rsquo;s interests. And Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a new peace plan on social media.&nbsp;
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on how long Ukraine can survive without American support. And the signs we might have missed that show that Trump is incontrovertibly an agent of Putin.

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.

The ‘evidence is in’: Trump is an agent of Putin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/d81c8dba-b3f0-4034-b1b2-b2970077ebc8/transcript

On the evening of the shooting at Bondi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese  said: “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian” – that was indeed proven when the entire community sprung into action, those who ran towards the disaster, not away from it. 

There are tales of heroism, like the couple who first tried to stop the gunmen and paid with their lives, the man who single-handedly wrestled the rifle out of the shooter’s hands and those who shielded their loved ones and strangers from bullets. 

Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker, on the acts of bravery and kindness at Bondi. 

On the evening of the shooting at Bondi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese&nbsp; said: &ldquo;An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian&rdquo; &ndash; that was indeed proven when the entire community sprung into action, those who ran towards the disaster, not away from it.&nbsp;
There are tales of heroism, like the couple who first tried to stop the gunmen and paid with their lives, the man who single-handedly wrestled the rifle out of the shooter&rsquo;s hands and those who shielded their loved ones and strangers from bullets.&nbsp;
Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker, on the acts of bravery and kindness at Bondi.&nbsp;

Courage and kindness in the face of the Bondi attack

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/7fa68938-cc85-4748-ab2c-b3b600687b6c/transcript

When Michael Visontay heard of the shootings at Bondi Beach on Sunday, his first instinct was to call his son, who often swam there. Then came the sickening feeling of dread, when his son didn’t answer his phone.

Something that thickened this dread even further, was a family history that taught him to always be alert to possible threats. His father and grandfather survived the Holocaust after living in concentration camps. His maternal grandmother was killed in Auschwitz.

Visontay is far from alone. Australia has a higher proportion of Holocaust survivors than any country in the world, besides Israel.

Today, Michael Visontay, author of the book Noble Fragments, and a former senior editor at The Sydney Morning Herald, on how this unique makeup of Australian Jewry impacts their response to the Bondi terror attack.

When Michael Visontay heard of the shootings at Bondi Beach on Sunday, his first instinct was to call his son, who often swam there. Then came the sickening feeling of dread, when his son didn&rsquo;t answer his phone.
Something that thickened this dread even further, was a family history that taught him to always be alert to possible threats. His father and grandfather survived the Holocaust after living in concentration camps. His maternal grandmother was killed in Auschwitz.
Visontay is far from alone. Australia has a higher proportion of Holocaust survivors than any country in the world, besides Israel.
Today, Michael Visontay, author of the book Noble Fragments,&nbsp;and a former senior editor at The Sydney Morning Herald, on how this unique makeup of Australian Jewry impacts their response to the Bondi terror attack.

Holocaust survivors chose Sydney after the war. Then came the Bondi attack

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/f657c001-9e39-4b83-b2e9-b3b50062905c/transcript

We’re releasing an additional episode today featuring one of our reporters, Elias Visontay, who was at Bondi Beach with a friend on the day of the terror attack. Elias recounts his first-hand experience as the gunmen fired bullets at the unexpecting crowd.

You can read his story on our websites here.

And if you’re struggling with the bad news at the moment, support is available on Lifeline 13 11 14 or NSW Health mental health line, available 24/7 on 1800 011 511.

We&rsquo;re releasing an additional episode today featuring one of our reporters, Elias Visontay, who was at Bondi Beach with a friend on the day of the terror attack. Elias recounts his first-hand experience as the gunmen fired bullets at the unexpecting crowd.
You can read his story on our websites <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/i-was-100m-away-when-the-shots-rang-out-it-has-changed-sydney-forever-20251214-p5nnm1.html">here.</a>
And if you&rsquo;re struggling with the bad news at the moment, support is available on Lifeline 13 11 14 or NSW Health mental health line, available 24/7 on 1800 011 511.

A voice note from our reporter who was caught up in the Bondi shooting

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/fa08f44a-2a03-484b-88b9-b3b401834d06/transcript

The ‘evidence is in’: Trump is an agent of Putin

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