This week's podcast guests are Canberra Bureau Chief Tom McIlroy and Foreign affairs and Defence correspondent Andrew Tillet. They join Lisa Murray and Phil Coorey to discuss the coalition's plan to increase defence spending, the erosion of trust in institutions and the potential risks of following American political trends in Australia.

This week's podcast guests are Canberra Bureau Chief Tom McIlroy and Foreign affairs and Defence correspondent Andrew Tillet. They join Lisa Murray and Phil Coorey to discuss the coalition's plan to increase defence spending, the erosion of trust in institutions and the potential risks of following American political trends in Australia.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

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A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter.

The Fin

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts. 

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts.&nbsp;

Latest episodes 

Election 2025: Why Albo has a spring in his step and Dutton's big bet on defence

This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia’s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switch
A new index for the country’s most lucrative export has been lower than the long-time benchmark for the vast majority of days since it was launched this year.
Size counts in mining’s game of relevance, but not that much Glencore
BHP and Rio shares are at record highs and their bosses are being courted at the White House. So how can Glencore boss Gary Nagle say they’re irrelevant?
Copper displaces iron ore as BHP’s best earner, supercharging profits
The Big Australian, like its rivals, pivoted towards commodities critical to the energy transition, with production of the red metal to grow 25 per cent by 2035.

This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia&rsquo;s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse.
This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/">Aussie Broadband</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/iron-ore-giants-face-billion-dollar-hit-from-china-backed-price-switch-20260221-p5o4ai">Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switch</a> A new index for the country&rsquo;s most lucrative export has been lower than the long-time benchmark for the vast majority of days since it was launched this year. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/size-counts-in-mining-s-game-of-relevance-but-not-that-much-glencore-20260220-p5o47c">Size counts in mining&rsquo;s game of relevance, but not that much Glencore</a> BHP and Rio shares are at record highs and their bosses are being courted at the White House. So how can Glencore boss Gary Nagle say they&rsquo;re irrelevant? <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/bhp-boosts-dividends-on-6b-silver-sale-20260216-p5o2oy">Copper displaces iron ore as BHP&rsquo;s best earner, supercharging profits</a> The Big Australian, like its rivals, pivoted towards commodities critical to the energy transition, with production of the red metal to grow 25 per cent by 2035.

The copper pivot: BHP looks beyond the Iron Age

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
WiseTech drops Australia’s first AI jobs bomb
Rapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge.
AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe haven
One venture capitalist warns there will be “roadkill”. Another says the market is “schizoid”. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent.
Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apart
Dario Amodei’s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.vanta.com/">Vanta</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/wisetech-drops-australia-s-first-ai-jobs-bomb-20260225-p5o5c5">WiseTech drops Australia&rsquo;s first AI jobs bomb</a> Rapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-comes-for-the-software-giants-and-australia-is-no-safe-haven-20260204-p5nzfw">AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe haven</a> One venture capitalist warns there will be &ldquo;roadkill&rdquo;. Another says the market is &ldquo;schizoid&rdquo;. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-giant-anthropic-s-boss-gets-honest-about-the-chaos-to-come-20260127-p5nxbb">Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apart</a> Dario Amodei&rsquo;s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.

The ‘SaaSpocalypse’: Something big (and scary) is happening in AI

Political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and columnist Lidija Ivanovski on Angus Taylor’s big move, the threat from One Nation and why this might not be the last leadership contest before the next election.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
It’s Timmy v Jimmy, with CGT the first battleground
Jim Chalmers and Tim Wilson both harbour leadership ambitions. Treasury will be their sparring ring, and both will be determined not to come off second best.
Taylor’s big advantage could be 35pc of voters don’t know who he is
The new opposition leader is standing at the bottom of a mountain and there is doubt among many in his own party that he can climb it.
Jane Hume has become the Liberals’ woman problem by tearing down Ley
The new deputy leader might be able to charm some with her confidence and presentation, but her record does not look like that of a champion for working women.

Political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and columnist Lidija Ivanovski on Angus Taylor&rsquo;s big move, the threat from One Nation and why this might not be the last leadership contest before the next election.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.vanta.com/">Vanta</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/it-s-timmy-v-jimmy-with-cgt-the-first-battleground-20260217-p5o2vf">It&rsquo;s Timmy v Jimmy, with CGT the first battleground</a> Jim Chalmers and Tim Wilson both harbour leadership ambitions. Treasury will be their sparring ring, and both will be determined not to come off second best. <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/taylor-s-big-advantage-could-be-35pc-of-voters-don-t-know-who-he-is-20260213-p5o1zl">Taylor&rsquo;s big advantage could be 35pc of voters don&rsquo;t know who he is</a> The new opposition leader is standing at the bottom of a mountain and there is doubt among many in his own party that he can climb it. <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/jane-hume-has-become-the-liberals-woman-problem-by-tearing-down-ley-20260214-p5o29l">Jane Hume has become the Liberals&rsquo; woman problem by tearing down Ley</a> The new deputy leader might be able to charm some with her confidence and presentation, but her record does not look like that of a champion for working women.

Election 2025: Why Albo has a spring in his step and Dutton's big bet on defence

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