7am

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  From the partying Russian oligarchs to grave robbing in an Italian fishing village, writer/curator Kate Jinx’s best film picks of 2024 will take you on a cinematic journey. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Kate Jinx is a writer and film curator, director of Golden Age Cinema in Sydney and co-host of the Culture Podcast.

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year. From the adventure of a lifetime to a family torn apart by murder, senior producer for 7am Cheyne Anderson brings you a collection of gripping podcasts perfect for your summer road trip.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior producer for 7am Cheyne Anderson

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  2024 was a blockbuster year in music: Beyonce went country, Taylor Swift went everywhere, and we all went Brat.  Today, with The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza, we’re exploring the albums that defined the year.  That includes Charli XCX of course, but also a surprising new album from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and a tender exploration of modern masculinity by MJ Lenderman.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  From the saddest comedy on our screens to a queer reality show – The Saturday Paper’s television critic Sarah Krasnostein looks back at the highlights of 2024. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: The Saturday Paper’s television critic Sarah Krasnostein

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  From a reimagining of a classic to the sidelines of footy practice, editor of The Monthly and host of Read This Michael Williams has your beach reads covered.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Editor of The Monthly and host of Read This Michael Williams

For Read This’s last episode of 2024, host Michael Williams heads to Fitzroy Pool to find out what people are reading as the weather warms up. Plus, a handful of previous Read This guests offer book recommendations for the summer holidays.

Anthony Albanese has finished the year with his lowest approval rating yet. The prime minister’s popularity has been crumbling ever since his party was elected to government in 2022, with some polling suggesting that he is now as unpopular as Scott Morrison was heading into that election. His image has been damaged by the purchase of a $4.3 million mansion during a housing crisis, as well as receiving flight upgrades courtesy of Qantas. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on Anthony Albanese’s image problem and whether he can turn it around. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis

Like coming up for air after 50 years. That’s how one man described the current moment in Syria. Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, thousands of Syrians have been celebrating in the streets and wandering through Assad’s abandoned palace. But many more are searching through the massive network of prisons that underpinned Assad’s repressive regime, hoping to find out the fate of lost loved ones. Meanwhile, Syria’s new rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, are grappling with how to seize control of the infrastructure that underpinned Assad’s massive state-run drug trade. Today, journalist Heidi Pett, on the ground in Damascus, as the Syrian people reckon with what the future holds for their country. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist Heidi Pett.

Alice Springs is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Violent crimes committed by young people, including a recent attack on a woman and her two-month-old baby, have left the town shaken.  The baby has suffered a brain bleed and a fractured skull, and there are now big questions about how to keep the community safe, what justice should look like and why crimes like this happen at all. Today, Arrernte woman Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, the national body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, on the underlying issues wreaking havoc on the streets of Alice Springs and what can be done to address the youth crime crisis. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC

It’s been nearly four months since all branches of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union were forced into administration and hundreds of union officers were kicked out. The government wanted a clean slate after allegations of bullying, intimidation and infiltration from outlaw bikie gangs. Now, those underworld figures are seeking payback. And the man tasked with cleaning up the union is facing death threats.  Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray on the challenge of cleaning up the CFMEU and the enduring influence of John Setka and his loyalists. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray

The Liberal Party says it wants the next election to be a referendum on energy. After months of waiting, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton finally released the costings for his $331 billion nuclear power plan. The modelling suggests the nuclear plan would be $264 billion cheaper than Labor’s renewables rollout, and deliver lower energy prices for consumers. But Dutton’s plan contradicts the CSIRO's new GenCost report, which found a nuclear power plant would likely cost twice as much as renewable energy, with the agency also warning a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors could not be expected before 2050. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how the Coalition’s modelling stacks up – and whether it matters to voters hungry for lower power bills. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.

John Safran has been a fixture in Australian media since his breakthrough in 1997 with ABC TV's Race Around the World. After several TV series of his own that explored ideas about faith, race and culture, John made the shift to book-length journalism. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down for a conversation with John about his latest book, Squat, and John reveals the deeper story behind his week living in Kanye West’s Malibu mansion.

After a scathing ruling from a Nevada probate commissioner, Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son Lachlan’s attempt to amend a family trust may have backfired spectacularly, with the commissioner concluding the two acted in “bad faith”. Rupert was attempting to give permanent control of his conservative media empire, comprising Fox and News Corp, to his designated successor Lachlan after Rupert dies. The initial attempt to amend the trust was also kept secret from Lachlan’s three eldest siblings – Prudence, Elisabeth and James – the other beneficiaries with equal voting rights on the trust. The ruling has deepened the divide within the family, and thrown the future of the Murdoch empire into question. Today, director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, Andrew Dodd on the ruling, the fallout and the next chapter in the Murdoch succession saga. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, Andrew Dodd.

This week, on the streets of Damascus, there were signs of an army in retreat – tanks abandoned and Syrian army uniforms scattered on the roads where soldiers had torn them off. It reflected the speed at which rebel forces had taken over Syria, with Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign finally coming to an end after 13 years of civil war. As celebrations spread across the nation, the Syrian people face the task of rebuilding a country now in the hands of rebel groups. Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist Gregg Carlstrom on Syria’s path forward and the implications for an increasingly unstable region.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist Gregg Carlstrom.

Last week, News Corp tabloids ran front page stories in papers around the country, all saying a similar thing: Australia needs to “step on the gas” or face blackouts and soaring electricity prices. But you had to turn the page to find out the coverage – labelled an “exclusive” special report – was sponsored by major gas companies. Now, the Greens are planning to call Murdoch media executives before a Senate inquiry into greenwashing, saying the reporting was no more than propaganda masquerading as news. Today, Greens spokesperson for communications and chair of the Senate inquiry into greenwashing Sarah Hanson-Young on Murdoch’s gas warfare and the power of the fossil fuel lobby. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young.

In 2019, Scott Morrison’s government managed to narrowly win a third term, despite polling placing them behind Labor for almost three years. At the heart of the victory was a change in the way they campaigned, bringing in a pair of New Zealand election strategists armed with a new weapon: low-quality memes. Since then, the duo known as Topham Guerin have brought their political tricks to bigger battlegrounds and have been hired by Peter Dutton ahead of the next federal election. But their methods – including a recent embrace of deepfakes – raise questions about the ethics of political campaigning in the digital age. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on the rise of Topham Guerin and the political power of bad memes. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis.

ABC chair Kim Williams has been slammed for recent comments made about broadcasters like Joe Rogan, as the national broadcaster undergoes a wave of structural changes. During his first Press Club address, Kim Williams took aim at the podcaster, saying commentators such as Rogan “prey on fear”. Mr Williams was there to deliver a speech calling for greater investment in the ABC, which he said had lost $150 million a year over the past decade, and to talk about the importance of public broadcasting in an age of disinformation designed to sow division. Williams’ tenure as ABC chair comes at a time of deep disruption for the broadcaster, with the departure of many beloved presenters sparking questions about the competency of management. Today, ABC chair Kim Williams on what’s ahead for the broadcaster, and whether he’s in the right job. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Kim Williams.

Professor Clare Wright is the author of five works of history, including the best-selling The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka and You Daughters of Freedom, which comprise the first two instalments of her Democracy trilogy. On this episode of Read This, Clare sits down with Michael Williams to discuss the final instalment of the trilogy, Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions, which was released in October.

Australian politics is changing in ways it seems the Labor party and the Coalition haven’t yet come to terms with. And as the electorate splinters, it’s becoming harder for governments to last more than three years. Just months from an election where the outcome of a minority government looks likely, scare campaigns about “unholy alliances” have begun. It’s a sign that the two major parties are rattled by the prospect of what’s to come.  Today, author of Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian Politics George Megalogenis on the new battle lines between the city and the suburbs – and how the results of the Voice referendum are still reverberating throughout Australian politics.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author of Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian Politics George Megalogenis

In 2007, future United States president Donald Trump stepped into the wrestling ring for a showdown with Vince McMahon, then head of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump’s close friend. Trump played the villain perfectly. For decades now, Trump has been shaped by a love affair with professional wrestling. It taught him how to control and manipulate a crowd, how to speak, and how to respond to criticism. It is also shaping his cabinet, with Trump appointing Linda McMahon, Vince’s recently separated wife, to the position of secretary of education. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Joseph Earp on how Donald Trump brought the art of pro-wrestling to politics. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Joseph Earp.