Donald Trump’s been so busy upending the norms of democracy, igniting trade disputes and failing to end wars, it’s hard to see how he’s had time for renovations. But the US president’s real estate development roots are on full show, from splashing gold around the Oval Office, to ripping up the grass in the White House Rose Garden, he’s on a mission to Trumpify the symbol of American democracy and power. Today, policy editor at The Bulwark, Mona Charen on what Trump’s up to and what it says about his leadership. Featured: Mona Charen, The Bulwark policy editor
Every year tens of thousands of Australians turn to IVF to start or grow a family.But is it an industry that can be fully trusted given recent revelations of embryo and sperm mix-ups and women giving birth to strangers’ babies?Today, ABC journalist Grace Tobin on her latest investigation into one couple’s fraught experience and why the rules need to change.Featured:Grace Tobin, ABC Investigations reporter
Since the fanfare surrounding Donald Trump’s face to face peace talks with the Russian President, perhaps unsurprisingly, the war continues in Ukraine. That’s partly because as part of any deal, Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to hand over the entire eastern region of Donbas. It’s a demand that Ukraine rejects. So, what is so important to Putin about that region? Today, John Haltiwanger from Foreign Policy magazine, explains why Donbas is at the heart of Putin’s war. Featured: John Haltiwanger, staff writer at Foreign Policy magazine
It’s one man against the might of the Victorian police force as accused police killer Dezi Freeman remains on the run. On Monday, Victoria Police suggested someone might be helping the fugitive and they should contact police. So, how are police approaching the search and how long are they willing to keep it going? Today, Vince Hurley, a criminologist and former police officer and hostage negotiator on the likely police tactics and whether they should re-consider how they approach so-called sovereign citizens. Featured: Dr Vince Hurley, fmr NSW police officer and criminologist at Macquarie University
Could artificial intelligence be key to improving Australia’s living standards?A Productivity Commission report suggests the roll out of the technology could inject more than a hundred billion dollars into the economy over the next decade. But there’s a catch. If AI can take over from workers on some tasks, are swathes of humans set to lose their jobs? Today, Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the AI Institute at the University of New South Wales, on whether it's time for the government to step in. Featured: Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at UNSW.ai, the AI Institute of University of New South Wales Sydney
For a long time to buy a home in Australia you needed a 20 per cent deposit or you’d have to pay a big lender's mortgage insurance fee.It’s asking a lot, given house prices in our major cities are around the million-dollar mark or more. This week, the government expanded a five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, with no income caps and more expensive homes now eligible. Today, finance expert Alan Kohler on how it works, what it means for house prices and why he’s a huge fan of the scheme. Featured: Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert
Victorian police officers had gone to execute a search warrant on a Wednesday morning in a sleepy alpine village. But the day turned to tragedy with self-identified ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman allegedly killing two of the officers and wounding another. Today, Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal who recently spent months investigating the movement and speaking with sovereign citizens on what’s unfolded and what we know about the anti-government movement. Featured: Mahmood Fazal, Four Corners reporter
The spy agency ASIO has revealed Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia last year and now all ties with Tehran have been cut. The attacks in Sydney and Melbourne terrified the Jewish community and were aimed at undermining social cohesion. Now the Iranian ambassador has been expelled and Australian diplomatic staff have quickly left Iran. Today, Greg Barton, professor of Global Islamic Politics on why Iran would order these attacks and what could happen next. Featured: Greg Barton, professor of Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University
The growth in the cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is making it financially unsustainable. But is moving some children with autism off the scheme really a good idea? The government plans to have a new program called Thriving Kids in place by July next year to support children with mild to moderate developmental delays and autism. Today, we speak with Jess Otter, whose son has autism and to the ABC’s disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella. Featured: Jess Otter, motherNas Campanella, ABC disability affairs reporter
If you happen to visit Washington DC anytime soon, you could notice troops and even armoured vehicles on the streets.No, America is not at war, President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of members of the National Guard to crack down on crime.Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank the Niskanen Center in Washington on whether DC is actually dangerous and what Trump hopes to achieve. Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, DC
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Anthony Albanese is a weak leader who has betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews. But do we really need to be in lockstep with Israel as it broadens its assault on Gaza?Today, global affairs editor Laura Tingle on the dramatic slide in relations. Featured:Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor
Why have so many hand car wash services replaced automatic machines?It has to do with immigration policies and there are implications for Australia’s productivity which is among the worst in the developed world. Economists insist boosting productivity is the only way to improve our living standards, but could delivering higher wages first actually help to fix the problem?Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on the key factors left off the agenda at this week's economic round table in Canberra - population and property. Featured: Ian Verrender, ABC Chief Business Correspondent
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been to the White House before in what became an infamous encounter with Donald Trump. This time he took an entourage of European leaders as backup as the US president pushes for a quick end to the war in Ukraine. At the heart of the talks are security guarantees from the US and a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Today, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst on why it could actually be a step forward towards peace. Featured: John Herbst, fmr US Ambassador to Ukraine and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
If the Putin-Trump meeting on the weekend brought about anything, it was a closer relationship between the two leaders. One an accused war criminal, the other a convicted felon. So, with the US president rolling out the red carpet for his Russian counterpart, what will Vladimir Putin do next? Today, Russia expert Matthew Sussex from the Centre for European Studies at the ANU on Putin’s ultimate aim and how Trump’s helping him achieve it. Featured: Dr Matthew Sussex, Visiting Fellow, Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University
In the month of April, China installed more solar power than Australia ever has. China is also now home to half of the world’s wind power and half of the world’s electric cars.Despite this, China remains the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.So, is it a climate hero or villain and how has the Chinese Communist Party managed to roll out green energy tech so quickly?Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder on why China is becoming the world’s first ‘electrostate’. Featured: Jo Lauder, ABC climate reporter
Donald Trump once declared mRNA vaccines a medical miracle, now his health Secretary is taking an axe to them.Robert F Kennedy Junior doesn’t believe in the science behind the vaccines that were deployed to save lives as Covid spread around the world and he’s cut nearly half a billion dollars in research funding.Today, professor of public health Julie Leask on what Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance means for global health. Featured: Julie Leask, social scientist and professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney
This week, five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.Israel confirmed it had targeted one of the men it says was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell, an allegation Al Jazeera denies. So, who is telling the truth? Today, former Al Jazeera correspondent and executive director of the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom Peter Greste on the problems that arise when foreign reporters are blocked from covering a war. Featured: Peter Greste, professor of journalism at Macquarie University and executive director of the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom
Donald Trump wants to win a Nobel Peace Prize and so he’s desperate to end the war in Ukraine. He’ll be in Alaska later this week meeting the Russian president in the first face-to-face encounter the two men have had since Trump returned to the White House. The problem is the Ukrainian leader won’t be there and Trump’s talking about some ‘land-swapping’ between the Russian invaders and Ukraine. Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on Trump’s theatrics and what the summit will really achieve. Featured: Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York
In a move that will further anger the Israeli leader, Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September following declarations from the UK, France and Canada.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears.Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu says recognising Palestinian statehood is a win for Hamas and he’s defending his decision to expand the war in Gaza. Today, ABC Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn on Netanyahu’s war plans and why his own military is opposed to them. Featured: Allyson Horn, ABC Middle East correspondent
Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles can not generally be used to power Australian homes.Why is that, when the batteries in Tesla EVs are much more powerful than most home batteries? As Australia transitions to more green energy, other models of electric vehicles are being used to power homes and even the grid, feeding in when electricity is needed most. Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer on the revolutionary technology and why the world’s richest man has been wary of it. Featured: Dan Mercer, ABC energy reporter
Sarah
change your drug dealer!!!!it may help stop saying nonsense!
Sarah
گه خورده که بمب زد به ایران
Sarah
he wants to make Iran great again!! first make America great then Israel then all the mess that america did to other countries.....
william tayor
Australia's continuing lack of action and hollow words in the face of the most broadcast Genocide innhistory is cowardice and complicenty in it. Israel is an ethno-supremacist apartheid genocidal state. We will look back at this with an indellable shame. Albo and Wong should especially hang their heads in shame and beg for forgiveness. Gutless wonders!
Stuart Bn
Imagine how much more profit they'd make if they actually invested some of it back into the grid...not pushing it onto individuals to create power for the people who sell it!