Hi there, I’m Jacqueline Maley, the host of Inside Politics, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald’s weekly politics podcast. 

We’re bringing you the best episodes of 2024, before we return in early February for the election year.

In this special episode, which aired last month, respected columnist Niki Savva explains why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should retire if he wins the next election.

We’re releasing this episode for you today, on January 31. 

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

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Has the NSW police force just thwarted a domestic terrorism plot?

This is what people across the nation are asking themselves, since Sydneysiders woke to news that a caravan full of explosives had been seized in the north-west of the city.

Just as worrying, to many, was what is alleged to have also been contained in the caravan: the address of a Sydney synagogue.

Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker on why police chose to wait 10 days after making their discovery, to tell the public. And the shock waves this incident has sent through the Jewish community.

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They are one of the most successful bands of all time, with one album enshrined as the second-biggest selling album in history.
But do we value AC/DC here? Or are we embarrassed by the band that Rolling Stone Magazine once heralded as embodying “all the blood, sweat and arrogance” of rock’n’roll?
Because less than two months ago, the childhood home of AC/DC founders Angus and Malcolm Young was bulldozed.
Today, conservation expert James Lesh, and head of creative video, Tom Compagnoni, on which cultural sites we protect, in Australia, and which we don’t. And what this says about us.

You can read Tom's opinion piece here: Congrats Sydney, you just bulldozed your own legacy

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For the past three years, as North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin has had a front-row seat to the biggest story in the world – the political comeback of US President Donald Trump. Farrah, or more endearingly known as ‘Faz’ around the newsroom, writes that America is a country of frustrating contradictions, where abortions are banned more willingly than assault weapons.

Today, the outgoing reporter reflects on the major stories she’s covered during a whopping 25 years at our papers, and why she’s choosing to stay in a country she once described as a ‘dystopian tinderbox ready to explode’.

You can read Farrah's story here: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/hit-by-a-car-covering-johnny-depp-s-court-case-it-became-emblematic-of-my-time-in-the-us-20250124-p5l6ya.html

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The likes of Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, the new “broligarchy” as they’ve been dubbed, have coalesced around the newly appointed president of the United States.

So what’s going on here? And what does buddying up to the president mean for what we see on social media? 

Today, David Swan on power, business and its effect on democracy and yes, what happens when Elon Musk Tweets your story.

You can read David's feature here: https://www.theage.com.au/national/i-was-at-the-centre-of-an-elon-storm-and-survived-20250113-p5l3rt.html

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Ittay Flescher has spent the past 15 months reporting from Jerusalem, which has given him a rare insight into the Israel-Hamas war, after facilitating thousands of hours of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The former Melbourne high school teacher says dehumanising the other may be the greatest barrier to peace in the region. Today, Ittay Flescher on the pathway to a permanent ceasefire and remaining optimistic, despite all odds. Ittay will be in Australia for his book launch, from February 2. You can find more details at https://www.ittay.au/

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Hi there, I’m Jacqueline Maley, the host of Inside Politics, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald’s weekly politics podcast. 

We’re bringing you the best episodes of 2024, before we return in early February for the election year.

This episode aired just after Donald J Trump was elected as America’s president - for a second time. In it, Chief political correspondent David Crowe and Nine’s national affairs editor Andrew Probyn delve into what another Trump presidency means for Australia’s trade, climate, security and politics. 

We’re bringing this to you today, on January 24. 

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

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This week, in the wake of a frightening antisemitic arson attack at a childcare centre in Sydney, Australia’s chief of federal police, Reece Kershaw, made a surprising statement.

The commissioner said detectives were looking into the possibility that foreign actors had paid criminals for hire to carry out a number of similar attacks in Australia.

This sparked a political stoush - with the opposition demanding an explanation from the government, in the latest rift on this hotbed issue as we approach a federal election.

Today, federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal on how this unfolded and what police are now focusing on. 

• For more, read 'Police investigating "criminals for hire" links to antisemitic attacks' on The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

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You could walk past it on the street and not even know it’s there. But enter its doors, and you’ll discover an exclusive, members only club, almost as if you’ve stepped back in time.

But what really goes on behind closed doors? And should clubs like this - rooted in privilege, where the members are often white men - exist? 

Today, step inside the granddaddy of all of Melbourne’s private clubs, the Melbourne Club, with senior writer Michael Bachelard.

CORRECTION: Oscar Wilde died in a hotel in Paris, not a gentleman’s club in London  like we say in this episode. Our apologies for the mistake and thank you to a listener for the correction.

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He’s back. Donald J Trump has been sworn in as US president for a second term, and if you’ve been reading the news, the prospect may well fill you with dread.

He’s been likened to a fascist and a dictator by those who used to work for him. He plans to abandon world climate targets, target transgender women in sport, impose vast tariffs and carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

But what about the things Trump might do… well?

Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on why we may not only survive Trump 2.0, but the parts of his presidency and policy agenda that could be an objective success.

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Novak Djokovic, the 24-time tennis grand slam champion from Serbia, is embroiled in yet another off-court stoush.

This time, it’s with a TV broadcaster over an apparent on-air joke with Serbian fans during the Australian Open, which is currently on in Melbourne.

An offended Djokovic boycotted a post-match interview in response, and the debacle has - surprisingly - drawn in the likes of billionaire Elon Musk, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

So what is the big deal? And who is in the right?

Today, city editor Cara Waters on Australia’s complicated relationship with a once beloved Novak Djokovic.

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