We are officially in week two of budget backlash, and both sides seem pretty dug in.

Today we’re talking about the disagreements about the capital gains tax - the most controversial part of the budget - and if, as some critics said, it will kill business aspirations.

The other news that sparked our interest was the tantalising prospect of the Teal independents forming a party to consolidate their power in the face of a rising One Nation.

Today’s episode is hosted by Jacqueline Maley, with chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright.

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Gen Z in India are rebelling. Millions of young Indians have signed up to a movement that’s pushing against the unfair advantages that their elders have and they don’t. And though the political movement they've joined is satirical, the Cockroach Janta Party has the Indian government worried.

Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses how serious a threat this movement is to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the other recent youth-led movements that have toppled governments.

Background reading

• Peter Hartcher: 'Young people are revolting. India’s ‘cockroach’ campaign is just the latest example.'

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State of Origin is rugby league’s night of nights, with Queensland and New South Wales battling it out for supremacy.

But as the teams take to the field tonight, there’s a battle of a different kind taking place in the NRL as power swaps between the biggest names in sports administration - Peter V’Landys and Andrew Abdo.

Today, national head of sport Neil Breen on the politics of the NRL, and whether too much power may land in the hands of one man.

For more:

• 'Peter V’landys says the NRL needs ‘Superman and Jesus’ as CEO. That person will be Peter V’landys.'

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Drugs and music festivals have gone hand-in-hand for decades. In recent years – especially since a string of overdoses – authorities have employed various strategies to try to curb drug use and avoid tragedies from occurring at festivals around the country.

Depending on where festivals are held, music lovers have been subjected to various degrees of intervention – from having to run the gauntlet of sniffer dogs to intrusive strip searches. That is now changing.

Today, culture reporter Kayla Olaya discusses the 3000 people who sued NSW Police last year over the legality of strip searches, plus we look at recent changes to the policing of drug use at large, live music events.

Background reading

• Days of ‘going through a gauntlet of police lined with drug dogs’ are over, says a top cop.

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As a police officer who investigated sex crimes, Graeme Simpfendorfer was accustomed to helping victims on what might be the worst day of their life. He found meaning in tracking down the criminals who’d hurt them.

But then came the day when he realised that he, too, was an alleged victim.

The former detective sergeant – who appeared on the reality television show Hunted – talks about what happened when he decided to report his alleged abuse to police. And what it was like to experience the justice system from the other side.

Today’s episode is hosted by Samantha Selinger-Morris.

And a warning, this episode contains descriptions of alleged sexual abuse. Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 and Lifeline 13 11 14.

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We’re officially in our budget backlash era, with claims of death taxes, of aspirations killed, and the outraged cries of crypto bros across the nation. Not to mention, of course, the genuine anxiety from regular small business owners and shareholders who are unsure of how all of these changes will affect them.

Our guest this week is former Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten, who is now the vice chancellor of the University of Canberra. Shorten knows a thing or two about such backlash, having taken changes to negative gearing and the  capital gains tax to not one, but two elections — 2016 and 2019.

Hosting today’s conversation is Jacqueline Maley, alongside chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in China to meet Xi Jinping, days after the Chinese leader hosted US President Donald Trump.

Will Putin gush over Xi, as Trump was accused of doing?

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses the historic concessions Trump has made to China, and what Putin is hoping to achieve from his meeting.

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It’s like clockwork. Every March, countless parents, children and teachers across Australia grip their foreheads, wondering about how their NAPLAN scores measure up.

But now, a new study of our country’s national standardised scholastic test has revealed an unsettling trend.

Today, education reporter Nicole Precel on the educational segregation that is thriving in Australia – and what it will take to fix it.

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With the Liberal Party in a political death spiral, it was perhaps inevitable that when Opposition Leader Angus Taylor gave his budget reply speech last week, he’d swing for the fences.

But could his much-awaited immigration policy help fix Australia's housing crisis?

Today, chief political commentator James Massola on what Angus Taylor means when he says his policy proposal “puts Australians first”.

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Melbourne’s nightlife industry has been beset by violent crimes for much of this year.
Under the cover of night, well-known venues - including an iconic French restaurant - have been targeted.

What makes this series of connected crimes interesting is the motive remains a mystery.
Some club owners have received an ominous message before an attack, but with no demand attached.

Also notable is the sheer number of teenagers, some as young as 13 years old, recruited over an encrypted messaging app to carry out the crimes.

Our episode today, with crime journalists Chris Vedelago and Carla Jaegar, is guest-hosted by Benjamin Preiss.

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The federal budget was pitched as a big moment for a progressive government that wants to equalise wealth and home ownership.

And one of the main attacks from the opposition is that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had to break a promise in order to get there.

So will the broken promise line resonate if the changes are broadly supported by the public?

Also today, Inside Politics host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal talk about Coalition leader Angus Taylor’s plan to centre immigration in his budget reply speech, including that non-citizens should be blocked from welfare payments.

We also check in on One Nation’s Farrer by-election win and how significant a threat the party now poses to Labor.

Background reading:

• Budget fallout: Next tax war will be over rival income tax cuts
• Confused by the federal budget? We answer your questions

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