In news rooms, board rooms and electoral offices around the country, there's one question driving everyone insane: when is Anthony Albanese going to call the election?

Nervous backbenchers are willing him to strike while the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates is fresh in voters’ minds, but the prime minister is being coy about his preferred date.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on when Labor insiders are expecting an election and how Peter Dutton is coping with the government’s week of good news.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

Photo: AAP Images

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia faces its most “difficult threat environment” in 50 years, with larger and more varied plots than ever before. That was the message from the director-general of ASIO, Mike Burgess, when he gave his annual threat assessment on Wednesday night, taking the extraordinary step of declassifying some of the intelligence behind the warning.

According to Burgess, foreign interference and espionage are at extreme levels, with ASIO foiling five major terror attacks against Australians last year.

Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on how foreign governments are trying to interfere in Australia – from AUKUS to our elections.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s confirmation as US health secretary made official one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial appointments.

Kennedy’s confirmation came off the back of fiery questions from both Democrats and Republicans on his record on vaccines.

Under oath, Kennedy denied he was against vaccinations, but watching closely was investigative journalist Brian Deer, who says Kennedy is beyond a vaccine sceptic – he’s “the most prominent anti-vaccine campaigner in the whole world”.

Today, journalist Brian Deer on Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s real beliefs, and the impact his campaigning had on a deadly measles outbreak in the Pacific.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Investigative journalist Brian Deer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate to 4.1 per cent.

It’s the first interest rate cut since 2020, after 13 consecutive hikes between May 2022 and November 2023.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers welcomed the cut, saying it's a relief “Australians need and deserve”.

But RBA governor Michelle Bullock has warned not to expect further cuts and given the impact on mortgage repayments will be modest, how much political mileage the government can get out of this remains to be seen. 

Today, managing editor of The Saturday Paper Emily Barrett on what the Reserve Bank’s decision tells us about the state of the economy and how it will shape the looming election campaign. 

Socials: Stay in touch with us on X and Instagram

Guest: Managing editor of The Saturday Paper, Emily Barrett

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meals on Wheels is an essential service for many elderly people across the country. 

It’s the sort of service that you can’t really put a price on – providing community connection and support to people who might be falling through the cracks. That’s what makes this failed plot to take over Meals on Wheels so shocking. 

It’s a story that’s got it all: dubious alliances, shocking lies, boozy nights – and millions of dollars.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Senior reporter at The Saturday Paper Rick Morton

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Bob Brown spoke out against the invasion of Iraq in 2003, at the height of the war on terror, he was widely derided. He was mocked in the press, and even abused by a young Queensland MP, Peter Dutton.

But looking back, he says it’s one of his proudest moments.

Now, at 80 years old, Bob argues that speaking up in public and in private is crucial to pushing back against the strongman leaders of today – with their assaults on democracy and on the planet.

Today, lifelong activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown, on how to take a stand, and why he’s still optimistic about the future.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Former leader of the Australian Greens Bob Brown

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, Rachel Khong released her debut novel Goodbye, Vitamin to critical acclaim. In 2024, she followed it with her second novel, a sweeping family saga spanning five decades. Real Americans is a fascinating exploration of what makes us who we are and challenges some of the corrosive myths that underpin America. In this episode of Read This, Michael chats with Rachel about her new book and she shares her thoughts on luck, science, and the ultimate unknowability of each other and sometimes, even ourselves.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Brereton inquiry uncovered shocking allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

But there was one failing of Australian soldiers that wasn’t investigated.

According to documents and interviews, some Australian soldiers in Afghanistan used foreign rules of engagement in combat which they weren’t trained in, or permitted to use.

The use of these rules may have resulted in the killing of a large number of unarmed Afghans who would not otherwise have been killed.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Mckelvey, on how and when Australian special forces are allowed to kill.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Journalist Ben Mckelvey

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament it must face up to the fact only five of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track, as he handed down the government's annual implementation plan.

Pledging an $842.6m investment in the Northern Territory over the next six years, the prime minister said closing the gap is about acknowledging what’s working and what isn’t.

The federal, state and territory governments, along with peak bodies, have committed to improving the lives of Indigenous peoples across 19 key areas including health, education, employment and justice – but more Aboriginal children are being taken from their families, more are ending up in prison, and suicide rates are devastangily high. 

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe believes the widening gap is by design – and argues Closing the Gap targets should be scrapped altogether.

Today, Senator Thorpe on why she believes the Closing the Gap strategy is a distraction and what real change would look like.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has thrown American science and medical research into disarray.

Through a flurry of executive orders, he withdrew the US from the World Health Organization, imposed a communications blackout on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ordered the removal of publications, guidelines and databases “that inculcate or promote gender ideology”.

Thousands of government webpages were taken offline, erasing references to gender, race and sexual orientation.

The impact is spreading to Australian medical researchers, whose concerns range from losing their access to funding, the censorship of their findings and the disruption of global health alert systems.

Today, science journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Bianca Nogrady, on America’s ideological war on science and the implications for Australia.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Science journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Bianca Nogrady.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher has reported on Elon Musk for decades. In that time, they’ve talked publicly and privately on many occasions. 

But not anymore.

Elon Musk is in the process of dismantling US government spending as the head of the new “Department of Government Efficiency”, better known as DOGE. 

And Kara Swisher says the techno-dictatorship he’s building with Trump’s blessing is just the beginning. 

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Tech journalist Kara Swisher.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.