On February 9, thousands of people gathered at Sydney Town Hall to protest the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog.

They wanted to march to state parliament, but police were blocking their way.

The scenes that followed were shocking: 10 officers and dozens of protesters – some in their 70s and 80s – were injured in the violent clashes that unfolded.

Now, after hundreds of complaints of police brutality, the law enforcement watchdog is today opening its investigation into what officers did, how the operation was planned and who gave the orders.

Today, Managing Partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley, on who should be held accountable for the violence at Town Hall – and why NSW Police fought to keep the investigation behind closed doors.

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Guest: Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley

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For decades, thousands of South Korean children were adopted into families overseas, including here in Australia.

Many grew up believing they were orphans, only to discover years later that their identities had been falsified, their biological families were still alive and, in some cases, they were victims of human trafficking.

An investigation in South Korea last year exposed widespread fraud and abuse in the country's international adoption industry.

Now, an Australian government inquiry is underway, examining Australia's role, what authorities knew and how these children were allowed to be brought into the country.

Today, Martin McKenzie-Murray on the fake orphans trafficked to Australia, and the fight to uncover the truth about their adoptions.

This episode first aired in May 2025.

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Guest: Associate Editor of the Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-Murray

Photo: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

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In politics, there’s nothing quite like a book launch to remind everyone you’re here if they need. 

Josh Frydenberg is back, with a new book, some pointed criticism of his party, and perhaps an eye on a return to Canberra. Meanwhile, Angus Taylor is steering the Liberals firmly to the right, although even that hasn’t spared him a heckling from the conservative faithful.

For Anthony Albanese, it’s a welcome distraction from what has been a torrid couple of weeks for the government. His own MPs are getting restless, and the prime minister's own confidence isn’t proving contagious.

Today, columnist Paul Bongiorno on the Liberals’ competing visions, Labor’s midterm blues, and a prime minister waiting for the wind to change. 

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Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

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After a decade of fighting and billions spent on American weapons, Saudi Arabia still hasn’t defeated the Houthis.  

Instead, the Iranian-backed armed movement from Yemen, one of the Middle East’s poorest countries, is breaching Saudi defences with cheap drones and missiles, striking airports and oil infrastructure. 

This week, an attack on the passenger terminal at Riyads’s international airport killed 13 people and injured at least 320.

With the US already fighting a war with Iran, Saudi Arabia is now pressing Donald Trump to intervene against the Houthis. But is Trump prepared to open another front in the Middle East in order to help a country in which his family has business interests?

Today, Journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed on the continued rise of the Houthis, and the pressure on Trump to intervene. 

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Guest: Diplomatic Correspondent at The Washington Sun, Akbar Shahid Ahmed

Photo: EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

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For generations, Australians could reasonably expect that their lives would be more prosperous than their parents. 

But over recent years, that bargain has started to break down. 

Productivity growth has barely moved for a decade. We’re working more hours, without producing much more for each hour we work, and that stagnation is showing up in incomes, living standards and rising interest rates. 

Now with economic growth under pressure, the government is betting that new technology, particularly artificial intelligence, can help turn things around.

Today, Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood, on why Australia has stopped becoming more productive, whether AI can change that, and what happens if it can’t.

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Guest: Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood

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In 2009, US Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan opened fire on fellow soldiers and civilians at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding 32. He was sentenced to death in 2013 for the attack, which he described as an act of jihad.

Now the Trump administration has scheduled his execution by firing squad for December 3. And Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says he wants the public to watch via livestream.

It’s the latest example of an administration willing to put its use of deadly force on display – from sharing videos of boats being blown up in the Caribbean, to turning military strikes on Iran into social media content.

So why is the US so determined to show off its military muscle?

Today, journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin, on the growing spectacle of American state violence – and what happens when killing becomes something to watch and celebrate.

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Guest: Journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin

Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

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The Coalition is saying that soon, you won’t be able to criticise the Prime Minister on the internet.

It’s part of its campaign against Labor’s proposed Digital Duty of Care – which the opposition has branded the “Albo-rithm”, arguing it would give the government the power to decide what Australians can see and say online.

So what’s actually in the government’s bill? And how far does it go towards addressing the harms created by social media and its algorithms?

Today, Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea on whether Labor can force Big Tech to change what we’re served – and why Donald Trump’s White House has now weighed in.

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Guest: Chair of Digital Rights Watch, Lizzie O’Shea

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Kath Madgwick has been to hell and back. One of the most recognisable faces of the Royal Commission into Robodebt, her only son Jarrad took his own life after being told he owed Services Australia nearly two thousand dollars. 

Kath has been fighting ever since.

The royal commission report dedicated more than a page to her story. But now, Kath says she’s experiencing injustice of another kind. Booted out of the $475 million robodebt class action – her compensation claim over Jarrad’s death has been denied by the Commonwealth.

Today Kath Madgwick, on how – even as one of the worst affected victims of the robodebt saga – she’s somehow missed out.

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Guest: Robodebt victim’s mother, Kath Madgwick

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Last week, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth gathered hundreds of service members at a base in Virginia to lay out his vision for the American military.

Alongside sweeping changes to the way it fights and trains, Hegseth announced a new Office of Religious Affairs – reporting directly to him – aimed at putting what he calls “spiritual health” on the same level as physical health.

It’s the clearest sign yet of how Hegseth’s evangelical Christianity is shaping the Pentagon and religious policy across the armed forces.

Earlier this year, we looked at the beliefs driving Hegseth’s push to remake the military – and why Donald Trump chose him to wage a cultural and ideological battle inside it, bringing so-called “warrior culture” back to an institution they believed had gone “woke”.

Today, former Voice of America Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman on Pete Hegseth, Christian nationalism and the religious worldview reshaping the US military.

This episode first aired in March, 2026.

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Guest: Former chief national correspondent for Voice of America, Steve Herman

Photo: Alex Wong/Pool Photo via AP

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The Coalition is under pressure from One Nation, and its response is becoming increasingly clear. Angus Taylor is pushing a much harder line on immigration, borrowing language that echoes populist movements overseas. 

At the same time, One Nation is escalating its own rhetoric as it tries to capitalise on the anger and discontent spreading across the electorate. It’s part of a broader fracturing in Australian politics, as the major parties try to confront a more volatile electorate – and as the government faces renewed pressure over interest rates, inflation and the cost of living. 

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on a political system being pulled towards its edges, and whether Anthony Albanese can still make the centre hold. 

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Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton

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The Greens’ official think-tank has a new proposition — a national chain of 624 publicly owned supermarkets.

To make that a reality would cost more than $25 billion, and involve the forced sale of 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. 

But the Institute, which took its inspiration from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, says it would cut grocery bills by 22 per cent. 

Today, former MP and now Green Institute Executive Director Max Chandler-Mather on his proposal for a publicly owned supermarket chain. 

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Guest: Green Institute Executive Director Max Chandler-Mather

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