Politics with Michelle Grattan

The security expert says there's been a 'disturbing' rise in Australians' anxiety about national security over the past two years.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

Ahead of the May 9 by-election, hear from candidates and locals about the early frontrunners to win Farrer – long held by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

The Reserve Bank's Andrew Hauser told The Conversation's podcast inflation is likely to be higher than projected before the war in the Middle East broke out.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

Labor is expected to be returned in power in a landslide. But the election is also the first test of One Nation's ability to turn its surging popularity into seats.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

The anti-corruption expert says Victoria's Labor government was willing to 'deal with the devil' on its Big Build projects – at the cost of 'bad governing'.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

The newly installed Liberal deputy leader talks about the turnaround in her fortunes, the spectre of WorkChoices, and why she doesn't believe in quotas for women.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

What do Australians in focus groups say about the Liberal Party right now? "They just kind of laugh," the former Liberal staffer turned pollster says.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025

Joyce says 'I'm not going to be wearing a burqa' like the One Nation leader – but his relationship with her is stronger than his 'bitter' end with the Nationals.

The Liberal senator says 'social media influencers' have falsely 'whipped up a frenzy' of misinformation about new hate speech laws limiting freedom of speech.

In November, six Democratic lawmakers recorded a video directed at members of the US military and intelligence agencies. In it, they issued a blunt reminder:"The laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders. […] You must refuse illegal orders."The lawmakers were issuing the warning against the backdrop of US airstrikes on boats off the coast of Latin America the Trump administration claims are suspected drug runners. Many Democrats and legal experts, however, argue these strikes are illegal.Since returning to office, Trump has successfully expanded his power over his own party, the courts and the American people. Now, like many autocrats around the world, he’s trying to exert control over the military.In the final episode of The Making of an Autocrat, Joe Wright, a political science professor at Penn State University, says:"I am very concerned that getting the military to do illegal things will not only put US soldiers at more risk when they do engage in international missions in the future […] it’s a first step to using the military to target domestic political opponents. That’s what really worries me."This episode was written by Justin Bergman and produced and edited by Isabella Podwinski and Ashlynne McGhee. Sound design by Michelle Macklem.Mentioned in this episode:Your support mattersSupport non-profit journalism you can trust. Donations 2025