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When you become prime minister, a lot changes – but there’s only a few people who know exactly what that's like.One of them is Kevin Rudd, and according to the former prime minister, one of the most drastic changes is the way you’re treated by News Corp.So what kind of conversations does a prime minister have with the Murdoch press? And what’s at stake if you don’t play the game required of you?Today, former prime minister Kevin Rudd on the way News Corp brings new governments to heel.Guest: Former prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This winter flu, colds and Covid are all pushing hospitals to breaking point.Across the country, hospital staff are overworked and frustrated. And tomorrow nurses and midwives across NSW will stop work over pay and conditions.So what is happening to the care of patients as hospitals fill up? And can we stave off a major crisis?Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on a devastating winter for our healthcare system.Guest: Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has a new emissions reduction target.Last week, Anthony Albanese promised the United Nations Australia will cut emissions by 43 per cent of our 2005 levels by 2030.But the Prime Minister wants to turn that target into law by passing it through parliament. Whether he can will come down to the historic new senate crossbench, which was finalised this week.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the battle lines in Australia’s new senate.Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal Party is now in the political wilderness.As well as a devastating federal election loss, the party is only in government in New South Wales and Tasmania.The immediate reaction to the recent federal election focused on Scott Morrison’s personal approval and a series of scandals in the last term of government. But is there a bigger decline happening? Is something irreparably broken inside what was once Australia’s most electorally successful political party?Today, senior correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe, on if we are seeing the beginning of the end of Australia's Liberal Party.Guest: Senior correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen chaos at airports around the country, and it’s about to get worse.Major airports and airlines have warned that the July school holidays could see even more delays and disruptions as they scramble to try and fill thousands of job vacancies.Of course, there’s one Australian airline that used to fly above all the chaos: Qantas. It’s long been one of the safest and most reliable airlines in the world. But now is its reputation at risk?Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how Qantas became one of the country’s worst performing airlines and the future of the company.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a type of power plant we don’t have in Australia. Advocates say that it could help us overcome both the climate crisis and the energy crisis.They’re suggesting bringing nuclear energy to Australia.So why is there a conversation about nuclear power right now? Is it safe? And could it even work in Australia?Today, former Greens senator and anti-nuclear activist Scott Ludlam on the Nuclear fantasies of conservative politicians and why they continue to make headlines.Guest: Former Greens senator and anti-nuclear activist, Scott Ludlam.Background reading: Why nuclear energy won’t work in Australia in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, our grocery bills are soaring, with some common vegetables more than doubling in price.Part of the reason is that there’s a nation-wide shortage of leafy greens, but there’s also a bigger force at play: inflation.Inflation is now at a higher level than anytime since 1990 and the cure for inflation could involve more economic pain for many of us.Today, journalist and Policy Fellow at the University of Sydney Sydney’s Policy Lab, Claire Connelly on why prices are rising and the risk that poses to the economy.Guest: Journalist and Policy Fellow at the University of Sydney Sydney’s Policy Lab, Claire Connelly.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, writer and pianist Anna Goldsworthy will be reading her piece from the latest issue.It's called 'The slow fade of music education', and in it she discusses the importance of music and learning, in an arts landscape eroded by nearly a decade of wilful neglect.Guest: Writer and pianist, Anna Goldsworthy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the wholesale energy market was suspended. It’s the first time the Australian energy market operator has ever had to take that step to keep electricity flowing to homes and to businesses.But this crisis has been decades in the making, caused by a policy vacuum that both sides of politics share responsibility for.So the question now is, how do you fix over a decade of political inaction?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on the suspension of the energy market and the political blame game that's followed.Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As new Labor ministers begin their jobs in earnest, they say they’re discovering an unexpected challenge — the depth of disarray left behind.According to some ministers that looks like negligence, delayed decisions, and a demoralised workforce.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on the state of the public service, and the task of the new government to fix it. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Background reading: ‘Negligent in the extreme’: Labor inherits crises across portfolios in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.