7am

A string of recent incidents involving the use of force has raised questions about the way in which Australian police wield power, and how these incidents are investigated.The officer who allegedly Tasered a 95-year old woman, Clare Nowland, is in court next month and is expected to fight the charges.Meanwhile, a Queensland police officer was caught on video punching and Tasering a man who’d been in a car crash, and will be investigated by an internal police standards body.Today, contributor to The Monthly and criminal defence lawyer Russell Marks, on the use of force and the relationship between the police and the public.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly Russell Marks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We learned this week that United States president Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, will accept a plea deal on federal tax crimes.With the 2024 presidential race already underway, Republicans are calling the deal evidence of nepotism and corruption – none more loudly than Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.Trump, of course, is facing a much more lengthy federal indictment, with 37 charges against him. That could mean a prison sentence running several decades if he’s found guilty at his upcoming trial.Today, the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan Pearlman, on how the contest for the US presidency is suddenly about who has committed what crimes.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan PearlmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government’s housing policy could be dead in the water.On Monday, the Greens chose to block the legislation – by deferring the vote on the bill until October.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the delay is the same as rejecting it, and he’s seeking urgent legal advice about whether this could be a trigger for a double dissolution of parliament – which could bring on an early election.Today, Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness Max Chandler-Mather, reveals why the Greens blocked the bill, the conversations with Labor behind the scenes and what he thinks could have won his party’s support.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness, Max Chandler-MatherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathleen Folbigg was once known as Australia’s worst female serial killer – now she’s free after being pardoned.New scientific evidence played a big role in her release. But there are other issues that drove the media and the justice system’s condemnation of Folbigg.The way her psychological state, her grief and her reliability were questioned speak to the treatment of women who are accused of murder.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Wendy Bacon, on the fight for Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon and why it points to more wrongful convictions within our justice system.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Wendy BaconSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Albanese government is campaigning to host the next United Nations Climate Conference in partnership with Pacific nations.Some have described this as an Olympic moment, but there is real concern it’s just an exercise in public relations and greenwashing Australia’s climate policies. In response, Pacific countries are now demanding Australia do more on climate action before agreeing to be part of the bid.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Polly Hemming on how Australia is peacocking in the Pacific.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Polly Hemming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One way that inequality becomes baked into Australian society is through education. For decades, the school system has become increasingly stratified – to the benefit of private schools and detriment of public ones.So, what are the consequences of this divide, and how will the past twenty years of education policy shape the Australia we see tomorrow? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Jane Caro on why Australia stubbornly clings onto the myth of education equality and the damage it’s doing. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Jane Caro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, journalist Esther Linder will be reading her piece from the May issue of The Monthly.While Australians often can’t skip a rent payment, they can skip a meal. And as the cost of living soars, more and more Australians are going hungry.Through the lens of hunger, Linder looks at economic inequality, Australia’s failure to perceive the growing gaps in wealth.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Journalist Esther LinderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament began this week with bitter arguments over the handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation, with the opposition using leaked text messages from Higgins’ phone to prosecute their case against the government.But it took only two days for fresh allegations of another sexual assault to emerge.Liberal senator David Van has been advised he will no longer sit in the party room, following accusations of sexual harassment and assault from independent senator Lidia Thorpe.Van denies the claims, but the opposition leader says he reached the decision after receiving even further complaints about the senator.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, on the standards and culture within Parliament House.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Activists around Australia have proven willing to risk jail time and fines of tens of thousands of dollars under new anti-protest laws, as states and territories rush to crack down on climate and environmental protests.Victoria has said the state will end native logging by 2024, but it remains committed to harsh anti-protest laws aimed at protecting the industry.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Elle Marsh, on the harsh penalties for environmentalism and the people willing to face them.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Elle MarshSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Personal text messages between Brittany Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, have been splashed over the news for days – reopening questions about the lead up to the interview when Higgins first went public with the allegation she was raped in a ministerial office.The Coalition says the texts show evidence of “collusion” and “weaponisation” on the part of the Labor government.But as the political scandal spirals, the source of the texts, the motives for the leak and the consequences of them being published have remained mostly unexamined.Today, contributing editor of The Politics at The Monthly online, Rachel Withers, on the leak of Brittany Higgins’s texts, and what it really proves about our media.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributing editor to The Politics at themonthly.com.au, Rachel Withers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.