The Morning Edition

Bill Shorten, former federal opposition leader and now Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Canberra, reacts to a weird mention of him in the Epstein files. He discusses surprising texts linking Steve Bannon and Clive Palmer, how big-money ads affected the 2019 campaign, risks of foreign influence, and the role of tech, misinformation and electoral safeguards.

Peter Hartcher, international and political editor known for sharp geopolitical analysis, unpacks how newly released Epstein files and withheld documents shape perceptions of Donald Trump. He outlines why secrecy fuels suspicion. He also discusses Trump’s theatrical foreign threats, the real Iran risk, and how domestic pressure may drive international posturing.

Matt Wade, senior economics reporter who analyzes interest rates, household wealth and cost-of-living data. He questions whether a widespread cost-of-living crisis is real. He contrasts today’s rates with historical norms, explores who truly feels strain, and highlights growing wealth inequality and longer-term policy priorities.

Sean Kelly, veteran political columnist known for sharp analysis of Australian federal politics, previews an 'absolutely crazy' week. He lays out looming leadership challenges, the risk of defections to One Nation, and whether the Coalition can reconsolidate. He also flags how interest-rate timing and polling pain could shape possible housing and tax reform moves.

Kayla Olaya, investigative reporter who uncovered doctors listed in Facebook groups for falsifying child immunisation records. She explains how parents evade Australia’s no jab no play rules. The conversation covers how the falsified entries were found, public-health risks, a family’s loss to whooping cough, rising hesitancy since COVID, and the challenges of holding practitioners to account.

Paul Sakkal, chief political correspondent known for deep federal politics coverage, breaks down a messy week for the Coalition. He outlines the public split between Liberals and Nationals. He explains practical costs for Nationals MPs and previews an imminent leadership challenge. He also maps right-wing rivalries and the shifting threat from One Nation.

Shane Wright, senior economics correspondent known for explaining Australian economic policy, inflation and markets. He breaks down the drivers of the inflation spike. He explains which indicators the RBA will watch and why airfares, electricity and housing costs matter. He outlines market odds of a rate rise and compares Australia’s position with other countries.

Two Americans have now been killed by federal agents on the streets of Minneapolis in less than three weeks.Their families say they were sweet, passionate people who could not sit back and watch while masked men snatched members of their community off the streets.The US government, meanwhile, calls them “domestic terrorists” who should not have intervened while agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - known as ICE - tried to do their work.Former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have described the situation as “a watershed moment in US history”.Today, North America correspondent Michael Koziol is on the ground in Minneapolis.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was given the pseudonym XC, by a court, to protect her identity. And she’s never spoken publicly about her experience. But the court documents from her case against Ken Dyers reveal a harrowing set of allegations. At the age of 14, she says that Dyers, the leader of the performing arts and social organisation, Kenja, sexually abused her. And she alleges that nine other members of his organisation – all but one of them, women – helped him do it. Dyers was in his early 80s at the time.  Today, investigations reporter Harriet Alexander, on why Kenja – which police have called a cult – is still operating in cities across Australia. And a warning this episode may be distressing to some listeners.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 25 years ago, photojournalist Kate Geraghty travelled to Timor-Leste to document the struggles of the Timorese people as they wrestled back their independence from a decades-long, and often brutal, Indonesian occupation. Last year, Geraghty returned to Timor-Leste, with health editor Kate Aubusson, where they witnessed a devastating legacy of this struggle: a deep, cultural tradition of withstanding pain.Coupled with a shame about cancer, and a lack of resources, a diagnosis of cervical cancer often equals a death sentence in Timor-Leste. And this in a place only 85 minutes away by plane from Australia, which is on track to become the first country in the world to eliminate the cancer by 2035. Today, Kate Geraghty and Kate Aubusson, on the Australian and Timorese medicos, who are helping the women of Timor-Leste fight this entirely preventable cancer.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.