ABC News Daily
ABC Australia
ABC News Daily is the podcast that helps you understand the issues affecting your world. Every episode, host Samantha Hawley walks through one story with the help of an ABC colleague or expert in under 15 minutes. When you want coverage you can trust, listen to ABC News Daily.
From interest rates, real estate and the housing crisis, to scams and US politics, ABC News Daily brings you facts and analysis you need to understand the biggest news stories.
The podcast covers news from America, with analysis of the Donald Trump administration in the White House. His actions, including threats of massive tariffs have big implications for global politics and the economy and US journalists and experts will explain what's at stake.
As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, ABC News Daily looks at the causes of inflation, rising rental costs, house prices, insurance costs and the price of groceries. Key experts in business and finance join Samantha Hawley, explaining the state of the economy, the unemployment rate and the jobs market.
Whether you rent, own an investment house or apartment, or are repaying a mortgage, ABC News Daily offers unique insights and analysis. When there are big moves from the Reserve Bank (RBA) on interest rates, or reactions in the ASX or the Australian dollar, guest experts, including economists, explain why.
Look into ABC News Daily's archive to find episodes on electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), politics, the big banks, supermarkets, Tesla, Elon Musk, education, schools, teachers and crime.
Watch for episodes about federal politics and the leadership of Labor's Anthony Albanese. We look at policy areas that matter for voters, including education, health, housing and immigration and assess the proposals from the federal opposition.
ABC News Daily follows developments in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas, with insights into the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The podcast looks at the latest from Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky fights to repel the Russian invaders led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As China's Xi Jinping contemplates the future of Taiwan, ABC News Daily will sort fact from fiction.
As climate change fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions increases the risk of natural disasters, including fires and floods, ABC News Daily brings you fact-based analysis.
The podcast covers the future of renewable / green power generation, including the use of wind turbines, solar and hydro electric power.
ABC experts including Ian Verrender, Alan Kohler, Laura Tingle, David Speers, and Annabel Crabb join Samantha Hawley to step through big issues and current affairs.
From interest rates, real estate and the housing crisis, to scams and US politics, ABC News Daily brings you facts and analysis you need to understand the biggest news stories.
The podcast covers news from America, with analysis of the Donald Trump administration in the White House. His actions, including threats of massive tariffs have big implications for global politics and the economy and US journalists and experts will explain what's at stake.
As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, ABC News Daily looks at the causes of inflation, rising rental costs, house prices, insurance costs and the price of groceries. Key experts in business and finance join Samantha Hawley, explaining the state of the economy, the unemployment rate and the jobs market.
Whether you rent, own an investment house or apartment, or are repaying a mortgage, ABC News Daily offers unique insights and analysis. When there are big moves from the Reserve Bank (RBA) on interest rates, or reactions in the ASX or the Australian dollar, guest experts, including economists, explain why.
Look into ABC News Daily's archive to find episodes on electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), politics, the big banks, supermarkets, Tesla, Elon Musk, education, schools, teachers and crime.
Watch for episodes about federal politics and the leadership of Labor's Anthony Albanese. We look at policy areas that matter for voters, including education, health, housing and immigration and assess the proposals from the federal opposition.
ABC News Daily follows developments in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas, with insights into the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The podcast looks at the latest from Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky fights to repel the Russian invaders led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As China's Xi Jinping contemplates the future of Taiwan, ABC News Daily will sort fact from fiction.
As climate change fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions increases the risk of natural disasters, including fires and floods, ABC News Daily brings you fact-based analysis.
The podcast covers the future of renewable / green power generation, including the use of wind turbines, solar and hydro electric power.
ABC experts including Ian Verrender, Alan Kohler, Laura Tingle, David Speers, and Annabel Crabb join Samantha Hawley to step through big issues and current affairs.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 16min
Will the Iran war drive interest rates even higher?
Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent, explains the RBA's recent rate rise and the tight board split. He discusses how the Iran conflict could push inflation via energy and supply shocks. Ian compares current risks to 1970s oil shocks. He considers whether more hikes are likely and the trade-off between fighting inflation and slower growth.
18 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 15min
Is it time to ration petrol and diesel?
David Leaney, an international supply chain specialist and ANU lecturer, explains how Australian fuel gets refined and shipped, why local stocks vary, and how panic buying drives prices up. He discusses strategic reserves, temporary regulatory fixes, and practical rationing ideas to protect emergency services and farmers. The conversation also covers shipping risks through the Strait of Hormuz and likely timelines for supply recovery.
Mar 15, 2026 • 15min
The truth behind the toxic algal bloom
Angus Grigg, Four Corners reporter who investigated the South Australian algal bloom. He recounts surfers falling ill and wildlife deaths. He describes the discovery of brevitoxins, delays in testing and public notice. He critiques official responses and warns about climate-driven increases in such events.
Mar 12, 2026 • 17min
How Donald Trump caught 'victory disease'
Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and foreign policy commentator, breaks down why he calls it 'victory disease'. He explores unclear endgames, shifting objectives, and strategic incompetence in the White House. He compares misreads of Iran to past foreign-policy mistakes and examines how small wins can lead to dangerous overreach.
Mar 11, 2026 • 16min
Why Iran is just the beginning of AI warfare
Toby Walsh, chief scientist at the UNSW AI Institute and AI policy adviser, discusses AI's role in modern conflict. He traces how AI can aid intelligence, target selection and logistics in Iran and beyond. He also covers the clash over military limits for AI and why international guardrails matter.
Mar 10, 2026 • 16min
The brave escape of the Iranian soccer players
Catherine Ordway, a lawyer and sport integrity expert and visiting scholar at UNSW, unpacks the Iranian women’s soccer players’ silent anthem protest and the harsh state backlash. She covers the bus SOS signal and tight surveillance. She explains how Australia moved some players to safety, the risks to families back home, and criticism of football authorities’ response.
9 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 16min
Is Iran’s new supreme leader looking for revenge?
Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre and Iran expert. She explains who Mojtaba Khamenei is and his ties to the IRGC. Conversations cover whether he will be more hardline, Iran’s capacity for prolonged conflict, Gulf states’ limits, drone threats and impacts, and risks from intensified U.S. and Israeli strikes.
16 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 16min
Why it’s finally time for high speed rail
Joe Langley, an urban planner who worked on Australia’s high-speed rail studies, explains costs, timelines and route choices. He revisits past proposals and why projects stalled. He discusses tunnelling, realistic 320 km/h train tech, funding challenges, and which legs to prioritise. He outlines a two-year design window and a possible construction start within two years.
Mar 5, 2026 • 15min
How the Iran war increases the global nuclear threat
Kelsey Davenport, Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, explains nuclear proliferation risks and policy. She breaks down what was hit in Iran and what survived. She discusses dangers from struck enriched uranium and lost monitoring. She warns how actions can weaken nonproliferation norms and spur other states to consider weapons.
16 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 16min
How the Iran war fuels inflation
Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent who analyzes energy markets and inflation. He breaks down how the Iran war rattled markets. He covers petrol price spikes, Qatar gas disruptions, Australia’s LNG trade-offs, the Strait of Hormuz risks, and how conflict duration shapes inflation and rate moves.
