Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have unveiled a 20-point proposal they say could end the war in Gaza “immediately” – after nearly two years of bombardment and mounting international pressure.

At its core, Hamas must release all hostages, disarm and have no role in Gaza’s future governance. Israel would not commit to a full withdrawal – retaining the freedom to re-enter Gaza and a widened footprint inside The Strip.

The plan also creates a new “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump to oversee a transition, but leaves key gaps: about who would truly govern Gaza, and whether Palestinian statehood remains on the table. 

Today, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent for HuffPost Akbar Shahid Ahmed on how this proposal outsources Gaza's future and gives leverage to Israel.

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Guest: Akbar Shahid Ahmed is the Senior Diplomatic Correspondent for HuffPost

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Dr Rachel Coghlan is a palliative care doctor based in Melbourne, who worked with doctors in Gaza before October 7, 2023.

Since then, she has been in regular contact with her colleagues there, as they have continued to show up for work to care for their patients in increasingly horrific circumstances.

But now, as Israel’s bombardment of Gaza City intensifies, doctors in Gaza face a devastating decision: stay and care for their patients, or flee to save their families. 

Today, Dr Rachel Coghlan on what’s left of Gaza’s hospitals, and the daily toll for doctors as they try to keep them going. 

You can read Dr Coghlan’s work at Crikey: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/25/gaza-evacuation-palestine-gaza-strip-israel/ 

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Guest: Humanitarian and palliative care practitioner, researcher and advocate Dr Rachel Coghlan 

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When Donald Trump took power, he promised retribution against his political opponents.

Now, he’s delivering - and he’s using the justice department to do it, with the US Attorney launching a two-count indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. 

And it seems like that’s just the beginning. 

The justice department has also been directed to investigate the Open Society Foundations, a group funded by the billionaire George Soros. 

Today, former Human Rights Watch director and federal prosecutor Kenneth Roth on how Trump is eroding checks on presidential power, and the chilling effect it could have. 

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Guest: Former Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth

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Anthony Albanese has finally managed to get a meeting with Donald Trump, after months of trying. 

But why did it take so long? And what does it say about just how rocky our relationship with the US has become?

As political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton reports, the Australian government has been working hard to soften the Trump administration’s attitude over many months, announcing policies favourable to them. 

At the same time, Albanese knows that downplaying his willingness to placate the US President is important to his domestic audience and that he can’t back down on his own objectives: pursuing recognition of Palestine and spruiking Australia’s clean-energy transition. 

Today, Karen Middleton on the task ahead for Albanese – and what a successful meeting with Trump would look like.

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Guest: Political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton 

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The communications watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Optus after a 13-hour failure blocked about 600 triple-zero calls – now linked to three deaths.

The government is furious, calling it “completely unacceptable”, and warning of “significant consequences”.

But is it actually their fault too?

Today, journalist and contributor to Crikey, Michael Sainsbury, on what went wrong and how the government’s choices led to this disaster. 

You can read Michael’s reporting at https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/23/optus-000-outage-labor-blame/

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Guest: Journalist and contributor to Crikey, Michael Sainsbury

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The Albanese government has been on an unprecedented campaign of diplomatic activism in the Pacific Islands – all to keep China’s military at a distance.

At the same time, AUKUS is remaking our defence strategy, with eight nuclear-powered submarines, expanded facilities for US forces, and plans for a new east-coast submarine base.

For some watching on, those two approaches are at odds – the diplomacy aims to prevent a Chinese foothold, while AUKUS gives them the exact reason why they need one.

Today, the director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, Sam Roggeveen, on the contradiction at the heart of Australia’s Pacific policy – and whether there’s a safer way to defend our region.

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Guest: Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, Sam Roggeveen.

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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Almost a month after two police officers were shot and killed in regional Victoria, the accused gunman – Dezi Freeman – is still at large.

Victoria Police have deployed thousands of officers, searched more than a hundred properties, and offered the biggest reward in Victorian history – with no result.

People have also been combing Freeman’s Facebook history, which plots a journey from nature photos and family updates, to calling police “Gestapo cowards” and who deserve “Nuremberg 2”.

Today, reporter for Crikey Cam Wilson on what Dezi Freeman’s years of posts reveal and whether there’s a pattern we can recognise before it boils over into violence.

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Guest: Associate editor for Crikey, Cam Wilson

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in New York for the UN General Assembly, where Australia has formally recognised the State of Palestine – a step that more than 150 UN member states have now taken.

The move is part of what Australian calls "a co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution".

But with no active peace process, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to fight calls for Palestinian statehood, and the US attempting to scuttle the process – how much difference will recognition make?

Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno on whether Australia and others can shift the positions of Washington and Israel.

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Guest: Press gallery veteran, Paul Bongiorno

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The Coalition is again in crisis.

The latest Newspoll puts its primary vote at 27 per cent – its worst on record.

And with one frontbencher sacked over immigration comments and others threatening to quit over climate policy, the party seems more divided than ever.

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton on the ideological battle lines tearing the party apart.

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Guest: Press gallery journalist, Karen Middleton

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Having released the National Climate Risk Assessment – a report full of apocalyptic climate warnings – earlier this week, the government has now announced its 2035 emissions reduction target.

It’s a range, not a single number: 62–70 per cent below 2005 levels. The government says it’s achievable and ambitious, backed by more renewables and industry support.

Critics say it adds little beyond what the states are already on track to deliver, the modelling leans on technology that doesn't exist yet, and it avoids difficult choices – such as stopping new coal and gas projects.

Today, contributing editor of The New Daily Amy Remeikis, on how ambitious this target really is, whether it can keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.

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Guest: Contributing editor of The New Daily, Amy Remeikis

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