Anthony Albanese recently returned from a major overseas trip, rubbing shoulders with royalty and sharing the stage with world leaders. But behind the scenes, there were also quiet discussions about a possible Plan B for AUKUS. 

With parliament about to sit again, his government faces pressure from the crossbench over defence and foreign policy – while the Opposition is consumed by internal divisions and power plays. 

Today, contributing editor at The New Daily Amy Remeikis, on what Albanese really brought back from his overseas tour, and how the coalition's implosion is reshaping politics in Canberra. 

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Guest: Contributing editor at The New Daily Amy Remeikis

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TikTok is the most influential media platform for Australians under the age of 25. It’s where millions now get their news - whether they realise it or not. 

But the app is no longer just a cultural force. It’s now at the centre of a global power struggle - between China – and Trump’s America, over who gets to control the algorithm.

In the US, a Trump aligned group of investors is taking over TikTok’s American operations, raising questions about how one platform could influence the political views of an entire generation. 

Today, Associate Editor at Crikey, Cam Wilson, on Trumpification of TikTok.

You can read Cam’s reporting at Crikey.

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Guest: Associate Editor at Crikey, Cam Wilson

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Rick Morton was writing about the restructures happening at several universities earlier this year when documents from the University of Technology Sydney caught his eye.

UTS had hired KPMG to help it save $100 million through a restructure. That restructure has now led to the announcement of 400 job losses, with the entire School of Education gone.

Rick noticed that UTS had asked KPMG to provide a spreadsheet ranking researchers by how much money they were bringing in, which raised the questions – were they using this to inform their restructure? And if they were, what does that say about how Australian universities are grappling with the pressure to be profitable at a time when research and learning is under threat?

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Guest: Journalist Rick Morton

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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

Photo: Sipa USA

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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 

Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana

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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

Photo: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

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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

Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

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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

Photo: PR HANDOUT

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