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Xi Jinping is ascending to a historic level of power.

He is the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, which has 95 million people who are members, and is the most powerful President of China since Chairman Mao.

Now, he is becoming what some experts have called China’s ‘leader for life’.

That makes him one of the most powerful men in history.

Today, former prime minister of Australia Kevin Rudd on the coronation of Xi Jinping and how his ideology has changed China forever.

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Guest: Former prime minister of Australia, Dr Kevin Rudd.

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Today, author Cate Kennedy reads her piece from the latest edition of the Monthly. 

Beginning in the first months of lockdown, it asks the question: why did so many people turn to collective song and music, while stuck in isolation?

Choirs conducted over video chat and jam sessions in the digital world might not be a perfect replacement for the connection of performing together in a room – but it seemed like there was something essential in the act of coming together to create music.

So what is it about song that can pull us out of isolation?

Cate will read her story, ‘How lockdowns rekindled our need to sing together’ after a short conversation with the Editor of the 7am podcast, Scott Mitchell. 

To hear more weekend reads, you can subscribe to 'The Weekend Read', in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Guest: Author, Cate Kennedy

Background reading: How lockdowns rekindled our need to sing together

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Arts policy in Australia has been virtually non-existent for ten years, and in those ten years the arts have suffered enormously.

Today, we bring you an exclusive one-on-one interview between the editor of The Monthly, Michael Williams, and the man who says he wants to save the arts: Arts Minister Tony Burke.

The challenges are huge. From music and live gigs, to literature and publishing, to film and television – every part of the sector has been damaged by years of funding uncertainty.

Then, when Covid-19 first struck, arts workers weren’t supported and many are still recovering from the professional and financial devastation.

The new Labor government is promising to deliver a new National Cultural Policy, to give the sector certainty.

But behind the promises and kind words, will there be any money to spend? And can politicians stay out of the way of good arts funding?

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The Labor party keeps saying this coming budget is full of hard decisions.

We know the budget is already in deficit, but services are underfunded and if the government wants to improve childcare, disability care and more, then money will have to come from somewhere.

Anthony Albanese has vigorously ruled out dumping the expensive stage three tax cuts. So what is left on the table for Labor to turn to?

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on whether Labor is brave enough to make big changes to the economy.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Much of the country has been hit by torrential rain, and communities across Victoria and New South Wales are inundated with floodwaters.

But this is just the start, as according to the Bureau of Meteorology we could be facing an entire summer of floods and cyclones.

As Australia braces for the worsening effects of the climate crisis, experts say we are still too focused on disaster relief and that adapting and preparing communities for disaster is underfunded.

Today, a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth global climate change assessment report, Dr Johanna Nalau, on the summer ahead and why we need to adapt to live through the climate crisis.

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Guest: Lead author for the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, Dr Johanna Nalau.

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Yesterday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers offered a grim warning to Australia: we could be on the brink of a global recession.

While Australians are already familiar with inflated prices and rising interest rates, the global financial outlook is getting worse.

What does it mean for Australians? And if a downturn happens, who will be worst affected?

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how the United States could be making a global recession more likely.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

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Labor has been shy to propose any major changes to the unemployment system.

During the election, it ruled out raising the rate of unemployment benefits and while in opposition, it offered support to the coalition’s new ‘Workforce Australia’ scheme for the way job services operate.

But now we have new insight into what Labor is saying behind closed doors and the new government appears far from happy about what it’s discovered in the unemployment sector.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on mutual obligations – and the first signs that the system might change.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

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Ten years ago the then-prime minister Julia Gillard delivered a speech to parliament about misogyny.

At the time, the speech was poorly received by the Canberra press gallery and described by some journalists as "desperate".

But online, it took on a life of its own.

Now, what has become known as the misogyny speech can be found on merchandise, in TikTok videos, and is used as shorthand for a particular sense of frustration at sexism in Australian politics.

Today, Independent MP for the seat of Goldstein Zoe Daniel on the forgotten history of the speech and why it still resonates with so many people today.

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Guest: Independent MP for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel

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They are the tax cuts Scott Morrison promised and Anthony Albanese said he would deliver.

If Australia cancels the stage three tax cuts, experts say we could properly fund services like the NDIS and raise unemployment benefits above the poverty line, among other desperately needed measures.

If Australia keeps the cuts, some of the wealthiest tax payers will benefit and our tax system will become less progressive.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on whether Labor could be ready to slowly ditch the stage three tax cuts. 

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Earlier this week, Vladimir Putin held a rally in Moscow.

Even as Russia continued to lose ground in his war in Ukraine, he was defiant; calling the west satanic and making the case for a greater Russian empire.

But the most significant thing about what Putin said that day was what it represented: a turn to the ultra-nationalism of the Russian far-right.

Today, Associate Professor at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Matthew Sussex on what Putin is doing now that he is desperate and what he could unleash.

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Guest: Associate Professor at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Matthew Sussex.

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