The Liberal Party says it wants the next election to be a referendum on energy.

After months of waiting, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton finally released the costings for his $331 billion nuclear power plan.

The modelling suggests the nuclear plan would be $264 billion cheaper than Labor’s renewables rollout, and deliver lower energy prices for consumers.

But Dutton’s plan contradicts the CSIRO's new GenCost report, which found a nuclear power plant would likely cost twice as much as renewable energy, with the agency also warning a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors could not be expected before 2050.

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how the Coalition’s modelling stacks up – and whether it matters to voters hungry for lower power bills.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.

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John Safran has been a fixture in Australian media since his breakthrough in 1997 with ABC TV's Race Around the World. After several TV series of his own that explored ideas about faith, race and culture, John made the shift to book-length journalism. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down for a conversation with John about his latest book, Squat, and John reveals the deeper story behind his week living in Kanye West’s Malibu mansion.

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After a scathing ruling from a Nevada probate commissioner, Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son Lachlan’s attempt to amend a family trust may have backfired spectacularly, with the commissioner concluding the two acted in “bad faith”.

Rupert was attempting to give permanent control of his conservative media empire, comprising Fox and News Corp, to his designated successor Lachlan after Rupert dies.

The initial attempt to amend the trust was also kept secret from Lachlan’s three eldest siblings – Prudence, Elisabeth and James – the other beneficiaries with equal voting rights on the trust.

The ruling has deepened the divide within the family, and thrown the future of the Murdoch empire into question.

Today, director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, Andrew Dodd on the ruling, the fallout and the next chapter in the Murdoch succession saga.

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Guest: Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, Andrew Dodd.

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This week, on the streets of Damascus, there were signs of an army in retreat – tanks abandoned and Syrian army uniforms scattered on the roads where soldiers had torn them off.

It reflected the speed at which rebel forces had taken over Syria, with Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign finally coming to an end after 13 years of civil war.

As celebrations spread across the nation, the Syrian people face the task of rebuilding a country now in the hands of rebel groups.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist Gregg Carlstrom on Syria’s path forward and the implications for an increasingly unstable region. 

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist Gregg Carlstrom.

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Last week, News Corp tabloids ran front page stories in papers around the country, all saying a similar thing: Australia needs to “step on the gas” or face blackouts and soaring electricity prices.

But you had to turn the page to find out the coverage – labelled an “exclusive” special report – was sponsored by major gas companies.

Now, the Greens are planning to call Murdoch media executives before a Senate inquiry into greenwashing, saying the reporting was no more than propaganda masquerading as news.

Today, Greens spokesperson for communications and chair of the Senate inquiry into greenwashing Sarah Hanson-Young on Murdoch’s gas warfare and the power of the fossil fuel lobby.

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Guest: Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young.

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In 2019, Scott Morrison’s government managed to narrowly win a third term, despite polling placing them behind Labor for almost three years.

At the heart of the victory was a change in the way they campaigned, bringing in a pair of New Zealand election strategists armed with a new weapon: low-quality memes.

Since then, the duo known as Topham Guerin have brought their political tricks to bigger battlegrounds and have been hired by Peter Dutton ahead of the next federal election.

But their methods – including a recent embrace of deepfakes – raise questions about the ethics of political campaigning in the digital age.

Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on the rise of Topham Guerin and the political power of bad memes.

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Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis.

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ABC chair Kim Williams has been slammed for recent comments made about broadcasters like Joe Rogan, as the national broadcaster undergoes a wave of structural changes.

During his first Press Club address, Kim Williams took aim at the podcaster, saying commentators such as Rogan “prey on fear”.

Mr Williams was there to deliver a speech calling for greater investment in the ABC, which he said had lost $150 million a year over the past decade, and to talk about the importance of public broadcasting in an age of disinformation designed to sow division.

Williams’ tenure as ABC chair comes at a time of deep disruption for the broadcaster, with the departure of many beloved presenters sparking questions about the competency of management.

Today, ABC chair Kim Williams on what’s ahead for the broadcaster, and whether he’s in the right job.

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Guest: Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Kim Williams.

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Professor Clare Wright is the author of five works of history, including the best-selling The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka and You Daughters of Freedom, which comprise the first two instalments of her Democracy trilogy. On this episode of Read This, Clare sits down with Michael Williams to discuss the final instalment of the trilogy, Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions, which was released in October.

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Australian politics is changing in ways it seems the Labor party and the Coalition haven’t yet come to terms with.

And as the electorate splinters, it’s becoming harder for governments to last more than three years.

Just months from an election where the outcome of a minority government looks likely, scare campaigns about “unholy alliances” have begun. It’s a sign that the two major parties are rattled by the prospect of what’s to come. 

Today, author of Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian Politics George Megalogenis on the new battle lines between the city and the suburbs – and how the results of the Voice referendum are still reverberating throughout Australian politics. 

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Guest: Author of Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian Politics George Megalogenis

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In 2007, future United States president Donald Trump stepped into the wrestling ring for a showdown with Vince McMahon, then head of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump’s close friend.

Trump played the villain perfectly.

For decades now, Trump has been shaped by a love affair with professional wrestling. It taught him how to control and manipulate a crowd, how to speak, and how to respond to criticism.

It is also shaping his cabinet, with Trump appointing Linda McMahon, Vince’s recently separated wife, to the position of secretary of education.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Joseph Earp on how Donald Trump brought the art of pro-wrestling to politics.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Joseph Earp.

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