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Right now, much of Ukraine is in the cross hairs of war. Russian troops continue to descend on the country, and shelling is intensifying near the capital Kyiv, and in other cities including Kharkiv and Mariupol.

But as the war on the ground in Ukraine escalates, there is another battle playing out: a coordinated series of fake videos and social disinformation - produced by Russia as justification for the invasion.

Today, Ukrainian media scholar Eugenia Kuznetsova on what’s real and what’s fake - and how disinformation could affect the outcome of the war.

Guest: Ukrainian media scholar, Eugenia Kuznetsova

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Across Australia, energy companies are beginning to realise they need to rely less on fossil fuels, and redirect their strategy to renewables and green energy. 

To do that - they’re working with state governments, who have their own climate goals and investment plans. 

But there’s one big barrier to this transition: the federal government. 

Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the Morrison government’s interventions in the energy market, and why it’s lost the trust of the sector. 

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

Background reading: Revealed: Energy companies turn on Angus Taylor

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For decades, house prices in Australia have been accelerating - surpassing expectations, and defying every prediction of a crash. 

The pandemic has done nothing to slow down that trajectory, with prices continuing to go up, despite economic uncertainty and slow population growth. 

The result of it all is more people permanently locked out of the housing market, facing steep rent hikes and homelessness.

Today, contributor to The Monthly magazine Russell Marks on why Australia’s housing market continues to confound expectations - and what might actually make a difference. 

Guest: Contributor to The Monthly, Russell Marks.

Background reading: House of the rising sun in The Monthly.

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This week, record breaking floods in Queensland and New South Wales have left thousands of homes decimated, with tens of thousands of residents forced to evacuate, and a number of people dead.

Meanwhile, overseas, Russian forces have been intensifying their attacks on Ukraine - with key cities beginning to fall to Russian troops. 

So how is the Prime Minister Scott Morrison - who also received a Covid-19 diagnosis this week - dealing with these challenges? 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on Scott Morrison’s performance and plummeting popularity.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Since the last election, the federal government has deported more than 4,000 non-citizens from Australia.

Many of those people have been in Australia almost their entire lives, and have no connection with their country of origin.

Now the Morrison government is trying to pass new laws that could see the number of deportations increase dramatically.

Today, principal solicitor at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Hannah Dickinson on why Australia is deporting so many long-term residents.

Guest: Principal Solicitor and immigration law specialist, Hannah Dickinson.

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Class action lawsuits are one of the only ways ordinary people can get justice and compensation if they’ve been mistreated by powerful corporations and institutions. 

Successful class actions have held companies and even governments to account over stolen wages, emissions fraud, and chemical contamination.

But now, their future is under threat. 

Today, journalist and lawyer Kieran Pender on the new government legislation that could spell the end of class actions in Australia, and what that would mean for access to justice. 

Guest: Journalist and lawyer, Kieran Pender.

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In the last 48 hours thousands of Ukrainians have fled their homeland and crossed into neighbouring Poland, seeking refuge from war and invasion. But millions more remain trapped in the country as Russian forces continue to advance and occupy towns and cities across Ukraine.

Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman on why Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin is risking it all on Ukraine, and whether economic sanctions will be enough.

Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper, Jonathan Pearlman.

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All over the world countries are winding back, and in some cases completely removing their pandemic restrictions, and Australia is following suit.

Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have all recently abolished mask mandates, density limits and QR check-ins.

But there’s debate over whether these changes are based on public health, political pressure or business lobbying.

Today, journalist Hannah Ryan on the global easing of pandemic restrictions despite ongoing concern over the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Guest: Journalist, Hannah Ryan.

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine. Today, we cover the latest in Ukraine conflict and the political debate in Australia over our defence strategy.

Just months away from a looming federal election Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing one of the biggest challenges of his term - global military conflict.

The federal government’s increasingly aggressive stance towards both Russia and China has put the spotlight on Australia’s defence policy, and how prepared we are for a potential war.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on how equipped Scott Morrison is to handle escalating tensions in both Ukraine and in the Pacific. 

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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Lockdowns and ongoing concern about the pandemic have led to a significant spike in the number of Australians experiencing mental health issues.

But when many people try to seek treatment they are faced with a complicated, under-resourced and expensive system.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the real causes of Australia’s spiralling mental health crisis and the recent bungle that made it worse.

Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.

Special thanks to The Thought Broadcast podcast for archival audio of Dr Nick O'Connor.

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