7am

Detailed accusations that Australian soldiers in Afghanistan committed war crimes have drawn widespread condemnation from around the world. But who is ultimately responsible for the actions of Australian armed forces? Today, Karen Middleton on the disturbing and shocking allegations involving Australia’s most elite military unit, and our collective shame. 

Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton.

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The outgoing artistic directors of Sydney Festival and the Australian Ballet, Wesley Enoch and David McAllister, combine forces to battle against their impending irrelevance, by doing extremely well at the quiz. Whether it’s questions about WWII tanks or Greek mythology, these two pass with flying colours. They even ace the sports question. But like everyone else, they come undone with geography.

Guests: Wesley Enoch and David McAllister

In the paper: After the virus: Radical optimism for the arts in The Saturday Paper

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The federal government has settled the largest class action in Australian history, over the unlawful robodebt program. Today, Paul Bongiorno on who was responsible and whether anyone in the government will be held accountable for this policy.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.

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Mojtaba is 29 years old. He’s lived in Australia for nearly a decade, but last year he was placed into immigration detention. Since then he hasn’t been able to see his wife and young son and may never again. Today, journalist Abdul Hekmat on how Mojtaba’s life has been shaped by Australia’s immigration policies, and the way our system continues to punish the most vulnerable. 

Guest: Journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Abdul Hekmat.

Background reading: Hazara asylum seeker faces exile from his son in The Saturday Paper

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A huge, global effort to try and find a vaccine for coronavirus is showing growing signs of success. A number of possible candidates are moving into the final stages of testing, and some are even hitting production lines. Today, Rick Morton on when Australians might see a coronavirus vaccine.

Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton.

Background reading: Progress on Covid-19 vaccines in The Saturday Paper

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Recent scandals and allegations of workplace bullying have put the spotlight on the treatment of women in Parliament. Today, Karen Middleton on the unique power dynamic between politicians and the people who work for them.

Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton.

Background reading: Exclusive: Government refuses to release staff bullying report in The Saturday Paper

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Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is under assault, with two former Prime Ministers, from opposite sides of politics, uniting in their criticism of the media company. Today, Mike Seccombe on whether the world’s biggest media empire might actually be under threat.

Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.

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In this episode, writer, actor, activist, and recently one of Who magazine’s sexiest people of 2020, Nakkiah Lui and her tv editor husband, Gabe Dowrick, tell us how many teeth an adult human should have, figure out which European nation owns the Dodecanese islands, and discuss the number of presidents of the United States who have died in office.

Guests: Nakkiah Lui and Gabe Dowrick

Background reading: Playwright Nakkiah Lui on radicalism and family in The Saturday Paper

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Joe Biden’s victory in the United States has already had ramifications for Australian politics, particularly on the issue of climate change. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the political shockwaves rolling across the Pacific.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno.

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The world is struggling to contain the fallout of the coronavirus, but has the pandemic exposed something more fundamentally broken about our economic system? Today, Yanis Varoufakis on where things went wrong, and how to envisage a fairer world.

Guest: Economist and former finance minister for Greece, Yanis Varoufakis.

Background reading: After the virus: How to design a post-capitalist world in The Saturday Paper

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