Kate Jinx watches hundreds of films every year – for her job programming feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and, because she loves them.

Today, she’s bringing you her five favourites from 2025.

There’s Leonardo Dicaprio, of course. There’s also heists, collaborative theatre as film, PTSD but funny, and, there’s porridge.

 

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Guest: Programmer of feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, Kate Jinx 

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It’s been a heavy year in many ways. And when you work in news, there’s no shying away from that. But music can be a respite – something to help process the heaviness, and something that brings escape and joy.

When we asked Head of Music at SXSW, Claire Collins, to pick her favourite albums of the year, both the heaviness and the joy were reflected back at us. She’s picked five albums for you to blast this summer, as you prepare for the year ahead.

 

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Guest: Claire Collins, head of music at SXSW

Photo: Ian West/PA Wire

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Marieke Hardy is a writer, broadcaster and former panelist on the ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club.

Marieke’s passion and enthusiasm for the books she loves is contagious. But she’s also direct and unapologetic when a book isn’t for her, so you always know that when she recommends something, it’s going to be worth your time.

Her list of favourite books starts with a sprawling novel about friendship and love – and winds its way through so many other huge themes: grief, violence, war, and how the internet has ruined us.

Today, Marieke Hardy with her five favourite books of 2025.

 

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Guest: Writer and literary critic Marieke Hardy

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Sarah Krasnostein has had a huge year. She’s teamed up with Helen Garner and Chloe Hooper to write The Mushroom Tapes – a true-crime book about Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial that asks what our fascination with the case says about us.

She’s also continued her work as a television critic, watching a hell of a lot of TV.

In her list of the best TV of 2025, Sarah Krasnostein is drawn to shows that feel uncomfortably close to real life – from teenage boys pulled into the manosphere to post-apocalyptic worlds shaped by AI. And for her, even the bleakest series this year are ultimately hopeful: they’re less about what’s been destroyed than about what could be rebuilt, and the chances that still exist to step in before things go wrong.

Today, she’s picked her top 5 shows for you to binge over the summer.

 

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Guest: Author and critic, Sarah Krasnostein

Photo: Apple

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In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, the country is grieving. It's a moment that calls for unity and for leadership.

But what we’ve seen is something else. Within days, political lines hardened. A former prime minister stepped in. The opposition shifted its message. And international leaders joined the chorus.

With political venom so close to the surface, the moment has revealed something deeper about how crisis is now handled in Australian politics.

Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno, on the gap between who we want to be – and who we are.

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Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

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Two months ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan for Gaza.

But since the truce began on October 10, Gaza authorities say Israel has carried out nearly 800 attacks, killing almost 400 people – including in a recent strike targeting a senior Hamas commander.

Israel, meanwhile, says militants have repeatedly violated the ceasefire, killing at least three Israeli soldiers.

And as Hamas refuses to disarm, Washington seems to have gone silent.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on why plans for peace have stalled – and who may end up running Gaza.

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Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom

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As the country tries to understand how a Hanukkah gathering in Bondi ended with 15 people dead, more details about the alleged shooters have come to light.

Authorities say the attack was inspired by Islamic State. The two gunmen had recently travelled to the Philippines for military-style training. The surviving gunman, now in custody, had been known to ASIO since 2019.

And yet the attack still went ahead, raising fresh questions about the limits of Australia’s counter-terrorism systems – and how hard it is to detect and stop lone-actor violence before it happens.

Today, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University, Professor Greg Barton, on how a mass attack like this can still happen in Australia, even when intelligence agencies are on high alert.

 

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Guest: Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University, Professor Greg Barton

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Donald Trump has promised to deport a million people in his first year back in office.

As a result, immigration officers are conducting widespread raids across the country – often targeting and locking up American citizens.

The Trump administration says nearly 70 percent of the people Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested are criminals. But ICE’s own data shows the overwhelming majority have no criminal conviction at all.

Today, reporter at ProPublica Nicole Foy, on how Trump’s immigration crackdown is changing America – and how ordinary civilians are fighting back.

 

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Guest:  Reporter at ProPublica Nicole Foy

Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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On Sunday night in Bondi two gunmen opened fire on Jewish families. 

Sixteen people, including one of the gunmen, are confirmed dead, making the tragedy Australia’s first mass shooting in nearly 30 years. 

A further 42 people were taken to hospital, as well as the second gunman, who is under police guard. 

ASIO has confirmed one of the gunmen was known to them, and there are reports the men are linked to Islamic State. 

As authorities grapple with the terror event, The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will put tougher gun laws to national cabinet.

Today federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender on how the Bondi community is responding to this tragedy, and what needs to change to keep Jewish Australians safe.

 

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Guest: Federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender 

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Catherine Liddle is the CEO of SNAICC, the national body that represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

Every year, Catherine and her team document how First Nations children are faring, and how they’re treated. And yet again, the picture is devastating.

Catherine’s report shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more likely to be reported to authorities, they’re more likely to be taken away from their families and they spend more time institutionalised.

For every dollar the government spends on this, only 16 cents goes to helping families – the rest is on taking children away, causing enormous harm.

Today, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle on the damage the child protection system is doing to First Nations children – and what needs to be done to break the cycle.

 

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Guest: SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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