Jon Ronson has spent time with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, uncovered the secret US military program to train psychic soldiers and told the stories of the first people to be publicly shamed in the age of social media.

Now, Ronson’s investigating the culture wars. From fears about left-wing activists taking over the streets to paranoia about vaccines – he charts the surprising origins of our most divisive social conflicts.

Today, author of The Psychopath Test and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Jon Ronson, on the very human stories behind how things fell apart.

See Jon Ronson live in Australia in November: https://www.fane.co.uk/jon-ronson

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Guest: Author of The Psychopath Test and host of Things Fell Apart, Jon Ronson

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After asylum seekers arrived by boat in Western Australia last week and were sent to Nauru, old debates about offshore immigration detention have been reanimated. 

It comes as the government has admitted they aren’t able to account for $80 million paid to Papua New Guinea for the welfare and support of people formerly held in offshore detention.

So, how did millions of taxpayer dollars disappear? And what does it mean for the asylum seekers who have nowhere else to go? 

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, on Australia’s management of offshore detention. 

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

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The Bureau of Meteorology determines a lot: from whether we bring an umbrella to work, to how much warning we get of a natural disaster – all the way to what we know about climate change. 

But now, serious questions are being raised about the bureau’s management – and it’s emerged that senior executives deliberately misled a federal court.

So, why did they lie? 

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on troubles at the BoM, and how internal struggles are getting in the way of the weather forecast.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton

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It was three years ago last week that Brittany Higgins made allegations that rocked Australia.

Those allegations resulted in a mistrial, and while Bruce Lehrmann strenuously maintained his innocence, many questions were raised about the handling of Higgins’ claims. 

So, an inquiry was launched, to see if lessons could be learned to improve the justice system. But last week, we learned more about how the very inquiry meant to fix things turned into a media circus of its own.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace on the texts and phone calls between the head of the inquiry and a well-known journalist.

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Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace

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Following its loss at the 2019 federal election, touching negative gearing — tax concessions that benefit property investors — has been unthinkable for the Labor Party.

But this week the government was drawn into discussions about ending it by The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, demanding Anthony Albanese address it if he wants to pass a new housing policy.

So, could the Greens force Labor to tackle negative gearing? 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the future of housing and why unproductive parliamentary Question Time debates might have to change.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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While Taylor Swift arrives in Australia for the biggest shows of her career, she’s found herself at the centre of conspiratorial fantasies sweeping American right-wing politics.

Some view her relationship with American football star Travis Kelce — a love story that sounds like an American fairytale — as evidence for a nefarious scheme to re-elect President Joe Biden.

So, how did a baseless theory capture America to the point that the president himself has responded? 

Today, political reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, Nikki McCann-Ramirez, on how right-wing conspiracies are rotting American politics.

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Guest: Political reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, Nikki McCann-Ramirez

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While some private schools in Australia fret over the construction of their new waterpolo centres or drama theatres, public schools face more pressing challenges, like whether there’s a hole in the roof or enough books for every student. 

School funding arrangements across the country are now the concern of Jason Clare, the federal education minister who went to public schools himself.

So, how did inequities between public and private get so bad? And could a review commissioned by Jason Clare fix it? 

Today, public education advocate and contributor to The Saturday Paper Jane Caro on how Australia needs to fund public schools – and why we’re still not doing it.

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Guest: Public education advocate and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Jane Caro

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Since becoming opposition leader, Peter Dutton has clawed back in the polls by relentlessly attacking the Labor government – now that approach is being tested.

During the first major political battle of the year, over the stage three tax cuts, Peter Dutton’s instincts to fiercely attack the government didn’t seem to work as planned and resulted in the Coalition facing unwanted scrutiny when they eventually backed the changes.

So, what is Peter Dutton’s strategy? Can he marry his instincts for a political fight with electability as a potential prime minister?

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, on how Peter Dutton plans to win the next election.

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

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The teals of the 2022 election outdid expectations – flipping six historically Liberal seats independent. 

It’s a result that has energised their backers, Climate 200, who are now looking well beyond wealthy, inner-city electorates for their next wins. 

So, can they repeat their success in regional seats and shock the major parties again in 2025?

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on how Queensland could be the next battleground for the climate 200-backed independents.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton

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Today, writer Konrad Muller reads his latest piece on the quest to learn whether making organic wine is worth the effort.

It's called “Notes from a small vineyard” and in it he tries to discover the true effort and cost of going organic and interrogates what difference it makes.

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Guest: Writer, Konrad Muller

Background reading: Notes from a small vineyard

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