ABC News Daily

The United States has joined the war with Iran, with American war planes dropping bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites. 

Donald Trump addressed the American people from the White House. 

He claims US bombs have “totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites. 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks the action could usher in a future of peace in the Middle East.

Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on the widening conflict and what comes next. 

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Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York and a senior research fellow at Columbia University’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies 

A week since Israel began the conflict with Iran there’s been no great shock to the global economy. 

But a significant escalation in the conflict could see a spike in oil and petrol prices, raising the prospect of surging inflation, once again. 

Today, the ABC’s finance expert Alan Kohler steps through the potential impacts for Australians’ finances and why we shouldn’t be too worried, for now.

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Alan Kohler, ABC finance presenter

Israel’s strikes against Iran took the regime and residents in Tehran largely by surprise.

Even though striking Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had long been part of Israel’s playbook, the Israeli people have been caught up as some Iranian missiles get through the defences.

The conflict has been foreshadowed in warnings Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given about Iran’s nuclear program for decades. 

But do Israelis back Netanyahu’s case for action and what is his endgame in Iran?

Today, the ABC’s Middle East Correspondent Eric Tlozek on the ground in Israel. 

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Eric Tlozek, ABC Middle East Correspondent 

Israel has been ramping up pressure on Donald Trump for the US to join its strikes on Iran.

It’s believed that only the US has the bombs that could destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities hidden deep underground. 

But does the Iranian regime actually have the nuclear capability the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu says it does and was it really close to building a bomb?

Today, nuclear weapons expert Ben Zala from Monash University on Iran’s nuclear program and whether Israel really needed to strike now. 

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Dr Ben Zala, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Monash School of Social Sciences

As Donald Trump was watching a military parade in Washington DC, huge numbers of Americans took to the streets in the largest nationwide protests against his administration since his return to the White House. 

They were declaring ‘No Kings’, rallying against what they say is Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and the threat he poses to democracy.  

Today, Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, on the shift in public mood and what it means for the president. 

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Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu insists his sweeping attacks on Iran are a necessity to protect his country from a ‘nuclear holocaust’.

But what is his ultimate aim? 

The two countries are exchanging attacks, with an Israeli strike hitting the world’s biggest gas field and some Iranian missiles hitting buildings inside Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu insists the attacks were nothing compared to what Iran would see in the coming days. 

Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on the risks of further escalation and America being drawn into the conflict. 

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Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

Across America, protests against Donald Trump’s immigration raids are popping up, a week since the unrest in Los Angeles began. 

Protesters are incensed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to enter workplaces to round up undocumented immigrants. 

But it’s Donald Trump’s decision to send California National Guard troops and Marines to LA to protect federal agents and property that’s really causing a stir. 

Today, Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, on why it’s an authoritarian move Trump has long wanted to take and the risks of normalising troops on the streets. 

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Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at the George Mason University in Virginia and the B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute

Since Israel began allowing a limited amount of food back into Gaza, the handout has been marked by disturbing scenes, including civilians being shot dead near the limited aid distribution sites.

Today, we speak with Australian James Elder, the global spokesman for UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children. 

He’s on the ground in Gaza and explains why the chaos was inevitable.

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James Elder, Global Spokesman for UNICEF

California’s governor insists protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown in Los Angeles were being brought under control by local police. 

So, why did the US president overrule the Democratic state leaders and send in National Guard troops and now the Marines? 

Today, Melanie Mason, a senior reporter covering California politics for POLITICO on Trump’s dramatic intervention, fears it could escalate the unrest and what’s motivating the US president. 

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Melanie Mason, senior political reporter covering California politics at POLITICO

The explosive break-up of Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been fascinating to watch as the pair trade insults and threats. 

Could there be a reconciliation between the president and the billionaire? Or could Elon Musk follow through on his threats to start backing other political forces?

Musk’s space and satellite businesses are heavily involved in the US government, so there could be real world consequences if the two don’t come to some sort of understanding. 

Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank the Niskanen Center explains why the disintegration of their relationship is entertaining but also disturbing.  

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Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, DC