ABC News Daily

China has been the main target of Donald Trump and his big tariffs.

But can the world’s second largest economy weather the storm and even win the trade war against the United States? 

Today, an expert in China’s politics, Neil Thomas, from the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington on why President Xi Jinping already has the upper hand. 

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Neil Thomas, fellow of Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington DC

The rental crisis remains one of Australia’s biggest issues as rent rises increasingly outpace wage growth. 

Families on an average income have been priced out of a third of postcodes in five capital cities, with Perth now overtaking Sydney as the least affordable place to rent. 

Today, data journalist Inga Ting on the latest data, what the problem is doing to our cities and how the plight of renters can be improved. 

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Inga Ting, data journalist with the ABC's Digital Story Innovations

US tariffs have caused Trump-supporting billionaires to lose big in market turmoil, but none more so than Elon Musk, whose net worth has shrunk by $130 billion this year. 

Now, open feuding with another advisor in the Trump administration over tariff policy could mark a shift in Musk’s relationship with the White House.

But when Musk’s time leading the Department of Government Efficiency is over, will it have been worth it?

Today, Wired reporter Vittoria Elliot on what comes next for the world’s richest man. 

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Vittoria Elliot, Wired reporter

The US is pushing ahead with its trade war with China, imposing a huge tariff on all Chinese goods entering America. 

Given China is our largest trading partner, what does it mean for our hip pocket? 

Today, economist Susan Stone explains what the economic chaos means for the dollar, shares, superannuation and interest rates. 

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Dr Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics at the University of South Australia

Last week, two men allegedly each carrying a gun managed to get into the MCG for a packed AFL match.

So how could that have happened in Australia, where gun control is so tight and where security screening should be amongst the best in the world? 

Today, investigative reporter Josh Roberston on what unfolded and whether a new AI security system at the country’s largest stadium is really fit for purpose. 

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Josh Robertson, ABC investigative reporter

Stocks are tumbling, the value of the Australian dollar is falling and the scene looks set for a US recession with global fallout. 

The tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed on imports to the United States are rattling global markets with potential wide ranging impacts for our economy.

Our biggest trading partner China is one of the hardest hit, so what happens next? 

Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on why stock market falls could signal something more ‘sinister’ ahead and how Trump’s tariffs have destroyed investor confidence. 

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Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent

Both major political parties think Australia needs to spend more on defence in an increasingly uncertain world. But what is the threat we have to be ready for?

Our listener, Eric, asked us about defence funding and whether boosting it can be justified when so many Australians are struggling to get by. 

Today, Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program on whether Trump’s America is a reliable ally and why he thinks the Australian continent can be protected without breaking the bank. 

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Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program

The US president says America has been looted and plundered for decades.  

Global trade is his enemy and his response? Big tariffs, or taxes, charged on goods imported to the United States, from another 34 percent on Chinese imports to 10 percent on everything sent from Australia.

They’re coming into effect this weekend and Trump thinks they will revitalise the American manufacturing industries and the economy. 

The Australian treasurer describes it as a dark day for the global economy.

Today, North America correspondent Carrington Clarke explains what it means for all of us. 

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Carrington Clarke, ABC North America correspondent

The power of the unions has always been a huge battleground for Labor and the Coalition.

Now there are revelations about the role the former Prime Minister John Howard and his ministers really played in one of the biggest, most divisive industrial disputes in Australia’s history. 

In April 1998 Patrick Stevedores dismissed and locked out 1400 wharfies from their worksites, planning to install an alternate non-union workforce. 

Today, Jan Fran host of the podcast series Conspiracy? War on the Waterfront on what was hidden from the public until now. 

For the whole series, look for Rewind on the ABC Listen app.

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Jan Fran, host of Conspiracy? War on the Waterfront 

We won’t know until after this election who has donated to the political parties for this campaign and how much they’ve handed over. 

But voters are sceptical, with some of our listeners questioning the role of billionaires in our politics. 

Evalyn from Bendigo in Victoria asked us about the mining magnate Gina Rinehart. What influence do donations to political parties get you?

Today, Kate Griffiths from the Grattan Institute explains what we know about political donors. 

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Kate Griffiths, researcher at the Grattan Institute