ABC News Daily

Michigan is a key swing state in the US election and there’s a big divide in voting intentions between its biggest city, Detroit, and much of the rest of the state. 

Detroit is set to strongly back Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump has compared the city to a developing nation. 

With just days until the US election, host of America’s Last Election podcast series Matt Bevan is in Michigan where he’s been gauging the mood of voters. 

Today, he discusses hot dogs, a close-ish encounter with Kamala Harris and why Michigan was key to Trump’s last attempt to overturn the election result.

Matt Bevan highlights the strategic importance of voter turnout in Detroit for the Democratic Party and the tactics used by Donald Trump to depress it. 

He shares insights from voters on their concerns about the election and the potential for post-election violence. 

Featured: 

Matt Bevan, host of If You’re Listening: America’s Last Election 

Key Topics:

• Michigan swing state
• Kamala Harris
• Donald Trump
• 2020 election result challenges
• US election voter sentiment

We’d all like to fly business class, but most of us end up at the back. 

So, no wonder claims that the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arranged personal flight upgrades directly with the boss of Qantas has caused a furore.

Today, Sean Johnson, founder of the Open Politics website and former lobbyist and Liberal party staffer on political gift giving and why it needs to end. 

He explains the exclusive nature of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge and its implications for political transparency. 

He highlights the potential conflicts of interest that arise when politicians accept such perks.

Sean Johnson also discusses the broader culture of gift-giving in politics and its impact on public trust. 

He proposes a complete ban on gifts and sponsored travel to mitigate these issues.

Editor’s note: After this episode was recorded, the prime minister’s office put out a statement denying that Anthony Albanese ever called former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to ask for flight upgrades.

Featured: 

Sean Johnson, founder of Open Politics

Key Topics:

• Anthony Albanese flight upgrades
• Qantas Chairman’s Lounge
• Political gift-giving
• Conflicts of interest in politics
• Public trust in politicians
• Transparency in government
• Political perks and privileges
• Anti-Corruption measures
• Political culture 

Donald Trump says he’s the opposite of a Nazi and his opponent Kamala Harris is a fascist, not him.

But what do his own words and actions show us?  

Today, Jennfier Mercieca, historian of political rhetoric from Texas A&M University on how Trump’s language can be likened to Hitler’s and how he uses it to win over his supporters. 

She says Trump’s campaign strategy involves terrorising voters into supporting him by exploiting their fears. 

She highlights how Trump’s rhetoric includes derogatory comments and fear appeals to create a sense of loyalty among his followers. 

Dr. Mercieca also notes that Trump’s repetition of key messages mirrors tactics used by historical fascists to manipulate public perception.

Featured: 

Dr Jennifer Mercieca, historian of American political rhetoric

Correction: This episode includes a comment that Hitler was a propagandist during World War One. In fact, Hitler joined the newly formed Nazi Party following World War One in September 1919 and took charge of party propaganda in 1920. 

Key Topics:

• Donald Trump
• Kamala Harris
• Fascism
• Political rhetoric
• Fear appeals
• Authoritarianism
• Election campaign strategies
• Adolf Hitler

More than two and a half years into the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone to an ally for help. 

Several thousand North Korean troops have arrived in Russia and are expected to join the fight. 

Today, Russia expert Matthew Sussex from the Centre for European Studies at the ANU on what it means for the war.

He explains that the North Korean troops are likely to be used in rear-area roles initially, freeing up Russian soldiers for front-line combat. 

He highlights that this move is a significant escalation, as it involves a country from Asia sending troops to Europe. 

Professor Sussex also discusses the potential benefits for North Korea, including military modernisation and enhanced missile capabilities. 

Featured: 

Matthew Sussex, an associate professor at the Centre for European studies at the Australian National University

Key Topics:

• Ukraine war
• Russia-North Korea alliance
• North Korean military
• Vladimir Putin
• Kim Jong-un
• Russia-China relations
• South Korea

Artificial Intelligence chatbots have come such a long way in a really short time.

Each release of ChatGPT brings new features, like voice chat, along with updates to the training data fed into the systems, supposed to make them smarter. 

But are more leaps forward a sure thing? Or could the tools actually get dumber?

Today, Aaron Snoswell from the generative AI lab at the Queensland University of Technology discusses the limitations of large language models like ChatGPT. 

He explains why some observers fear ‘model collapse’, where more mistakes creep in as the systems start ‘inbreeding’, or consuming more AI created content than original human created works. 

Aaron Snoswell says these models are essentially pattern matching machines, which can lead to surprising failures. 

He also discusses the massive amounts of data required to train these models and the creative ways companies are sourcing this data. 

The AI expert also touches on the concept of artificial general intelligence and the challenges in achieving it. 

Featured: 

Aaron Snoswell, senior research fellow at the generative AI lab at the Queensland University of Technology

Key Topics:

• Artificial Intelligence
• ChatGPT
• Large Language Models
• Model Collapse
• AI Training Data
• Artificial General Intelligence
• Responsible AI Development
• Generative AI

With less than two weeks until Americans vote, Donald Trump’s campaign keeps getting stranger. 

From playing music instead of taking questions from supporters, to commenting on the genitalia of a dead golfer, and suggesting he’d deploy the military against his ‘enemy within’ the United States. 

But still the polls are neck and neck. 

Today, we talk to Rina Shah, a former Republican strategist, about the race to the finish line.

She speaks about the importance of Pennsylvania in the upcoming election, noting that both campaigns are heavily focused on this key swing state. 

She highlights Trump’s unconventional campaign tactics, including his bizarre town hall meeting in Philadelphia that turned into a music fest. 

Rina Shah also discusses Kamala Harris’s strategy of using Trump’s own words against him in her rallies, which seems to resonate well with voters.

Featured: 

Rina Shah, political strategist, former senior Republican congressional aide and a former presidential campaign adviser

Key Topics:

• Donald Trump campaign tactics
• Pennsylvania swing state
• Kamala Harris campaign strategy
• Early voting trends
• Trump’s town hall meeting
• Election 2024 polls
• Abortion policy
• Trump’s comments on Arnold Palmer

In 2018, Queensland decriminalised abortion up to 22 weeks’ gestation without a doctor's permission. 

Now, the prospect of repealing those laws has become a major issue ahead of this weekend’s state election.

In South Australia too, the legality of abortion has been contested in the parliament. 

So, why is abortion up for debate? 

Today, Prudence Flowers from Flinders University on why what’s happening here can be linked to the United States.  

Dr Flowers explains that the overturning of Roe v Wade in the US has sent shock waves globally, influencing debates in Australia. 

She says the political landscape in Queensland is particularly volatile, with independent MP Robbie Katter pushing for a repeal of the decriminalisation law. 

She notes the significant anti-abortion sentiment within the Liberal National Party, which could impact the outcome if they win the election. 

In South Australia, recent legislative attempts to restrict abortion have narrowly failed, reflecting the contentious nature of the issue. 

Featured: 

Dr Prudence Flowers, senior lecturer at Flinders University

Key Topics:

• Queensland abortion laws
• South Australia abortion debate
• Roe v Wade
• Robbie Katter
• Liberal National Party and abortion
• US influence on Australian politics
• Reproductive rights
• Political strategies in elections
• Abortion laws

With the polls in the US neck and neck just a few weeks out from the election, money talks. 

Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is throwing it around for Donald Trump, even offering million-dollar cheques to voters who sign a petition set up by a Trump-friendly campaign group. 

Today, Vittoria Elliot from WIRED on why Musk is so desperate for Trump to win. 

Vittoria Elliot explains Musk’s shift from supporting Democrats to backing Trump, driven by business interests and regulatory concerns. 

She highlights Musk’s significant influence on social media, particularly through X, where he amplifies right-wing talking points. 

Elliot also discusses the legal grey areas of Musk’s financial incentives for voters and the potential implications for future elections.

Featured: 

Vittoria Elliot, WIRED reporter covering platforms and power

Key Topics:

• Elon Musk
• Donald Trump
• US Election 2024
• Early Voting
• Political Action Committees (PACs)
• Social Media 
• Misinformation
• Free Speech

The assassination of the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, the architect of the October 7 attack, might have been an opportunity for a ceasefire. 

Instead, Israeli airstrikes have intensified in the north and there is no sign Hamas will agree to the return of hostages. 

Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on what Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to achieve. 

Professor Menon says that despite Sinwar’s death, Hamas remains resilient and continues to pose a threat. 

He says the international community is closely watching the situation, with significant political and humanitarian concerns.

Featured: 

Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York 

Key Topics:

• Yahya Sinwar assassination
• Israeli airstrikes in Gaza
• Hamas leadership
• Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy
• Ceasefire prospects
• Hostage negotiations
• Gaza conflict 
• Humanitarian impact

The cost of toll roads for drivers and even rideshare passengers are hard to avoid and the price attached to each beep of the reader increases every year. 

Transurban is the firm that dominates the industry on the east coast and in some states they can even use the criminal justice system to chase toll debts and fines. 

The cost of toll roads is prohibitive for many drivers, forcing people to quit jobs across town and pushing truck drivers to use suburban roads instead. 

Today, Four Corners reporter Pat McGrath on his investigation into the contracts that governments sign to get nice new toll roads.

He reveals how many contracts allow toll price increases pegged to the consumer price index or at least four per cent, leading to significant revenue for companies like Transurban. 

He explores potential reforms and the need for government intervention to address these issues.

Featured: 

Pat McGrath, Four Corners reporter

Key Topics:

• Toll roads
• Transurban
• Consumer price index
• Toll debt enforcement
• Government contracts with toll companies
• Toll road reforms
• Cost of living crisis
• Traffic congestion