Behind the Lines

Guardian columnist Jason Wilson explores the rise of the ‘alt-right’. In conversation with Bridie Jabour and Gabrielle Jackson he describes how Richard Spencer coined the term to represent a ‘big tent’ for dissident rightwing thinkers. Wilson argues that the line between the far-right and mainstream conservatives has since become blurred in Australia

We look at the biggest news stories of 2016 that were ‘not really news’. From Harambe’s rise to meme stardom to Pokémon Go and Taylor Swift, Guardian staff discuss some of the year’s cultural phenomena

Calla Wahlquist explores the timeline of Ms Dhu’s detainment and how she was misdiagnosed. We also hear from Ms Dhu’s grandmother and uncle on the impact of her death and why it’s important for everyone to watch the footage of what happened to her • Ms Dhu endured ‘inhumane treatment’ by police before death in custody – coroner • Ms Dhu’s inquest shines spotlight on failures but will it prompt change?

We talk to teenagers about what they were doing on the internet in their formative years and how their parents trying to protect them led to them using the internet in secret. How can parents protect their kids without being resented?

On a Sydney Peace Prize panel moderated by Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor, the author Naomi Klein, anti-Carmichael coalmine campaigner Murrawah Johnson, climate action leader Maria Tiimon Chi- Fang, Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Nadine Flood and GetUp! human rights campaigner Shen Narayanasamy discuss the need to transition to a post-carbon Australia. Naomi Klein at the Great Barrier Reef: what have we left for our children? – video

It’s impossible to talk about rising pressure in education without addressing the elephant in the room, that is, the prevalence of children of Asian background working overtime for their excellent academic outcomes in our schools, particularly our selective schools. People are reluctant to address this head on, because invariably an accusation of racism – or actual racism – will follow. Lucy Clark spoke to Dr Christina Ho from UTS about her latest research in a Guardian Australia Behind the Lines podcast • Hothoused and hyper-racialised: the ethnic imbalance in our selective schools

There has been plenty of speculation about why One Nation supporters voted the way they did in the 2016 federal election. Bridie Jabour asks the voters themselves for the Behind the Lines podcast and the answers are complicated – and surprising • Meeting Pauline Hanson’s voters: silent screamers find their voice • Comprehending Pauline is not the problem. Engaging constructively with Hansonism is | Katharine Murphy • First Dog on the Moon | A cartoon about Pauline Hanson voters. What are they?

Could a simple change to the law make a difference for asylum seekers in Australia? Or do we need to stop acting as though there are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ types of refugees? David Marr, Shukufa Tahiri, Jane McAdam, Daniel Webb and Geoff Gilbert explore alternative solutions to the current situation for asylum seekers in Australia

What’s it like combing through thousands of reports of abuse? Bridie Jabour talks to Paul Farrell, Helen Davidson and Nick Evershed about the investigation, how the project came together and why reporters used to covering immigration and child cruelty cases still found themselves shocked by what they read. ‘If this happened in an institution on the Australian mainland it would be shut down the next day,’ Evershed says

Dr Munjed Al Muderis lived very comfortably in Iraq but what led him to leave as a traitor? Today he is an inspiring doctor who specialises in crafting new limbs for amputees but to get here he risked a dangerous journey by boat and a long stay in detention. He tells the story behind his Dear Australia video