Should Pope Francis be meeting the likes of Donald Trump? Do politicians owe journalists anything? And what makes the Uluru Statement a potential game-changer? Join Jim and Fatima as they dive into these and other questions.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

We come to grips with the dismissal of FBI director James Comey. Is this about optics, process or something else? Then we turn to a more sedate pace in Australia, where the federal budget has neither damaged or boosted the Turnbull government. We finish with a few ways to stay intact in a tumultuous world.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

Is there such a thing as bad debt when it comes to national budgets? Is infrastructure spending a great idea by default? We also take a glance at the first 100 days of the Trump presidency. As an antidote, we finish with a quick reflection on the latest moves by Pope Francis.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

On this episode, we take a moment to remember satirist John Clarke. Then we do an initial read of the story that the Australian federal budget might tell. We also break down that United Airlines incident. There might be detours, so stick close.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

In this episode, we try to take a knife through Donald Trump's entanglements with Russia. We also discuss coalcare, which is like government insurance for terminal fossil fuel industries. We finish with a quick note on a couple of films that have not been well-received.

We turn to the Philippines, nearly a year from the elections that made Rodrigo Duterte president. Along with other ructions from 2016, his presidency continues to raise questions about the nature of democracy.

To help us make sense of the current moment, we talk to Christopher Tan, a Manila-based lawyer with a public policy background.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

In this episode, we touch on energy, infrastructure and the political lens through which we receive nation-building ideas. We talk about Jay Weatherill, the South Australian Premier, who gave a master class this week in how to make federal ministers squirm. We also ask whether it is possible for journalists to remain neutral, a quarter into the Trump presidency.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)under CCBYA 3.0 licence. Audio clip via ABC News (Australia).

Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, taking the Liberal Party to a strong majority after nearly a decade of Conservative rule. He signaled many things that were seen as progressive. But is he really all that?

In this episode of ChatterSquare Extra, we catch up with Neal Jennings, Canadian politics nerd, who joins us from Vancouver.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0. Audio clip: The Beaverton 13 Feb 2017.

In this episode, we feel a bit sorry for Malcolm Turnbull and wonder whether the electorate even cares who is leader anymore. We also discuss scapegoating and how attempts to discriminate lead to indiscriminate effects. Hosted by Fatima Measham and Jim McDermott.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.

In this episode of ChatterSquare Extra, we chat with Dr Evan Smith, from the School of History and International Relations at Flinders University, Adelaide. We go over some of the historical analogies being made about the Trump administration, why people are drawn to them, and the pitfalls of reaching into the past to make sense of the present.

Music: Aces High by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)licensed under CCBYA 3.0.