Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert cancelled. Journalists fired by right-wing media oligarchs. A president — and the institutions that support him — silencing political dissent. The US has indeed returned to the 1950s, when McCarthyism became a nationwide witch hunt for communists and “subversive” ideology.

And it’s catching: the Red Scare-esque hysteria over political speech is evident in Australia, with campaigns against critics of Israel, climate activists and progressive voices supported by government crackdowns. 

Crikey’s reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis joins the podcast to explain the striking parallels between McCarthyism and the fraught political discourse of 2025. 

Read more:

• Welcome to the New McCarthyism
• Always partisan, the Supreme Court has contorted itself into the shape dictated by Donald Trump
• How the authoritarian playbook creates a far-right media for the Five Eyes world
• Paul Robeson, the ‘Last Tour’ and Australia’s lost history
• Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom in the US is to be expected. Here, it’s baffling
• Segal’s antisemitism plan would be the deepest intervention in Australian universities since Federation

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What if we told you that US politics is more transparent than Australian politics? Case in point: we know that Gina Rinehart donated money to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s legal defence fund. But how much? The Senator doesn’t have to say.

Sean Johnson, founder of Open Politics and author of this week’s Rinehart donation scoop, joins the podcast to explain the many ways politicians can hide assets and keep potential conflicts off the register of interests. With so many loopholes, exemptions and no consequences for failing to disclose, the system is best summed up as, “trust me, bro” — but Johnson has ideas for how we can fix it. 

Read more:

• The company they keep: Where does your MP invest their money? Search our database
• Gina Rinehart among slew of people bankrolling Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s defamation defence
• Landlord List: See how many properties your local MP owns
• Nothing can force politicians to disclose their conflicts and benefits. That’s a problem.

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Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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After a two year battle, the Murdoch family has settled the biggest question about its future: who gets control of daddy's media empire. Three of Rupert Murdoch's adult children, Prudence, James and Elisabeth have agreed to get out of the game, selling their shares in the family trust for US$3.3 billion. Favoured son Lachlan will buy them out and maintain the legacy of staunch conservatism in News Corp and Fox, just as Rupert planned.

Crystal Andrews is joined by Crikey founder Stephen Mayne to unpack who gets what in the deal, and what Lachlan plans to do with the media empire. But the feuding is far from over. If a disgruntled James Murdoch wanted to mess with his estranged father and brother, what are his options now? Mayne has some ideas. 

Read more:

• For the secretive Murdochs, the succession drama has been a nightmare. It’s far from over
• Who are the other Murdoch siblings?
• Rupert Murdoch’s corporate record over 70-plus years as CEO and chairman
• How does News Corp make its money?
• The Murdoch Century, our series about the legacy of the family’s media empire
• Project Harmony, our series about Rupert Murdoch’s succession plan for Lachlan

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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The “media-baiting” tactics of neo-Nazi groups was on brutal display at the March for Australia rallies last Sunday, with many traditional and new media outlets suckered in to amplifying their hate-filled agenda. How can journalists do responsible reporting without falling into the trap?

Cut Through host Crystal Andrews and contributor Scobie McKay discuss the complexities of reporting on the far right and how Australian tabloid media’s obsession with the “freedom movement” is helping neo-Nazis recruit new members. 

Read more:

• How neo-Nazi support for a viral anti-immigration rally exposed fractures among ‘freedom’ groups
• How to report on neo-Nazis without giving them what they want
• Why the sovereign citizen movement is no longer a fringe curiosity
• Before the horror of Porepunkah, Australia’s media platformed Dezi Freeman for years
• Attack on Camp Sovereignty: How ordinary fears are giving cover to extraordinary hate
• White Rose Society’s 9 Principles for Journalists Reporting On Neo-Nazis

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Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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In just four months, social media platforms will be forced to ban kids aged 16 and under. How will that work? No-one actually knows.

Crikey associate editor and tech journalist Cam Wilson has been closely following the progress of the teen social media ban – from the push for a ban by commercial radio host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, to the rushed legislation, aggressive lobbying by the tech giants, and, now, a trial of age-verification technology that’s not quite going to plan. 

He joins Cut Through host Crystal Andrews to explain what the hell is going on, and what you can expect when the results from the tech trial are made public.

Read more:

• How Australia’s teen social media ban tech trial was derailed by expert turmoil and secrecy
• ‘No fucking sense’: The secret deal which removed a ‘crucial’ part of the teen social media ban
• See the leaked teen social media ban tech trial report that has experts worried
• For parents, the teen social media ban doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile
• The Wiggles’ teen social media ban lobbying exposes an uncomfortable truth about young kids and tech
• How Crikey will report on the teen social media ban (and how we got here in the first place)

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers held his much-hyped Economic Reform Roundtable this week, with politicians and a selective list of experts, leaders and business executives discussing solutions for the challenges facing the Australian economy. Boring? Yeah. But given this three-day meeting will shape the next three federal budgets, it deserves your scrutiny.

Economist Jason Murphy joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews to explain what ‘productivity’ means, why the roundtable was so fixated on this concept and to talk through some of the proposals on housing, tax reform and Centrelink.

But patience is the name of this game: Murphy thinks any “success stories” from this roundtable won’t be seen for 10 years or more.

Read more:

• Jim Chalmers wants his economic roundtable to rise above party politics. Good luck!
• How Jim Chalmers’ ‘boardroom blitz’ roundtable kicked off
• Reader reply: Is it time for a Universal Basic Income?
• Some taxes are inefficient at any level. Even modest reforms will help
• How the productivity roundtable became a vast gaslighting exercise — and sums up the fatal rot in Australian politics

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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For years the Labor government has insisted Palestinian statehood could only come “at the end” of a peace process with Israel. This week, Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong announced an abrupt change: the time to recognise the state of Palestine is, apparently, now. 

Readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and politics editor Bernard Keane discuss what caused the Labor government to shift its position on Palestine. Will Australia ever go beyond symbolic gestures to impose meaningful penalties on Israel? Sanctions aren’t completely off the table — but there’s a reason we won’t lead the way.

Read more:

• Australia sends F-35 jet parts to Israel. Is it legal under international law?
• NSW Labor MP says he was ‘gagged’ and faced ‘bullying’ after trying to criticise Minns on Gaza
• Could Australia joining the chorus on Palestine tip the balance?
• The challenge of halting an ally-turned-monster looms larger still for Albanese and Wong
• Cash, Joyce, Hastie and co keep pushing Ley’s Coalition (far) right into the margins

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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In the first episode of our new weekly podcast, we’re addressing the biggest criticism of Crikey: that we’re too hard or too soft on Labor… and the Coalition. And the Greens, the independents, One Nation. You get the picture. 

Cut Through host Crystal Andrews speaks to editor-in-chief Sophie Black and politics editor Bernard Keane about how Crikey plans to cover the 48th Parliament, and how journalists and news publishers should be adapting to Australia’s new political landscape. What does it mean to truly scrutinise the people in power, who decides what is “newsworthy”, and why does the media seem to focus on political antics rather than analysis of policy proposals?

Plus is the Coalition now so politically irrelevant that the media should ignore it altogether? 

Read more:

• How our newsroom plans to cover the 48th Parliament (1:21)
• ‘Background use only’: How Labor justifies its silence on Gaza to the media (12:17)
• As Bowen jibes the Coalition on climate, he still lets it dictate his policies. Who’s the real joke? (22:08)
• The grim reaper of Australian politics is back. Finally (18:10)
• Oppositions and accountability — or, trying for the least worst of both worlds (30:20)

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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In the final episode of Electioncast for 2025, Crystal Andrews and political editor Bernard Keane dissect the latest political plot twist: the end of the Coalition. While it’s not the first time the Nats and Libs have been on-again, off-again, the effects will be felt by everyone – even those who have never, and would never, vote for them.

Plus, Bernard reflects on his journalistic process in the aftermath of a result that proved many commentators’ theories wrong.

Make sure you subscribe to this feed for more Crikey podcasts coming soon!

Read more:

• History shows Coalition split a trial separation, not a divorce
• End of the Coalition is a win-win for Sussan Ley and the Nationals
• Albanese solved the Trump problem from the orthodox left. So what do the Liberals do now?
• The departure of the Nats is far from the end of the Liberals’ problems (hint: it’s themselves)

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

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Surprise, Electioncast is back! In this bonus episode, Crystal Andrews and associate editor Cam Wilson dissect the campaign antics of right-wing lobby group Advance, who spent millions in advertising against progressive MPs like the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather and independent Zoe Daniel. 

Advance is celebrating the loss of key Greens seats as proof of its influence, but how much of an impact did it really have? We analyse the group’s strategy and spend against the election result. 

Read all of Cam’s analysis of the Advance campaign:

• How Advance’s anti-Greens campaign backfired and helped elect a progressive Parliament
• Two sexual assault accusers say right-wing group Advance ‘weaponised’ their claims without their consent
• Anti-vaccine ‘freedom movement’ stars actively organising for Liberal-backed Advance group

Get the headlines they don’t want you to read in Crikey’s free newsletter: https://www.crikey.com.au/newsletters

Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.