Whether it's renewable energy, becoming a republic or marriage equality, politics excels at taking popular causes and sinking them. This week, former Howard staffer Geoff Cousins explains the lessons learnt from the republic referendum and how they are being repeated on same-sex marriage. Ben Oquist joins us to break down Tony Abbott's attack on renewables, and Servant X takes us behind the robo-debt debacle.

News audio is courtesy of the ABC.

Email us at: [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.