ICE officers in the US city of Minneapolis have killed a second protester, as locals fight against the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. We get the latest from the ground with journalist Laura Jedeed. 

Plus as part of her reporting, Laura was researching what it takes to sign up for ICE. So why did the agency end up hiring her?

And back home: there were 4 shark attacks in 48 hours last week, including one which claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy in NSW. Is it time for a cull? 

Guests: 

• Laura Jedeed, freelance journalist
• Dr Vanessa Pirotta, wildlife scientist

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• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

It's Hottest 100 day today, and all over Australia people are getting around their favourite music discoveries.

But one of the main platforms that helps people find new tracks is having a bumpy ride, with users boycotting Spotify because of AI, algorithms and the investments of the company's CEO.

So what is the boycott Spotify movement about?

And what does it tell us about the state of music in general?

In the deep dive today, we look at the global music streaming sector's big whale, and ask why some artists and fans are seeking out alternatives.

Guests: 

• Dr Sophie Freeman, researcher of music streaming and algorithmic recommendation, the University of Melbourne

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Is parliament's response to the Bondi terrorist attack about to destroy the coalition?

It's the question everyone in Canberra is asking, after politicians returned for the year for an emergency sitting.

The to-do list this week was short: tougher gun restrictions and new laws governing hate speech.

So what did the parliament achieve, and how are laws about to change?

In this ep of the hack summer podcast, hack political reporter Shalailah Medhora gets you up to speed.

Guest: 

• Shalailah Medhora, hack political reporter

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When Luke Bateman was at the peak of his NRL career, his seemed to be living the dream of many young Aussie men. 

At 24, he was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars to play the sport he loved. But the reality of what was happening in Luke's life was much darker. 

He was struggling with a gambling addiction and depression. 

In this extended interview Luke opens up, revealing details of how he rebuilt his life and overcame addiction. We also get into the backlash he faced after announcing a book deal, and why he wants more guys to read. 

Remember, the National Gambling Helpline is available on 1800 858 858.

Guest: 

• Luke Bateman, former NRL player and #BookTok creator

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Have you heard of Grok? It’s an AI bot that lives inside X, which you might still know as Twitter.

Grok has come under fire in the last few days for 'undressing' women against their consent in response to prompts from X users. 

On Friday Grok started to limit the ability of users to generate AI images, due to concerns about non consensual sexual imagery.

So, why was the bot able to make those images to begin with?

And what's being done to prevent future harm? 

On the deep dive today, we speak to one of the young Aussies caught up in the Grok 'nudify' controversy, and we hear from an expert about the lack of safeguards in Grok allowing this to happen. 

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It's been a crazy few days in Venezuela.

On Saturday, the US dropped bombs on the country's capital Caracas while US special forces descended on a compound where the president Nicolás Maduro was staying, capturing him and his wife and flying them both to the US.

Then a few days later, Maduro appeared in court in New York, charged with drug trafficking and terrorism crimes.

The reaction has been a mixed bag: from widespread concern the US is breaking international law, to many labelling president Donald Trump a hero.

But many Venezuelans feel their voices have not been getting enough attention.

In this ep, Dave catches up with two Venezuelans living in Australia.

They talk about why they left Venezuela, what it feels like to see Maduro stand trial, and what they hope happens next.Guests: 

• Lamira, Venezuelan musician living in Australia
• Samantha Oviedo, Venezuelan living in Australia

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

According to Uber drivers, it's the "oldest trick in the book": gaming the system to charge you more.

In some cases, it could mean you end up paying 2 or 3 times the normal cost of a trip.

So how does the trick work?

Well, triple j hack has been speaking to drivers about how they create artificial surge prices, leaving passengers out of pocket.

And even more remarkably, the union representing them reckons the consequences for passengers are entirely on Uber itself, because drivers aren't being paid enough for their work.

So is any of this fair?

We chatted to a few drivers to get an inside look at the industry, as well as a CHOICE spokesperson to find out what this could mean for your next Uber ride.

A version of this episode was first published in August 2025.

Guest: 

• Jarni Blakkarly, investigative journalist, CHOICE

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It's the social season in Australia — barbecues, festivals, long nights out.

And with it often comes alcohol and drugs, which are woven into how we celebrate and connect.

But what about the costs to your health, your bank account, and your headspace?

And while more people are cutting back, others are realising they can't have a healthy relationship with booze, opting for sobriety instead.

So how do you stop?

Dave Marchese sits down with Julia Rangiheuea from the Soberly Speaking podcast to unpack Australia's drinking culture, the real costs of partying, and her journey from self-described "party girl" to being 3 years sober this month.

And if this chat brought up anything for you, there is help available: the National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is on 1800 250 015

A version of this episode was first published in October 2025.

Guest: 

• Julia Rangiheuea, host of Soberly Speaking

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It's something drummed into Australians before they can even walk or talk. 

To beat our strong Aussie sun, you've gotta put on sunscreen. 

We all know the jingles and slogans: Slip Slop Slap, There's Nothing Healthy About A Tan. 

But is the sunscreen we've been told is so vital... actually working? 

Consumer group CHOICE tested 20 popular sunscreens this year, and found most of them weren't providing the protection they claimed. 

So is your favourite sunscreen brand among them?

And what should you actually be looking for in SPF protection? 

We chatted to a bunch of you about your sunscreen habits for this summer pod episode, as well as an assistant professor of medicine to get the lowdown on the study and how to protect yourself from UV. 

A version of this episode was first published in June 2025. 

Guests: 

• Dr Jessica Stokes-Parish, educator, registered nurse, assistant professor in medicine at Bond University. 

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When she was just 14 years old, Molly Burke lost her vision, and with it the way she understood the world. 

But Molly refused to let losing her sight mean giving up what she loved: beauty. 

For Molly, makeup isn't just an interest, it's a passion, and today she's a hugely influential beauty creator with millions of followers. 

So how does someone who can't see choose an outfit, apply makeup, and build a huge following online? 

In this extended interview, Molly joins host Dave Marchese to talk about why the blind community "deserves to be seen" just as much as anyone else. 

Also if you want to learn more about Molly's journey, her memoir 'Unseen: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice' is out now. 

A version of this episode was first published in May 2025.

Guest: 

• Molly Burke, content creator

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