COVID_19 has arrived at two NSW towns with large Aboriginal populations. There have been unprecedented anti-Government protests in Cuba. And Little Lonsdale Street - 'Little Lon' - was the setting for a thriving sex work trade in Melbourne in the 19th century.

Bruce Shapiro with the latest on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's sexual assault scandal, as law makers prepare to impeach. University of Sydney lecture Dr Aim Sinpeng discusses the role that COVID-19 and Facebook have had on ongoing unrest in Thailand. David Goldblatt recounts the origins of the Olympics, which are far darker than expected.

Laura Tingle with the latest on the disputes over vaccination, Heidi Nicholl on responding truthfully on religion in the census and Jo Willett on the innoculation pioneer, Lady Mary Montagu.

Dennis Altman debates the benefits of monarchies whilst remaining a republican and Patrick Nunn reveals that there may be some truth behind the myths of underwater worlds.

The British right attacked the main lifeboat charity, and got some major backlash. Australia's diplomacy on climate change has been fuelled by.. fossil fuels. And author Nicolas Rothwell on the role of mentors - particularly two different women - in his new novel.

Bruce Shapiro on the divisions among the Democrats, Manal al-Sharif explains why we should care about Pegasus and David Potter on why some disruptions manage to join the mainstream and others do not.

Laura Tingle has the latest from Canberra, The Economist correspondent John Hooper on a sensational Vatican trial and architect Mark Major on the light and dark of architecture.

The complicated history of humanity's relationship to fire with Stephen Pyne and Nick Horne and Ryan Cropp discuss the legacy of Donald Horne on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Fiji's escalating Covid crisis is being met with 'no jab, no job'. The far right in France has a new poster boy, Eric Zammour. And why the best way to improve something might be not to add, but to subtract.

Bruce Shapiro on the latest in US politics, political economist John Rapley on pandemics and empires and historian Nicholas Clements on First Nations leader Tongelongeter.