Late Night Live — Full program podcast

Australia's new treaties with Fiji and Vanuatu are being hailed as a diplomatic triumph. But how meaningful are they, and are they in the best interests of the wider Pacific? And a philosopher's take on why the push for the New Space Age, when humans will someday be living, working, and vacationing in space, is a mistake.

Guests: 

• Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security,  Adelaide University.  Co-author, with Jack Corbett, of ‘Neighbours: Australia and the Pacific’ (La Trobe)
• Ben Bramble, lecturer in philosophy at the Australian National University and a mission specialist at ANU’s Institute for Space. Author of ‘Lunacy - Ten False promises of the New Space age’ (NewSouth) 

US commentator Bruce Shapiro looks at the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump's attack on New York Times journalists over their Air Force One reporting, and how the US's latest attacks on Iran are being seen ahead of the November primaries. Plus a new documentary by Danish journalist Tom Heinemann investigates Ikea's claims that it's wood from a Romanian forest is sustainable. And 'The dead can't sue', a cheeky new ABC podcast about the scandals and gossip from Australia's past. 

Canberra columnist Professor Mark Kenny examines Liberal leader Angus Taylor's fresh criticism of One Nation. In Alabama, there's debate over the use of nitrous oxide as a method to execute death row prisoners. And why are more and more of us watching TV and film with the subtitles on? 

Guests:

• Professor Mark Kenny, columnist with the Canberra Times; Director of the Australian Studies Institute at ANU
• Deborah Denno, criminologist and Professor at the Fordham University School of Law, New York  
• Andy Wright, Oscar-winning sound editor  

Uncle Roger Knox joins David Marr in the studio for an hour of stories and songs: from growing up on the mission, to making his name in Tamworth, surviving two plane crashes, and singing the truth about frontier violence. 

• Guest: Uncle Roger Knox, Gomeroi Elder and musician; joined by collaborator Toby Martin
• Producer: Catherine Zengerer
• Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls, Harvey O'Sullivan

The hit new book Regime Change offers staggering insights into Donald Trump's second presidency, revealed by New York Times journalists Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman. Plus, historian Nicholas Guyatt exposes the paradox of founding father and early US president Thomas Jefferson -  who opposed slavery politically, yet enslaved more than 600 people. A new book explores his vision of abolition — and racial exclusion.

Guests:

• Jonathan Swan, journalist with New York Times and co-author, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump
• Nicholas Guyatt, Professor of North American History, Cambridge University

UK commentator Ian Dunt joins Late Night Live moments before Reform leader Nigel Farage's fiery resignation as MP. Human rights researcher Larissa Kojoue says many African leaders are outlawing homosexuality because they don't want to seem 'Western'. And an Indian Supreme Court ruling establishes that is a human right to walk safely on a footpath

Guests:

• Ian Dunt, columnist with i-news, co-host of Origin Story podcast
• Larissa Kojoue, African human rights researcher with Human Rights Watch
• Rishi Aggarwal, activist and founder of the Mumbai Walking Project

Prof Mark Kenny surveys the Coalition's ongoing struggles to handle the surging popularity of Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Israeli philosopher Assaf Sharon studies how states coerce and manipulate their citizens. Plus, a look inside one of Australia's premier ancient coin collections. 

Guests:

• Professor Mark Kenny, Director of the Australian Studies Institute at ANU, host of the Democracy Sausage podcast
• Assaf Sharon, Israeli philosopher. Co-author of 'Captive minds: a study of manipulation' (Harvard Uni Press)
• Peter Edwell, Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies at Macquarie University

As the US celebrates 250 years since its Declaration of Independence, what links can we draw between America's Revolution and Australia's colonisation? Plus, the 'Indian' world of George Washington: founding father and aggressive land speculator. 

Guests:

• Professor Kate Fullagar, historian at ACU
• Professor Colin G. Calloway, historian at Dartmouth College, author of The Indian World of George Washington

30 years ago today, the Northern Territory briefly became the first place in the world where eligible patients could access voluntary euthanasia, until the laws were scuttled at the federal level. Former Chief Minister Marshall Perron reflects on the political fight. Plus, with a third of the world's fertilisers held up in the Strait of Hormuz, a new book reminds us of a time when cities where far more self-sufficient, growing their own food in tiny gardens. 

Guests: 

• Marshall Perron, former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory (1988-1995)
• Kate Brown, author of Tiny gardens everywhere, a history of urban resilience

Bruce Shapiro on the USA turning 250 and why a new Supreme Court decision means US President Donald Trump will have even more firing powers. Japan is struggling to recruit people to its militar as its population ages. Plus the booming global trade in rare succulents and cacti across the Mexican border.

Guests: 

• Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor with The Nation magazine and Director of the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma. 
• Tom Le, Associate Professor of Politics at Pomona College, California
• Charlie McCann, Features Writer, the Economist 's long-reads section, 1843