The week in federal politics could not have been more fun. We had Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travel to Washington, finally, for his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The meeting was a total hit, and Albanese came home with a deal on critical mineral supply and reassurances on the AUKUS submarine pact.

Jacqueline Maley is joined by chief political correspondent, Paul Sakkal and special guest Bill Shorten, former opposition leader and a cabinet minister. Bill Shorten is now Vice Chancellor at the University of Canberra.

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For decades, analysts have been predicting the moment when China would inevitably overtake the United States as the world’s strongest power. That moment still hasn’t come. But then came last week, when Donald Trump’s economic threat against China backfired spectacularly.

Today, Peter Hartcher on the political turmoil in China that is stopping the country from realising superpower supremacy, for now. And whether Australia - unexpectedly thrust into a power position in this fight thanks to Anthony Albanese’s triumph with Trump this week - moves us out of our spot as a “middle power”, and nudges us higher up the ladder.

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It was the meeting that has been hanging over our prime minister’s head for nine months. But Anthony Albanese’s face-to-face with Donald Trump, on Tuesday morning Australian time, was never going to be easy.

It wasn’t just the presence of our American ambassador, Kevin Rudd, who once called Trump a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West”. But how would Albanese handle the most mercurial of world leaders?

Today, North America correspondent Michael Koziol, who was in the White House with Trump and Albanese, on what Australia gained, or lost, from this meeting. And his first-hand account of what it’s like to be told off by the American president, in front of the world.

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They are the heroes who might be called to winch you to safety, if you fall into a crevasse, get stuck in a bushfire, or find yourself circled by sharks at sea. 

But behind the daring rescues by members of the Westpac Rescue service in NSW, multiple staff members have made allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and lack of safety compliance at the organisation. 

Today, investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw, on the months-long investigation he led, along with 60 Minutes, into the rescue service where staff members treated like “god amongst men” are alleged to have engaged in behaviour that might have endangered patients’ safety.

Warning: Listeners might find some content in this podcast distressing. 

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Victoria is on the cusp of legislating a treaty with Indigenous people.

When it's enacted, Victoria will become the first state in Australia with such an agreement. It's also noted because Australia is the only developed Commonwealth country without a treaty with its First Nations peoples.

Today, Gunditjmara elder Aunty Jill Gallagher, AO, the chief executive of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, explains what treaty is and what Victoria’s historic one will entail.

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They said he couldn’t do it, but he’s doing it. In a few days, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, fresh from a week’s holiday, will be flying to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. 

And also, what really went on between the PM and his Treasurer over the super reforms that Jim Chalmers abandoned this week. Paul Sakkal says the Treasurer had his pants pulled down by the PM. Is he right? 

Joining Jacqueline Maley is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and chief economics correspondent Shane Wright.

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Remember when Donald Trump began a tariff war with ... the world?

We thought that was old news. But over the weekend, the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping made announcements that could – if they follow through with them – lead to what our international editor calls “mutually assured economic destruction”.

Today, Peter Hartcher on China’s cartel-like squeeze on the supply of rare earths, the minerals every country is beholden to for its defence and technology. And whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese might emerge as a key dealmaker in this space when he meets Trump in Washington next week.

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It was the superannuation tax plan that helped Labor achieve a landslide victory in the last election. Though some of Australia’s wealthiest Australians - who were hit hardest by the plan - cried foul, the government has been saying, for more than two years, that it would NOT change its super proposals.

Flash forward to this week, when, in an embarrassing political backflip, treasurer Jim Chalmers announced, yep, major changes to it.

Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on what these changes are, and how you’ll be impacted by them.

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The 20 surviving Israeli hostages who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza, have finally been released.

The Israeli Defence Force has released the first images of freed hostages, including the embrace of twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman. The pair were reportedly separated on their first day of captivity in Gaza.

Meanwhile, American president Donald Trump has declared the war in Gaza is over. But the truth is far more complicated.

Today, Amin Saikal, emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies and founding director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the ANU, on what we can expect in the next few days. And the likelihood that this ceasefire and Trump’s 20-point plan, will lead to lasting peace.

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It is one of the most unspeakable crimes a parent can be accused of – shaking their vulnerable baby so badly, that they sustain brain damage, or in the worst cases, die.

Diagnosing Murder is a new investigative podcast by senior writer Michael Bachelard, and producer Ruby Schwartz, that questions whether we can trust the science behind shaken baby syndrome.

Today, Bachelard explains why the diagnosis is in question and whether innocent people are being locked up for a crime they never committed.

And just a warning, some listeners may find the contents of this episode distressing.

Diagnosing Murder is out now. Listen on Apple, Spotify and wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

• This episode mentions the case of a Texas man who was due to be executed this week. Since we recorded this interview, the man - Robert Roberson - has been granted a reprieve.

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