It is the oldest fraternal organisation in the world; and began with a group of builders who first gathered in the Middle Ages in Europe to build cathedrals and, later, some of the world’s great architectural structures.

But at the heart of the Freemasons, is secrecy, too. It’s against the rules to speak, publicly, about what happens in this order, which has chapters around the world.

Today, investigative journalist Charlotte Grieve, about the 31 current and former freemasons who spoke to her to expose what they say is a crisis of bullying, nepotism and financial mismanagement, within the Victorian Freemasons chapter. And why some allege that the organisation’s focus has shifted from charity, to property development.

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In the early hours of Sunday, February 4, Samantha Murphy left her home in Ballarat for her usual morning run. It’s what so many of us do, every day.

But when Samantha failed to show up later, as planned, for brunch, her family raised the alarm.

Police soon appealed to the public for help with finding the mother of three, and began searching hundreds of hectares near where Samantha regularly ran.

Volunteers later joined in the effort, gathering from around the country to comb the dense bushland near Samantha’s home.

Today, law and justice editor Chris Vedelago on the woman who vanished without a trace. And the man who’s been charged with her murder.

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She is probably the most famous female athlete in Australia. A beloved - and extremely bankable - role model, who helped unite Australia last year, when she led the Matildas into the World Cup semi-finals.

So when news surfaced, last week, that Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr had been charged with using a racist slur in England, the fallout was swift. There were questions about her future in the sport and her leadership of the Australian team.

But people also questioned the likelihood of Kerr, who is not only of Indian heritage, but is also gay, harassing someone. Let alone a white police officer.

Today, Europe Correspondent, Rob Harris, on how this story broke, and University of Sydney professor of social work and policy studies, Jioji Ravulo, on whether it’s possible to racially abuse someone for being white.

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Last weekend the people of Dunkley, in south-east Melbourne, voted in a byelection, and delivered a respectable victory to the Labor candidate Jody Beylea. 

Before the vote, Liberal Senator Jane Hume said that “what we’re hearing from voters on the ground is there is this white-hot anger, there is this fury”.

But that turned out to be a massive overreach. There was only an average swing against Labor.

Today on Inside Politics, chief political correspondent David Crowe and political correspondent Paul Sakkal join Jacqueline Maley to discuss what the Dunkley by-election tells us about the fate of the Opposition.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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For years now, global leaders have become somewhat accustomed to Russian president Vladimir Putin threatening nuclear attack on his enemies. He’s only picked up on those threats, since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, just over two years ago. 

To many, these were simply sabre rattling; a show of strength. And a bluff.

But then came the leak, about a week ago, of Russian military documents that give new insights into Putin’s nuclear strategies. 

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on just how low Putin’s threshold might be, for launching nuclear weapons. And what global leaders may be thinking now.

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You know it; I know it, and the politicians sure know it. We’re still in the grip of a cost of living crisis. 

But while our two main political parties take pot-shots at each other, and try to score points over who’s doing a better job at providing relief, one main part of the discussion has been lost.

What are we spending our money on now? And why?

Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on the biggest shift in our spending habits that he’s seen, in his nearly 40 years long career. And what it says about us.

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The alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in a terrace house in the inner city of Sydney, on February 19, stunned the nation.

The case began after police found a bag with bloodied contents on February 21, in a skip near a police station in the south Sydney suburb of Cronulla. This led to a manhunt, across Sydney and beyond, after which time Beau Lamarre-Condon, an active police officer, handed himself in at a police station. Exactly a week ago today, Lamarre-Condon led police to the bodies of the slain couple.

But many crucial questions have remained unanswered. Until now.

Today, crime reporter Perry Duffin on the leaked police document, and conversations with former friends and colleagues of Jesse Baird, that tell us the inside story behind this tragic case. 

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Tomorrow marks one of the most important dates on the American political calendar. It’s Super Tuesday, when 15 states hold mini-elections to help determine who will win their party’s presidential nomination, and then go on to vie for the top spot in the White House, in November. 

So, which states are voting? And how might they tap into the personal and political vulnerabilities of the three main challengers: Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley?

Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on the rage, disillusionment and hope she’s been seeing as she travels from state to state. And who might come out a winner tomorrow.

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David McBride is awaiting sentencing for the leak of classified military documents from his time as an army lawyer in Afghanistan.

In a candid conversation with senior Good Weekend writer Jane Cadzow, he speaks about what led him to do it, the personal fallout and his complex relationship with his father William, who blew the whistle on problems with thalidomide in the 1960s before his own fall from grace.

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Well, it seems that spies walk among us. 

This week ASIO boss Mike Burgess made an extraordinary revelation. 

He said his agency uncovered a sophisticated foreign interference operation, which involved a former Australian politician betraying Australia, and trying to involve a relative of a Prime Minister in the web. 

So just how bad is the threat? 

And why won’t they tell us who this former politician is? 

Plus, we already knew the average working woman is paid less than the average man. But this week, for the first time, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency revealed the median pay gaps at nearly 5000 of the country’s largest companies.     

Businesses from major banks to women’s activewear brands have large pay gaps favouring men, while elite private schools have pay gaps favouring women.

So what, if anything, can be done about it? 

Today, economics reporter Rachel Clun and chief political correspondent David Crowe discuss the week in politics. 

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