Russian president Vladimir Putin may have averted an armed mutiny, but the wounds could prove fatal for his leadership. Wagner group, a private military force that has flourished with Putin’s blessing, and just halted its march from the Ukrainian front towards Moscow, has exposed cracks in the Russian government. Russia’s ruling elites will now exchange deep recriminations over how the attempted insurrection was able to get so far. Today, fellow at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Matthew Sussex, on why Wagner’s rebellion makes Putin’s rule uncertain. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Fellow at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Matthew Sussex

Will Vladimir Putin survive the year?

A string of recent incidents involving the use of force has raised questions about the way in which Australian police wield power, and how these incidents are investigated. The officer who allegedly Tasered a 95-year old woman, Clare Nowland, is in court next month and is expected to fight the charges. Meanwhile, a Queensland police officer was caught on video punching and Tasering a man who’d been in a car crash, and will be investigated by an internal police standards body. Today, contributor to The Monthly and criminal defence lawyer Russell Marks, on the use of force and the relationship between the police and the public. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Monthly Russell Marks.

Australian police and their use of excessive force

We learned this week that United States president Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, will accept a plea deal on federal tax crimes. With the 2024 presidential race already underway, Republicans are calling the deal evidence of nepotism and corruption – none more loudly than Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Trump, of course, is facing a much more lengthy federal indictment, with 37 charges against him. That could mean a prison sentence running several decades if he’s found guilty at his upcoming trial. Today, the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan Pearlman, on how the contest for the US presidency is suddenly about who has committed what crimes. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan Pearlman

Crimes and Misdemeanours: Donald Trump and Hunter Biden

The government’s housing policy could be dead in the water. On Monday, the Greens chose to block the legislation – by deferring the vote on the bill until October. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the delay is the same as rejecting it, and he’s seeking urgent legal advice about whether this could be a trigger for a double dissolution of parliament – which could bring on an early election. Today, Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness Max Chandler-Mather, reveals why the Greens blocked the bill, the conversations with Labor behind the scenes and what he thinks could have won his party’s support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness, Max Chandler-Mather

Max Chandler-Mather on why the Greens blocked the housing fund

Kathleen Folbigg was once known as Australia’s worst female serial killer – now she’s free after being pardoned. New scientific evidence played a big role in her release. But there are other issues that drove the media and the justice system’s condemnation of Folbigg. The way her psychological state, her grief and her reliability were questioned speak to the treatment of women who are accused of murder. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Wendy Bacon, on the fight for Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon and why it points to more wrongful convictions within our justice system. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Wendy Bacon

How the justice system failed Kathleen Folbigg

The Albanese government is campaigning to host the next United Nations Climate Conference in partnership with Pacific nations. Some have described this as an Olympic moment, but there is real concern it’s just an exercise in public relations and greenwashing Australia’s climate policies. In response, Pacific countries are now demanding Australia do more on climate action before agreeing to be part of the bid. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Polly Hemming on how Australia is peacocking in the Pacific. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Polly Hemming.

Peacock in the Pacific: Inside Australia’s bid to host COP31

One way that inequality becomes baked into Australian society is through education.  For decades, the school system has become increasingly stratified – to the benefit of private schools and detriment of public ones. So, what are the consequences of this divide, and how will the past twenty years of education policy shape the Australia we see tomorrow?  Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Jane Caro on why Australia stubbornly clings onto the myth of education equality and the damage it’s doing.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Jane Caro.

Why private schools are ruining Australia

Today, journalist Esther Linder will be reading her piece from the May issue of The Monthly. While Australians often can’t skip a rent payment, they can skip a meal. And as the cost of living soars, more and more Australians are going hungry. Through the lens of hunger, Linder looks at economic inequality, Australia’s failure to perceive the growing gaps in wealth. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist Esther Linder

The Weekend Read: Esther Linder on food insecurity

Parliament began this week with bitter arguments over the handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation, with the opposition using leaked text messages from Higgins’ phone to prosecute their case against the government. But it took only two days for fresh allegations of another sexual assault to emerge. Liberal senator David Van has been advised he will no longer sit in the party room, following accusations of sexual harassment and assault from independent senator Lidia Thorpe. Van denies the claims, but the opposition leader says he reached the decision after receiving even further complaints about the senator. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno, on the standards and culture within Parliament House. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

Lidia Thorpe alleges sexual assault in Parliament House

Activists around Australia have proven willing to risk jail time and fines of tens of thousands of dollars under new anti-protest laws, as states and territories rush to crack down on climate and environmental protests. Victoria has said the state will end native logging by 2024, but it remains committed to harsh anti-protest laws aimed at protecting the industry. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Elle Marsh, on the harsh penalties for environmentalism and the people willing to face them. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Elle Marsh

The people willing to face jail time for forests

Personal text messages between Brittany Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, have been splashed over the news for days – reopening questions about the lead up to the interview when Higgins first went public with the allegation she was raped in a ministerial office. The Coalition says the texts show evidence of “collusion” and “weaponisation” on the part of the Labor government. But as the political scandal spirals, the source of the texts, the motives for the leak and the consequences of them being published have remained mostly unexamined. Today, contributing editor of The Politics at The Monthly online, Rachel Withers, on the leak of Brittany Higgins’s texts, and what it really proves about our media. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributing editor to The Politics at themonthly.com.au, Rachel Withers.

Who leaked Brittany Higgins' texts?

While the push towards a Voice to Parliament continues, decisions are still being made that affect the lives of Indigenous people. Mines continue to open on traditional lands, in states around the country the age of criminal responsibility remains as young as 10 years old, and the gap is not closing. There are plenty of things that governments across the country could be doing right now to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, but politicians seem to be focused only on the future. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo, on why governments can’t get away with saying the Voice is the only answer. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Ben Abbatangelo.

Why the Voice can’t be the only answer

A speaking tour claiming to quote “let women speak” has been at the centre of disturbing scenes across Australia. In Melbourne, neo-Nazis stood on the steps of Victorian Parliament and openly performed the Nazi salute – while in Canberra, Senator Lidia Thorpe was tackled and held to the ground by police as she tried to protest the tour. So who is this British woman touring Australia, provoking these scenes?  Contributor to The Saturday Paper and co-editor of the book Nothing to Hide: Voices of Trans and Gender Diverse Australia, Sam Elkin on the woman who calls herself Posie Parker.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Writer and host of Triple R’s Queer View Mirror, Sam Elkin

Spotlight: Why is Australia importing anti-trans activists?

Is Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe pushing Australia into a recession? That has now become the biggest question in the Australian economy – as household budgets are squeezed even further by an interest rate rise that almost no-one wanted to see. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on Phillip Lowe, the treasurer and the fight over wages. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

Philip Lowe thinks you should do more work

It’s the department that’s supposed to watch over the support system for Australians with a disability – and ensure the care they’re receiving is good.  But the very people doing this job, at the Quality and Safeguards Commission of the NDIS, could be in an unsafe workplace. And the strangest part of all: the leadership of the commission has allegedly been pretending there isn’t a problem. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on how the organisation that oversees the NDIS was gaslighting its own staff, and what that means for those who rely on the service. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

The dysfunction inside the NDIS watchdog

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

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