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Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry take a look under the hood of the week in Australian politics. They examine the Albanese government’s response to US requests to increase defence spending, the extended fall out from the North West Shelf licence approval and the continuing pressure on the Liberal party – this time at the state level

After nearly a month of hearing experts, witnesses and police officers testify, this week Erin Patterson herself took to the stand. Patterson is facing three charges of murder and one of attempted murder – after she served a beef wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms – at her house in regional Victoria in 2023. She’s pleaded not guilty to those charges. Justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci takes Reged Ahmad through some of the key moments of her evidence, as she tells her side of the story

The Albanese government wants to increase the tax on super balances above $3m dollars. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it is a modest change but there have been countless articles and columns warning of the economic havoc it could wreak and the impact this would have on the retirement savings of young Australians. Nour Haydar speaks to national news editor Josephine Tovey and head of newsroom Mike Ticher about what will happen if Labor pushes forward with the reform

In 2020 tens of thousands of people took to the streets, demanding accountability and racial justice in solidarity with First Nations Australians. But five years on, and after a failed referendum on constitutional recognition, campaigners mourn the lack of progress. Indigenous affairs reporters Sarah Collard and Ella Archibald-Binge join Nour Haydar to discuss the recurring calls for justice

An alarming cultural shift is happening in Australian classrooms, as teachers report an increase in bullying and misogynistic and violent behaviour from their students. Education reporter Caitlin Cassidy talks to Reged Ahmad about the teachers speaking out about why they are leaving the profession

Social media is rife with hacks that claim to help you sleep better and deeper. From melatonin, feeding your baby butter, and taping your mouth shut – the solutions range from obvious to unexpected. In conversation with Nour Haydar anti-viral columnist Donna Lu breaks down the viral hacks that the internet claims will help you get better sleep You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

The Albanese government wants to reduce the tax breaks for those with more than $3m in superannuation. And while sections of the media are highly critical of the changes, others say the proposal does little to address intergenerational inequality in the tax system. Columnist Greg Jericho speaks to Reged Ahmad about why the media debate over a smaller tax break for Australia’s wealthiest 0.5% is divorced from reality You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

In 2019, before most of the world had heard of the company, the technology journalist Karen Hao spent three days embedded in the offices of OpenAI. What she saw, she tells Michael Safi, was a company vastly at odds with its public image: that of a transparent non-profit developing artificial intelligence technology purely for the benefit of humanity. ‘They said that they were transparent. They said that they were collaborative. They were actually very secretive,’ she says. Hao spent the next five years following the growth of OpenAI, as it shifted to pursue – in her words – a growth-at-all-costs model. On the one hand, it has been spectacularly successful, with OpenAI now one of the largest companies in the world. On the other, she argues, it has come at a severe cost – to the people whose labour it relies on to operate, and to the planet. In fact, as she describes in her new book, Empire of AI: Inside the reckless race for total domination, it makes sense to think of OpenAI not as a company, but more akin to empires of old

As the Coalition puts itself back together again, Labor is facing the first tests of its resolve on tax, climate and Gaza. Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine if Albanese is meeting the expectations of his voting base and look at the tension and problems to come for the Coalition Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Liberals leader, Sussan Ley, and Nationals leader, David Littleproud, have reached a new agreement, presenting a united front and announcing a new shadow frontbench. But with the Liberals facing a mammoth task ahead, and net zero commitments up in the air, could this mark the beginning of a rocky term for the Coalition? Nour Haydar speaks with Dan Jervis-Bardy about the Coalition’s short-lived breakup

Donald Trump is not new to conspiracy theories, and last week in the Oval Office he ambushed the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, with false claims of genocide being committed against white people. Reged Ahmad speaks to Washington DC bureau chief David Smith about the US president’s false claims and the extent to which conspiracy theories are driving his agenda

It’s often said that the 2020s will be a ‘defining decade’ for the planet and action on the climate crisis. Starting this week, the proposal to extend Woodside gas’s processing plant in Western Australia’s remote north-west by 40 years awaits the new environment minister, Murray Watt – the first of many consequential decisions facing him during Labor’s second term in government. Labor has secured a massive majority, with the possibility of another six years on the government benches. So what are the party’s plans for the climate and environmental reforms? Nour Haydar speaks with Adam Morton about why there will never be a better chance for Labor to deliver on climate

New Zealand is known as a dream destination – with its verdant, rolling hills and picture-perfect scenery. But some locals are feeling that’s not enough to keep them anchored to the island. Journalist Michelle Duff speaks to Reged Ahmad about why New Zealand is facing a mass exodus as people of working age flee the weak economy

As this episode was recorded, the Liberal and National parties were still locked in discussions over the Coalition agreement, after the parties dramatically parted ways earlier in the week. But with a reunion already on the cards, Bridie Jabour spoke with Mike Ticher and former rural and regional editor Gabrielle Chan about why the breakup could be good for regional voters

On Tuesday, Nationals leader David Littleproud announced it was over – his party could no longer support the Liberals and the Coalition was finished. But by Thursday, things were looking less certain, with negotiations between the parties back on in an effort to try to save the decades-long political partnership. Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry on the future of an unsteady political marriage

As Israel intensifies its attacks, and prepares to indefinitely occupy the whole of Gaza, there has been a shift among some foreign leaders. Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti speaks to Nour Haydar about the growing global fury at Israel and why he thinks Australia needs to act now to help stop the killing

Just over a year ago, six people were killed and 10 more injured at a Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction. It was one of Sydney’s worst mass murders in more than a decade. The stabbing rampage finally ended when a police officer shot and killed the attacker, Joel Cauchi. Reged Ahmad talks to reporter Daisy Dumas about the confronting evidence heard at the Bondi Junction stabbings inquest

The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has confirmed his party will not be entering a coalition agreement with the Liberal party. Chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy speaks to Reged Ahmad on what contributed to the decision to end an 80-year-old partnership, and what this means for the new parliament

Analyses of the 2024 US election widely heralded the ‘manosphere’ – the coalition of bro podcasters and YouTubers popular with male audiences – as key to delivering Donald Trump’s victory. There are now organised efforts to create a similar alternative rightwing media ecosystem targeting young female audiences. New York-based writer Anna Silman talks to Nour Haydar about the ‘womanosphere’, the anti-feminist media telling women to be thin, fertile and Republican

At 13 years old, a young Gina Rinehart read a book that would help shape her worldview – Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, which is having a moment around the world. The novel’s capitalist underpinnings promote the idea that people should strive to be their best industrial selves. In this episode, we explore how these values are playing out in Rinehart’s life today, including her proposal to build a coalmine in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. And we hear how author and environmental campaigner Tim Winton views her efforts to prevent an overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws