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Politics Now

ABC Australia

The ABC's politics podcast, Politics Now, dives into the biggest political stories in Australia and around the world, giving you a balanced look inside the strategies and decisions behind the headlines. Whenever major news breaks, we'll be in your feed with coverage you can trust.

From Monday to Wednesday, Patricia Karvelas will chat to a rotating cast of the ABC's biggest political journalists about the latest news.

On Thursdays, 'The Party Room' with Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly will discuss the week's developments in depth with another journalist, and answer your questions.

On Saturdays, David Speers gets into the details of a major trend or issue with the help of an expert on 'Insiders On Background'.

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  • 60 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 30 min
  • English

Episodes 60

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  • Yesterday · 26 min

    Albanese’s UN super intelligence

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continued his push for global AI safeguards at the UN general assembly, positioning himself as a global leader on tackling online harm. It comes as US President Donald Trump rejects calls for AI regulation, announcing he will now refer to the tech as "super intelligence" across official documents. And in a rare public intervention, the Trump Administration has criticised the Albanese Government's "digital duty of care" proposal. But despite their different

  • Tuesday · length unknown

    Is the Coalition joining the super wars?

    Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg has reignited the super wars, with a pitch he says is about generating a "sophisticated debate" over the policy. As Clare tells Raf, internal divisions remain in the Coalition over superannuation, with some concerned about slaying the "sacred cow" that is superannuation. But Raf thinks this might just be the Opposition "blowing off the cobwebs on the policymaking machine" and starting to rebuild their policy ammunition for the election battle ahead. And calls

  • Monday · length unknown

    Albanese's AI era

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is continuing his online safety charm offensive at the UN this week, after a quick visit to tour Apple headquarters in Silicon Valley. It follows the PM's calls for international cooperation on AI guardrails, amid global uncertainty over the use and safety of Artificial Intelligence. But back home there are questions about how Australia's own AI national standards will be implemented. It comes as Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveils the latest intergenerational repor

  • Friday · 26 min

    Howard bingo and pollies on pods

    It's Question Time! But first, Fran and PK catch-up on what's been an "intense and wild" week. PK is still mad she didn't get to choose George Michael as her expert subject on Mastermind, but host and friend of the quiz show Marc Fennell dials in to commiserate and offer some advice. And as Fran reveals her special subject, she learns about the 'John Howard bingo' the team has been playing behind the scenes. Then it's onto your brilliant questions, including; Do politicians leave the talking

  • September 17 · 49 min

    Labor's immigration crackdown

    Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has unveiled Labor's long awaited migration plan, including a crackdown on overstayers and a ballot for backpackers. It comes after One Nation kicked off the week with details on their immigration policy and as the Coalition finalises the details of it's own plan. So, while all three-parties are on a unity ticket about reducing temporary immigration, there's key political distinctions in who they are each targeting, and how. And Pauline Hanson has given a very

  • September 16 · 24 min

    Labor's 'narrow path' and 'stinky sausage'

    The AI fight keeps getting messier. As all sides weigh in on copyright, creators, investment and whether Australia can afford to miss the next tech wave, Anthony Albanese is trying to walk a very narrow path. Can he have “all of the desserts but none of the calories” - welcoming AI investment while defending creatives from being sold down the river? Meanwhile, the government is back in the spotlight over a sports grant in Health Minister Mark Butler’s seat. Is this just the "stinky sausage" of

  • September 15 · 27 min

    Are Australians 'surrender monkeys' on AI?

    The AI debate has moved from science fiction to superpower contest, with tech leaders warning of the risks while Donald Trump insists the US must beat China. So where does that leave Australia?  Can it lead the way in any meaningful sense - on safety, copyright, data centres and investment - or is the Albanese government stuck trying to manage the risks while chasing the productivity upside? Meanwhile, hundreds of jobs are going at Whyalla, raising a harder question for government - after all

  • September 14 · 29 min

    Should Albanese’s dead mum be off-limits?

    One Nation has unveiled a plan to slash migration by 750,000 over three years, sparking swift backlash from industry and both Labor and Coalition. But as Clare and PK discuss, One Nation's political strategy has been effective. The minor party has once again managed to set the agenda and essentially "run the week". But, beyond the clever political management do the figures stack-up? It comes as an emotional Anthony Albanese pushes back on Pauline Hanson's remarks about his mother, stating "kin

  • September 10 · 41 min

    Is Pauline Hanson losing this culture war?

    It was a big week of both policy and politicking in parliament. All sides laid out their pitches to win over voters; Labor's Digital Duty of Care, One Nation's pitch for early super access and the Coalition's proposal to ban burning the flag. Meanwhile, Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie took the fight directly to One Nation this week, labelling Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce "lying cowards" over a One Nation cartoon that called him a "traitor" — over his involvement in the Ben Roberts-Smith

  • September 9 · 26 min

    The PM's swing at the ABC

    The Prime Minister has dismissed concerns about censorship in Labor's digital duty of care bill as "disingenuous", as divisions emerge in the Coalition over the policy. It comes as Anthony Albanese faces questions about an undeclared honorary membership at the Marrickville Golf Club, after the club was awarded $6 million via an "invite only" grant scheme. The PM is adamant he wasn't aware of his honorary membership and has taken a swing at the ABC in the process. And an annual report into Aus

  • September 8 · 24 min

    Are Labor's new laws censorship?

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled Labor's draft Digital Duty of Care legislation, vowing to give people "choice and control" over their social media feeds. The Government's policy framing comes as some in the Coalition — including Opposition leader Angus Taylor — have raised concerns over censorship. Meanwhile, One Nation has continued to sell its super policy, with One Nation Treasury spokesperson Barnaby Joyce engaging in series of heated exchanges over modelling. And it seems th

  • September 7 · 25 min

    One Nation goes for super

    Parliament is back for another sitting fortnight and "rival ideas" are already dominating the agenda. The Albanese Government is set to unveil draft Digital Duty of Care legislation by the end of the week, while One Nation has unveiled its plan to allow Australians who rent or pay a mortgage to divert a portion of their super payments as salary for up to three years. As PK tells Jacob, the Coalition is again starting the week on the backfoot — "who is in the field? It's Labor and One Nation."

  • September 4 · 27 min

    Sharks, climate change and George Michael

    It's Question Time! But first, Fran tells PK about how it felt to spot herself swimming in footage of the Coogee shark attack and why she's not letting the experience keep her out of the water. And then it's onto your brilliant questions! Will the floods in Nepal renew the focus on climate change? Why are politicians so focused on NOM immigration? And aside from Australian politics, what expert subject would Fran and PK choose? Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly break it all down on The Party Ro

  • September 3 · 41 min

    Voters sent Labor a message. Are they listening?

    Labor has now come face-to-face with the threat from One Nation. One Nation's decisive victory at the WA state by-election of Secret Harbour came with a message for Anthony Albanese and Federal Labor — so are they listening? And how are they positioning? And a war over words broke out this week, after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accused the PM of inciting violence by labelling far-right populist parties "divisive, dangerous and downright dishonest". There was pushback across the politica

  • September 2 · 23 min

    Will Albanese fix our feeds?

    It's Wednesday, so you know what that means — it's another data day with David and PK! New GDP figures have just landed, rising 0.4 per cent in the June quarter. It's a little stronger than markets were expecting, so what will it mean for interest rates? Meanwhile, Teach Us Consent founder Chanel Contos has taken to the stage at the National Press Club to push for an "opt-in" model for social media algorithms. So, is the move to "fix our feeds" something Labor is actively considering as part

  • September 1 · 31 min

    Will online safety be Albanese's legacy policy?

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed off questions about tensions between China and Taiwan at the Pacific Islands Forum, saying he's focused on "outcomes and unity". As PK tells Clare, Australia hopes not being viewed as on overbearing bully in the Pacific works in our favour — rather Labor's approach to diplomacy is "carrots not sticks". Back home, Labor has unveiled a raft of proposed changes to privacy laws, but ruled out an import ban on smart glasses. Clare says she expects the br

  • August 31 · 29 min

    One Nation comes for Labor seats

    One Nation's resounding win at the WA Secret Harbour by-election was watched closely by political insiders in Canberra. The historic state by-election win came with a warning from One Nation that there are "no safe seats". So, is Federal Labor concerned — and what lessons are they taking? It comes as two new polls show Labor and One Nation remain neck-and-neck. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a

Showing 1–20 of 60 episodes