ABC News Daily
ABC News Daily is the podcast that helps you understand the issues affecting your world. Every episode, host Samantha Hawley walks through one story with the help of an ABC colleague or expert in under 15 minutes. When you want coverage you can trust, listen to ABC News Daily. Key topics of recent episodes include the Donald Trump administration, DOGE, Tesla, insurance costs, recession risks, egg shortages, DeepSeek, neo-Nazis, Putin and Xi, solar batteries, the jobs market, anti-Semitism, and the Israel-Hamas war. From interest rates, real estate and the housing crisis, to scams and US politics, ABC News Daily brings you facts and analysis you need to understand the biggest news stories. After Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor were returned to office in the 2025 election, with a strong parliamentary majority, we will be following the government’s new agenda and how the diminished Liberal and National Party Coalition responds. The podcast picks apart major policy areas, including energy policy, finance and the Federal Budget. The podcast covers news from America, with analysis on the Donald Trump administration in the White House. His actions, including massive tariffs on trade, have big implications for global politics and the economy and US journalists and experts will explain what's at stake. As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, ABC News Daily looks at the causes of inflation, rising rental costs, house prices, insurance costs and the price of groceries. Key experts in business and finance join Samantha Hawley, explaining the state of the economy, the unemployment rate and the jobs market. Whether you rent, own an investment house or apartment, or are repaying a mortgage, ABC News Daily offers unique insights and analysis. When there are big moves from the Reserve Bank (RBA) on interest rates, or remarkable reactions in the ASX or the Australian dollar, guest experts, including economists, explain why. Look into ABC News Daily's archive to find episodes on electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), the big banks, supermarkets, TikTok, Ozempic, Tesla, Elon Musk, Twitter, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, COVID, cyber security, spies, espionage, education, schools, teachers, crime and issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) Australians. ABC News Daily follows developments in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas, with insights into the mindset of Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinians and the role of Iran. The podcast looks at the latest from Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky fights to repel the Russian invaders led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As China's Xi Jinping contemplates the future of Taiwan, ABC News Daily will sort fact from fiction. When North Korea's Kim Jong Un fires ballistic missiles, we'll assess the danger his regime poses. When scammers target superannuation, your tax return and the ATO, you'll hear advice on what you can do to protect yourself. As climate change fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions increases the risk of natural disasters, including fires and floods, ABC News Daily brings you fact-based analysis. The future of electricity generation in Australia is being debated, and as claims are made about the merits of nuclear power, come to ABC News Daily for context around its potential role in replacing or augmenting coal and gas power plants and what it could mean for power bills. The podcast covers the future of renewable / green power generation, including the use of wind turbines, solar and hydro electric power. The podcast looks at key businesses, including Coles and Woolworths, Qantas, the Commonwealth Bank and the construction, resources and manufacturing industries. When they report record profit, battle unions, or raise prices, the podcast pays attention. ABC experts including Ian Verrender, Alan Kohler, Laura Tingle, Patricia Karvelas, John Lyons, and Annabel Crabb join Samantha Hawley to step through big issues and current affairs.
Episodes
Cancer has traditionally been a disease of old age.
But younger Australians aged in their 30s and 40s are increasingly being diagnosed with cancer and scientists are desperate to understand why.
Could it be processed foods, plastics, or exposures during childhood or birth?
Today, Dr Norman Swan on his Four Corners investigation into what could be causing the sharp rise in cancer rates among younger generations and w...
After deliberating for a week, a jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms.
She had pleaded not guilty to the crimes, saying the mushrooms were accidentally included in the meals.
The team at the ABC’s Mushroom Case Daily podcast has been following every development and today on ABC News Daily we bring you their coverage ...
Music has always been a powerful form of protest, but rap band Bob Vylan could be facing criminal charges after leading a chant at Glastonbury calling for ‘death’ to the Israeli military.
The incident was shown on the BBC and the broadcaster, festival organisers and the UK Prime Minister have all raised concerns about anti-Semitism.
Today, British music journalist Dorian Lynskey on the controversy and when protest...
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has set his sights on bold economic reform with options to be discussed at a meeting of some of the nation’s best policy minds next month.
It’s called the economic reform roundtable, but is a big shake up of the tax system, for example, even possible in the current political climate?
Today, the ABC’s finance expert Alan Kohler on why these experts would be better off talking about artificial...
Parents send their young children to childcare trusting they’ll return home each day safely.
But families are in shock after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with 70 offences, including sexual assault and producing child abuse material. The alleged victims were as young as 5 months old.
The staff member had worked at 20 different centres and held a valid Working with Children Check.
Today, Caroline Croser-...
After the strikes against Iran, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is turning his focus back to the conflict in Gaza.
Talks are planned between Netanyahu and the US president at the White House next week, as Donald Trump insists “we’re going to get a ceasefire”.
Benjamin Netanyahu also faces public pressure in Israel to bring the hostages home, but is it really time to strike a deal with Hamas?
Today, Husse...
The countdown is on to the start of the social media ban for Australian children aged under 16.
It’s due to start in December, but which platforms are banned and how users will have to prove their age is yet to be revealed.
Today, the ABC’s national technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre on the many unanswered questions.
Featured:
Ange Lavoipierre, ABC’s national technology reporter
How often do you use AI chatbots?
They’re becoming part of our everyday lives. But when you pump in a question into something like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, do you ever think about the energy it uses?
Today, Gordon Noble from the Institute of Sustainable Futures at UTS on the power hungry data centres driving AI, the water used to keep them cool and the cost for the environment.
Featured:
Gordon Noble, resear...
Donald Trump was elected on the promise of putting America first and staying out of foreign conflicts.
So the US President’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities caused the first and very public split among his Make America Great Again base, with influential figures like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon leading the charge against US involvement.
Today, senior political correspondent for the Wall Street Journa...
One of Iran’s closest allies outside the Middle East is Russia.
So, why did Vladimir Putin decide not to come to Tehran’s aid and provide military support as Israel and then America worked to destroy its nuclear program?
Today, Anna Borshchevskaya from the Washington Institute, an expert in Russia’s policy in the Middle East, on what the war means for Moscow and whether Putin might help Iran to rebuild its nuclear...
Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war, declaring it should be called “The 12 Day War”.
But there was confusion over whether Iran and Israel had agreed in the hours following the social media post.
It came not long after Iran fired missiles at an American military base in Qatar, retaliating against the US bombing of its key nuclear sites.
Today, Jonathan Panikoff from the Atlantic Council’s ...
After the US bombing of key nuclear facilities, Donald Trump is now raising the prospect of regime change in Iran.
He wants to Make Iran Great Again and says it’s not ‘politically correct’ to discuss the idea, but he asks ‘why wouldn’t there be a regime change?’.
Today, Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group on the three options now open to Iran’s leaders and why surrender is not the one they’ll go for.
Feat...
The United States has joined the war with Iran, with American war planes dropping bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites.
Donald Trump addressed the American people from the White House.
He claims US bombs have “totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment sites.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks the action could usher in a future of peace in the Middle East.
Today, international relations exper...
A week since Israel began the conflict with Iran there’s been no great shock to the global economy.
But a significant escalation in the conflict could see a spike in oil and petrol prices, raising the prospect of surging inflation, once again.
Today, the ABC’s finance expert Alan Kohler steps through the potential impacts for Australians’ finances and why we shouldn’t be too worried, for now.
Featured:
Alan Kohler,...
Israel’s strikes against Iran took the regime and residents in Tehran largely by surprise.
Even though striking Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had long been part of Israel’s playbook, the Israeli people have been caught up as some Iranian missiles get through the defences.
The conflict has been foreshadowed in warnings Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given about Iran’s nuclear program for decades.
But do Israel...
Israel has been ramping up pressure on Donald Trump for the US to join its strikes on Iran.
It’s believed that only the US has the bombs that could destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities hidden deep underground.
But does the Iranian regime actually have the nuclear capability the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu says it does and was it really close to building a bomb?
Today, nuclear weapons expert Ben Zala from Monash U...
As Donald Trump was watching a military parade in Washington DC, huge numbers of Americans took to the streets in the largest nationwide protests against his administration since his return to the White House.
They were declaring ‘No Kings’, rallying against what they say is Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and the threat he poses to democracy.
Today, Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street...
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu insists his sweeping attacks on Iran are a necessity to protect his country from a ‘nuclear holocaust’.
But what is his ultimate aim?
The two countries are exchanging attacks, with an Israeli strike hitting the world’s biggest gas field and some Iranian missiles hitting buildings inside Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu insists the attacks were nothing compared to what Iran would see...
Across America, protests against Donald Trump’s immigration raids are popping up, a week since the unrest in Los Angeles began.
Protesters are incensed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to enter workplaces to round up undocumented immigrants.
But it’s Donald Trump’s decision to send California National Guard troops and Marines to LA to protect federal agents and property that’s really cau...
Since Israel began allowing a limited amount of food back into Gaza, the handout has been marked by disturbing scenes, including civilians being shot dead near the limited aid distribution sites.
Today, we speak with Australian James Elder, the global spokesman for UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children.
He’s on the ground in Gaza and explains why the chaos was inevitable.
Featured:
James Elder, Global Spoke...
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