Hack

From sandwich press steaks and the burka stunt to last-minute laws, we unpack the serious and silly moments of the last week of Parliament for 2025.  And has flight etiquette gone out the window? A US transport official who is asking flyers to "dress with respect" seems to think so.  Also, 'tis the season... for taking things too far — we hear your Christmas party horror stories.  Host Dave Marche...

Labor has done a last-minute deal with the Greens to overhaul the nation's "broken" environmental laws, on the last sitting day of Parliament for 2025. So what changes? And the findings of an inquest into the murder of 21-year-old Sydney woman Lilie James were handed down today. We get into what the coroner's recommending. Plus, what would you do if you inherited $50 million? Hear why one woman's...

When Marlene Engelhorn inherited tens of millions of dollars from her grandma, she felt she had two choices: do something about it, or confirm she was "full of shit".  Marlene lives in Austria and inherited some of the Boehringer Mannheim fortune, but she's also a campaigner against wealth inequality, calling for higher taxes on wealthy people like herself.  Now, she's giving it away, redistributi...

A historic deal could transform Australia's gig economy, with UberEats and DoorDash agreeing to minimum pay rates. So what's a day in the life like doing deliveries?  And oysters are known as the kidneys of the ocean. Could they help address the major ecological disaster off South Australia? Plus, young men struggling with body image are increasingly turning to a radical option: limb-lengthening s...

Pauline Hanson got suspended from the Senate today, and she's being condemned by all sides. But Muslim Australians say the damage from yesterday's burka stunt has already been done. And anti-gambling advocates want the government to completely ban betting ads. Now, one Labor MP says there's a way to do it: give MPs a conscience vote.  Plus, calls for help to 1800RESPECT have risen by 3,000%. Why?...

Ukraine might have to reduce its armed forces and hand over territory under a US plan. Is Russia about to get what it wanted?  Also, are you driving around with Russian oil in your tank? There are reports that Australia may be indirectly supporting the war by importing 'blood oil' through third countries.  And Darwin is cleaning up after Cyclone Fina hit on the weekend — and it's heading towards W...

Do you know a Kiwi in Australia?  Chances are good that you do, because young Kiwis are coming here in record numbers. It's being called a "brain drain", and with the median age of people leaving 29 experts are worried about what it means for New Zealand's future. So why do so many young Kiwis leave? And are they planning on staying away for good? In the hack deep dive this week, we speak to young...

From changing his mind on the release of the Epstein files, to lashing out at reporters, there's been a bit on for Donald Trump.  And the Sky Sports TikTok channel for female sports fans has collapsed after massive backlash for being patronising and misogynistic.  Plus, we hear your solo adventure stories after a UK bar banned drinkers drinking alone. Host Dave Marchese is joined by political repo...

When it comes to contraceptives, we aren't opting for methods like the IUD or implant in Australia anywhere near as much as people in other countries are.  The federal government's made IUD insertion cheaper and added the NuvaRing to the PBS — but what stops people from using alternatives to the pill?  Plus: after 12 years of addiction, Dylan is exposing the strategies betting companies used to ke...

Dylan's gambling started at school, and it just got worse from there. To fuel his bets, he reckons he started borrowing money from friends, but as the addiction spiralled out of control he resorted to stealing. Gambling cost Dylan a lot, in terms of both money and opportunities. Now, he's trying to quit, and he's documenting the journey on TikTok and Instagram. In this longer interview cut for the...

Has an AI investment frenzy created a "bubble"? And if so, is it going to burst? Google's boss has weighed in with a warning: if AI stocks go bust, no company will be safe.  Also: scientists are asking questions about the future of research and innovation in Australia, after CSIRO announced hundreds of job cuts.  And for the first time in decades, there's no hip hop in the Billboard Top 40. Is the...

Do you use a hair loss drug? A vocal minority of younger users of finasteride are speaking out about the rare but potentially long-lasting mental health side effects. Plus: the UN Security Council has approved Donald Trump's plan for an international stabilisation force to provide security in Gaza. So what happens now? And young Kiwis are streaming out of New Zealand in record numbers, with a lot...

After months of unanswered questions and speculation, the Coalition has finally unveiled an energy policy, ditching emissions targets and focusing on lower power prices. So what about doing something about climate change? And what about younger voters? We sit down with the Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to ask these and more questions, including whether her leadership is now officially on life suppo...

Could trans athletes be banned from women's sport at the 2028 Olympic Games? We don't know for sure, but the International Olympic Committee is considering a ban and the US government has already banned trans athletes at college level. So what would a total ban on trans athletes look like for women's sport? And what does the science say? In the deep dive this week, we're taking a look at what's dr...

Is pretty privilege a double-edged sword? Is it okay to rank people by intelligence? It's been a big week for Big Brother, with the live stream reality show returning from hiatus to kick off multiple controversies.  And the Liberal Party has ripped off the bandaid and formally ditched net zero. Is it changing anyone's mind? Plus, a bad run for psychics. Who saw it coming?  Host Dave Marchese is jo...

History was made in Australia today, with the first treaty with Aboriginal people signed into law in Victoria. So what will change? Also, the Liberal party has officially dropped net zero as its climate policy, but still says it wants to bring down emissions.  And could humanity be destroyed in an afternoon? Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Tilman Ruff has spent decades campaigning for nuclear...

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Tilman Ruff has spent decades campaigning for nuclear disarmament, and right now he's worried. With Donald Trump announcing the US will re-start nuclear testing and Russia saying it’ll follow suit, a lot of experts are seeing signs that humanity is dangerously close to a nuclear Armageddon. So does Professor Ruff agree? And what would all-out nuclear war actual...

Adult time for violent crime: Victoria's unveiled a plan to fight youth crime, and it could see 14-year-olds facing life sentences. Also: are you the first person in your family to go to uni? Some researchers have looked at why going first can be hard, and experts have some ideas about how to make it a better experience.  Plus Queensland's Supreme Court is hearing the trial of Rajwinder Singh, the...

Is the International Olympic Committee about to ban trans athletes? We don't know for sure, but it's looking increasingly likely.   And the Liberal Party is meeting tomorrow to debate ditching the net zero emissions target by 2050. We hear how young conservatives feel about it.  Plus: the US has had no functioning federal government for 41 days. This afternoon, a controversial deal was done to ope...

Female politicians speaking out against an antisemitic rally in Sydney say they're now being threatened. With Jewish leaders condemning the rally as "dangerous", why did police allow the neo-Nazis to gather in the first place?  And why are big bosses at the BBC quitting after criticism from Donald Trump? Plus, new research shows young people and those outside major cities have the least confidence...

Year 12 exams are wrapping up, schoolies group chats are firing off, and British adult creator Bonnie Blue is talking about coming to the Gold Coast: yep, it's that time of year again. In 2024, Bonnie Blue's schoolies stunt looked like marketing genius — until the immigration department pointed out it sounded like work, which she didn't have a visa for, and blocked her arrival. Now, she's told Cha...

Hang on: is Elon Musk a trillionaire now?  Potentially... after Tesla approved a record-breaking pay deal. And should ciggies be cheaper? The illicit tobacco market is costing Australia billions of dollars – as the government loses cash to organised criminal groups. Plus: is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? A lot of us are saying... yes. Host Dave Marchese is joined by journalist and presenter...

What does masculinity even look like? A new report says teenage boys feel pressure to act tough, strong and straight – all old school ideas of being a man. But it also says they want more gender equality. Also, adult creator Bonnie Blue says she's planning on filming content at Schoolies on the Gold Coast. But will she really get a visa for Australia or is this all another publicity stunt? Plus: i...

Konrad Benjamin from Punter's Politics went from being a school teacher 2 years ago to one of Australia's most influential political commentators.  He's got millions of followers by pushing a pretty simple message: keep money out of politics.  He's been in Canberra this week, putting on a fundraiser that gives regular people access to politicians.  So how has it gone?  In this longer interview cut...

It's official: Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York. The Muslim Democratic socialist and outspoken critic of the war in Gaza used his victory speech to take aim at Donald Trump. So is the political tide turning in the US? Also, the Maldives just banned anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 from buying tobacco. Will it work? Plus: could tiny homes be the solution to the housing crisis...