ABC News Daily

Donald Trump is pondering whether a UFC cage could become a permanent fixture on the South Lawn of the White House after a fight takes place there on his 80th birthday.   Today, Sally Jenkins from The Atlantic magazine on Trump’s deep links to the mixed martial arts organisation.   We explore how bringing the sport’s ‘savagery’ to the seat of power in the US is all part of Trump’s norm-breaking st...

Should we be spending up to $368 billion on nuclear powered submarines over the next 30 years?  Peter Garrett, the former Labor Minister and Midnight Oil star doesn’t think so. He’s set up a crowdfunded inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal.  It follows the government revealing the original agreement has changed a bit with the US to switch out one new sub for a second hand one.  Today, Sam Roggeve...

House prices have begun to fall, with Sydney and Melbourne leading the downward trend. So, will they bounce back or could it be, as some forecasts suggest, the start of a new cycle where house prices remain stagnant for decades.  Today, business editor Michael Janda on why this could be the correction young Australians have been waiting for.  Michael was also on Monday’s episode of ABC Business Da...

Do you believe that Elon Musk can establish a colony on Mars of a million people or launch data centres into space?  If you do, you might be thinking of investing in SpaceX which will go public on the Nasdaq stock market this month.  Even if you have your doubts, you might just gamble on Musk anyway for fear of missing out. Today, Quinn Slobodian, co-author of ‘Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed’...

The New South Wales Police Force was so corrupt in the 1990s a royal commission was formed and it was forced to clean up its act. These days it’s the most complained about force in the country and it’s the national leader in legal payouts, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Today, Four Corners reporter Dylan Welch on his investigation into cases of police abuse and misconduct.  Feature...

The US military is striking Iran and Israel has ramped up its attacks in southern Lebanon.  Is there really a chance of a peace deal? And does the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu even want one as he faces an election within months.  Today, Dov Waxman, professor of Israel studies at UCLA on Netanyahu’s political future.  Featured:  Dov Waxman, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair of Isra...

Australians have had a rough few years when it comes to power bills, with the war in Ukraine helping send global energy prices soaring.  But now, despite ongoing conflict overseas, electricity prices are finally set to fall for homes and businesses.  Today, ABC energy reporter Dan Mercer on the battery boom driving down prices and whether more bill relief is on the horizon. Featured:  Dan Mercer,...

Peace talks in Qatar had barely begun when the US initiated a new wave of strikes against Iran.  The US says targeting Iranian boats and missile sites was an act of self-defence, but what will it mean for a deal to end the war?  Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute explains what the US President actually needs to finally walk away from a conflict he no longer wants. Featured: H...

Memes featuring an AI-generated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claim he’s effectively taking a 47 per cent stake in businesses.  But what’s the reality of the government’s budget tax changes?  Today, we speak with a small business owner who’s concerned about the economic realities of doing business in Australia.  We also speak with an economist about the implications of the changes for how Austra...

The cost of fuel across Australia has come off its highs, despite there being no resolution yet to the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.  But don’t get comfortable because the real pain from the global oil crunch hasn’t really hit us yet.  Today, Saul Kavonic, energy expert at MST financial, on how we’ve weathered the storm so far and what could happen in the months ahead.  Feat...

It’s almost three months since Donald Trump began the Iran war, but is there any chance that America can achieve anything that looks like victory?  As the US president considers whether to launch new strikes or pursue a compromise deal, what would Iran actually agree to?  Today, Robert Malley, a lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on why a new deal might look just like Barack Obama’s and...

There are questions about the future of Taiwan after Donald Trump declared he’s “not looking to have somebody go independent”. The US president met China’s leader in Beijing and says Xi Jinping asked him whether the US would defend Taiwan.  What do Trump’s comments mean for US-China relations and how likely is a Chinese invasion of the self-governed island? Today, Samir Puri, visiting lecturer in...

Labor wants its budget to be seen as a concrete step towards levelling the playing field between the generations.  But Newspoll suggests it’s the most unpopular federal budget in more than 30 years.  Across the polls, Labor’s support is steady or declining, while One Nation rises above the Coalition.  Will bolder economic policies from Labor and the Coalition stop the collapse of Australia’s two-p...

With so many tech bosses accompanying Donald Trump on his recent trip to China, expectations were high that AI and high tech business deals would be central to the talks.  But in the end, there was no breakthrough on selling US firm Nvidia’s high tech AI chips to China. So where does that leave the race for AI dominance and how are China and the US approaching AI differently? Today, China tech exp...

If you’ve got a family trust, you’re probably doing pretty well. They’ve been used for generations to distribute wealth and reduce tax bills.  Now the government’s moving to make sure the tax office receives more from the earnings, imposing a minimum 30 percent tax on discretionary trusts.  Today, Kristen Sobeck a tax expert at the University of Canberra on the new tax on trusts.  Featured:  Krist...

Marco Rubio is hitting his stride, he’s Trump’s National Security Advisor and his Secretary of State, he’s taken over the White House press briefing, sat down with the Pope and is now in China for Trump’s showdown with President Xi. No wonder speculation is growing that he could be the next Republican presidential nominee, instead of Vice President JD Vance. Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the Niska...

It’s been an ordeal for those who embarked on a cruise across in early April and it’s not over yet.  The ship's passengers are being repatriated across the world after potential exposure to hantavirus, which caused the death of three passengers.  Among those heading home are four Australians who will soon be placed in a quarantine facility in Western Australia.  What is the virus, how does it spre...

The Treasurer Jim Chalmers has delivered his 2026 budget, unveiling a new tax cut and some of the most significant tax changes in decades.   Delivered as war impacts the economy, it’s being sold as a budget that addresses the growing inequality between generations, with the treasurer declaring Labor is on the hard road of reform.  But will changes to taxes on property investors and family trusts r...

For decades, Russia’s Victory Day parade has brought tanks and intercontinental ballistic missiles to Red Square to celebrate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.  But not this year. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin scaled back the event due to the risk of a Ukrainian long range attack on Moscow.  At the same time, media reports citing a European intelligence service suggest security is increasi...

Why is it up to the Reserve Bank to control inflation with interest rates?  Imagine if there were other tools that spread the pain to more people, not just those repaying a home loan.  Perhaps the government could force workers to put more money into their superannuation accounts or move the GST up and down depending on the inflation rate.  Today, independent economist Chris Richardson assesses th...

It’s a new sort of warfare and it’s not taking place on the battlefield. Backers of Iran are creating so-called ‘slopaganda’ using AI generated videos to mock the United States and President Donald Trump.  But while Iranian diplomats are sharing the viral videos, are they actually changing anyone’s mind?  Today, Brett Schafer from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue on how Iran is using meme warf...

Anthony Albanese is about to break a major election promise.  Next week’s budget will reveal just how dramatic the government’s changes to generous tax breaks for property investors will be.  The expected shake up to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount follows the prime minister’s promises during the last election campaign to leave the arrangements as they were. Have concerns aroun...

The US President Donald Trump has launched what he’s calling ‘Project Freedom’, promising to rescue commercial ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Already Iran has resumed firing on the UAE and the US says it’s destroyed Iranian military boats in the Strait. Today, Jennifer Parker, a former Royal Australian Navy warfare officer, on the new phase of the Iran war.  Featured:  Jennifer Parker, Ad...

The war in Iran is creating economic uncertainty around the world, with higher inflation putting pressure on central banks, including the RBA, to hike interest rates. So, why are stocks still surging on Wall Street, driving the value of the world’s biggest sharemarkets to record highs?  Today the ABC’s finance expert Alan Kohler on why investors remain so optimistic and it’s got a lot to do with A...

The nation was shocked when 95-year-old Clare Nowland died after being tasered by a NSW police officer at an aged care facility in 2023.  While police forces defend their policies and training, there are concerns that officers draw the weapon too quickly, not just when danger is imminent.  There’s also a controversial medical diagnosis called “excited delirium” that’s been used to explain why it’s...