Saturday Extra - Full program podcast

Two of America's top journalists break down one of the most fateful decisions in American political history: Joe Biden’s run for re-election despite evidence of his serious decline. Plus, week one of the 48th parliament and a former French spy who turned his secret life into bestselling spy thrillers.

Michael Fullilove joins Saturday Extra from the Aspen Security Forum which for decades has been a bipartisan event. Also on the show: Profound shifts in migration polices as Germany and EU allies meet to discuss migration crackdowns and repatriations of asylum seekers; Donald Trump is due back in Scotland later this month for a private visit to his golf course on the east coast, but while the US P...

Plus, we get an update on the Texas flood recovery, find out what we can expect from the Prime Minister's visit to China and ask whether the future of Australian philanthropy lies with our tech entrepreneurs.

President Trump has signed his big beautiful bill into law at a White House 4th of July celebration. Plus, analysis from the ABC's John Lyons on Hamas' response to ceasefire negotiations. Also on the show, after 148 years, Wimbledon replaces line judges with AI. 

Plus, a mid-year review of global events;  the ethics and pitfalls of addictive true crime podcasts, and Winnie Dunn, the 29 year old Tongan-Australian author shortlisted  for the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, Dirt Poor Islanders.

BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet with an update from Geneva on talks between the Iranian Foreign Minister and European officials. Plus, in the week that Anthony Albanese didn't get his meeting with Donald Trump in Canada, historian James Curran explores the history of relationships between Aussie prime ministers and American presidents.

After US Marines were mobilised against protesters on the streets of LA, President Trump is preparing for military fanfare in Washington. Is the new administration tapping into a tradition of authoritarianism? Iran retaliates against Israel; and one of India's best chefs meets Tassie's finest produce for Dark MOFO's Winter Feast.

Will Elon Musk and Donald Trump kiss and make up after the billionaire bromance blew up so spectacularly this week?  Plus, the future of warfare in the wake of those Ukrainian attacks on Russia, and why Australia marks the King's Birthday with a holiday (something that doesn't even happen in Britain).

The consequences of attacks on Harvard for Australia with Professor Brian Schmidt; the latest from Asia's annual security summit, the Shangri-la La Dialogue, and artist Leila Jeffreys, on The Last Thing.

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.

Nick Bryant and prominent New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman try to make sense of President Trump's motivations when it comes to foreign policy.  Plus, historians Judith Brett and Frank Bongiorno discuss the trajectory of Australian politics now that the Liberal Party has its first female leader and the Albanese government has a female-majority cabinet. And, we get an update on the infamous...

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant. 

Nick Bryant head to the marginal seat of Bennelong in Sydney and does a health check on the state of Australian democracy with the ANU's Dr Jill Sheppard and Iain Walker from NewDemocracy Foundation. Plus, Australia's theatre community is buzzing after the Broadway production of The Picture of Dorian Gray received 6 Tony Award nominations, and political commentator and author Peter Beinart on his...

Geraldine Doogue is in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, plus a nun in Papua New Guinea remembers his impact on her life.

The showdown between America's elite university and the Trump administration has begun... who will come out on top?  Join Nick as well for an emotional interview with the widow of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and extended discussion with Irish author Colum McCann about our reliance on undersea cables. Plus, how might Indian and Chinese Australian voters shift the outcome of the federal elec...

Understand the world with Barbara Miller.

Economist Warwick McKibbin on how Trump's tariffs are up-ending the foundations of modern trade, and inflicting maximum damage on the global and US economies.   A rare look inside Myanmar after the quake and a new film about the Australian war correspondent Peter Greste's imprisonment in Egypt in 2013.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, in a country already torn by war. The quake was felt across Southeast Asia, and there are warnings there could be tens of thousands dead.

Just nine weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump is certainly shaking things up. Prominent conservative commentator Scott Jennings explains why MAGA supporters are happy with the changes.  Plus, we discuss what to expect from next week's pre-election budget and get the latest news from Kyiv, where things seem to be getting worse despite all the talk of a peace deal. 

International politics and business, and the things that matter to Australians.

Also on the show,  Richard Tognetti reflects on the Australian Chamber Orchestra turning 50 and Britain’s High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell heads home after long diplomatic stint.

The latest from Washington after tense meeting in the White House. Plus, the view from Moscow with the BBC's Steven Rosenberg and why are spy thrillers dominating the airwaves?

Gideon Rachman on why American culture wars, international security and European politics can no longer be disentangled. Plus, David Wenham brings the lovable, small-time criminal Johnny Spiteri back to the screen. Spit's still got the mullet and the thongs, but there’s a whole new story.

Michael Fullilove joins Saturday Extra from Munich where US Vice President JD Vance has shocked delegates, accusing European governments of retreating from their values, and ignoring voter concerns on migration and free speech. And David Rennie from The Economist poses the question; could there be a 19th century style carve-up of the world between great powers? A big, beautiful Trump deal with Chi...

Plus, Trump's foreign aid shut down up-ends vital programs around the world as China steps in to support an aid program in the Pacific.