Spin Cycle

In Spin Cycle this week, Charlie and Jess recap the success of Antoinette Lattouf in her case against the ABC, and the larger ramifications of the verdict. They are also joined by writer and photographer Alistair Kitchen,  to share details on his deportation from the US, and discuss the threat against journalism abroad.

Investigative journalist and documentary photographer, Ben Camacho, joins Charlie and guest host Natalie Feliks on this week’s episode of Spin Cycle. Together they discuss the violent treatment of journalists in the LA protests of ICE, and in particular, whether or not it is intentional. They ask what the consequences of silencing the media are, and what the end of programs like Q+A and The Projec...

Friend of Spin Cycle, Natalie Feliks joins Charlie on the show to talk about the Australian media’s coverage of climate policy, in light of the extension of Woodside’s North Shelf gas project in WA. Together they also take a look at the media training of political candidates, including revisiting some classic “gotcha” moments.

Antoun Issa joins Jess and Charlie to discuss the launch of he and cofounder Alex McKinnon’s online news platform Deepcut. They talk about slow cultural change, media as historical recording, and funding for new media. Jess and Charlie also talk about the week in news, in particular the inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbings and the media’s role in the families’ trauma.

Long time political analyst Anthony Green, joins Jess, Rachel and Charlie to talk about Labor's landslide victory and other facets of the recent election. He also shares insights into how the election process has changed over the years. The team also reviews the week in other news, including ongoing backlash against people outspoken in support of Palestine.

In this week's Spin Cycle, Jess and Rachel discuss the media's coverage of Susan Ley's appointment to head of the LNP - is it genuine analysis or does it involve internalised misogyny? They are also joined by Josh Bornstein, in a conversation about where lines are drawn where employees hold different political views to their employers.

Daniel James of the 7am podcast and RRR's The Mission talks to Jess and Rachel about election night. What was it like at the ALP's function, and what has the media coverage been like in the wake? Together they also talk about other news of the week, namely the beginning of the mushroom murder trials.

Journalist Crystal Andrews, founder of Zee Feed, and readers’ editor at Crikey, talks to Jess and Rachel on the place of new media in the 2025 election. Jess and Rachel also look at the demise of Amelia Hamer over the past few weeks of the election.

Jess flies solo and, in this episode, is joined by senior writer at Good Weekend, Tim Elliot, to delve into his investigation of “grassroots” campaign group Advance Australia. They discuss its ideological origins, and its connection to the fossil fuel industry, and the ATLAS network. Jess also talks about the decline of ARN’s CADA, including their recent addition of an AI breakfast show host.

Jess and Charlie are joined by Hannah McElhinney, co-creator of Rainbow History Class, to discuss the major parties’ social media content creation for the upcoming election. They also discuss Crikey’s political candidate, and Peter Dutton’s turbulent week on the trail.

Jess and Charlie welcome Isabelle Roe, one of the ABC journalists on the campaign trail this election. What is it like, and what can she tell us about the inner workings of Peter Dutton’s campaign. Jess and Charlie also discuss more of the “meh” election, including the recent debates hosted by Sky and Channel 7, and the Liberal campaign ad made with AI.

Jess, Rachel and Charlie are joined by The Guardian Australia's correspondent Sarah Martin, to discuss the new podcast series about mining magnate Gina Rinehart. They talk about what the podcast, Gina , reveals about Gina Rinehart, and what it can tell us about her influence in the current election. The team also talk about the more general election shenanigans, including Abbie Chatfield's brush w...

Charlie and Rachel welcome returning guest-host Natalie Feliks. Together they are joined by human rights lawyer David Mejia-Canales to discuss the right to protest, and how the Australian media's coverage of protests give cover to repressive laws.  They also review the media coverage of the budget, the upcoming trans day-of-action, and the US government chat to which a journalist was accidentally...

Rachel, Charlie and Jess are joined by widely published journalist, Alex McKinnon, founder of  everything is fine* . Together they discuss the power of the mainstream media, the importance of independent journalism, and the Australian media's coverage on Palestine. The team also talk about some recent new media outlets that have cropped up across the internet, and what kind of “news” they’re produ...

This week on Spin Cycle, Jess, Rachel and Charlie review the week, breaking down the timeline of the Dural caravan saga - the media hysteria, the political rhetoric, the rushed legislation, all over a terrorist plot that never was. Plus they recount their back and forth with a certain media hungry former Prime Minister. Plus the rise of self-censorship in the media, and some truly vile political a...

Rachel, Jess and Charlie are joined by Alex Fein, Redbridge Senior Insights Adviser, who runs focus groups for the Melbourne-based pollster, to find out more about how the process works — and what the punters are saying. They also discuss the alarming news coming out of America, including attacks on press freedom and THAT Oval Office shakedown.

Rachel, Jess and Charlie are joined by former Guardian political reporter, now chief political analyst at the Australia Institute, Amy Remeikis. She explains the role of think tanks and shares her thoughts on the state of the Australian political media, particularly in the lead up to the election. The team also talk about misogyny in commercial radio (again) in light of Marty Sheargold's sacking f...

Jess, Rachel and Charlie are joined by legendary cricket journalist, Peter Lalor, who was sacked from SEN radio after complaints were made over his retweets supporting Palestinians in Gaza. They also discuss other similar media stories, including allegations the Daily Telegraph attempted to manufacture its own anti-semitism story. Relevant articles on this episode's topics Peter Lalor SEN boss’s N...

Jess, Rachel and Charlie are back from the holidays and recap what went down in the media over the break. They discuss the analysis of Elon Musk’s gestures at US president Donald Trump’s inauguration - why are some media saying odd-looking and others saying nazi salute? They also cover the ongoing saga of Antoinette Lattouf’s dismissal from the ABC, and the treatment of Sam Kerr’s being charged wi...

Charlie and Jess speak to writer, Yaakov Aharon, about his article in Michael West Media detailing Israel's recruitment of Australian soldiers. Plus they look at how Newscorp's current cheerleading for the gas industry trashes the line between editorial and advertising. And Bob Katter makes a weary return.

Speaking in the final hours before the social media ban legislation was passed through the Senate on Thursday night, Spin Cycle co-hosts Natalie Feliks, Jess Lilley, Rachel Withers and Charlie Lewis speak to 15-year-old 6 News journalist Maggie Perry about what the social media ban would mean for her and other LGBTQIA+ young people, rural and otherwise-isolated or marginilised kids. The team also...

Hosts Charlie, Jess and Rachel are joined by award-winning journalist David Leser, whose 1998 piece Who's Afraid of Alan Jones has come to light again following the arrest of former shock jock Alan Jones. The team also discusses the proposed legislation to ban those under 16 years old from using social media.

Jess and Rachel are joined by guest co-host Natalie Feliks. Together they unpack the government's plans to ban young people from social media. Author, screenwriter and former political advisor Don Watson joins the team by phone to unravel this week's US election, the Republican landslide and the future of the country under a Trump administration.

Rachel Withers is joined by guest co-host Daniel James to speak with Professor William Parlett on his recent article for The Conversation exposing the the National Anti-Corruption Commission's failure to investigate the Robodebt scandal.

Rick Morton joins Jess, Rachel and Charlie to discuss his new book Mean Streak , a "corporate thriller" that uncovers the horror of Robodebt. Rick gets into how it happened, where it all went so wrong and why we need to learn from this. The team also delve into Senator Lidia Thorpe’s protest during King Charles’ visit to Parliament House and the media storm that surrounded it, including the commen...