Podcast
Politics Now
Hosted by ABC Australia · EN
The ABC's politics podcast, Politics Now, dives into the biggest political stories in Australia and around the world, giving you a balanced look inside the strategies and decisions behind the headlines. Whenever major news breaks, we'll be in your feed with coverage you can trust.
From Monday to Wednesday, Patricia Karvelas will chat to a rotating cast of the ABC's biggest political journalists about the latest news.
On Thursdays, 'The Party Room' with Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly will discuss the week's developments in depth with another journalist, and answer your questions.
On Saturdays, David Speers gets into the details of a major trend or issue with the help of an expert on 'Insiders On Background'.
121episodes
Episodes
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Victorian Labor's leadership crisis
Yesterday00:33:00Tap to summarizeVictorian Premier Jacinta Allan is facing a leadership spill, with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll confirming he will run for the Labor leadership.It comes after a delegation of Labor MPs met with the Premier to urge her to resign, but it doesn't seem Jacinta Allan is willing to step aside without a fight.Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese's control of Labor was on full display at the ALP national conference, Labor backbencher Ed Husic has warned the culture of debate isn't valued as it should be.Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read PK's analysis here — Labor's national conference triumph had an unseen trade-offRead Jacob's analysis here - Labor conference proves a masterclass in political trade-offsGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
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Is One Nation a bigger threat to Labor than the Coalition? | Insiders On Background
4d ago00:21:08Tap to summarizeThe rise of One Nation this year has been crushing for the coalition, but it is also posing a threat to Labor.Outgoing National ALP President and former Treasurer, Wayne Swan sat down with David Speers at Labor's 50th conference.
Transcribe →Tariffs, bingo cards and Albo's iron grip
4d ago00:23:00Tap to summarizeLabor has adopted new language on gambling regulation and backed telehealth for voluntary assisted dying in its party platform.And while the party has been unwilling to air its dirty laundry publicly, negotiations and debates have still been underway behind the scenes. So, is this a further sign of Anthony Albanese power over the party and his ability to project stability?Meanwhile, The Trump administration has confirmed a 12.5 per cent tariff will be placed on Australian exports to the US immediately. The move has been blasted across the political spectrum, but has some of the domestic heat and pressure come out of the issue?Patricia Karvelas and Clare Armstrong break it all down on Politics Now.Read Clare's piece here — Regional funding a 'sleeper issue' that could end in rare fight on Labor conference floorGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
Transcribe →Albanese's 'antidote' to One Nation
5d ago00:27:00Tap to summarizeDay one of the National Labor conference has wrapped up, with Anthony Albanese's political authority on full display.The Prime Minister used his opening address to speak about the rise of One Nation and contrast grievance politics with pragmatic solutions.And while a broken escalator saw Anthony Albanese stumble slightly, there was no sign of that on the conference floor, with backroom factional deals largely sewn up to avoid "barneys".But there are warnings a "politically managed" conference could have risks, with rebel backbencher Ed Husic suggesting 'being allergic to dissent and dispute' won't work in Labor's long term interest.Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.Listen to The Party Room Question time here Read David's analysis on the Labor conference hereGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
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Should Labor adopt a 'manifesto'?
6d agoTap to summarizeIt's a bonus Question Time edition! And today, Fran and PK are diving into some of YOUR big questions about the behind the scenes machinations and optics of Australian politics.Including, are the seating arrangements in parliament strategic for the cameras? What do the Presidents of political parties actually do? Why don't political parties in Australia use political manifestos like they do in the UK? And are there tensions between pollies and public servants?And later, PK and David Speers will bring you their hot takes from on the ground at Labor's national conference.Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer your queries on The Party Room: Question Time edition.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
Transcribe →Taylor takes from Abbott playbook(let)
6d ago00:27:00Tap to summarizeThe National Labor Conference is about to get underway, with a gas exports tax, gambling reform and artificial intelligence shaping up as key battlegroundsBut while there will be disagreements and policy fights, there's criticism that the event will be highly stage managed. So, is Labor being in power actually putting a "handbrake" on robust debate?And Opposition leader Angus Taylor has unveiled a new booklet spruiking his economic plan, in a move directly out of the Tony Abbott playbook. So, can a glossy new pamphlet help him return the focus to the Coalition's policy?Patricia Karvelas and Melissa Clarke break it all down on Politics Now.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
Transcribe →Annabel Crabb on Albanese's control
1w ago00:23:00Tap to summarizeOrder and control have been hallmarks of Anthony Albanese's leadership, but they're also at the centre of his approach to cooking.Annabel Crabb joins PK to discuss what's shaped the Prime Minister's desire for order and if he's a bit of a "control freak" when he's in the kitchen — and maybe also the cabinet.Meanwhile, One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has gone viral for yelling at his dog off screen in the middle of an interview on ABC's 730 and PK and Annabel have some thoughts.Patricia Karvelas and Annabel Crabb break it all down on Politics Now.Watch Kitchen Cabinet on ABC TV at 0830pm, or catch up anytime on ABC iview.Got a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
Transcribe →Pauline Hanson dominates attention economy
1w ago00:24:00Tap to summarizeOne Nation leader Pauline Hanson has robustly defended her appearance on controversial far-right agitator Tommy Robinson's podcast amid backlash.But while the minor party has issued some clarifications, does the controversy feed into Pauline Hanson's playbook and has she succeed in "consuming the attention economy"?Meanwhile, the Albanese Government has responded to its special envoy's report on Islamophobia 10-months after it was released. So, what message is Labor trying to send at a time of fraying social cohesion?Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.Read PK's analysis here - Tony Abbott isn't helping the Liberals with their Pauline Hanson problemGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
Transcribe →Regulating AI is like catching smoke, warns Christopher Pyne | Insiders On Background
2w ago00:23:41Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is dominating the political agenda, with the federal government announcing plans to legislate guardrails for data centres and protect artists' copyright. But the strategic and military implications of AI, alongside Australia's multi-billion dollar investment in AUKUS, present much larger and complex questions for national sovereignty. Christopher Pyne is a stalwart of the Liberal Party and a former defence minister. He tells David Lipson that artificial intelligence is the most significant development since the nuclear weapon, and warned that the Liberal Party must distance itself from One Nation if it hopes to return to government.
Transcribe →One Nation leadership rumbles emerge
2w ago00:35:00Tap to summarizeIt's Question Time! But before Fran and PK dive into your clever questions, they wrap up the latest political developments.Pauline Hanson's podcast interview with far-right UK agitator Tommy Robinson is making waves — including it seems, within the One Nation itself.The One Nation leader suggested her daughter Lee Hanson had the "potential" to be a future leader of the party, so where does this leave Barnaby Joyce?And what's the history of Royal Commissions in Australia and when do they work best? We asked an expert.And while housing has dominated the political agenda, what impact is our aging population having on demand?Could older people house sharing offer a solution and importantly, what kind of roommates were PK and Fran? (spoiler: one of them was very protective of their butter!)And could an Australian MP pull a "stunt" like Nigel Farage? PK and Fran don't think so — and they also feel VERY differently about Count Binface.Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly answer your clever queries on The Party Room: Question Time edition.Listen here to Royal commissions in Australia — when have they made a difference?Listen here toLabor's AI plan and Hanson's holidayGot a burning question?Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
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