Ex-Pentagon official on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire

For so many, Noni Hazlehurst is the patron saint of early childhood nostalgia, known for her magnetic presence on Play School. But Noni has had a long and storied career on stage and screen in Australia – from hosting Better Homes & Gardens to starring in the award-winning one-woman play Mother. On this episode of Read This, Noni chats with Michael about her new memoir, Dropping the Mask.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Sunday, Israel and Hamas are due to start a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza as part of a deal that could end the war. The announcement has prompted thousands of Palestinians to celebrate on the streets of Gaza, where residents have had no reprieve from bombardments and ground battles since 2023.  If the agreement holds, desperately needed humanitarian aid will reach the people of Gaza, many of whom are living in freezing tents in the middle of winter. Dozens of hostages, who have been held by Hamas, will return home to Israel. Today, research director at The Washington Institute, Dana Stroul, who was the most senior civilian at the Pentagon focused on the Middle East when the war began. Stroul tells us how the deal was struck and how Trump and Biden each claiming the victory as their own obscures an unlikely alliance.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Research Director at The Washington Institute Dana StroulSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing Labor minister Bill Shorten has said he’s leaving politics at the end of the month confident with the state of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. As Minister for the NDIS, Shorten has been focused on making reforms to the scheme in an effort to reduce costs and ensure its sustainability. But despite claims the government’s reform of the NDIS is focused on fraud crackdowns, a third of the savings will come from pushing children off the scheme. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on the children targeted in the NDIS crackdown, and the real intent behind the cuts.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Cathy McGowan won the seat of Indi as an independent in 2013, it sent shockwaves through the political establishment. The Liberal Party had lost what was supposed to be one of their safe seats. At the time, McGowan was one of only two independents in the House of Representatives.  In 2022, the Liberals lost six seats to independents, and at least 51 electorates across the country are currently planning to put forward a community backed independent in this year’s election. Today, former federal MP Cathy McGowan on which major party candidates should be worried about their seats – and if there’s such a thing as too many independents in parliament.   Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Former federal MP, Cathy McGowanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past few weeks, Elon Musk has posted thousands of times on his social media platform X about British politics, the far-right activist Tommy Robinson and conspiracy theories over a decades-old sex abuse scandal. Now, the British government’s agenda has stalled as the prime minister faces questions about the theories Musk has elevated.  It’s a stark example of how the world’s richest man can influence politics in any country, and comes at a time when competitors like Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg are trying to copy Musk’s playbook. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Elle Hardy, on how Musk and Zuckerberg are reshaping the internet and democracy.    Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper Elle HardySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 federal election campaign has already begun, even if unofficially. While most Australians are still enjoying their summer, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are already in fight mode. For Labor, the stakes are high. To secure a second term, they’re hoping to reverse their losses in Queensland and regain popularity with an apathetic electorate. For the Coalition, it’s about regaining ground in suburban seats and capitalising on the government’s self inflicted wounds.  Today, The Saturday Paper’s associate editor, Martin Mackenzie-Murray, on the “shadow campaign” already underway – and what Labor insiders say is the biggest threat to the government winning a second term. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin Mackenzie-MurraySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From afar, Alice Springs/Mparntwe is a whirlpool of myth and truth. It’s a town with competing interests and few solutions, marked by chaos and decades of government overreach.  Today, Yorta Yorta man and host of 7am Daniel James traces the origins of the so-called crime crisis in Alice Springs and reflects on all the interventions, big and small, that have led to this point.  Please enjoy “Children of the Intervention” by Daniel James, a companion piece to 7am’s three-part podcast series This is Alice Springs.    Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Yorta Yorta man, award winning writer and broadcast, host of 7am Daniel JamesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tucked away in a Sydney suburb is one of Australia’s largest landfill sites. Here lies a stark reminder of the millions of tonnes of waste that form the collateral of our modern lives. Author and critic James Bradley visited the landfill to reflect on our relationship with private consumption and investigate why there is so little accountability for the damage caused by our waste. Please enjoy “The Tipping Point”, read by James Bradley and first published in the September edition of The Monthly.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Author and critic James BradleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesia’s recently sworn in President Prabowo Subianto is many things. To millions of young Indonesians, he is a daggy dancer on TikTok. But to a cohort of voters with longer memories, he is a veteran of a brutal and oppressive military force.Today, principal fellow of the Indo-Pacific Research Centre at Murdoch University Jacqui Baker charts Prabowo Subianto’s extraordinary climb to the presidency and what it means for Indonesia’s fragile democracy. Please enjoy “Forcing History”, read by Jacqui Baker and first published in the Australian Foreign Affairs October issue.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Principal fellow of the Indo-Pacific Research Centre at Murdoch University Jacqui BakerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Andrea Robin Skinner, the daughter of the late Nobel Prize-winning Canadian author Alice Munro, revealed something about her mother that had stayed hidden throughout Munro’s entire life. When Skinner was nine years old, Munro’s husband – who was also Andrea's stepfather – had assaulted her. Today, art critic and author Sebastian Smee reads his piece on the author Alice Munro. It’s an insightful and sharp piece of writing by one of the best observers of the art and literary worlds. Please enjoy ‘Into the Dark: The Legacy of Alice Munro”, read by Sebastian Smee, first published in The Monthly’s November edition.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Art critic and author Sebastian SmeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.