Read This: Clare Wright Is Shutting Up and Listening

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year. From the adventure of a lifetime to a family torn apart by murder, senior producer for 7am Cheyne Anderson brings you a collection of gripping podcasts perfect for your summer road trip.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior producer for 7am Cheyne Anderson

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  2024 was a blockbuster year in music: Beyonce went country, Taylor Swift went everywhere, and we all went Brat.  Today, with The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza, we’re exploring the albums that defined the year.  That includes Charli XCX of course, but also a surprising new album from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and a tender exploration of modern masculinity by MJ Lenderman.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  From the saddest comedy on our screens to a queer reality show – The Saturday Paper’s television critic Sarah Krasnostein looks back at the highlights of 2024. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: The Saturday Paper’s television critic Sarah Krasnostein

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year.  From a reimagining of a classic to the sidelines of footy practice, editor of The Monthly and host of Read This Michael Williams has your beach reads covered.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Editor of The Monthly and host of Read This Michael Williams

For Read This’s last episode of 2024, host Michael Williams heads to Fitzroy Pool to find out what people are reading as the weather warms up. Plus, a handful of previous Read This guests offer book recommendations for the summer holidays.

Anthony Albanese has finished the year with his lowest approval rating yet. The prime minister’s popularity has been crumbling ever since his party was elected to government in 2022, with some polling suggesting that he is now as unpopular as Scott Morrison was heading into that election. His image has been damaged by the purchase of a $4.3 million mansion during a housing crisis, as well as receiving flight upgrades courtesy of Qantas. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on Anthony Albanese’s image problem and whether he can turn it around. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis

Like coming up for air after 50 years. That’s how one man described the current moment in Syria. Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, thousands of Syrians have been celebrating in the streets and wandering through Assad’s abandoned palace. But many more are searching through the massive network of prisons that underpinned Assad’s repressive regime, hoping to find out the fate of lost loved ones. Meanwhile, Syria’s new rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, are grappling with how to seize control of the infrastructure that underpinned Assad’s massive state-run drug trade. Today, journalist Heidi Pett, on the ground in Damascus, as the Syrian people reckon with what the future holds for their country. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist Heidi Pett.

Alice Springs is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Violent crimes committed by young people, including a recent attack on a woman and her two-month-old baby, have left the town shaken.  The baby has suffered a brain bleed and a fractured skull, and there are now big questions about how to keep the community safe, what justice should look like and why crimes like this happen at all. Today, Arrernte woman Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, the national body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, on the underlying issues wreaking havoc on the streets of Alice Springs and what can be done to address the youth crime crisis. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC

It’s been nearly four months since all branches of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union were forced into administration and hundreds of union officers were kicked out. The government wanted a clean slate after allegations of bullying, intimidation and infiltration from outlaw bikie gangs. Now, those underworld figures are seeking payback. And the man tasked with cleaning up the union is facing death threats.  Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray on the challenge of cleaning up the CFMEU and the enduring influence of John Setka and his loyalists. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray

The Liberal Party says it wants the next election to be a referendum on energy. After months of waiting, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton finally released the costings for his $331 billion nuclear power plan. The modelling suggests the nuclear plan would be $264 billion cheaper than Labor’s renewables rollout, and deliver lower energy prices for consumers. But Dutton’s plan contradicts the CSIRO's new GenCost report, which found a nuclear power plant would likely cost twice as much as renewable energy, with the agency also warning a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors could not be expected before 2050. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on how the Coalition’s modelling stacks up – and whether it matters to voters hungry for lower power bills. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.