Is China trying to buy us off with…therapy pandas?

What will it take for Benjamin Netanyahu to lose his grip on power? He holds the record in Israel for most time served as prime minister: three stints, over 16 years.  But now, he is deeply unpopular; held responsible, by many Israelis, for not only the deadly October 7 attack, by Hamas. But also for turning his country, in the years before then, into a profoundly unsafe place to live. Today, international and political editor, Peter Hartcher, on whether Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that the most intense stage of fighting in the south of Gaza is nearly at an end, could finally spell the end of his political career.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the news broke yesterday morning that Julian Assange had been set free from a London prison, the buzz spread immediately through parliament house in Canberra.After spending more than a decade in prison or hiding, what exactly, had Assange agreed to plead guilty to? And will he finally come home to Australia?Today, foreign affairs and national security correspondent, Matthew Knott, on how the case that changed politics and journalism, forever, finally came to an end. And what the ripple effect might be, on both domestic and American politics.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Victorian education minister Ben Carroll announced, earlier this month, that his government had mandated a change in the way teachers instruct children to read, he admitted that he was potentially “stepping on a hand grenade”. He was entering the long-running “reading wars”, which have pitted teachers, principals, and parents against each other. Today, education editor Robyn Grace, on why one union has ordered its teachers to disobey the government’s mandate. And whether the new method will help remedy the inadequate reading proficiency of too many Australian children.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no one quite like Donald Trump. He has torn up long-standing treaties, threatened to abandon allies, indulged his rivals and shook America's stability as the centerpiece of Western democracy. So what would another term of Donald Trump in the White House mean for Australia and the global world order? In a special Monday series, our journalists examine his impact on trade, security, climate change and the economy, as well as who Australia's most influential lobbyists will be.  Today, international editor Peter Hartcher and foreign affairs national security correspondent Matthew Knott on how the long standing relationship between the United States and Australia might be thrown off kilter by a Trump presidency, and how our power brokers should handle Trump's mercurial temperament. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiled the Coalition’s plans for its nuclear energy policy. In doing so, he drew the battle lines for the next election, with the Albanese government firmly backing in its own plan to lower emissions using renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar. Plus, this week Australia hosted a visit from the Chinese Premier Li Qiang. So did the visit improve relations with our largest trading partner, or set them back?Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe, national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley and national affairs correspondent Matthew Knott, join Jacqueline Maley.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chinese Communist Party has long used unconventional means to improve strained relationships. In the 1970s, this meant sending ping pong players to the United States, to encourage the country to lift its embargo against China. (It worked.)So it was that China pledged, over the weekend, that it would loan one of our zoos two so-called therapy pandas. That’s right, pandas.Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on how this diplomatic strategy went down in Canberra. And the skirmish in Parliament House that highlighted the perennial tensions between Australia and its largest trading partner. Which might take a lot more than therapy pandas to fix.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s less than five months to go until the American presidential election. And the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is neck and neck, with one recent poll putting Trump ahead by less than one point.  Both are geriatric candidates. And they face the same challenge. How will they attract the youth vote?  Today, world editor Nick Ralston, on which young celebrities are most likely to sway voters. (A hint: it’s no longer Taylor Swift.) And whether former Neighbours star Holly Valance might influence a political shift to the far right.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A music teacher was fired from her Christian school in Sydney this year - all because a parent discovered she was in a same-sex relationship. The firing was all perfectly legal, under a law that the Australian government promised - but has so far, failed - to scrap.  The law change aims to protect LGBTQ teachers and students, but also promises to walk a tricky tightrope to allow religious schools the right to hire teachers who accord with their faith.  The issue has dogged successive governments for years with politicians trying, and failing to implement the bill.  Today, federal health reporter Natassia Chrysanthos on why it’s still legal for gay Australians to lose their jobs, because of their sexuality. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The climate change wars heated up, last week, after opposition leader Peter Dutton announced that, if elected to government, he would dump the current emissions reduction target for 2030. Activists, and even a member of Dutton’s own party, recoiled. This move, they said, may breach our commitment to the Paris Agreement - the treaty committed to fighting global warming. Today, national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley on what the Paris Agreement is all about. And why political infighting might damage not just our economy and our environment, but our ability to defend ourselves, too.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, opposition leader Peter Dutton indicated he would not commit to a climate change target for 2030 until after the election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hit back, saying the Coalition policy would mean energy shortfalls and higher bills. This development sets up the next election as a battle between the major parties on global warming. Also, there has been discontent among Liberal party members - particularly senator Hollie Hughes, who was recently kicked off a winnable spot on the senate ticket. Today, national affairs editor James Massola and chief political correspondent David Crowe join Jacqueline Maley to discuss what these climate battle lines mean. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.