Inside Politics: The perils of the campaign trail

Week one of the election campaign is done. Albanese has been hammering his Medicare message. Dutton has sought to broaden his image but is still playing to type, telling Sky News that he is ready to “fight” Donald Trump on Australia’s behalf, if necessary. So who won the week? And what is it like to be on the campaign trail with the leaders as a journalist, catching mystery flights to places unknown and travelling with your colleagues on an actual bus?Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American president Donald Trump announced this morning that he would issue a 10 per cent tariff on all Australian exports to the US, and he singled out Australia's main export beef, saying our current trade relationship on the product was unfair.  Today, we bring you a bonus mini episode with international editor Peter harcher on what these tariffs mean for us and what might come nextSubscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In four weeks, we’ll be voting to choose our next Prime Minister. The race is tight.  And, arguably for the first time in a long time, Australian voters will be swayed by an unusual metric: who’s best at handling the American president. Today, international and political editor, Peter Hartcher, on how strong, or weak, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have been, in the face of Donald Trump's increasing threats. And if Trump poses a threat to our own sovereignty.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government and the opposition have been fighting over power strategies for months now; just about assaulting us with a flurry of numbers and claims over which method will lead to cheaper household bills.And now, the Coalition has announced a shock new gas policy. So, is Peter Dutton’s unprecedented scheme just a bid to win political points, rather than a legitimate means to keep our appliances running, and us warm, at relatively little cost? Or is the opposition leader on to a winner?Today, business reporter Nick Toscano, and climate and energy reporter Mike Foley, help us wade through the spin, to tell us which energy plan is best: for both us, and the environment.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immigration has been a vexed subject in Australia and used in political campaigns, past - and present.   We are a nation, after all, that enacted what became known as the White Australia policy way back in 1901. And who can forget John Howard’s potent ‘stop the boats’ election campaign? Meanwhile, just recently, we’ve experienced an unprecedented surge in migrant numbers. So the issue is once again at the heart of a federal election, to be held in less than five weeks’ time.  Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on what impact immigration has on our economy.  For more: Read Shane Wright's piece in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald here.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Anthony Albanese couldn't name the cash rate, or the unemployment rate on day one of his last campaign, it was a moment that could have lost him the election. But, as associate editor Tony Wright says, he was up against Scott Morrison who was "on the nose" across the nation. And that was before Morrison spear-tackled a child at a soccer match. Campaigns can win, and lose, an election and Wright has seen a few since his first campaign covering Bob Hawke in 1983. Wright speaks to Jacqueline Maley in the latest episode of our election podcast, Inside Politics.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could happen to anyone. Your pet - let’s face it, the best person in the house - goes missing. So you take to social media, to help track him or her down. So, how does it go from this, to getting sued, and becoming embroiled in a million dollar legal battle, that drags on for years? Today, investigative reporter Harriet Alexander, on the dodgy vet, the pet detective and the fate of one beloved King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Teddy.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, an election date has finally been called and we are staring down the barrel of a five week campaign before voting day on May 3. Here -  from the newsrooms of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald - we’ll bring you our humble podcast twice a week for the duration of the campaign. There’s going to be a lot of news around so we’re here to help you navigate your way through the barrage of information with the most trusted voices in Australian journalism. Among them are national affairs editor James Massola, and federal political reporter Natassia Chrysanthos, who join Jacqueline from the Canberra studio.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this early episode of Inside Politics, we come to you soon after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave his budget reply speech on Thursday night, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all but certain to call an election on Friday morning. Did Dutton's speech, which moved to intensify the contest over household budgets, one-up the government's budget earlier in the week? Inside Politics host Jacqueline Maley dissects all the news with chief political correspondent David Crowe and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does Donald Trump have an overarching plan?  Lots of commentators have rejected this idea – Trump just does what he wants, when he wants, as the thought strikes him. But, says international and political editor, Peter Hartcher, many of his initiatives, or desires, share a common narrative. Today, Hartcher discuss how the United States, under Donald Trump, is becoming more like China.  For more:Day by day, Trump’s America becomes more like Xi’s China, Peter Hartcher, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald China Heritage, Geremie R. BarméSubscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.