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There’s a group of people who felt completely abandoned during our most recent public health crisis: those who suffered Covid-19 vaccine injuries.  It is a rare event, but it happens. During the pandemic those who experienced side effects from Covid-19 vaccinations say they felt deserted by their friends, health services and ultimately, the government, which they believe failed to deliver its promised compensation scheme. Today, reporter for the ABC’s Background Briefing Maddison Connaughton on the shortcomings of the Covid-19 vaccination compensation scheme – and what it means for public trust during a future pandemic. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Reporter for the ABC’s Background Briefing, Maddison Connaughton.

Just a few days after the US presidential election, Prospect Park, located in the middle of Brooklyn, burst into flames.  For Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks, who has long called America home, an autumn bushfire in the dense urban heart of Brooklyn was a scary sign of what’s to come under Donald Trump’s second term as US president. Today, Geraldine Brooks on Trump’s America – and what it means for a burning planet.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks

Alan Jones was at his luxury Circular Quay apartment yesterday morning when Child Abuse Squad detectives arrived to arrest him. For nine months, police had been conducting a top secret investigation. Now, they’ve charged Jones with 24 offences, involving eight victims. Among the charges are 11 of aggravated indecent assault where the victim was under the authority of the offender.  His arrest is the latest chapter in the downfall of one of Australia's most controversial figures, a man described by one of his alleged victims as being “more powerful than the prime minister”.  Today, investigative reporter and author of Jones Town: The Power and Myth of Alan Jones Chris Masters on the downfall of one of Australia’s most powerful men and what it tells us about the nature of power in this country.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Investigative reporter and author of Jones Town: The Power and Myth of Alan Jones Chris Masters

In deciding not to probe robodebt, the National Anti-Corruption Commission seemingly failed its first big test. But the NACC has been given a second chance to reconsider an investigation into the unlawful scheme and six people referred for possible corruption by a royal commission. Former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson was approached to review the decision, but the offer was withdrawn over concerns it might offend a former Coalition minister who is among the people referred. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the dumping of the proposed robodebt investigation and what it means for the future of the NACC. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

Santilla Chingaipe has always been a storyteller. The Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author spent her career exploring settler colonialism, slavery, and contemporary migration in Australia and she has just released her first book of non-fiction. On this episode of Read This, host Michael Williams is joined in the studio by Santilla to discuss Black Convicts, which offers a fresh understanding of the ways in which empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped this nation.

Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, does not appear to like Donald Trump – and the feeling is mutual. Speculation about Rudd's ability to work with the incoming Trump administration has flared, as Rudd’s historical criticisms of Donald Trump have caught the eye of some in the US president-elect’s inner-circle. This week, speculation peaked when a senior adviser to Trump reposted Rudd’s congratulatory statement to the president-elect on social media with a GIF of an hourglass. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis, on whether the incoming US administration will seek retribution, and if the Albanese government will stand up to them. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis.

When US President-elect Donald Trump claimed victory last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first to congratulate him. Trump and Netanyahu have a close relationship and Netanyahu’s far-right national security minister has said he’s sure Trump would see “eye-to-eye” with Israel. Meanwhile, president-elect Trump claims he will end the war in the Middle East, but has not revealed how he plans to do so. Until December, Dana Stroul was the most senior civilian at the Pentagon focused on the Middle East. Today, Stroul tells us what a second Trump term means for the region and whether we could see an end to the war in Gaza. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Dana Stroul, Director of Research, Washington Institute and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East at the Pentagon.

The Albanese government has been accused of pork-barrelling after an analysis of $1.35 billion in grants found almost 90 per cent of seats that Labor held or gained at the election received a grant. Labor has defended the grants, saying they were campaign commitments that had to be met. Today, independent MP Helen Haines on pork-barrelling by the major parties and how the Albanese government rates on accountability and integrity as we head to a federal election. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Independent MP Helen Haines

The re-election of Donald Trump is likely to have alarming consequences for the climate. He was, after all, elected on a promise to “drill, baby, drill”. Trump is already preparing to pull out of the Paris Agreement, again. But this time he could also withdraw from the underlying convention, making it much harder for any successor to change course.  Climate diplomat Thom Woodroofe was there when the Paris Agreement was signed – and when Trump rescinded the first time around.  Now, as COP29 kicks off in Azerbaijan, Woodroofe says Trump’s disregard of climate responsibilities makes it even more crucial that Australia takes a leading role in international climate negotiation.  Today, senior international fellow with the Smart Energy Council Thom Woodroofe, on Donald Trump and whether global action on climate is a lost cause without the United States. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior international fellow with the Smart Energy Council Thom Woodroofe

When Donald Trump took the stage to claim victory in Palm Beach, Florida, he was joined by a football team sized contingent of family and friends, including the chief executive of the Ultimate Fight Championship, Dana White. White, who has admitted to assaulting his wife, took the mic to thank some people he regarded as crucial to delivering his friend Donald Trump the presidency. They included online streamer ​​Aidin Ross, comedian Theo Von and podcaster Joe Rogan. Trump’s appearance on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience were crucial to mobilising the support of young men across the US who wouldn’t have otherwise voted.  It was a sophisticated plan based on a close read of voting trends – and a little help from Trump’s son, Barron.  Today national political correspondent for Time magazine Eric Cortellessa on Donald Trump and the “pod bros” that helped him win. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National political correspondent for Time magazine Eric Cortellessa

It is more or less impossible to imagine Australian literature of the past half century without Tim Winton. From his debut, An Open Swimmer to his epic Cloudstreet, the four-time Miles Franklin Award winner is beloved by generations of readers. On this special episode of Read This, host Michael Williams sits down with Tim to discuss his latest novel, Juice, a gripping tale of determination, survival, and the limits of the human spirit.

After the Country Liberal Party came into power in the Northern Territory, they scrapped a number of key portfolios. Among them was the climate change portfolio, with responsibility for the environment now sitting under lands and planning. It indicates the NT government is prioritising the economy, in particular big development projects. And now, according to a leaked consultation paper, the NT government wants to give itself new powers to fast-track major developments, sidestepping environmental checks and balances and the wishes of many impacted Territorians. Today, Environment Centre NT executive director Kirsty Howey, on the NT government’s leaked secret proposal, and whether it could open the floodgates to environmentally damaging projects like fracking. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Executive director of Environment Centre NT, Kirsty Howey

As the US election began to rapidly slip away from Kamala Harris, it became clear that the presidential candidate wasn’t going to speak at her election night rally in Washington D.C. That’s when people started slipping out of the event, including Dr Emma Shortis. Donald Trump is projected to win not just the presidency, but also the popular vote. Today, senior researcher at The Australia Institute Dr Emma Shortis on Donald Trump’s projected return to the White House, and what it means for the future of the Democratic Party. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior researcher at The Australia Institute, Dr Emma Shortis

On the eve of the American election, polls say Harris and Trump are neck and neck. Of course, Donald Trump says that’s not true. It’s nothing new for the former president to deny facts. What is new is the way America’s biggest cable news network is handling it: Fox News has started cutting away from rallies when Trump lies. The network’s support of the big lie – that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, led to a defamation lawsuit that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to settle. And now the Murdoch broadcaster is in a tricky spot: tell MAGA supporters what they want to hear, even if it isn’t true, or risk losing a huge audience.  So what does Fox do if Trump loses this election, and refuses to admit it? Today, author of The Successor and host of Rupert: The last mogul Paddy Manning on Fox’s role in the US election and how the Murdochs’ secret court case could shape the future of democracy. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author of The Successor and host of Rupert: The last mogul Paddy Manning

One of the first things David Crisafulli did when he became premier of Queensland was order the state’s Truth-telling inquiry to stop immediately. The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry, which launched earlier this year, was examining the impacts of colonisation on First Nations people. Work was underway, with witnesses already having testified about racial discrimination and abuse.  The premier gave the order to stop in a press conference, without talking first to the man running the process. Today, Chairman of The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry Joshua Creamer on David Crisafulli’s decision and the truth that will never be heard.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Chairman of The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry Joshua Creamer

The prime minister’s relationship with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, and whether he likes a free upgrade, has been the talk of Canberra, prompted by the publication of a new book called The Chairman’s Lounge. Speculation about what the book would reveal had been swirling for months, and it was widely known in political circles that some of it would be bad for the prime minister. But when the book was finally published, Albanese and his office seemed unprepared. The saga, which played out over a week, and entangled politicians from both major parties, raises questions about how much our leaders love a freebie – and whether the prime minister in particular has lost touch with voters’ expectations. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on The Chairman’s Lounge and whether it matters if politicians get a fancy drink in a fancy chair. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis

In just three books Robbie Arnott has established himself as a writer to trust. Flames (2018), The Rain Heron (2022) and Limberlost (2022) were all rapturously reviewed and garnered a hefty swag of award nominations and wins. On this episode of Read This, Michael Williams sits down with Robbie to discuss his new novel, Dusk, which explores loss, redemption, and survival in Tasmania’s high country.

On a street in downtown Beirut there’s a five-storey building – a derelict hotel. It was empty for years, until recently, when hundreds of displaced people started arriving. Their experience of fleeing southern Beirut to find safety in the city’s busy neighbourhoods is being repeated across Lebanon right now as Israel’s bombardments continue. There has been a massive effort to help shelter the one million displaced Lebanese, but in this building and in many others they aren’t always welcome, with religious divides from the civil war still palpable, decades on. Today, journalist Heidi Pett on the old wounds being re-opened in Lebanon. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist Heidi Pett

When the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme handed down its findings, the commissioner in charge went to great lengths to refer six individuals to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation. What followed outraged many, particularly the victims of the scheme: The NACC announced that it would not act on the referrals. That decision generated so many complaints that it has since been investigated by the inspector of the NACC, Gail Furness. Now, that investigation has found that not only should the decision be revisited, but the head of the NACC himself engaged in “officer misconduct”. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on what this means for the integrity of Australia’s corruption watchdog. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

In a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, just over a week from the election, Donald Trump took to the stage with a vision for the first day of his presidency. Trump is promising to deport more than 11 million people if he wins, making it “the largest deportation program in American history”. Immigration has been one of the most pressing and divisive issues of the presidential race, with fears of “border chaos” and misinformation about immigrants eating pets dominating headlines. But the facts about immigration tell a different story.  Today, investigative reporter for ProPublica Mica Rosenberg, on the real ways immigration is affecting America. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Investigative reporter for ProPublica Mica Rosenberg