Cut Through

Crikey
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Cut Through is Crikey’s spin-free analysis of Australian news, politics and power. Each week we break down the biggest news stories, stripping away the noise to bring you the information that really matters. Join us every Friday to get your talking points delivered the Crikey way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Meet Big Brother: Palantir’s Australian expansion

    8H AGO

    Meet Big Brother: Palantir’s Australian expansion

    Palantir is in the business of data and surveillance. It is run by key members of the “tech right”, builds the technology that has powered violent and illegal ICE raids in the US, and is accused of providing the AI-assisted autonomous weapons the Israeli military deployed on Palestinians in Gaza. So why does the Australian Future Fund hold a $100 million stake in Palantir? And how has the company secured multimillion-dollar contracts and top security clearance from government departments and agencies? Associate editor Cam Wilson joins the podcast to unpack his reporting on the growing Australian footprint of “the world’s most controversial SaaS company”. Read more: Revealed: Australia’s $100 million investment in controversial tech giant PalantirDefence signs biggest ever contract with Palantir for department’s ‘Cyber Warfare Division’‘Effectively passive’: Future Fund says it didn’t choose to buy its $100m Palantir stakeFrom ICE to Coles: Controversial US tech company Palantir’s links to Australia spark backlashAs top AUKUS official joins Palantir, ethics watchdog warns of lobbying ‘risks’Why do right-wing figures name their companies after Lord of the Rings? Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. What Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit tells us about “social cohesion”

    FEB 12

    What Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit tells us about “social cohesion”

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continued to maintain this week that Israeli President Isaac Herzog was formally invited to Australia by the federal government to help foster “a greater sense of unity” and as a comfort to the Jewish community, still reeling from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. But it was clear from the outset that there was also real anger from people — including Jewish people — over the government hosting an individual cited by the UN Commission as "directly and publicly incited the commission of genocide in contravention of Article III(c) of the Genocide Convention". Nationwide protests against Herzog’s presence kicked off in Sydney, with violent clashes between police and protesters making global headlines. Crikey’s legal correspondent Michael Bradley joins the podcast to explain whether hosting Herzog is a breach of international law, why the Sydney protest was not “illegal”, and how instances of alleged police brutality connect to the special powers granted to NSW Police.  If the Albanese government’s goal is to calm public tensions — as he keeps insisting — did Herzog’s visit help or hurt?  Read more: A view from the ground: As police argued with MPs, Sydney’s protest against Isaac Herzog descended into chaosNothing says cohesion like a punch in the head: Violence of Minns’ goons exposes the lie of ‘social cohesion’Why people are protesting Israel’s head of state visiting Australia next week Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  3. Australia in the Epstein files

    FEB 5

    Australia in the Epstein files

    The latest drop of Epstein files totalled a whopping 3.5 million documents. Buried within it were remnants of conversations Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile and sex trafficker, had about Australian politics — and attempts to destabilise democratic elections made by people in his orbit. Crystal Andrews and reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis discuss why Kevin Rudd and Clive Palmer appear in the Epstein files alongside the likes of Steve Bannon and Peter Mandelson; and why no one should be surprised about the intersection of the abuse of women and girls and the spreading of toxic politics worldwide. Read more: The Epstein files show that Australia, like many nations, is at the mercy of men like himHere's how Epstein broke the internetEpstein, Mandelson, and the conspiracy theories that turn out to be true Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  4. BONUS: Are we too mean to One Nation supporters?

    FEB 4

    BONUS: Are we too mean to One Nation supporters?

    Bonus episode: Our previous episode scrutinising One Nation’s surge upset made many of the party’s supporters. They took issue with describing what the data says about the archetypal One Nation voter: they tend to be older, live in regional Australia, and have lower levels of education and income. Crystal Andrews and Bernard Keane return to debate whether it’s patronising to describe voters this way, or just stating the facts? And how can you discuss a political movement’s influence on Australia, if you can’t talk about who they are? Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  5. How seriously should we be taking One Nation?

    JAN 29

    How seriously should we be taking One Nation?

    One Nation’s surge in the polls can no longer be denied, now neck-and-neck with the Liberal party at around 20% of the primary voting intention. Combined with a tense social environment and a high-profile joiner in Barnaby Joyce, is “Opposition Leader Pauline Hanson” a real possibility? Party supporters and detractors say the polls are a sign we must take the party seriously. So politics editor Bernard Keane and reporter Anton Nilsson join the podcast to do exactly that — scrutinise One Nation’s policies and prospects. We discuss the strong and weak points of the policy platform, if One Nation can expand its appeal to a broader voting base, and whether there’s any chance of survival post-Pauline. Read more: One Nation is on a roll. So what are the party’s actual policies?No, One Nation isn’t leading the Coalition. The real story is how Albo is undermining the major parties|We went to Pauline Hanson’s cancelled-then-uncancelled propaganda movie premiere so you don’t have to The media’s ongoing amnesia regarding Pauline HansonWhat’s going on with Gen X men and One Nation? I’m sick of being told to feel sorry for themSign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  6. Australia’s National AI Plan: What you need to know

    12/04/2025

    Australia’s National AI Plan: What you need to know

    The government has unveiled its National AI Plan, laying out a roadmap to scale up AI infrastructure and adoption that Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres claims will help “create a fairer, stronger Australia where every person benefits from this technological change”. But the plan did not include the mandatory guardrails that many expected would serve as proactive regulations for tech companies. Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, co-director of the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance at Sydney University, joins the podcast to explain the government’s AI strategy, what’s missing from the plan and how Australia measures up against other countries when it comes to AI policymaking. Weatherall’s book recommendations: The Shortest History of AI by Toby Walsh and any from this list by London School of Economics and Political Science Read more: Australia’s national AI plan has just been released. Who exactly will benefit?Labor goes hands-off in productivity-focused national AI planCan wise heads fix the hard problem of AI policy?How Australia’s national security chief used AI to write speeches and ‘personnel communications’How data centres are killing Australia’s climate progress How AI is reshaping religion and mental health Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  7. Parliamentary year in review: who won big, and what comes next

    11/27/2025

    Parliamentary year in review: who won big, and what comes next

    A big year in politics and policy ended with a bang — Labor and the Greens worked out a deal to pass the long overdue reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. What have we learned about how the 48th Parliament does the work of legislating? Politics editor Bernard and political columnist Rachel Withers join the podcast to conduct a “Parliamentary Year in Review”. We scrutinise the policy proposals that made the biggest impact for better or for worse and examine the senate dynamics between Labor, the Greens and the independents. Plus, who gave the standout performances in parliament this year? The answers are not what you’d expect… Nominations for Arsehat of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/25/arsehat-of-the-year-nominations-crikey-2025/  Nominations for Shitstirrer of the Year: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/27/crikey-shitstirrer-of-the-year-nominations-2025/  Read more: The Greens, Labor, and the environment all scored a win today — it’s a lesson in how politics *should* workBehind Labor’s Big Lie about FOI Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  8. AUKUS: Another ball in Australia’s US-China juggling act

    11/20/2025

    AUKUS: Another ball in Australia’s US-China juggling act

    A new poll has found Australians support the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, despite critics’ warnings of the huge price tag and concerns about US stability. The consistent message from politicians and sections of the media is that China’s “threat” to national security makes the deal essential. But is that threat real? Wanning Sun, Crikey columnist and deputy director of the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute, joins the podcast to explain the impact AUKUS has on Australia’s relationship with China and our reputation in the Asia-Pacific region. While she says Labor is doing a good job of managing competing Chinese and American interests, Sun fears with AUKUS that Australia has given up its power — and become a target. Read more: AUKUS is finding public support despite its many problems. Why?Compromise, not a zero-sum game, has delivered results for Trump and Xi — for nowAustralia’s strategy of denial in engaging with its ‘Pacific family’America wants to sell China as a threat. Should Australia buy it?$800 million AUKUS handout to the US broke internal rules — as bureaucrats rushed to pay Trump Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
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About

Cut Through is Crikey’s spin-free analysis of Australian news, politics and power. Each week we break down the biggest news stories, stripping away the noise to bring you the information that really matters. Join us every Friday to get your talking points delivered the Crikey way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Crikey
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Crikey
  • Show Website
    Cut Through

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