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. Does power always corrupt in Australian politics?

    2D AGO

    Does power always corrupt in Australian politics?

    Can “good people” make change in Australia’s political system, or will power always corrupt? That’s the question that Jo Tarnawsky — former diplomat and chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles — is answering with her series exploring how power protects itself. Tarnawsky joins the podcast to discuss what it’s like to be “in the room” when big decisions are made, how power is maintained by either weaponising or rewarding silence with gag orders, NDAs and party rules, and the biggest obstacles faced by independent voices attempting to challenge the major parties.  Plus, in light of the robodebt corruption report, how do institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Commission hold us back from good governance?  Read more: Swimming with narcissists: What power looks like up closeWhy good people leave politics — and what it costs usSetting the standard? Parliament still doesn’t take workplace harm seriouslyPower and silence: The strategy of saying nothingLabor MPs quietly alarmed by Albanese government’s response to US-Israel strikes on IranNACC’s robodebt investigation conjures offensive and stupid excuses for letting Scott Morrison off 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
  2. An Iranian perspective on the US-Israel attack

    MAR 5

    An Iranian perspective on the US-Israel attack

    On February 28 the US and Israel launched an unprovoked missile strike on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several Islamic Republic officials and sparking further strikes across the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, the pivotal oil shipping route, is closed. Washington’s claim of attacking to provoke “regime change” in Iran is dubious at best. But the Iranian people have been largely left out of the geopolitical discourse. Just last month, huge revolutionary protests saw the regime massacre up to 40,000 people. So when the Iranian diaspora shared their mixed feelings about this week’s strikes, why were they shouted down as “US propaganda agents”? Writer and doctor Hessom Razavi joins the podcast to give his take on the complicated feelings of many Iranians, his own family’s story of persecution in Iran, and explain why calls for adherence to the “rules-based order” are meaningless right now. Read more: US intervention in Iran is not benevolent. But Iranians do not have the privilege of choiceI’m an Iranian doctor in Australia. The eyewitness accounts sent to me of medical brutality in Iran are chillingAs in Iraq, America wants regime change in Iran. It’s a smokescreen for US hegemonyIf you can’t get online in Iran, do you still count as human?The Art of War, with Donald 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.

    26 min
  3. A political primer on the South Australia election

    FEB 26

    A political primer on the South Australia election

    Campaigning has officially begun for the South Australia state election set for March 21. Peter Malinauskas’ already-dominant Labor government will be returned and increase their representation – the only question is how many more seats will they win? Jo Dyer joins the podcast to give the political background to the election, including how the SA Liberals collapse differs from the federal Libs, and why they’ll be fighting off One Nation for their existing lower house seats. Plus, Dyer gives her hot tip for two independent challengers to watch.  Read more: Malinauskas faces a landslide win in SA. But cracks are appearing in his ‘good-time agenda’The Liberals face a drubbing at South Australia’s election next month. But what of One Nation?A South Australian Handmaid’s Tale: Inside the room where a Trumpian abortion bill was narrowly defeatedSouth Australia is now the battleground for the forced-birth movement 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.

    28 min
  4. Meet Big Brother: Palantir’s Australian expansion

    FEB 19

    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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Crikey
  • Show Website
    Cut Through

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