Saturday Extra - Separate stories podcast

Original Sin: Biden's decline and his team's efforts to hide it

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A damming portrait by two of America's leading journalists describes the desperate efforts to hide the truth of the last year of Biden’s presidency...

Albanese hold the centre: the week in federal politics

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The week in politics for the 48th Parliament was dominated by division in the Coalition and the Greens.Meanwhile,  the prime minister has warned Isr...

Climate change turned sea urchins into a pest, scientists are finding a solution

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Warming oceans are pushing marine life out of familiar habitats, and as the long-spined sea urchin migrates south to Victoria and Tasmania it is wrea...

Who are the new faces in Canberra for the next parliament?

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia's 48th parliament sits for the first time on Tuesday. As new parliamentarians catch flights to Canberra and prepare their maiden speeches,...

Trump's Scottish heritage doesn't make him Scotland's favourite son

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump’s mother Mary Anne MacLeod was born on the Hebridean island of Lewis. Like many islanders of her time she headed as a young woman acro...

Robinson brother murders may have Mexican cartel links

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been more than a year since two Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad were murdered on a surfing h...

Pentagon pulls out of Aspen Security Forum citing the 'evil of globalism'

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years officials and experts from around the world have gathered in Colorado for the Aspen Security Forum to thrash out foreign policy and securit...

Europe hardens its borders to curb illegal migration

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Seeking asylum is back at the top of the political agenda in Europe, with European ministers meeting to discuss tougher migration policies.Meanwhile,...

Meet the three brothers rowing across the Pacific Ocean

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three Scottish brothers are rowing across the Pacific Ocean non-stop and unsupported to raise money for clean water in Madagascar.Their custom built ...

Does the future of Australian philanthropy lie with our tech entrepeneurs?

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite Australia's wealth, our generosity lags behind other countries, with the average wealthy Australian allocating less than 1% of their wealth t...

Can Elon Musk buy success for his 'America' party?

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has rapidly moved on from his public break-up with President Trump, announcing on X the birth of his own political party, The Ame...

Will China fill the USAID void?

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

USAID was once the world's largest provider of humanitarian aid, but the Trump administration has dismantled the agency.As China flexes its might int...

What can we expect from the PM's visit to China?

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Albanese is travelling to China today with an entourage of business heavyweights.The six-night visit will be heavily scrutinised with ...

Trump visits Texas as flood recovery continues

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Local volunteers are fronting the recovery effort in Texas as the death toll continues to rise after catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River.Pre...

AI takes over from tradition at Wimbledon

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With top seeds decimated in early rounds, a heat wave, and AI taking the place of 300 line judges, it's been an unorthodox Wimbledon.Line judges have...

Myanmar: 100 days after the earthquake

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Myanmar was hit by an earthquake in late March it added further devastation to an already dire humanitarian situation. Getting aid to to people...

Vaccination rates drop as culture wars take hold

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the COVID-19 pandemic when Australians finally had access to a vaccine, the vast majority took it up. But skepticism quickly took hold in som...

Dalai Lama succession plan

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Dalai Lama is turning 90. It's a moment for his millions of followers around the world to celebrate his longevity, but the milestone has also bee...

Trump signs big beautiful bill into law

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump has signed the Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy bill into law at a White House ceremony. The bill includes cuts to Medi...

What the Israel-Iran war means for Russia

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Almost two weeks after the US unleashed its bunker busting bombs on Iranian nuclear sites the ceasefire announced in the aftermath by Donald Trump ap...

The last thing: Winnie Dunn

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Winnie Dunn has been fascinated with language since she was in nappies, and now she is shortlisted for the Miles Franklin literary award.Her d...

So much news: a mid-year review with Rory Medcalf and Susannah Patton

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's now more US pressure on Australia other Asia-Pacific allies to raise defence spending after European allies agreed to an increase at this wee...

Citizen scientists track surge in humpback whale numbers

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend, whale watchers will converge all along the East coast of Australia for one of the country's largest citizen science projects. 

True crime on trial

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the case that has captured the world's attention. Daily podcasts have poured over Erin Patterson's triple murder trial in painstaking detail.The...

Does Netanyahu have politcial capital to end war in Gaza after strikes against Iran?

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed ‘a great victory’ over Iran, and he drew plaudits from Donald Trump, "Great War Time ...

National pride and fear: A glimpse inisde Iran

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump has hit out at Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s claim that Iran won its recent 12-day war with Israel, saying the United Stat...

Alice Springs beanie festival draws to a close after almost 30 years

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend Alice Springs will host its penultimate beanie festival.A celebration of the red centre's love for the humble beanie, the festival is in...

Influence and Ignorance: A short history of snubbed Aussie PMs

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, the weekend newspapers should have been full of Prime Minister Albanese's anticipated first meeting with President Trump. Instead, we saw a ra...

Top marine minds gather in Cairns to tackle ocean emergency

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the world’s leading climate and ocean researchers are gathering in Cairns for the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oc...

Top marine scientists gather in Cairns to tackle ocean emergency

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the world’s leading climate and ocean researchers are gathering in Cairns for the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oc...

Saudi Arabia's move to dominate global sport

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past decade, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has poured billions of dollars into global sport, hugely influencing the governance and growth of f...

"Fortress WA" budget surplus and plans to future proof state finances

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Fortress WA”  is how Western Australia's Treasurer Rita Saffioti described how her state will use its huge budget surplus to insulate the state...

Iran insists on right to enrich uranium as European talks fail

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

European officials have lined up behind the Trump administration’s demand that Iran stop its uranium-enrichment program, increasing pressure on Ira...

Wallaby and whisky pudding: Tasmanian produce meets Indian dining

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A winter feast of sea urchins, wallaby wings and whisky pudding is on the menu in Hobart this weekend.Niyati Rao travelled across India in search of ...

Canada's G7: An awkward AUKUS moment

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will face a tricky moment at the G7 in Canada this weekend, forced to confront the Pentagon's decision to review AUKU...

Virgin Airlines float to boost the shrinking ASX

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Virgin Australia is returning to the Australian stock exchange, a rare listing on the ASX and an opportunity for everyday investors.Over recent years...

Lessons for global centre-left parties from Labor's win

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Centre-left parties the world over are lamenting the loss of their heartland, as low paid, working-class and non-graduate voters defect to the right....

Iranian missile strikes in retaliation to Israel's attacks

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks against Israel, after Israel carried out its largest attack ever against Iran.Waves of coordinated ...

Trump's militarisation of America

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A military parade in Washington this week will mark the 250th anniversary of the US army, and it will coincide with President Trump's 79th birthday.T...

Indigenous art in reimagined MET gallery

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has reopened The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, following the completion of a major renovation. The wing in...

The slow demise of British Australia

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend Australians will observe a national holiday to mark the King’s Birthday, a date that isn’t even celebrated in Britain. Historically,...

Netflix reports revenue of up to $1.3 billion in Australia

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The streaming juggernaut Netflix has reported a huge jump in local Australian revenue, up to $1.3 billion, but most of that money is sent offshore. T...

Matt Kean warns about the realities of a warming planet

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The climate wars in Australia often appear to be a conflict without end. But this week a former senior Liberal Party politician warned those who stoo...

The 'audacious' drone attack and the future of war in Ukraine

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'Audacious' - This was the word used repeatedly to describe the attack carried out by Ukraine deep inside Russia, targeting the Kremlin's nuclear-cap...

Trump v Musk: The Big Beautiful Fallout

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In an administration known for its shock value, this week we had perhaps the most un-shocking news since Donald Trump returned to the White House: hi...

The Last Thing: Leila Jeffreys

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the last Saturday of the month, and time for The Last Thing — the last great book, the last great film, the last moving experience.  Leil...

Emmanuel Macron warns of US-China divisions at Shangri-La Dialogue

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Asia's big annual security summit, the Shangri-La  Dialogue has opened in Singapore.It's one of the most significant gatherings of defence ministers...

How Apple made China a global tech power

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The rise of Apple, one of the world’s most successful companies, is usually portrayed as an illustration of US dominance. But a new book completel...

Trump gives Putin a deadline to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump has appeared to set a two-week deadline for Vladimir Putin, threatening a different response if his Russian counterpart con...

Trump v Harvard: What about Australian unis?

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has escalated its war on Harvard, this week pausing new visa interviews for international students set to attend any US univ...

50th Anniversary of Jaws

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Academy Award-winner Steven Spielberg was only twenty-six years old when he directed Jaws, a 1975 summer blockbuster that terrified audiences and bro...

Liberals and Nationals move to make peace

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Liberal party room has agreed "in principle" to the four policy demands issued by Nationals leader David Littleproud, leaving open the possibilit...

Liberals Agree to patch up Coalition after days-long split

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the shortest divorce in political history, the Liberal and National parties are back together. Following crisis talks in Canberra, the Liberal ...

A family’s reckoning with China: Edward Wong

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The New York Times journalist, Edward Wong has written a sweeping history of modern China alongside two personal stories: his and his father’s. Ed...

Change Direction film to support Indigenous mental health

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new short film by Australian director Warwick Thornton is at the centre of ‘Change Direction’, an initiative focused on raising awareness of th...

Israel faces diplomatic backlash over Gaza aid restrictions

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in two and a half months, Israel has allowed a limited amount of aid into Gaza. But with UN warnings that Gaza is on the brink of ...

Eurovision 2025 explained

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia’s Milkshake song has been knocked out of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, but the show must go on. Who are the favourites and what...

How significant is Australia's new look parliament?

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s usually journalists who write the first draft of history, but Saturday Extra is turning to two of Australia’s foremost political historians...

Mushroom murder trial puts Morwell in global spotlight

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Media vans, journalists, camera crews, lawyers and mushroom experts have all descended on the Victorian regional town of Morwell for the triple murde...

NYT Columnist Thomas Friedman on Trump's Gulf Tour

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, there's been a flurry of seismic events. There was the president’s shock proposal for a US takeover...

Optimism in war-torn Syria after lifting of US sanctions

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump's announcement this week that the United States will ease wide-ranging sanctions on Syria sparked celebrations in the capit...

New doco on Brazilian big wave surfer Maya Gabeira

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A touring documentary tells the story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She nearly drowns in her early at...

Post election wrap with Jane Norman and Mark Kenny

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The leadership of the Liberals, Nationals and Greens and the division of roles on the Labor frontbench are all still up in the air after a turbulent ...

LIberals National move to make peace

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Liberal party room has agreed "in principle" to the four policy demands issued by Nationals leader David Littleproud, leaving open the possibilit...

How America's national narratives have shaped the US

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the restoration of Donald Trump, many historians see echoes of ugly chapters in the American story. The 1830s, and the presidency of Andrew Jackso...

Ehud Olmert's Peace Plan for Gaza

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Israel announces plans to seize all of Gaza under an expanded military operation, its former prime minister Ehud Olmert has unveiled a new peace p...

India Pakistan conflict intensifies

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

India and Pakistan are locked in their most intense military conflict in decades, as the US and other countries urge both sides to de-escalateThe two...

Pope Leo XIV Holds His First Mass As Pontiff

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pope Leo XIV has held his first mass as leader of the Catholic church. Robert Francis Prevost, the first American born pope,  has delivered his much...

Author David Malouf on the 'spirit of holiday” at the the ballot box

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1998 writer David Malouf delivered a profound reflection on Australian democracy as part of the ABC Boyer Lectures. He spoke of the country’s “...

Battle for key Victorian seat of Goldstein

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Polls have opened in Melbourne's bayside electorate of Goldstein where there'll be a highly anticipated rematch between Teal independent MP Zoe Danie...

How has the foreign press covered the election?

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While the federal election has dominated Australians' attention for the past five weeks, the global community has been consumed by the challenges of ...

Peter Beinart on 100 days of Trump

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leading US political commentator Peter Beinart, and longtime Washington watcher joins Nick Bryant to discuss the first 100 days of President Trump's ...

How Healthy Is Australia's Democracy?

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Disenchanted voters, misinformation, spam texts and "hate media". In the last five weeks of election campaigning, Australia's democracy has been put ...

Voter opinions in Bennelong where margin is razor thin

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Bryant heads out to chat with pre-poll voters and the main candidates in the seat of Bennelong in Sydney.The seat is currently held by Labor MP ...

STC's Broadway hit Dorian Gray nominated for six Tonys

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Sydney Theatre Company's hit Broadway show The Picture of Dorian Gray has been nominated for six Tony Awards. It makes the production the most-no...

Greg Jennett on the last week of the election campaign

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With pre-poll in full swing, and just days to go until polling day — political parties are making a final push for votes.The ABC's Greg Jennett exp...

The big issues that the election 2025 has ignored

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not for the first time this century, the federal election has been noteworthy for its smallness and lack of policy ambition, an accusation levelled ...

The Last Thing: Pub Choir

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Astrid Jorgensen is the creative force behind Pub Choir, a singing lesson which starts with a group of people in a pub, theatre or concert hall and w...

Harvey Weinstein's retrial begins

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Five years ago, Harvey Weinstein's court case began in New York City, inspiring the #metoo movement. His conviction was overturned last year on the g...

Why the disputed Kashmir region was the target of a deadly militant group attack

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A militant group launched an attack in the India-controlled Kashmir region, killing at least 22 people. The attack has heightened already tense polit...

Pope Francis' Legacy in PNG

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The death of Pope Francis has a special, deep significance in the Asia Pacific, where many people live on the margins. Last year, as part of a four n...

The Funeral of Pope Francis

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A papal death is always followed by solemn and sacred spectacle but the grieving has been especially heartfelt for Pope Francis. He was a hugely popu...

Colum McCann on the importance of undersea cables

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Colum McCann discusses his new book, Twist in which Anthony Fennell, a journalist, is in pursuit of a story buried at the bottom of the sea: the netw...

Why politicans are wooing Australian Chinese and Indian voters

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The votes of Chinese and Indian Australians could have a big impact on the outcome of the coming federal election. How are the major parties attempti...

A Fight For Justice: Jamal Khashoggi's Widow Speaks Out

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been almost seven years since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by a team of Saudi ...

Fallen Off The Front Page: South Africa

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Almost a year after the historic election result that ended three decades of dominance by the party that freed South Africa from apartheid, the Afric...

Why Harvard Is Taking On Donald Trump

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s quite the match-up. The White House versus Harvard University, MAGA taking on the Ivy League, the elite of American higher education. The cou...

World’s first human-robot half-marathon

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world’s first human-robot half-marathon is being held in Beijing this weekend.The robots will have their own lane and they’ll all have a huma...

Will the youth vote decide the federal election?

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

May 3 will be the first federal election where generation Z and millennial voters aged under 45 will outnumber baby boomers in every state and territ...

A.C.Grayling on making peace in the culture wars

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The rise of social media appears inextricably linked to the fuelling of today’s culture wars. People expressing views deemed offensive, dangerous a...

US farmers preparing for tariff pain

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Donald Trump’s first term, farmers received payments to help compensate them for the hit to export markets of retaliatory tariffs. And even tho...

How might the trade war reshape China's economy?

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The gloves are off between the world’s two biggest economies and the pain could be felt everywhere.Lizzi Lee argues that the tit for tat tariff hik...

United States and Iran resume nuclear talks

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iran and the United States will hold talks in Oman on Saturday in an attempt to jump-start negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear pro...

Trump tariffs dominate federal election week one

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has outlined a plan to respond to the Trump administration's 10 per cent tariff on Australian imports. Meanwhile, Opp...

Highlights of the 25th Adelaide Cabaret Festival

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival – the world’s largest cabaret festival,  is turning 25 and in a birthday celebration like no other, audiences  ar...

The Correspondent: Richard Roxburgh plays Peter Greste

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the true story of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste's imprisonment in Egypt in 2013, The Correspondent is a gripping thriller about ...

Inside Myanmar: quake toll rises to more than 3000

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The death toll from last week's devastating earthquake in Myanmar continues to rise with more than three thousand people now confirmed dead and hundr...

Trump’s new protectionist age

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Financial markets around the world have plunged in response to the US moving to blow up the global trading order it helped build, ushering in an unce...

The Last Thing: Virginia Trioli

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the last great television programme you watched? What’s the last great song you heard? What’s the last time you had a really good belly ...

History lessons of past Australian election campaigns

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing a federal election date of May 3, Australians will now have five weeks to decide who to vote for. But...