Saturday Extra - Full program podcast

Nick Bryant and prominent New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman try to make sense of President Trump's motivations when it comes to foreign policy. Plus, historians Judith Brett and Frank Bongiorno discuss the trajectory of Australian politics now that the Liberal Party has its first female leader and the Albanese government has a female-majority cabinet. And, we get an update on the infamous mushroom trial in Victoria and the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant. 

Nick Bryant head to the marginal seat of Bennelong in Sydney and does a health check on the state of Australian democracy with the ANU's Dr Jill Sheppard and Iain Walker from NewDemocracy Foundation.Plus, Australia's theatre community is buzzing after the Broadway production of The Picture of Dorian Gray received 6 Tony Award nominations, and political commentator and author Peter Beinart on his new book Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning.

Geraldine Doogue is in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, plus a nun in Papua New Guinea remembers his impact on her life.

Colum McCann, acclaimed Irish author known for 'Let the Great World Spin', discusses the essential yet vulnerable role of undersea cables in our digital lives. Mayone Jones analyzes the shifting political landscape in South Africa, dissecting its complex relationship with the Trump administration. Hanan Khashoggi shares her emotional fight for justice for her husband, Jamal Khashoggi, emphasizing the challenges of accountability. David Armitage tackles the controversial clash between Harvard's diversity initiatives and political pressures, highlighting the importance of academic freedom.

Trita Parsi shares insights on the tumultuous U.S.-Iranian relations and the fallout from the Iran nuclear deal. Lizzie C. Lee discusses the escalating trade war, emphasizing China's strategies amid economic tensions. Les Danielson reflects on how tariffs are squeezing American farmers, while A.C. Grayling tackles the intricacies of cancel culture and the current culture wars. Lastly, Jonathan Roberts reveals the fascinating details of a human-robot half marathon, exploring the future of robotics in society.

Economist Warwick McKibbin on how Trump's tariffs are up-ending the foundations of modern trade, and inflicting maximum damage on the global and US economies.  A rare look inside Myanmar after the quake and a new film about the Australian war correspondent Peter Greste's imprisonment in Egypt in 2013.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, in a country already torn by war. The quake was felt across Southeast Asia, and there are warnings there could be tens of thousands dead.

Just nine weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump is certainly shaking things up. Prominent conservative commentator Scott Jennings explains why MAGA supporters are happy with the changes. Plus, we discuss what to expect from next week's pre-election budget and get the latest news from Kyiv, where things seem to be getting worse despite all the talk of a peace deal. 

International politics and business, and the things that matter to Australians.