The best and worst moments of the World Cup

White Lotus: The One Nation edition. Plus the PM’s landmark AI speech

We switch to sunnier climes this week, to a posh hotel in Sicily. It’s where the TV series White Lotus was filmed, and it’s also where our colleagues at The Australian Financial Review spotted One Nation leader Pauline Hanson poolside with billionaire Gina Rinehart. [https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/top-one-nation-staffer-breaks-silence-on-hanson-s-uk-trip-as-joyce-fumes-back-home-20260716-p60fxz.html?utm_source=omny&utm_medium=podcast_notes&utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&utm_content=&utm_term=newsroom] So what’s Hanson doing in Europe? In today’s episode, host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal talk about who Hanson met overseas and how that plays for voters back home in Australia. Also, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave a landmark speech this week about the government’s approach to AI. [https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-flags-crackdown-on-power-hungry-data-centres-and-ai-copyright-theft-20260715-p60fhm.html?utm_source=omny&utm_medium=podcast_notes&utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&utm_content=&utm_term=newsroom] Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ [https://subscribe.smh.com.au/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Bravado and the backflip: Peter Hartcher on Trump's 24 hours of 'madness'

The madness of Donald Trump surfaced again in the past day or so, according to many seasoned onlookers. First, the president of the United States announced that he would impose a shipping toll on the Strait of Hormuz, something that would jack up petrol prices and spike inflation. Then he backed down, before he then threatened to take out Iranian bridges and power plants – a move that could be considered a war crime. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher reports from Washington DC on what might be the American president’s most consequential flip-flop to date. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ [https://subscribe.smh.com.au/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The best and worst moments of the World Cup

For nearly a century, the FIFA World Cup has carried fans throughout the world to great heights of unity and joy. This year's tournament, which is coming to a close, revealed some of the best of America. Scottish fans were welcomed by the city of Boston, and supposedly drank the city dry, while Japanese fans in Dallas marvelled in the delights of Texas barbecue. Then there was the game itself and its stars, such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham. But a maelstrom of complications threatened the sense of inclusion this year, particularly due to host country United States being at war with Iran. Deputy editor Nick Ralston today discusses the joy and tension he witnessed at matches in the United States and Canada - as well as that viral Aussie chant about Donald Trump. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ [https://subscribe.smh.com.au/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

More Australians, including Boomers, support a drop in house prices

A growing majority of Australians want housing prices to fall, in some cases by more than 20 per cent, according to new polling exclusive to our mastheads. Could it be that our decades-long obsession with growing house prices is finally coming to a halt? Today senior economics correspondent Shane Wright talks about why conventional wisdom about what voters want from housing seems to be wrong. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ [https://subscribe.smh.com.au/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

One Nation’s newest donors, and why they want to remain secret

Melbourne property developers, entrepreneurs and small business owners are promising huge sums to Pauline Hanson’s party before November's state election. They say it’s in return for advocacy on key policy areas. It is advocacy these donors think will be stronger coming from One Nation, rather than the party they once supported – the Coalition. But the identities of these donors are, so far, shrouded in secrecy. Senior reporter Sarah Danckert says one reason is because they’re feeling some shame about their promise to One Nation. In today’s episode, Danckert explains why Hanson is attracting more donations from business circles [https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/a-real-leaching-of-donors-one-nation-steals-a-march-on-liberal-party-s-blue-blood-base-20260702-p60c15.html?utm_source=omny&utm_medium=podcast_notes&utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&utm_content=&utm_term=newsroom] beyond her most wealthiest backer, mining magnate Gina Rinehart. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ [https://subscribe.smh.com.au/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.