When we heard news that Barnaby Joyce was quitting The Nationals – we knew we’d cover it with our friend in Canberra, Amy Remeikis – but the more we talked about it, there was someone else we needed to hear from too.

Barnaby’s old sparring partner and the former member for New England, Tony Windsor, was loading cattle when we called. And he said the expected move to One Nation makes perfect sense.

Joyce’s decision to quit The Nationals comes after months of speculation – and very public declarations of admiration from Pauline Hanson in the media – all culminating in a wagyu steak dinner cooked on a sandwich press in Hanson’s parliament house office earlier this week.

So, is Joyce trading another shot at power for a dose of publicity? Or, if he joins One Nation, will he be part of a new conservative force that will reshape the country?

Today, contributing editor for The New Daily Amy Remeikis on the ramifications of Barnaby bailing on The Nationals.

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Guest: Contributing editor for The New Daily Amy Remeikis and Former member for New England Tony Windsor

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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Companies are betting big on AI – and burning through cash to do it.

They’re pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into building data centres and developing new models – such as ChatGPT. And so far, these projects are yet to see a financial return.

There is one clear winner: Nvidia – the company that makes the chips that power this tech.

But how long can its customers keep spending before they have to either turn a profit or scale back?

Today, Reuters journalist Stephen Nellis on how long this AI boom can last – and what a crash might look like.

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Guest: Reuters journalist Stephen Nellis

Photo: AP Photo/Eric Risberg

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The year is 1934, and the setting is Scotland. Startling photos have emerged, appearing to capture the Loch Ness monster.

Fast-forward 90 years to 2024, to an election campaign in Australia, and a video is released of a prime minister promising to ban gambling ads.

Both are fake – designed specifically to deceive. And while humans have always had a tendency to mislead each other, what’s new is the technology.

It’s now easier than ever to create highly realistic fake content. And we’re only just starting to see how wide-ranging and insidious the impact will be.

Today, independent senator David Pocock – on his new bill to crack down on deepfakes – and why he thinks the government has dropped the ball on regulating AI.

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Guest: Independent senator David Pocock

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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Negotiators at this year’s global climate summit in Brazil almost didn’t reach a deal – but when they did, the watered down pledge left many countries reeling.

While the agreement boosts finance for poorer nations experiencing the worst of global warming – it fails to even mention the fossil fuels driving it.

Outside the official COP process, dozens of countries signed a pledge to phase out fossil fuels. But while Australia signed - Anthony Albanese says his government will keep approving new coal and gas projects.

Today, Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter, on what really happened in Brazil – and whether COP is now just a cop out.

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Guest: Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter

Photo: AP Photo/Andre Penner

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In Russia, the rules of power are being rewritten.

For decades, Vladimir Putin governed through a network of loyal elites — oligarchs, bureaucrats, security chiefs — each rewarded for their obedience and connections.

But since the invasion of Ukraine, that system has begun to fracture. The old elite are being sidelined, and a new cast is emerging: relatives, ideologues, and battlefield loyalists who tie their futures to the war.

Moscow-based journalist Kate de Pury has covered Putin’s Russia for Reuters – and more recently as the bureau chief for Associated Press.

Today, she tells us how the war is reshaping the Russian ruling class, and what it reveals about where Putin’s Russia is headed.

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Guest: Moscow-based journalist Kate de Pury

Photo: Russian Presidential Press Service via AP

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A sleek Chinese-made ute is suddenly one of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads. It’s cheap, fast and packed with tech. But behind its rise are questions security agencies are struggling to grapple with.

Because the cars we drive today are no longer just cars; they’re also data collection tools. And in a tense geopolitical climate – the lines between convenience and surveillance are blurring.

Today, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute and contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs, Richard McGregor on the BYD Shark, China’s quietly tightening technological grip on Australian infrastructure and what it means for national security.

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Guest: Guest: Senior fellow at the Lowy Institute and contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs, Richard McGregor

Photo: AAP Image/Steve Markham

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This week, we had Sussan Ley on 7am. But we weren’t alone. Sussan Ley was everywhere, speaking with everyone – about scrapping net zero, and inevitably, about her leadership.

So, did the media blitz work?

And what has chaos in the Coalition meant for the government while the press gallery has been looking the other way?

Today, Network Ten’s political editor Ashleigh Raper on the week in Canberra: Australia’s failed bid to host COP, the last ditch effort to pass new environment laws – and what 2026 would look like if Sussan Ley loses her job.

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Guest: Network Ten’s political editor Ashleigh Raper

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This week, we saw something almost unprecedented in American politics: a unified Congress, as all but one person voted to have the Epstein files released.

These documents have plagued Donald Trump since he campaigned to release them while running for his second term as president, then backtracked once he won – sparking a mass revolt from his otherwise loyal MAGA base.

After months of trying to block their publication, and after increasing pressure from within his own party, Trump changed course, encouraging Republicans to vote for their release and signing the bill, in what has been the most spectacular reversal of his presidency.

Today, US Political correspondent for Reuters Bo Erickson, on the Republican revolt – and just how damaging the files could be for President Trump.

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Guest: US Political correspondent for Reuters Bo Erickson

Photo: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY/Sipa USA

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