Threats, a ceasefire and strained alliances

Threats, a ceasefire and strained alliances

Author: ABC Australia April 8, 2026 Duration: 27:00
An extreme threat, a ceasefire, and an awkward roller coaster for US allies Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the US-Iran two-week ceasefire, but criticised US President Donald Trump's "inappropriate" threats that a "whole civilisation will die". The condemnation came after Nationals leader Matt Canavan urged the PM to make it clear he didn't support the US President's rhetoric. So, is most of the criticism of Donald Trump actually coming from the right? And as Anthony Albanese prepares to head to Singapore to meet with his counterpart to discuss energy security, he's also spoken with the Chinese Premier overnight. So, as Australia looks to region to shore-up supply chains, is Donald Trump unintentionally uniting other regional allies? Jacob Greber and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au

Keeping up with the political landscape requires more than just reading headlines; it demands understanding the motivations and maneuvers that shape them. That’s the space occupied by Politics Now, the ABC News production hosted by Patricia Karvelas. This podcast goes beyond the initial news alerts to unpack the significant stories from Australia and across the globe, offering a balanced perspective on the strategies driving the day’s events. Each week from Monday to Wednesday, Karvelas is joined by a rotating panel of the ABC’s own seasoned political journalists, dissecting the latest developments with insight and context. The conversation continues on Thursdays with 'The Party Room,' providing further depth. The aim is to deliver reliable, timely analysis whenever major news breaks, placing trusted coverage directly in your feed. For anyone looking to comprehend the real forces behind the news cycle, this podcast serves as an essential, clarifying resource.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Politics Now
Podcast Episodes
A big week of resignations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
PK reckons this is the biggest week of politics (so far) this year. And with the Albanese Government announcing a "purely defensive" deployment to the UAE, Iranian soccer players seeking asylum in Australia, Matt Canavan…
Welcome to Matt Canavan’s ‘hyper-Australia’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has claimed the National Party leadership, with Victorian MP Darren Chester elected as Deputy Nationals leader. The new Nationals leader has promised to "fight back" for Australians and ca…
Is Australia 'participating' in the Middle East war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
The Prime Minister has confirmed Australia will deploy a military surveillance plane and missiles to the middle east, after a request from the UAE. Anthony Albanese has reiterated that Australia's involvement is "purely…
Will Farrer be One Nation's 'holy grail'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:00
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed Australia is considering a request by some Gulf countries to provide military assistance, as they try to defend themselves against missile and drone attacks by Iran. The Albanese…
Why petrol prices are 'kryptonite' for governments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:00
While parliament was back in session, it was global affairs that dominated the week in politics. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to back the US-Israeli joint strikes on Iran, so what does this say about the rew…
The review Liberals tried to bury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
A scathing review of the Liberal party's election performance has been laid bare, despite the Liberal party's federal executive trying to suppress it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used Question Time to table all 64-pa…
The new world disorder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
As the war in the Middle East expands, the US President Donald Trump has warned a "big wave" of strikes is still yet to come. But back home, both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have repeatedly stated that d…
Why Albanese backed Trump's Iran attack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:00
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has endorsed the United States and Israel's joint strikes in Iran, saying Australia stands with the Iranian people. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has side-stepped questions about…