Please Explain: Coronavirus Daily

The Holy City of Jerusalem seems a world away from Canberra, but for weeks now our politicians have become obsessed with the location of Australia's Embassy in Israel.

When alleged sexual harassment victims are used for "political point scoring", the motivations of our politicians becomes questionable. Corrections Minister David Elliott's decision to air allegations against former opposition leader Luke Foley under parliamentary privilege, without the victim's consent, has led to Mr Foley's resignation, a defamation threat and a public apology. This week on Please Explain, The Age's social affairs editor Miki Perkins, Women’s Agenda contributing editor Georgina Dent and activist and campaigner Sally Rugg discuss the impact #metoo has on the powerful. Jacqueline Maley also speaks with senior crime reporter John Silvester on the devastating impact the Bourke St attack has had on Melbourne. Subscribe to The Age: https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or The Herald: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au  

In the wake of a near collision between US and Chinese warships in the South China Sea, defence and national security correspondent David Wroe said, in the interest of diplomacy, 'sooner or later somebody's going to have to back down'. Australia's diplomatic freeze, prompted in part by foreign interference laws introduced under Malcolm Turnbull, appear to be thawing as Marise Payne makes the first diplomatic trip by a foreign minister to Beijing in almost three years.  This week on Please Explain,  world editor Michael Bachelard and defence and national security correspondent David Wroe just how significant is this Beijing visit by our foreign minister really is. Tory also speaks to US correspondent Matthew Knott on the line from the US, where the midterms have just wrapped up. Subscribe to The Age: https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or The Herald: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au  

Tory Maguire calls up Matthew Knott in New York, and former US correspondent Nick O'Malley to understand the ructions of America's midterm elections

Some of them haunt the halls of parliament house. Quite a few of them run off to the Big Apple. You often find them lurking on twitter. They’re the ghosts of prime ministers past. From The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age - this is Please Explain - a weekly podcast where you and I get the full story on some of the most significant issues facing Australia, and a look inside the newsrooms that bring them to you. It’s a week of fear and loathing in United States democracy. On this episode, Tory Maguire calls up Matthew Knott in New York, and former US correspondent Nick O'Malley, to understand the ructions of America's midterm elections. And expert eye Steve Bartholomeusz reflects on the impact Trumpism and US politics are having on global markets. You can listen to all that right now, or even better, you can subscribe for free and have Please Explain arrive every week in your app of choice - Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.  Subscribe to The Age: https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or The Herald: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au  

This Saturday the 103,000 people registered to vote in the Sydney electorate of Wentworth get to do two things - choose a replacement for Malcolm Turnbull, and decide if Scott Morrison gets to hold on to majority government or has to preside over a hung parliament.

This year Australia's people count ticked over 25 million - three decades earlier than experts planned. In this episode of Please Explain we're taking on the issue crying out to be addressed by Australians all over. From our car-clogged cities, to dusty farms, people want to know: What is the plan for our population?

Rorts, fees for no service, charging fees from dead people, misleading regulators - and we're only half way through the commission.

In episode 2, Please Explain takes a look inside the tumult of our national broadcaster to ask what on earth is going on at Aunty? National editor Tory Maguire is joined by executive editor James Chessell and columnist Jacqueline Maley to get to the the heart of the matter. Plus, we hear from former host of ABC's Media Watch Jonathan Holmes on the exalted role the charter plays in the goings-on at the organisation, and entertainment reporter Broede Carmody tells us what it means for viewers and listeners of the ABC. Subscribe to The Age: https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or The Herald: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au  

Our first episode - “Is Democracy Dead?” - features Chief Political Correspondent of The Herald and The Age David Crowe, Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann and former Daily Telegraph editor David Penberthy. Subscribe to The Age: https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or The Herald: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au  

A new podcast from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, cutting through the noise to give you insight into the stories that drive the nation. Search 'Please Explain' on iTunes now to subscribe. How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au