Please Explain: Coronavirus Daily

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has captured the hearts of progressive voters worldwide. She speaks with chief political correspondent David Crowe about politics, refugees, motherhood and how she hopes to stop horrific attacks, like the recent Christchurch attack, from happening again.  The Please Explain team greatly value your feedback - you can email us here. We'd love to hear from you. And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out more great podcasts from The Age & SMH.

You’d be forgiven for being confused about the economy and markets at the moment. As our business writer Stephen Bartholomeusz says in this week’sPlease Explain - “the world is a very messy place”. This week I’m joined by Bartho and our Senior Economics Correspondent Shane Wright to untangle the mess. We also speak to China Correspondent Kirsty Needham to find out what 6.2 per cent growth looks like - and check in on the still very tense political situation in Hong Kong. The Please Explain team greatly value your feedback - you can email us here. We'd love to hear from you. And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out more great podcasts from The Age & SMH.

Epstein once evaded serious punishment for his crimes. Not anymore. This week on Please Explain, host Nick O'Malley talks to former Washington DC Bureau researcher Tom Threlkeld and Cynthia Alksne, a former US federal prosecutor about how and why powerful men often avoid accountability. The Please Explain team greatly value your feedback - you can email us here. We'd love to hear from you. And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out more great podcasts from The Age & SMH.

When the United States walked away from the Iran nuclear deal just over a year ago, the waiting game began. On Monday, Tehran announced it had amassed a stockpile of low-enriched uranium above the threshold allowed in the defunct deal - a move Donald Trump called "playing with fire". An escalating series of incidents - oil tankers holed with missiles; the shooting down of a US "spy" drone; an American cyber attack on an Iranian intelligence group - have watchers on high alert. This week, should we be bracing for an invitation to another Coalition of the Willing? Host: Tory Maguire, National Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Guests: Peter Hartcher, International and Political Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald. David Crowe, chief political correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Matthew Knott, reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based in the United States. Subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au

Nobody better embodies the troubles in the modern union movement than John Setka. Ever since Setka indicated a month ago he would plead guilty to criminal charges of harassing a woman and breaching court orders, the calls for him to step aside have grown louder. All of this, timed perfectly before the first sitting week of the newly-elected Morrison government - which wants to bring back legislation allowing the deregistration of what it calls “rogue” unions. The unions have a dilemma on their hands - after gaining domestic violence leave for millions of Australian workers, their achievement is being undermined by a powerful leader labelled ‘misogynist’ by a magistrate. This week, how does the modern labor movement solve a problem like John Setka? Host: Tory Maguire, National Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Guests: Anna Patty, Workplace Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald. Ben Schneiders, Investigative journalist, The Age. Subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald How are we doing? Get in touch with the team: pleaseexplain@theage.com.au or pleaseexplain@smh.com.au

A series of incidences have sparked an outcry in conservative media outlets about a lack of free speech at Australian universities. They exposed a split in the higher education community - traditionally a bastion of free speech and intellectual freedom - over how to manage views that might conflict with a scientific or moral consensus. But there's some debate as to whether there is a problem at all. This week, Please Explain asks is there a free speech crisis in Australia's universities? Host: Jacqueline Maley - Senior journalist and columnist Guests: Jordan Baker, Education Editor, Sydney Morning Herald Tim Elliot, writer, Good Weekend magazine Dr Michael Spence, University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and Principal

For whistleblowers, journalists and democracy, it’s been a confronting few weeks. Last week many of us were disturbed to see the Australian Federal Police raiding two media outlets - News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the ABC - using the fig leaf of protecting our national security. This is week Investigations Editor Michael Bachelard speaks with two of the country’s most decorated investigative journalists - Adele Ferguson and Nick McKenzie - about the obstacles they face in breaking the stories that matter to all Australians. Host: Michael Bachelard, Investigations Editor, The Age Guests: Adele Ferguson, senior business reporter, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Nick McKenzie, Deputy Investigations Editor, The Age Johan Lidberg, Associate Professor of Journalism, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University

It was once known as the global rules-based order - now it could be better called Fight Club. As the US throws punches wildly at smaller countries and China grabs the maritime territories of smaller neighbours to build military bases, the disregard for the traditional international order stunning. This week on Please Explain, as conflict becomes the norm, are we heading for a resounding clash? Host: Tory Maguire, National editor, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Guests: Peter Hartcher, International and Political Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald Nick O'Malley, senior writer and former US correspondent, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Kirsty Needham, Beijing correspondent, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut official cash rates to a new record low of 1.25 per cent, injecting stimulus into a slowing economy as it looks to turn around sluggish employment, wages and inflation. Senior economics writer Jess Irvine and the Sydney Morning Herald's Economics Editor Ross Gittins react to the first time the RBA has used its monetary policy lever in almost three years - the longest period of interest rate stability in Australian history. Host: Jess Irvine - Senior economics writer, The Sydney Morning Herald and The AgeGuest: Ross Gittins - Economics Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald

It’s been two years since the “Uluru Statement from the Heart” called for Indigenous recognition in Australia’s constitution. To celebrate National Reconciliation Week, this weeks’ episode delves into why progress has stalled. Hear Stan Grant's moving reading of the Uluru statement in full and learn why - ahead of next year’s 250th anniversary of Captain Cook arriving in Australia - indigenous Australians believe there is no better time for a referendum to give all Australians a say on official recognition for Australia's First Peoples. Host: Jess Irvine: Senior economics writer (Sydney Morning Herald) Guests: Stan Grant: A Wiradjuri Kamilaroi man and professor of Global Affairs at Griffith University Megan Davis: A Cobble Cobble woman and director of the Indigneous Law Centre at the University of New South Wales & Lisa Davies: Editor, Sydney Morning Herald

No one saw it coming, or did they? It's the official election post-mortem episode - and boy, our guests don't hold back.

It’s an election night that no one expected. And it’s capped off the wild ride that was the five-week campaign. Tory Maguire speaks with federal editor Bevan Shields and chief political correspondent David Crowe as he reports from Labor leader Bill Shorten's campaign party about how the tide turned for the Scott Morrison-led Coalition. 

Join Tory Maguire as she previews election night with chief political correspondent David Crowe and political editor Bevan Shields.

During his time as prime minister, Bob Hawke floated the Australian dollar, launched Medicare and introduced the Sex Discrimination Act, but he was also known for his humour, his emotion and ability to skol a glass of beer. National editor Tory Maguire chats with associate editor and special writer Tony Wright about the Labor lion.

For nearly six weeks all parties have been pursuing your precious vote. This Saturday it all comes down to you. So, for the last time before d-day, let’s compare the pair: Who is promising what and why?