ABC News Daily is the podcast that helps you understand the issues affecting your world. Every episode, host Samantha Hawley walks through one story with the help of an ABC colleague or expert in under 15 minutes. When you want coverage you can trust, listen to ABC News Daily. From interest rates, real estate and the housing crisis, to scams and US politics, ABC News Daily brings you facts and analysis you need to understand the biggest news stories. The podcast covers news from America, with analysis of the Donald Trump administration in the White House. His actions, including threats of massive tariffs have big implications for global politics and the economy and US journalists and experts will explain what's at stake. As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, ABC News Daily looks at the causes of inflation, rising rental costs, house prices, insurance costs and the price of groceries. Key experts in business and finance join Samantha Hawley, explaining the state of the economy, the unemployment rate and the jobs market. Whether you rent, own an investment house or apartment, or are repaying a mortgage, ABC News Daily offers unique insights and analysis. When there are big moves from the Reserve Bank (RBA) on interest rates, or reactions in the ASX or the Australian dollar, guest experts, including economists, explain why. Look into ABC News Daily's archive to find episodes on electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), politics, the big banks, supermarkets, Tesla, Elon Musk, education, schools, teachers and crime. Watch for episodes about federal politics and the leadership of Labor's Anthony Albanese. We look at policy areas that matter for voters, including education, health, housing and immigration and assess the proposals from the federal opposition. ABC News Daily follows developments in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas, with insights into the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu. The podcast looks at the latest from Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky fights to repel the Russian invaders led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As China's Xi Jinping contemplates the future of Taiwan, ABC News Daily will sort fact from fiction. As climate change fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions increases the risk of natural disasters, including fires and floods, ABC News Daily brings you fact-based analysis. The podcast covers the future of renewable / green power generation, including the use of wind turbines, solar and hydro electric power. ABC experts including Ian Verrender, Alan Kohler, Laura Tingle, David Speers, and Annabel Crabb join Samantha Hawley to step through big issues and current affairs.
What this show covers
Australian politicsTrumpAustraliaOne NationPauline HansonDonald TrumpMiddle EastAIinterest ratesIranAI riskdemocratic socialismelectric vehiclesRepublicansdata centres
What listeners will find here
Trump, Putin and fuel prices: the political gamble behind easing Kremlin sanctions
Trump’s move to ease sanctions on the Kremlin and open the door to Russian diesel imports is framed as a way to lower US fuel prices. This episode examines the domestic political calculation, the benefits for Putin, and why Ukrainians see the decision as a betrayal.
Can sanctions break Iran, or can its economy keep absorbing the shock?
Iran’s economy is under renewed pressure as Donald Trump escalates efforts to weaken the regime through financial pain. This episode looks at why a plunging currency has not yet forced capitulation, and how long both the government and ordinary Iranians can endure.
Can the Greens turn a Mamdani-style surge into an Australian breakthrough?
The episode examines whether the Greens can capture a Zohran Mamdani-style boost in support as their think tank pushes publicly owned supermarkets in Australia. Waleed Aly also weighs what that strategy means in a political moment where One Nation continues to grow.
EV sales are surging, but can charging infrastructure keep up?
Electric vehicle sales are accelerating fast, even overtaking petrol and diesel cars for the first time in August. This episode looks at whether charging networks can match that growth, the push for a mass rollout, and who may end up paying for it.
Why the Cornell case is fueling a wider consent reckoning
The episode examines the Cornell University case involving Jane Doe’s allegation of sexual assault by seven fraternity members and the protests that followed. It also looks at why the backlash has become part of a broader debate over consent, with attention now spreading beyond the US.
