Back in 2021, the Coalition was united in their support for net zero, with then-prime minister Scott Morrison describing the plan as “100 per cent supported by the government”.

Now, just four years later, the Nationals have walked away from it – and the Liberal Party is set to follow. Despite personally supporting net zero, Sussan Ley will scrap it in an attempt to hold on to the leadership.

But with the party’s right winning the battle on climate policy, they’re also set to win the war within the Liberal Party. Bets are now on about when, not if, Ley will lose her job.

Today, contributing editor of The New Daily Amy Remeikis, on the Coalition’s civil war over climate policy, and how it lets Labor off the hook.

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Guest: Contributing editor of The New Daily, Amy Remeikis

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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The killing in the city of El Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region is so brutal and widespread that bloodstains on the ground can be seen from space.

For a year and a half, a militia group called the RSF has been attacking the city – and last, week it fell, resulting in the mass slaughter of civilians.

In the past two years, 12 million people in Sudan have fled their homes – and more than 150,000 people have died, making this the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

The violence is sponsored and enabled by the United Arab Emirates, a key Western ally, raising questions about the West’s inaction and complicity.

Today, Sudanese political analyst and founder of the think tank Confluence Advisory Kholood Khair on what has unfolded in El Fasher – and what comes next for Sudan.

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Guest: Sudanese political analyst and founder of the think tank Confluence Advisory, Kholood Khair

Photo: Vantor via AP

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Last week, Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to “immediately” resume US nuclear weapons testing.

The order breaks with more than three decades of protocol for the United States – justified, according to the president, by the actions of China and Russia.

And as these nuclear-armed powers expand and modernise their arsenals, countries closer to Australia are openly debating whether to follow.

Today, professor of strategic studies at the ANU and a contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs, Brendan Taylor, on what Trump’s announcement means for the nuclear arms race, and what happens if our neighbours go nuclear.

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Guest: Professor of strategic studies at the ANU and a contributor to Australian Foreign Affairs, Brendan Taylor

Photo: Provided by U.S. Energy Department

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Recently, the creators of ChatGPT have made a surprising announcement: erotica is coming to the world’s most popular AI platform.

It’s the latest step in a transformation of the internet — where artificial intelligence is shaping not just what we read or search, but how we think, feel and even form relationships.

Today, associate editor for Crikey Cam Wilson, on OpenAI’s bold new direction, the mental health risks behind the decision — and what happens when the world’s most powerful chatbot starts getting personal.

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Guest: Associate editor for Crikey, Cam Wilson

Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

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Last week, trans teenagers in Queensland and their families had a short moment of joy: the supreme court overturned the state government’s ban on gender affirming care.

The judge found the decision to stop children from accessing puberty blockers was done without proper consultation. He found that the ban had been rushed through without giving medical professionals warning – or a chance to weigh in.

But just six hours after the court’s ruling, the Queensland government shot back: with the health minister issuing a new ban.

So what does that mean for trans children in Queensland?

Today, the mother who took the government to court and won – on the supreme court ruling, the government’s next move, and how the fight for trans healthcare is impacting her teenage daughter and other kids like her.

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Guest: The mother of a Queensland teenager

Photo: AAP Image/Darren England

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Some childcare centres in Australia are so understaffed that children are left alone for hours. Other centres spend less than a dollar a day on feeding them.

Yet the industry receives billions in public subsidies and dodgy centres are allowed to keep operating even after serious breaches.

What’s emerging is a picture of a broken childcare system – one where regulators aren’t doing their job and no one is held to account.

Today, NSW Greens MLC Abigail Boyd on what she uncovered about the horrific abuse unfolding in Australian childcare centres – and why we are allowing the pursuit of profit over safety.

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Guest: NSW Greens MLC and chair of the Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in NSW Abigail Boyd

Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

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Back in 2023, Australia’s top court made a landmark ruling: it was against the law for the Australian government to indefinitely hold people in immigration detention.

That ruling had massive implications for our country’s border policies. It overturned 20 years of precedent – and it led to the release of people into the community who had been held in immigration detention after having their visas cancelled – but weren’t able to return to their home country.

After that, the Albanese government struck a controversial deal with Nauru, worth $2.5 billion. The tiny island nation would be paid to settle the detainees in exchange for money over a 30-year period.

This week we learned the deal has now begun – at least one person has now been deported to Nauru.

Today, journalist Denham Sadler, on the former immigration detainees Australia is now deporting – and whether offloading them to Nauru is a breach of our legal obligations.

This episode was first published in September.

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Guest: Journalist, Denham Sadler

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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Murray Watt has talked a big game about fixing our environment laws by the end of the year.

But this week, the government’s attempt to do that fell apart – with the crossbench and Coalition senators refusing to back the changes.

At the same time, Labor faced a dramatic revolt in the Senate over its refusal to release a secret report meant to fix the culture of cronyism – and jobs for mates.

Having campaigned on restoring integrity to government, Labor is now facing a Senate demanding it live up to that promise.

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on why it’s so hard to fix our environment laws – and whether the government’s hubris is getting in the way of its promise for greater transparency.

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Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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