If You're Listening - TopPodcast.com

America's Last Election 6: How Trump’s banishment led to his comeback Nov 21, 2024

After January 6, many who had stuck by Donald Trump through his presidency condemned his denial of the election, and his failure to stop the attack on the Capitol.

Banished to Mar-a-Lago the former president was banned from major social media platforms, driving his messages and MAGA community underground, into a parallel online world.

That response by big tech to the violence of January 6 was designed to stop it happening again.

Instead, it found Donald Trump powerful allies, and fostered his comeback, one that would send him all the way back to the White House.

This is the final episode of America's Last Election. We'll be back next week with an episode about something completely different. If you liked the series, please share it around.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GOA7NxYvYKg?si=8U9OnBgsFBIjqRlA

America’s Last Election 5: Trump demands loyalty Nov 14, 2024

Over the last four episodes we’ve told the story of Donald Trump’s denial of the 2020 election result. It’s a period of time many thought would disqualify him from another run for US president.

Now, exactly four years later Trump is preparing to head back to the White House after a significant election win against Kamala Harris, and the way his last presidency ended has shaped his campaign.

January 6th and the events that led up to it alienated many moderate actors in Trump’s orbit, and unless they’re brought back into the fold, this presidency is set to look very different to his last.

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Hello America: Chess at the White House Nov 08, 2024

It’s Matt Bevan’s last 24 hours in Washington DC, and he’s leaving a very different place to the one he arrived in. Donald Trump is going to be president again, and in the United States, people from across the political spectrum are figuring out exactly what that looks like.

Matt sits down with ABC Global Affairs Reporter John Lyons in sunny Lafayette Park to chat about the potential geopolitical impacts of a second Trump term and how world leaders are already scrambling to get Trump on the phone to strike a deal.

This episode was produced by Kara Jensen-Mackinnon and Jess O'Callaghan.

This is the final Hello America bonus episode of If You’re Listening, thanks for coming along for the ride. The next episode of America’s Last Election will drop next Thursday morning.

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US Results: Coffee with extra Trump Nov 07, 2024

In this update from Washington DC, Matt Bevan is filling in as host for ABC News Daily to bring you an early morning update on all the events from overnight Australian time.

In a spectacular victory, Donald Trump has secured the US election to become the 47th President of the United States.

Matt is joined on the ground by Emma Shortis from The Australia Institute to explain where the Democrats went wrong and the Republicans went right - and what a more emboldened Trump with the support of the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court means for America.

Hello America: Trump’s path back to the presidency Nov 06, 2024

As the night goes on, and key states in the US presidential election are called for Donald Trump, it's becoming harder to see a way that Kamala Harris wins the White House.

Matt Bevan shares his view from a Washington rooftop on election night, where ABC News is covering the results. He reflects on the Harris and Trump campaigns, and what a second Trump presidency could look like.

Matt will be back in this podcast feed on Thursday morning hosting a special episode of ABC News Daily, speaking with Dr Emma Shortis from the Australia Institute.

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Hello America: Queuing for Kamala Harris Nov 06, 2024

It's election day in America! But in the dying hours of Monday night (and the campaigns), Matt Bevan took a train to Pennsylvania to stand in queue for a massive Lady Gaga concert — Kamala Harris's final event before election day.

Luckily, you can get the speeches online. What you can't get is the vibe, which was apparent speaking to supporters in this kilometres-long queue.

On the train ride home Matt and Dr Emma Shortis from The Australia Institute decide the Democrats' election-eve vibe was: things seem good for Kamala Harris ... nobody jinx it.

We'll be back on Wednesday evening with an election-night update.

Read Matt on ABC News: When do polls close and when will we know the result of the US election?

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Hello America: Two trains and seven swing states Nov 05, 2024

It's election eve in America, and Matt Bevan is in Washington DC. How did he get there? By train, from Detroit, where he took in the fall foliage from the comfort of his tiny bunk bed, and talked politics over breakfast with a fellow train-devotee named Bill.

But neither Kamala Harris or Donald Trump is taking the slow train to election day -- both campaigns have whirlwind 24 hours planned, hitting the swing states key to winning the White House. Donald Trump is ending years of campaigning with a late-night rally that looks to soothe his superstitious mind, and Kamala Harris is throwing a massive garden party in Philadelphia. Speaking of which, Matt has another train to catch ...

This episode was produced by Kara Jensen Mackinnon and Jess O'Callaghan. Catch Matt across the ABC's election coverage on ABC TV, ABC NewsRadio and digital platforms, including this one; we'll drop a bonus episode when results start to shape up on Wednesday evening AEDT.

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America’s Last Election 4: Pardon the riot Nov 05, 2024

Eight months before January 6, a very similar mob stormed a different government building. Armed men, furious about an extension of COVID lockdowns, stormed the state Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan.

It was a precursor to the march on the Capitol in Washington DC, with chants, signs and even protesters in common. But among some of the men in Michigan that day, a plot was brewing that was more sinister. It shows just how insidious and dangerous the lies spreading among Donald Trump’s supporters can be.

If he wins, Trump has vowed to pardon those people convicted of crimes on January 6—what signal could such immunity send?

We've released this episode of America's Last Election early, so you can listen before election day. The video of this podcast episode will be released on Saturday morning as usual.

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Hello America: Watching Trump from the bleachers Nov 04, 2024

With only days until the election both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are zigzagging across the United States holding rallies to shore up support. At a Trump rally in the suburbs of Detroit, Matt Bevan chatted to a whole lot of fans waiting in line about why they're voting for Trump and what happens if the election doesn't go his way. He and Insiders host David Speers debriefed in the car ride back to the city.

If You're Listening's Hello America bonus episodes are produced by Kara Jensen Mackinnon and Jess O'Callaghan. Episode 4 of America's Last Election will drop early on Tuesday morning AEDT.

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Hello America: Trump or Treat Nov 01, 2024

It’s Halloween in America, and with the countdown on to election day, things are getting spooky. In downtown Detroit, Matt Bevan meets early voters, trick-or-treaters, and samples local delicacies — thanks to everyone who emailed with tips. Keep them coming, Washington DC is next: ifyourelistening@abc.net.au

And as mentioned in the episode, if you have a question about the US election or our series America’s Last Election, email it through in the next few days. Matt will be kicking off election week by answering your questions in a live blog on ABC News Monday November 4, from 7AM AEDT.

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America’s Last Election 3: Trump's plan to reject results Oct 31, 2024

In the United States, presidential elections rely on thousands of actual people coming together to scrutinise and then certify the results. That’s what will happen next week, when polls close on the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. So what would happen if they just refused to certify a result, for political reasons?

In 2020, exactly this scenario played out, in an extraordinarily tense meeting room in Detroit, Michigan. In the four years since, Trump’s supporters have worked hard to try and replicate this roadblock around the country.

In this third episode of America’s Last Election, If You’re Listening looks at what that could mean for election day 2024, and the weeks that follow.

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Hello America: Lost in Lansing Oct 30, 2024

On the road in Michigan, Matt Bevan heads to the state's political capital of Lansing. There, he meets a swing voter named David who is all in on Trump, navigates the labyrinth that is the state Capitol building, and samples local delicacies on the I-96.

Former top Trump advisor Steve Bannon is out of prison, and vowing to do what he can to help the Trump campaign win days out from the election, but the car radio is abuzz with a different story — the impact of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's jokes on Puerto Rican voters in key swing states.

Episode 3 of America's Last Election will drop on Thursday morning.

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Hello America: Motorcade in Michigan Oct 29, 2024

Matt Bevan is on the ground in Michigan, Detroit, a key swing state in next week’s US presidential election. There are some things you just don’t get when you’re telling a story from your basement in Newcastle: candid chats with Republican voters on the plane, for one. Vice presidential motorcades screaming past you on the highway for another. Follow Matt as he travels through America in the lead up to election day, and hear from the people he meets along the way.

Episode 3 of America's Last Election will drop on Thursday morning.

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America’s Last Election 2: The fake elector plot Oct 24, 2024

After the 2020 election, Donald Trump searched desperately for any theory that would allow him to retain control of the White House. On Christmas Eve, his team called a constitutional lawyer named John Eastman, who gave them something to work with. Eastman’s theory relied on Vice President Mike Pence playing along.

In this second episode of America’s Last Election, If You’re Listening looks at the theory the riot on January 6 was based on, and why Trump’s supporters thought it might work.

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America’s Last Election 1: The big lie Oct 17, 2024

Donald Trump did not win the 2020 presidential election. But if you watched his speech on election night, you wouldn’t come away with that understanding. ‘Frankly,’ he said ‘We did win this election.’

In the months that followed, the story backing up that claim warped and changed, but at its core was a big lie about a supercomputer called ‘The Hammer’, an imaginary software called ‘Scorecard’, and a man with a long history of fooling the US government.

And now Donald Trump is on the ballot again. Over five episodes, If You’re Listening looks at the transition period after the 2020 election, and what it tells us about the plan in 2024.

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How close did President Trump get to nuclear war? Oct 10, 2024

Within months of becoming US president in 2017, Donald Trump threatened North Korea with “fire and fury”. Soon afterwards, he would tear up a nuclear deal with Iran and bring the US to the brink of war. And yet that war never came. This is the story of how Donald Trump resisted temptation and kept the peace.

This is a repeat episode, it was first broadcast on September 21, 2020. You can hear the rest of that series on our website or in our podcast feed: America, If You’re Listening.

News audio used in this episode comes from: Arirang News, Inside Edition, CNN, ABC America, Democracy Now, Fox News, CBS, ABC News, and France 24.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J2021J90VM8?si=Tzw4B2i3Zp_qzPaK

Is AI a threat to humans? Oct 03, 2024

The world's most famous artificial intelligence company, OpenAI — the creator of ChatGPT — was set up to create a superintelligent AI, while at the same time safeguarding humanity from an omnipotent robot overlord which could enslave us all.

So is an AI apocalypse possible, and with wunderkind CEO Sam Altman in charge, will OpenAI be able to protect us from its own robots?

This is a repeat episode. It was first broadcast on November 30, 2023. You can watch this episode now on YouTube.

We'll be back with new episodes from October 17.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vew1rfrG6k?si=GFuWe7-uTaZiq_Gb

Can India and China bury the hatchet? Sep 26, 2024

After years of tension, diplomatic cold shoulders, and mountain skirmishes, both India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping appear to be looking for ways their nations can be friends again.

So what’s changed between the world’s two most populous countries? And what would a closer relationship between India and China mean for the rest of us?

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How US YouTubers were paid to spread Putin’s propaganda Sep 19, 2024

This month, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment of two Russian state media employees. It alleges that they were funnelling millions of dollars into the pockets of American YouTubers, known for their contrarian viewpoints and controversial takes on the war in Ukraine. The YouTubers say they are victims of a criminal scheme and did not know they were being paid by Russia. But it’s not the first time that something like this has happened. There’s a long history of foreign adversaries covertly paying Americans to spread fake news to other Americans—it’s a move right out of Nazi Germany’s propaganda playbook.

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The sci-fi Saudi city that might be a scam Sep 12, 2024

The massive infrastructure project NEOM sits in the Saudi Arabian desert, and the jewel in its crown is The Line, a futuristic city which looks insane. The AI-generated ads depict a car-free city, for 9 million people, housed between two mirrors. Despite promises of millions of residents by 2030, the project has been scaled back by 98 per cent. The Line will be more like a dot. So what the hell happened? And was it all just a scam?

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How Ukraine called Putin’s nuclear bluff Sep 05, 2024

Russia defends its enormous borders with the threat of nuclear war. It’s this threat that has long stopped Ukraine and its allies from attacking Russia on its home turf—there are ‘red lines’ that can’t be crossed without nuclear retaliation. Yet Ukraine just invaded Russian sovereign territory and still, no nukes. Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears to be calling Vladimir Putin’s bluff. It seems the ‘red lines’ were done in red pencil, not red pen. So how does this reshape the war, and what does it mean for Putin?

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Why Hezbollah is attacking Israel in the Golan Heights Aug 29, 2024

It’s a dangerous moment for the Middle East. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire over the weekend, including attacks on a pretty unique pocket of farmland — an Israeli-annexed area called the Golan Heights. In 2019 then-President Donald Trump broke with the rest of the international community and recognised it as part of Israel. There’s even an Israeli settlement named after him. Now, the world is watching the Golan Heights closely, fearful that fighting there could escalate and become a massive regional conflict.

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Could calling Trump 'weird' lead the Democrats to victory? Aug 22, 2024

A shift is on display at the Democratic National Convention—from fear of Donald Trump to mocking him. After years of arguing Trump is dangerous, the Democratic pick for Vice President Tim Walz is changing the party’s attack strategy, calling their opponents 'weird'. This potential path to victory is not seen as very presidential. But could it work?

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How Israel changed the way it assassinates enemies Aug 15, 2024

In the early hours of July 31 this year, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran. It's presumed Israel was behind the killing, with reports detailing a complex operation by its spy agency Mossad. So if it was Israel that did this, why did they do it in such an extraordinary manner, and in Iran of all places? The answer tells us a lot about the complex political situation Israel finds itself in, where it feels the need for revenge, but only in a way that doesn’t alienate its allies.

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The truth about Kamala Harris’s time as ‘border czar’ Aug 08, 2024

Since Kamala Harris became his opponent in the race for US president, Donald Trump has argued that she is responsible for a migrant crisis. He says President Joe Biden named her the ‘border czar’, in charge of dealing with the unprecedented number of people attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. It’s a policy area that the Trump campaign hopes will win him the election in November. So what’s real, and what’s fake, when it comes to Kamala Harris and the US border?

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How Kamala went from unelectable to unopposed Aug 01, 2024

Kamala Harris is the Democratic party’s presumptive nominee for President of the United States. But four years ago, she didn’t even make it to the first primary vote. They needed to pick someone who would beat Donald Trump, and Harris just wasn’t ‘electable’ enough. Whatever that means. So if she wasn’t electable then, is she electable now?

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Will Biden leaving send the Democrats into chaos? Jul 22, 2024

After weeks of speculation and acrimony, President Joe Biden has abandoned his bid for re-election, and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris to be his successor.

This scenario has happened once before - late in the election cycle, a President bailed out and tried to hand over power to their Vice President. The subsequent chaos at the 1968 Democratic convention is legendary, and is something the party will be desperate to avoid in 2024.

How America was primed for Trump shooting conspiracies Jul 18, 2024

When 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at former-President Donald Trump on July 13, the American public was ready with conspiracy theories explaining how and why he did it.

And that shouldn’t come as a shock. Most Americans think President John F Kennedy was assassinated as part of a conspiracy, either by the US Government, Cubans, or the Mafia.

They’re primed to believe their government is keeping secrets from them—because it is.

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Who Broke Britain: What took Labour so long? Jul 11, 2024

Last week, the UK Labour Party won the general election in a landslide victory.

In the past four episodes we've detailed the chaos, ineptitude and hubris of the Conservative Party during their time in office.

So you might be thinking, what took the Labour Party so long to get elected?

On the final episode of our Who Broke Britain series, how Labour went to war with itself — over policy, factions, personalities, Brexit, and anti-Semitism.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IpFHEvMWZM&list=PLDTPrMoGHssAfgMMS3L5LpLNFMNp1U_Nq

Who Broke Britain 4: Stop the boats Jul 04, 2024

The UK election is being held today and polls indicate the Conservative Party will lose in a landslide.

One of the key policies the government is running on is a version of Australia's offshore immigration detention policy, which was launched by prime minister John Howard in the lead-up to the 2001 election.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's two year fight over this policy has not only been a colossal failure, it will likely drag the Tories down with it.

So as the UK decides on their next Prime Minister, we're asking, who really broke Britain?

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Who Broke Britain 3: The NHS in crisis Jun 27, 2024

Britain's National Health Service was in crisis when COVID arrived in the UK.

After years of increasing demand and flatlining funding, the NHS was deeply broken.

One Chancellor called the NHS "the closest thing the English people have to a religion", so how was it left to fall into disrepair, on the edge of collapse, right as a catastrophic pandemic hit?

This is part 3 of our series, Who Broke Britain.

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Check out our Who Broke Britain series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vobIKYrfZwg

Who Broke Britain 2: The Brexit gamble Jun 20, 2024

British Prime Minister David Cameron took a colossal gamble when he called for a referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union.

Instead, he brought about Brexit and sent the country into three years of chaos.

Cameron was certain his side — Remain — would win. How did he get it so wrong?

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Watch Who broke Britain, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW2NSrzcrIQ

Check out our entire series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDTPrMoGHssAfgMMS3L5LpLNFMNp1U_Nq

Who Broke Britain 1 A promise to cut everything Jun 13, 2024

When the UK Conservative Party won the election in 2010, they took a butcher's knife to the budget.

David Cameron's money-man George Osborne — the young heir to a wallpaper fortune — had a big plan called "austerity," but it put the country on a journey to total chaos.

This is the first episode in a four-part series called Who Broke Britain.

It's about the past 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, all the way up to the general election that's happening next month.

London was once the largest city on Earth — capital of a global empire larger than any other in the history of the world.

Even as recently as 17 years ago, Britons were the richest people in any of the world's large economies.

Since then, they've gone backwards, more than any other large economy.

Britain feels broken. So, who broke it?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3IhkTK9-xs

Not Stupid: Trump's guilty. What does that mean? Jun 06, 2024

We're still on a break from our regularly scheduled programming but don't worry, we're hard at work.

Next week we'll be launching a four-part series leading up to the UK election called Who Broke Britain?

The country that was once the centre of the world's greatest empire now seems a lot smaller, and in many ways — broken.

So — who broke it?

Until then, check out the latest ABC podcast Not Stupid, from our colleagues in ABC News.

It's hosted by Jeremy Fernandez and Julia Baird, and this week they're diving into Trump's guilty conviction and whether we should raise the minimum age for social media.

You can subscribe to it on the Listen app.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM7IYWahjGY

Why is China so obsessed with Taiwan? May 30, 2024

The island of Taiwan, just off the coast of China, is shaping up as the most likely spark for the next global conflict.

China's president Xi Jinping wants to claim all the territory he thinks belongs to China, without triggering a nuclear war.

It's a century-old civil war, which has been frozen in place for decades.

It's an almost unimaginably dangerous situation, and one mistake could lead to catastrophe.

This is a repeat episode. It was first broadcast on the 6th July, 2021 as part of the China, If You're Listening series.

If you want to listen to the whole series you can find it here, or scroll back in your podcast feed.

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The brutal and bloody career of Iranian President Raisi May 23, 2024

Earlier this week the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in bad weather.

Raisi was a phenomenally important figure in Middle Eastern politics — not just Iran's President, but the likely next Supreme Leader of Iran.

He got there through acts of extreme brutality, showing his willingness to do anything to defend the Iranian status quo.

How did Ebrahim Raisi become the heir-apparent to the Iranian Supreme Leadership, and what could happen now he's gone?

Listen to our other episodes about Iran:

Iran, Israel and the calculus of revenge

The Ayatollah who dreamed of an Iranian caliphate

How the Shah's cancer led to Iran's rift with the US

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0_VTGzZj2U

Should we treat domestic violence like we treat terrorism? May 16, 2024

Australia's first domestic violence shelter Elsie opened in the 1970s, and researchers have been analysing the problem ever since.

In the last three decades more than 1,500 women have been killed by intimate partners in Australia and we're still no closer to finding out why.

Campaigner Rosie Batty has compared domestic violence to terrorism, and called for similar levels of funding.

Is that comparison extreme, or is it the best way to get us closer to fixing the problem?

*EDITOR'S NOTE: This episode incorrectly states that Luke Batty was 14 years old at the time of his death. He was 11 years old when he died.

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The man who destroyed his life to try to put Trump in jail May 09, 2024

Michael Cohen is the star witness in the Trump 'hush-money' trial.

He was once Trump's personal attorney and said he would "take a bullet" for his boss, but then everything changed.

He has served years in prison for lying, tax fraud, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.

But he thinks everything he's gone through will be worth it if he can take Trump down.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqPubAjtbc4

Is Brisbane repeating the Olympic mistakes of the past May 02, 2024

Plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics are not going well.

It's a political quagmire, with plans for billion-dollar stadium upgrades or massive new venues being thrown around like confetti.

There are concerns that Brisbane is going to blow its budget.

Fifty years ago, the 1976 Montreal Olympics suffered a financial disaster so massive it nearly heralded the end of the Olympic Games.

Is Brisbane repeating the mistakes of the past?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VRUVQz-Dlw

Could Benjamin Netanyahu go to jail? Apr 25, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He is doing everything he can to stay in office, because if he holds office, he can't be thrown in jail.

Sound familiar? It's a bit like Donald Trump's situation in the United States.

But Netanyahu's case has an old-school flavour. It's a fierce battle between media tycoons, and it even involves Australian media nepo baby James Packer.

It's a rollicking tale. But with a military campaign against Gaza and tensions with Iran rising, it could also change the fate of the war in the Middle East.

For more on Benjamin Netanyahu's history, check out this episode: Can Israel rescue the hostages?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25NndMbkhVE

Looking for Modi 07 | One billion voters Apr 23, 2024

Narenda Modi loves to promote India's status as the largest democracy in the world, and experts agree that the country's elections are free and fair for all. Modi is now an unbackable favourite to win a third term as Prime Minister in the weeks ahead, with polls suggesting he is heading for another victory. So why is he so sensitive to criticism, and aggressive in pursuing his detractors? In this final episode, Avani learns of the consequences of her own reporting on Modi after so many months searching for the truth.

Iran, Israel and the calculus of revenge Apr 18, 2024

Iran and Israel are caught in a cycle of revenge.

On April Fools' Day, there was a huge escalation in the conflict when an Israeli air strike killed 16 people, including two Iranian Generals.

Two weeks later, the skies over Israel lit up with a counterattack.

It might seem like in this conflict, anything goes, but each response and retaliation is a calculated move.

Israel knew the attack was coming and almost every drone and missile was intercepted.

So, when the game of chess begins, how does it end?

Last time the revenge cycle started to turn, Donald Trump was in the White House, and the wheel only stopped because of a tragic mistake.

This time, Israel's response could change the trajectory of the conflict in the Middle East.

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Looking for Modi 06 | Modi and the money Apr 16, 2024

Lifting Indians out of poverty lies at the core of Narendra Modi's wildly popular political strategy. And it's worked: during his Prime Ministership, India has risen from the tenth largest economy in the world to the fifth. But this rising tide has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor in India, and has raised questions about Modi's ties to business leaders who have turned the nation's rise to their own advantage.

Why do people hate wind farms? — Live Apr 11, 2024

People don't like wind farms. They say they're bad for wildlife, they affect property values and they create pollution.

But are any of these claims true?

Today, the wind farm debate and how it nearly tore the small Australian community of King Island apart.

This episode of If You're Listening is a live recording from the Newcastle Writers Festival.

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Looking for Modi 05 | The riots Apr 09, 2024

In 2002, Narendra Modi's carefully crafted political story was rocked by a series of deadly attacks in his home state of Gujarat, where he was the highly popular Chief Minister. Thousands were killed in a wave of riots that lasted for three days and became a major national scandal.

Modi's role in the violence has been heavily contested in the decades since, but he has never been able to shake the association in the minds of some Indians. How did he manage to survive such a high-profile catastrophe, and what is the legacy of those terrifying riots today?

Duterte vs Marcos: The feud that might tear the Philippines apart Apr 04, 2024

The Duterte and Marcos families are the Montagues and Capulets of the Philippines.

They are, depending on who you ask, the country's most famous statesmen, thieves, murderers or heroes.

They have tussled for power for nearly 60 years, and now there are talks of secession splitting the country in two.

Could this family feud literally tear the Philippines apart?

Want to watch Matt present If You're Listening live from the Newcastle Writers Festival this Sunday, April 7? A stream will be posted to this channel on YouTube

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Looking for Modi 04 | When holy politics turn violent Apr 02, 2024

In January 2024, Narendra Modi travelled to the northern Indian town of Ayodhya to attend the consecration of a Hindu temple with a very contested history. The site had previously been occupied by a 500-year-old mosque, and had become a focal point of broader disputes between India's Hindu and Muslim communities.

That fight over one hill in Ayodhya resulted in a demolition, mass protests and deadly retaliations across India. It also gave Modi a cause he could champion throughout his rapid political rise.

How Japan opted out of a global housing crisis Mar 28, 2024

Australia’s housing market is, like many places in the Western world, in the midst of a crisis that feels like it will never be solved. Owning a property in an Australian city has only drifted further out of reach for most Australians in the last decade, and there are very few practical solutions on offer. Is it possible to actually unpick this situation?

Japan offers a useful example. Thirty years ago, property in Tokyo was the most expensive in the world. Today, home ownership in that same city is comparatively affordable, with plenty of available stock on the market. How was this massive turnaround achieved, and how can other countries learn from the Japanese model?

Looking for Modi 03 | Modi and the Swami Mar 26, 2024

When Narendra Modi left home, it wasn't to begin a career in politics. He wanted to be a monk. Modi's teenaged pilgrimage would take him across India, following the trail of his country's most influential religious leader. It was a journey that would ultimately steer him towards politics, and lay the foundation for some of his most popular and controversial philosophies.

Kate Middleton and the 100-year history of fake photos Mar 21, 2024

The Princess of Wales has barely been seen since Christmas and everyone is asking, where is Kate?

The Royal Family released a photo meant to squash the rumours, but when it became obvious it had been photoshopped, the speculation just got worse.

Fake photos are everywhere, and there's a long history of people doctoring them, from photocopying to photoshopping, to straight up AI.

But is there a time coming where we won't be able to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihzt5GNfnig

Looking for Modi 02 | The abandoned wife Mar 19, 2024

For most politicians, the image of a stable marriage and a happy family is a crucial part of their pitch to voters. But in India, being single is a selling point: leaders want to show that they are dedicated only to their country. Narendra Modi's carefully crafted image of a bachelor was up-ended when it emerged that he had a wife who had been kept secret for decades.

Since this scandal broke, Modi's estranged wife has barely been seen or spoken to the media. In this episode, we're going to find her.

Why does Putin bother holding elections? Mar 14, 2024

Russia is in the midst of an election, but we already know Vladimir Putin will win. He always wins.

So why does Russia bother holding elections? What’s the point?

Putin learned a lesson many years ago about the illusion of democracy, and it’s one he has never forgotten.

Looking For Modi 01 | Humble beginnings Mar 12, 2024

Every Tuesday for the next seven weeks, we'll be dropping an extra episode from a new ABC podcast into the If You're Listening feed. Looking for Modi, hosted by the ABC's South Asia correspondent Avani Dias, examines the life and political career of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. It's a fascinating show that we think you might enjoy. Matt will be back with another episode on Thursday.

Narendra Modi's rise from poverty-stricken childhood has been a major appeal throughout his political career. He tells ordinary Indians that he is just like them, and that his life is proof of India's egalitarian democracy. But in truth, some of the central elements of his own biography are disputed. What do we really know about his origin story, and how did his time spent with a volunteer right wing organisation many view as a paramilitary group influence his politics?

How China hires hackers Mar 07, 2024

The police arrested and interrogated Andrew after he was set up by hackers.

Now we know how Chinese spies pull it off.

An unprecedented leak of data from Chinese company i-Soon has cracked open the black box, revealing the secrets of China's cyber espionage operations.

Correction: When Andrew Phelan was taken in for questioning by Victoria Police, he was never chargedSubscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.

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Is Donald Trump running out of money? Feb 29, 2024

Donald Trump was ordered to pay a $463.9 million fine for lying to banks about how rich he is.

He's also facing at least five other cases that could cost him millions more in legal fees and fines.

And this is all happening as he tries to run for president again — and political campaigns ain't cheap.

So the question is: Can Donald Trump make it to election day without running out of money?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzEp-Vr4Oao

The Ayatollah who dreamed of an Iranian caliphate Feb 22, 2024

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a revolutionary leader with a revolutionary idea.

In just 10 years as Supreme Leader, Iran became a global pariah; virtually friendless in the international community.

Yet when he died, millions of Iranians hysterically grieved his death.

In today's episode, how Ayatollah Khomeini changed the course of Middle Eastern history, and how his ideas are still affecting us today.

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How the Shah's cancer led to Iran's rift with the US Feb 15, 2024

In 1974, the Shah of Iran was diagnosed with cancer.

It led to a Shakespearean tragedy that brought about the end of the Iranian monarchy and shaped the Middle East conflict we're seeing today.

As open warfare between the US and Iran becomes more and more likely by the day, it's worth remembering that it all started with something tiny — a small lump in the spleen of one man.

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How Houthi rebels are embarrassing the world's biggest navy Feb 08, 2024

The Red Sea is the most trafficked trade route in the world, and now the US Navy and a group of militant Houthi rebels are going to war over it.

The Houthis are attacking ships it says are linked to Israel and its allies; America is desperately trying to stop them. I mean, America might not get directly involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict, but you bet they'll protect their trade routes.

The stakes couldn't be higher — if the US can't prove they have this under control, plenty of other groups around the world might decide to try their hand at blocking global trade as well.

Editor's note: This introduction has been edited to clarify that not only Israeli ships have been targeted in Houthi attacks.

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Can Zelenskyy get the world to care about Ukraine again? Dec 14, 2023

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a new problem. As well as fighting Russia, he also has to fight Israel and Hamas for the world's attention.

The shift in attention to Gaza has already meant Ukraine has lost crucial support.

The question is — can Zelenskyy get the world to care about Ukraine again? And if not, what will that mean for the war?

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What is China's "panda diplomacy"? Dec 07, 2023

China's pandas are not just pandas. They're diplomats.

You're friendly to China? You get a panda. You criticise China? You get no pandas.

In recent years China has been hostile toward the West, with the most literal symbol of their displeasure being the withdrawal of their pandas from zoos around the world.

And yet, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be having a change of heart.

This may indicate something very important — a return to a more peaceful relationship with the West.

But why? And why are pandas the key to understanding it?

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzM1L3Nrc-I

Can OpenAI save us from a robot apocalypse? Nov 30, 2023

The world's most famous artificial intelligence company, OpenAI — the creator of ChatGPT — was set up to create a superintelligent AI, while at the same time safeguarding humanity from an omnipotent robot overlord which could enslave us all.

But last week the company fell into chaos. OpenAI fired its wunderkind CEO Sam Altman.

Just days later, under intense pressure, Sam Altman was put back in charge and the entire board was booted.

So is an AI apocalypse possible, and with Altman back in charge, will OpenAI be able to protect us from its own robots?

Please participate in our listener survey!

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR8c10Tkb3E

China's play to win the heart of the Pacific Nov 23, 2023

China is using cash to try and shore up support in the Pacific.

In Honiara, the Solomon Islands capital, they just built most of the venues in the Pacific Games precinct.

And China is not alone. Like a geopolitical version of The Bachelor, China, Taiwan, Australia and the United States are all trying desperately to win Honiara's heart.

This tussle has caused panic in Taipei and Canberra, anger in Beijing and Washington, and actual violence in the Solomons.

It's hard to think of a more perfect example of trouble in paradise.

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Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzF_o11VvuQ

How North Korea makes a fortune stealing crypto Nov 16, 2023

As international sanctions have cut into North Korea's ability to import and export things, they've become desperate for cash.

They've been running crazy schemes to get it — smuggling, stealing, lying, cheating, swashbuckling — but that's nothing compared to what they make from stealing cryptocurrency.

In fact, most of their foreign currency now comes from stolen crypto.

So, can anything be done to stop the world's first nuclear-armed crypto bro, Kim Jong-un?

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Catch up on our series about the Israel-Gaza conflict on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7eK8MO7c0Q

Can Israel rescue the hostages? Nov 09, 2023

The Israeli hostages Hamas took back on October 7th still have not been rescued.

The 1976 Entebbe rescue mission is legendary and gave Israel a reputation — they get hostages back no matter what.

Now this reputation is putting enormous pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rescue the hostages again.

The question is — can he?

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Catch up on our series about the Israel-Gaza conflict on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQx0U-bfd7A

Who is Hezbollah, the group backing Hamas? Nov 02, 2023

While Israel tries to defeat Hamas, they also have to worry about a much more dangerous paramilitary group on their northern border: Hezbollah.

The express purpose of Hezbollah, which formed 40 years ago, is also to eradicate Israel.

It would be a nightmare for Israel if Hezbollah swings in and backs Hamas up.

So where did Hezbollah form, why do they hate Israel, and what hand did Israel have in their creation?

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Catch up on our series about the Israel-Gaza conflict on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ4x0gAzJx4

How did Hamas catch Israel by surprise? Oct 26, 2023

The Israeli Government has one of the most well-resourced intelligence communities in the world, specifically tasked with preventing attacks from Hamas.

So how did it fail to detect an operation that involved months of planning, meetings in multiple countries, and thousands of militants?

This is part two in our series on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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Catch up on our series about the Israel-Gaza conflict on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFHtTYc0g

How a quadriplegic charity worker became the founder of Hamas Oct 19, 2023

Last week, Hamas burst out of the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, killing at least 1,400 people, the vast majority of them Israeli civilians.

But Hamas' origins go back decades, to its founder Ahmed Yassin.

How did a disabled refugee from Gaza become one of the most influential men in Palestine?

And how did he take Hamas from obscurity to wresting control of the Gaza Strip?

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The ridiculous assassination plot that sent Haiti into chaos Oct 12, 2023

In 2021, a doctor from Florida met with a group of men to plan the overthrow of the Haitian President.

The plot triggered a series of events which led to the President's death, the almost total collapse of the government, and the rise of mob rule in Haiti.

So why is Kenya now being sent in to save the day?

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Find more If You're Listening on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhcd5oos_P4

Should Elon Musk have stopped Ukraine attacking Russia? Oct 05, 2023

In September last year, Elon Musk refused to let the Ukrainian military use his Starlink satellites to attack Russia.

Musk jumped on Twitter and posted “Starlink is meant for peaceful use only”.

So how did we get into a situation where Elon Musk gets to personally decide whether a Ukrainian military operation succeeds or fails?

And was he justified in refusing to help?

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The assassination that broke the bond between Canada and India Sep 28, 2023

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Vancouver in June.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has just come out saying the Indian Government assassinated him.

India is, of course, denying it.

So who was Niijar? Why would anyone — much less the Indian Government — want to kill him?

And is there more to this story than meets the eye?

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Why Modi picked a fight over India's true name Sep 21, 2023

When world leaders received their invitations to the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, everyone got a bit of a surprise. It referred to Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of Bharat, not India.

The debate over the naming of India stretches back nearly 80 years, and tells an important story about the country's history.

And Modi's new push for a change in the constitution is just the latest in a series of political fights centred on race, religion and unity in India.

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Find more If You're Listening on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWhuh87aYOM

The race to build a petrol station on the moon Sep 14, 2023

The US, Russia, China and India are all sending missions to the moon — and all to its totally unexplored south pole.

Why? Well, in order to make the next giant leap, we need to build a petrol station on the moon.

How a discovery made a century ago will allow us to use the moon as a stepping stone to explore the solar system.

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Find more If You're Listening on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWhuh87aYOM

Is the century-long search for a weight loss drug over? Sep 07, 2023

For a century society has bullied and shamed people into trying to lose weight, without much result.

Now, a seemingly accidental discovery by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk may be the first weight loss drug that actually works.

People are hailing semaglutide, marketed under the names Ozempic or Wegovy, as a miracle weight loss drug — but it comes at a cost.

One clear winner is the Danish economy, as semaglutide has shot Novo Nordisk into the stratosphere as the most valuable company in all of Europe.

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China cooked its population data. Now its economy is in crisis Aug 31, 2023

China's economy is struggling. Similar things are happening across Asia but in China it's happening extremely fast.

And a big part of the reason why is the disastrous One Child Policy and years of dodgy population data.

How can you make plans for a country when you don't know how many people you have?

Now the population is going backward, the property sector is faltering, and China is in a world of trouble.

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Why is Russia meddling in West Africa? Aug 24, 2023

While everyone has their eyes on the war in Ukraine, West Africa is threatening to break out into war.

There's been a seemingly unstoppable wave of coups washing along the edge of the Sahara, gaining strength each time.

After the recent military coup in Niger, locals were seen chanting "down with France" and "long live Putin".

What are France and Russia doing in West Africa? And could they end up in a proxy war?

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Find more If You're Listening on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_N9w5e9NrE

How microchip-maker TSMC became the world's most important company Aug 17, 2023

Microchips are in your car, your microwave — there might even be one in your kettle. They run everything.

And the best microchips are made by TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

TSMC chips have put Western tech companies and militaries streets ahead of China, and China is not happy about it.

TSMC is so important, that the world could go to war over it.

Find more If You're Listening on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tC3u8NEqU8&t

The decision that saved Australia from Argentina's 100 per cent inflation nightmare Aug 10, 2023

Inflation in Argentina is at 100 per cent. The government is printing money fast and locals are spending in US dollars because the peso is so unreliable. The economy is like a rollercoaster.

It might be tempting to think, "they're different over there", but here's the thing: they're kind of not. Argentina — one of the wealthiest countries in the world — was once uncomfortably similar to Australia. Until it totally lost control of its own economy.

How a bunch of boxes might land Trump in prison Aug 03, 2023

Donald Trump has been charged with trying and failing to delete CCTV evidence of farcical, and allegedly criminal behaviour.

It's just the latest charge in the case against the former president over his… interesting decision to take classified documents with him when he left the White House.

Could it land him in jail? We tell the story of how Trump got into this predicament, and his plan to get out of it.

How "General Armageddon" and a bromance almost brought down Vladimir Putin Jul 27, 2023

A bromance is a powerful thing. Lennon and McCartney. Holmes and Watson. Gilbert and Sullivan. Han and Chewy. But occasionally a bromance can nearly get you killed.

A month ago the entire world watched transfixed as a former chef named Yevgeny Prigozhin marched with his private army on Moscow. At the core of this mutiny is a bromance between Prigozhin and a guy you've probably never heard of — General Sergei Surovikin.

Prigozhin assumed his friend Surovikin would back him up, but he flaked, and now both men are missing. So how did Prigozhin's bromance with Surovikin nearly bring down the Russian Government? And what's the punishment for even thinking about trying to roll Vladimir Putin?

We now make a video version of If You're Listening! Check us out on YouTube and iView.

INTRODUCING | If You're Listening Jul 20, 2023

If You're Listening is back, and better than ever. Same espionage, same corruptions, same scandals, but more often.

Not only will we be in your feed every Thursday, we'll also cover a different story each week. And if you prefer to watch rather than listen, we're also making videos for iView and YouTube.

Episode one drops Thursday, 27th July.

RUSSIA | S07 E6 - How will the war against Ukraine end? Dec 14, 2022

After ten months of war, a few likely outcomes of the war in Ukraine are emerging.

A win for Vladimir Putin. A win for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A bitter frozen conflict.

Neither Putin or Zelenskyy will sign a peace agreement and admit defeat.

But what if Putin’s regime ends?

Guests:

Dr Paul Dibb - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU; Former Director of the Australian Joint Intelligence Organisation
Lieutenant General (retired) Ben Hodges - former commanding general of the US Army in Europe
Dr Mykhailo Minakov - Philosopher; Editor in Chief of Focus Ukraine blog from the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center
Michael Bociurkiw - Global Affairs Analyst and former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Philip Short - Former BBC Moscow Correspondent; Author of Putin: His Life and Times
Professor Daniel Treisman, University of California, Los Angeles, co-author “Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century”

RUSSIA | S07 E5 - Has Putin finally pushed the Russian people too far? Dec 07, 2022

Protest is not allowed inside Russia.

There was little resistance from the Russian people to the invasion of Ukraine, and those who didn’t like it simply left.

But Vladimir Putin has made a decree that has caused discord across Russia. Has he finally pushed his people too far?

Guests:

Zoya Sheftalovich - Contributing editor for POLITICO
Dr Christina Ezrahi - Historian; author of Swans of the Kremlin and Dancing for Stalin
Denis Volkov - Director - Levada Centre, Moscow
Dr Yevgenia Albats - Chief Editor of The New Times
Dr Mykhailo Minakov - Philosopher; Editor in Chief of Focus Ukraine blog from the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center

RUSSIA | S07 E4 - Undersea sabotage? The mysterious pipe blasts Nov 30, 2022

On 26 September, a series of underwater explosions destroyed a cluster of natural gas pipelines on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

The pipes were designed to deliver gas directly from Russia to Germany, and the explosions exacerbated the already dire energy crisis in Europe.

Everyone agrees it was sabotage, but nobody can agree on who did it.

Today: the mystery of the Baltic Sea bubbles, and the story of how Germany’s plan for peace-through-capitalism blew up in their face.

Featuring:

Dr James Henderson - Chairman of the Gas Research Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Michael Bociurkiw - Global Affairs Analyst and former spokesperson for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

RUSSIA | S07 E3 - Why it’s hard to fight when you don’t know why Nov 23, 2022

What does war look like on the ground, for the soldiers who go off to fight? What’s it like to be sent into the muddy confusion of a battlefield, asked to lay down your life for your country?

In this episode: two soldiers. A Ukrainian in his 50s and a Russian in his 20s. One of them is still on the battlefield. The other fought for a week, and is now serving a 15 year prison sentence.

These two stories explain a lot about how Russia messed this up, and how Ukraine was far stronger than anyone realised.

Guests:

Isabella Higgins - ABC News Europe Correspondent
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop - ABC News Investigative Reporter
Taras Rodtseyvich - Ukrainian Territorial Defence Volunteer; IT Manager
Dr Paul Dibb - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU; Former Director of the Australian Joint Intelligence Organisation
Zoya Sheftalovich - contributing editor for POLITICO
POW interview audio courtesy of Volodymyr Zolkin

RUSSIA S07 E2 | Zelensky's big call: run away or stay to fight Nov 16, 2022

Vladimir Putin's plan for a three day takeover of Ukraine relied on a quick strike to take out Volodymyr Zelenskyy - to kill him, to capture him, or to make him flee.

Putin assumed that Zelenskyy was weak, but on the very first day of the invasion, two events showed that Putin was wrong, and led to the transformation of a man into a symbol of defiance against Russian tyranny.

Guests:

Simon Shuster - Reporter for Time Magazine; author of an upcoming biography of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zoya Sheftalovich - contributing editor for POLITICO
Philip Short - Former BBC Moscow Correspondent; Author of Putin: His Life and Times
Dr Paul Dibb - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU; Former Director of the Australian Joint Intelligence Organisation
POW interview audio courtesy of Volodymyr Zolkin

RUSSIA | S07 E1 - How war weakened strongman Putin Nov 09, 2022

For 20 years the Russian President Vladimir Putin was happy to lurk in the shadows, trying and occasionally succeeding to manipulate the rest of the world into doing what he wanted them to do.

But this year he chucked that out the window.

His invasion of Ukraine has turned global security and the global economy upside down. In this episode we ask, why did he do it?

Guests:

Philip Short - Former BBC Moscow Correspondent; Author of Putin: His Life and Times
Dr Yevgenia Albats - Chief Editor of The New Times
Dr Mykhailo Minakov - Philosopher; Editor in Chief of Focus Ukraine blog from the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center
Dr Paul Dibb - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU; Former Director of the Australian Joint Intelligence Organisation
Simon Shuster - Reporter for Time Magazine; author of an upcoming biography of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

RUSSIA | 07 INTRODUCING Russia, If You're Listening series seven Nov 03, 2022

In the seventh season of If You're Listening, we tell the story of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Will Putin fulfil his dream of expanding the Russian empire, or has he made the biggest mistake of his life? Episode 1 drops Wednesday November 9!

AUSTRALIA | S06 E8 - The 49-year-old energy prophecy that is finally coming true Apr 13, 2022

Australia is now in a race to build enough renewable energy to replace our coal fired power stations before they close.

We’re in this situation because of a series of ignored warnings and missed opportunities over the last five decades.

Now, experts are telling us that the transition to a decarbonised economy presents a big opportunity for Australia. The question is - can we grasp it?

Guests:

Dr Alan Finkel - Commonwealth government energy advisor and former Australian Chief Scientist

Alison Reeve - Deputy Program Director of Energy and Climate at the Grattan Institute; former Commonwealth energy policy advisor; author of the National Hydrogen Plan

Dr Kerry Schott - Independent chair of the Energy Security Board

Scott Hamilton - Australia-German Energy Transition Hub & former energy policy advisor to federal and Victorian governments

Dr Ross Garnaut - Economist, Author of Superpower: Australia's Low Carbon Opportunity

Dr Marcia Langton - Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne

Robert Hill - former Federal Environment Minister

Dr Graeme Pearman - Former Chief of Atmospheric Research, CSIRO

AUSTRALIA | S06 E7 - The countdown on coal fired power Apr 06, 2022

Over the last five years, politicians in Australia and around the world have regularly tried to blame renewable energy whenever something goes wrong with our electricity supply.

But lately whenever something catastrophic has happened to our energy supply, it’s been old technology at fault.

This is the story of a series of disasters that show how the system we’ve always relied on to deliver electricity is faltering.

Guests:Dr Alan Finkel - Commonwealth government energy advisor and former Australian Chief Scientist

Wendy Farmer - Latrobe Valley resident and founder of “Voices of the Valley”

Alison Reeve - Deputy Program Director of Energy and Climate at the Grattan Institute; former Commonwealth energy policy advisor; author of the National Hydrogen Plan

Darren Chester - Federal MP for Gippsland

Dr Kerry Schott - Independent chair of the Energy Security Board

Scott Hamilton - Australia-German Energy Transition Hub & former energy policy advisor to federal and Victorian governments

Ian Macfarlane - Chief Executive of Queensland Resources Council & former federal resources minister

Graham Richardson - Former Federal Environment Minister

AUSTRALIA | S06 E6 - Can we keep digging for energy? Mar 30, 2022

Australia has always found energy underground - digging up coal, gas and uranium.

As climate change begins to change the way we get our power, our leaders regularly argue that we can keep on digging for power while also saving the planet.

But do nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage, and gas fired power have a role to play in the future?

AUSTRALIA | S06 E5 - What we missed while we were knifing PMs Mar 23, 2022

For more than a decade, Australian politicians have discovered - the hard way - that climate policy is a dangerous game.

But as the Federal Parliament tore itself apart, the rest of the world moved on, finding new ways to understand the effects of climate change, and deal with it.

This is the story of how Australia fell behind the rest of the world, and why we might finally be ready to catch up.

Guests:

AUSTRALIA | S06 E4 - The decade when climate change became a culture war Mar 16, 2022

In 1997, the debate over climate change in Australia was relatively civil.

The question was not whether climate change was happening, but what should be done about it?

In the following decade, Australia’s mining industry polluted the debate with misinformation.

This is the story of how Australia's understanding of this vital issue went backwards.

AUSTRALIA | S06 E3 - How long will the world want our coal? Mar 09, 2022

Australia intends to keep exporting coal for as long as there are countries willing to buy it.

Miners have grand dreams of establishing new coal regions in Queensland to supply coal to the power stations and steel mills of India.

But how much longer will India, and our other big coal customers, keep needing it?

Guests:

Neelima Jain, Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies

Mika Ohbayashi, Director of the Renewable Energy Institute, Tokyo

Mary Delahunty, Head of Impact at Hesta

Ian Macfarlane, Chief Executive of Queensland Resources Council & former federal resources minister

Dr Judith Brett - Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University, author of the Quarterly Essay The Coal Curse

AUSTRALIA | S06 E2 - How we became addicted to coal Mar 02, 2022

Australia’s second-oldest city, Newcastle, was built around a single resource - coal.

Since then, Australia has come to rely on coal for its prosperity. Our industries grew around the cheap energy it provided, and our global trade balance relies on its export.

But now, that has to end. The question is - what will happen to Australia, and its coal communities - when it does?

Guests:

Professor John Maynard, Emeritus Professor, Indigenous Education and Research, University of Newcastle

Dr Judith Brett - Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University, author of the Quarterly Essay The Coal Curse

Julie Baird - Director of Newcastle Museum

Stephen Galilee - CEO of the NSW Minerals Council

Scott Hamilton, Australia-German Energy Transition Hub & former energy policy advisor to federal and Victorian governments

Wendy Farmer - Voices of the Valley

Darren Chester - Federal Nationals Member for Gippsland

AUSTRALIA | S06 E1 - The legacy of our first decisions on climate change Feb 23, 2022

In 1987, scientists gathered in Melbourne for a landmark conference where they discussed, for the first time, the effects climate change might have on Australia.

In the decade after that, two decisions were made by federal governments - one Liberal, and one Labor - which have shaped the climate debate in this country ever since.

Australia, If You’re Listening will look at why Australia’s found it so hard to tackle climate change since then, and what that means for the future.

Guests:Dr Graeme Pearman - Former Chief of Atmospheric Research, CSIRO

Graham Richardson - former Federal Environment Minister

Ros Kelly - former Federal Environment Minister

Robert Hill - former Federal Environment Minister

INTRODUCING Season Six | Australia, If You're Listening Feb 17, 2022

The sixth season of If You’re Listening tells the story of Australia’s turbulent history with climate change, and what that means for the future.

As we approach a federal election where climate and energy is a key battleground, this 8 episode series will examine how Australia wasted decades fighting change, instead of capitalising on it.

Episode 1 launches on February 23.

CHINA | S05 06 - Are the 'drums of war' beating over Taiwan? Jul 06, 2021

For months commentators and politicians in Australia have been talking about one of the most frightening topics imaginable — a war between the United States and China over the island of Taiwan.

It's the last frozen remnant of a hundred year old Civil War — two governments both claiming to be the legitimate rulers of China, separated by 100 miles of ocean.

In this episode, we explain the bizarre story which led to the current tension, and look at what might happen next.

Guests:

Katherine Wei, Taiwan Correspondent, The Straits Times

Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister

Dr Helen Sham-ho OAM, first Chinese-born MP in an Australian parliament

CHINA | S05 05 - Chinese students: Commodity or opportunity? Jun 29, 2021

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of travel from China, it shone a harsh light on the way Australia treats Chinese students who come here to study.

Some feel isolated and discriminated against, others feel they are being treated as "cash cows" by a university sector desperate for their fees.

Can we do better? And can we handle it when problems arise inside the bubble we have created around Chinese students?

Guests:

Dr Fran Martin, associate Professor & Reader in Cultural Studies, University of Melbourne

Catriona Jackson, CEO, Universities Australia

Yaqiu Wang, researcher, Human Rights Watch

'Yuki', former University of Adelaide student

Jane Poon, Australia-Hong Kong Link

CHINA | S05 04 - Huawei and the new technology cold war Jun 22, 2021

From humble beginnings in a tiny town whose name means "deep drainage ditch", electrical engineer Ren Zhengfei grew his company Huawei into a global technology giant, delivering competitive telecommunications equipment at low prices.

But when Australia accused Huawei of being a security risk, a snowball began to roll which led to arrests, hostages being taken, and pure white hot fury in Beijing.

This is the story of how a decision made in the midst of a Prime Ministerial spill may lead to a new technology cold war.

Guests:

Sue-Lin Wong, China correspondent, The Economist and co-author of The Beijing Bureau: 25 Australian Correspondents Reporting China's Rise

Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister

CHINA | S05 03 - The iron chain between Australia and China Jun 15, 2021

When China rolled out their trade sanctions regime against Australia to try and punish us for a litany of perceived insults, the trade of one commodity was conspicuously left untouched.

China's desperate need to stimulate economic growth through construction has left them with an insatiable appetite for Australian iron ore.

In this episode, we look at the incredible things they've built using our most valuable resource, and what might happen if they decide to stop buying it.

Guests:

Dinny McMahon, author of China's Great Wall of Debt: Shadow Banks, Ghost Cities, Massive Loans and the End of the Chinese Miracle

Dr Feng Chongyi, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology, Sydney

Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister

CHINA | S05 Bonus episode - The story behind Bob Hawke’s mysterious Tiananmen Cable Jun 11, 2021

In 1989, five days after tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in Beijing and brutally ended weeks of protests, the then prime minister Bob Hawke gave a horrifying description of what Australia thought happened.

But where did the account come from? And what did it get wrong?

Over the past three months China, If You're Listening investigated the source of this description and found it was a previously undisclosed diplomatic cable from the Australian Embassy in Beijing, which subsequently had key details retracted.

This is a bonus episode, produced with our friends at The Signal — a daily ABC News podcast.

Guests:

Blanche d'Alpuget, biographer and wife of late former prime minister Bob Hawke

Richard Rigby, Emeritus Professor of the College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra

Craig Emerson, former advisor to Bob Hawke, and cabinet minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments

CHINA | S05 02 - How Tiananmen is being repeated in Xinjiang Jun 08, 2021

For decades Australia has taken the approach that when it comes to China; we can criticise their human rights record without risking our trading relationship.

We told China we disapproved of their crackdown on students at Tiananmen Square in 1989, but continued to sell them iron ore.

Xi Jinping has made it clear that the arrangement has now changed, as he simultaneously takes the lessons Beijing learned at Tiananmen, and applies them to a crackdown on Muslims in his country's far west.

Guests:

Rose Tang, 1989 Tiananmen Square protester

Alim Osman, president, Uyghur Association of Victoria

Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister

Yaqiu Wang, researcher, Human Rights Watch

CHINA | S05 01 - Xi Jinping: The 'Man of Destiny' Jun 01, 2021

At first glance, Chinese President Xi Jinping's life story seems simple. His father was a high-ranking Chinese government official, and opened doors for his son, who rose even higher.

But his rise to become the most powerful Chinese leader since Chairman Mao Zedong seems far more unlikely when you find out what Mao's policies did to Xi's family during his childhood.

In this episode we tell the story of Xi's — from its terrifying beginning to mysterious end — and ask if he is the catalyst for the deterioration of relations between China and Australia.

Guest:

Dr Joseph Torigian, expert on Chinese elite politics, American University

Dr Feng Chongyi — Associate Professor in China Studies — University of Technology, Sydney

Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister

Louisa Lim, author of The People's Republic of Amnesia and co-host of The Little Red Podcast

Dr Helen Sham-ho OAM, first Chinese-born MP in an Australian Parliament

INTRODUCING Season Five | China, If You’re Listening May 25, 2021

A podcast about how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse.

Not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping was regularly having warm, friendly chats with Australia's Prime Ministers.

Now, he won't even take our phone calls, trade is being blocked, and Australian politicians are talking about preparations for war.

Episode 1 coming on the 1st of June.

AMERICA | S04 09 - How Coronavirus destroyed Trump's MAGA promise Nov 02, 2020

When the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, killing hundreds of thousands in its wake, President Donald Trump's new way of running the country suddenly left America exposed.

AMERICA | S04 08 - How China fooled Donald Trump Oct 26, 2020

For a decade Donald Trump railed against China.

But once he was elected, Chinese President Xi Jinping quickly broke down Trump's defences.

In today's episode, how President Xi turned Trump's disdain for China into a beautiful friendship.

And created the perfect distraction from what China was really doing.

AMERICA | S04 07 - How Donald Trump turned the Presidency into a business Oct 19, 2020

Just this month, the public finally got access to Donald Trump's tax returns.

They revealed that he pays little to no tax, because he makes very little money.

So what does a businessman do when he needs to revamp his image and make a little cash? Become the most famous person in the world.

How Donald Trump tried to make money off the Presidency.

AMERICA | S04 06 - Trump's desperate measure to halt immigration Oct 12, 2020

Donald Trump ran for election on some promises - building a wall between the US and Mexico, and stopping the immigration of Muslims.

But instead of living up to his promise to stem the tide of immigrants, he resorted to truly shocking measures.

How did Donald Trump push America's immigration system to the limits of what is legal, and what is morally justifiable?

AMERICA | S04 05 - How Trump widened racial divides for political gain Oct 05, 2020

When George Floyd was killed by police, protestors took to the streets in worldwide support of the Black Lives Matter protests.

Donald Trump has a long history with speaking out on issues to do with race.

So how far did his law and order response go toward soothing America's centuries old racial divide.

When Donald Trump was elected, he promised to Make America Proud Again but did he just end up making it worse?

AMERICA | S04 04 - How Saudi Arabia found an ally in the White House Sep 28, 2020

As a businessman and presidential candidate, Donald Trump was extremely harsh on Saudi Arabia.

So when Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside a Saudi consulate, why did Donald Trump come to the Kingdom's defence?

AMERICA | S04 03 - How close did Trump get to nuclear war? Sep 21, 2020

Within months of taking office, Donald Trump threatened North Korea with "fire and fury".

Soon afterwards, he would tear up a nuclear deal with Iran and bring the US to the brink of war.

And yet that war never came.

This is the story of how Donald Trump resisted temptation and kept the peace.

AMERICA | S04 02 - The surprising story of how Donald Trump took on the NRA Sep 14, 2020

The most powerful gun lobby group in the United States was brought to the edge of collapse.

And right at that moment, Donald Trump vowed to do something about mass shootings.

Could Donald Trump finally defeat the NRA, or when the moment came, did he flinch?

AMERICA | S04 01 - What a hurricane taught Trump about being president Sep 07, 2020

Hurricane Maria smashed through Puerto Rico in 2017, destroying everything in its wake.

What did the worst American natural disaster in decades teach Donald Trump about how to be president?

When Trump was inaugurated, he promised to Make America Safe Again... when the hurricane hit, did he live up to his promise?

This is America, If You’re Listening. A podcast about how President Donald Trump has left his mark on the United States, and the world.

INTRODUCING Season Four | America, If You're Listening Sep 03, 2020

The 2020 US Presidential election is shaping up to be a historical moment.

Voters are deciding if the America of the last four years is the one they want to live in in the future.

President Trump's has presided over the most turbulent four years in living memory. He's dealt with crises, changed policies, and fought for his political survival.

America, If You're Listening will look back at these astonishing four years, and shed new light on the incredible chaos of Donald Trump's first term as President.

RUSSIA | S03 09 - Putin's Trump card: the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory Dec 16, 2019

Russian intelligence agencies and Vladimir Putin have spent three years spreading a conspiracy theory that Ukraine was the one who meddled in the 2016 election.

The theory quickly reached Donald Trump, and he became obsessed with proving it.

He's now being impeached for his scheme to get Ukraine to investigate it.

While this scheme has blown up in Trump’s face, and allegedly harmed America and Ukraine’s national security, it has played out perfectly for Putin.

RUSSIA | S03 08 - How Russia's rotten gas got Trump into trouble Dec 09, 2019

You might think Trump's impeachment inquiry started because of a dodgy phone call to the Ukrainian President.

But the origins are actually in the Ukrainian gas industry - which is deeply corrupt and reliant on Russia - just the way Putin likes it.

In 2014, Joe Biden flew to Ukraine to try and break their Russian gas addiction.

And started the dominoes falling which would eventually lead to Donald Trump's infamous request for a favour.

RUSSIA | S03 07 - Putin goes nuclear to retain his popularity Dec 02, 2019

Like all dictators, Vladimir Putin is terrified of being overthrown by his people.

Keeping his popularity high among average Russians is a priority for him, and from 2014 to 2018 he was king of the mountain.

To keep that going in 2018 he announced an exciting new nuclear-powered nuclear missile.

But that's where things started to go wrong.

RUSSIA | S03 06 - The spies who suck at spying Nov 25, 2019

In 2006, Russian assassins killed a dissident in London. But they left a spectacular radioactive mess behind them and ended up in a Moscow hospital.

But this wasn't the worst example of spycraft in England over the last two decades.

One attack went so disastrously wrong it made the United Kingdom finally wake up to the threat of Putin's Kremlin.

The story of how espionage screwups can have global consequences.

RUSSIA | S03 05 - When the Father of Brexit met Mother Russia Nov 18, 2019

From almost complete obscurity, Nigel Farage rode a wave of British anger to take his idea of leaving the European Union from a fringe fantasy to a mainstream cause.

But as Farage rose from community hall meetings to primetime TV debates, he found himself increasingly allied with Vladimir Putin.

This is the story of how Mr Brexit came to recognise Putin's power and how it could help his cause.

RUSSIA | S03 04 - Putin's obsession with crushing the mother of Germany Nov 11, 2019

German leader Angela Merkel was the most powerful woman in the world.

Which is why Putin was determined to take her down.

His campaign started by playing on her famous fear of dogs... and ended with the biggest migrant crisis the world had seen.

RUSSIA | S03 03 - How to spin a war Nov 04, 2019

When is an invasion not an invasion? When Putin's propaganda machine is involved, sowing false narratives, confusion and fear.

From Putin's motorcycle gang to his 'little green men' and his hip-hop loving head of misinformation, Russia tried everything to convince the West it wasn't invading Ukraine.

The propaganda push worked - sort of, and tells us a lot about the misinformation Russia has gone on to do in the West.

RUSSIA | S03 02 - From spymaster to president Oct 28, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power declaring he would kill his terrorist enemies, even if they were in the toilet at the time.

His transition from spymaster to President came in the midst of apartment bombings, and brutal crackdowns on those he held responsible.

He learned that having an enemy to fight makes you a popular leader.

The turbulent first years of his Presidency tell us a lot about why he has picked a fight with the West.

RUSSIA | S03 01 - A cold, wet day in Salisbury Oct 21, 2019

The residents of the sleepy English town of Salisbury woke up one morning to find their town in chaos.

Russian agents had attempted to assassinate a traitor with a terrifying weapon, in a brazen chemical attack on British soil.

But the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal is only one step in a series of events which began five years ago and may help bring about Brexit, and the impeachment of a US President.

Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening begins in Salisbury, to tell the whole story of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 5-year attack on the western world.

INTRODUCING Season Three | Putin vs The World Oct 17, 2019

The Russian campaign to meddle in the 2016 US Election was only part of President Vladimir Putin's big plan.

Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening looks at where the scheme to destroy western democracies began, the damage it's done, and where it might end.

RUSSIA | S02 08 - The night at the wine rooms May 23, 2019

It's the meeting at a fancy wine bar in London that sparked the Mueller investigation.

Some say it was a boozy, alcohol-fuelled drinking session where a clever spy tricked a Trump official into divulging information about Russia.

Others say it was a brief encounter where a Trump official naively blurted something to a senior diplomat.

So what is the truth?

For the first time, both people at the meeting - George Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer - reveal what really happened that night.

Here's one spoiler: they agree they both had a gin and tonic.

So pull up a chair and grab a drink, because this story gets weird.

RUSSIA | S02 07 - Oleg Deripaska: The collusion connection? May 02, 2019

Robert Mueller has investigated the relationship between former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

Deripaska is an aluminium tycoon with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Manafort tried to funnel secret insider information about the Trump election strategy to him.

Was that information then used by Russia to influence the election?

The story behind the last remaining collusion question.

RUSSIA | S02 06 - Don McGahn: Mueller's star witness Apr 25, 2019

Lawyer Don McGahn was on the Trump train from the beginning.

But the dream job of White House Counsel quickly turned into a nightmare, as he slowly fell out of favour with the President.

Then one night McGahn was forced to make a choice of historic proportions: help Trump potentially commit a crime or resign.

McGahn has found himself the centre of attention, as his testimony to Robert Mueller implicates the President in possible obstruction of justice.

RUSSIA | S02 05 - Julian Assange: Russia's favourite publisher Apr 18, 2019

When Julian Assange was arrested last week, the only camera to capture it was Russian broadcaster RT.

It's the latest event in a long relationship between the Wikileaks founder and the state-sponsored network.

Assange has denied working with Russian military hackers to influence the US election.

But what does Robert Mueller know about Assange’s links to Russia?

RUSSIA | S02 04 - Sergey Kislyak: The radioactive ambassador Apr 11, 2019

Everyone who meets Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak ends up in deep trouble. But what if that was the point?

Robert Mueller seems to have found no evidence that the Trump campaign were willing participants in the criminal Russian effort to disrupt the 2016 election.

But what if the Trump campaign were unwitting targets of a spy operation, led from the Russian Embassy

Were they tricked into taking pointless but suspicious-looking meetings - which the media and FBI would discover and investigate?

RUSSIA | S02 03 - Rob Goldstone: 'I regret all of it' Apr 04, 2019

Affable Englishman Rob Goldstone was literally in the room for the infamous Trump Tower Meeting, and he was with Donald Trump the weekend of the mythical "pee tape".

But when you look at the rest of the characters involved in the Trump/Russia saga - Republican operatives, Trump family members and Russian spies - Rob Goldstone seems like the odd man out.

He puts a lot of his story down to accidents and misunderstandings, but is that all there is to it?

You can get a link to the full interview on our website.

RUSSIA | S02 02 - Maria Butina: Russian in the NRA Mar 28, 2019

An undercover Australian journalist from Al Jazeera spent three years inside the National Rifle Association of America.

He wasn't the only one trying figure it out. Simultaneously, a Russian secret agent was trying to infiltrate the NRA.

She is now the only Russian secret agent behind bars for Russia's meddling in the election, and could hold the key to understanding Putin's plans.

RUSSIA | S02 01 - Trump's best day ever Mar 25, 2019

After 22 months Mueller's report has dropped. But it hasn't been made public - yet.

US Attorney General Bill Barr has the report in his hot hands - and according to him - Mueller found no evidence of collusion.

But who is Bill Barr?

And can we trust his summary of Mueller's findings?

RUSSIA | S01 17 - Robert Mueller: 'Trump's worst nightmare' Sep 10, 2018

We end the season with the head of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election - Robert Mueller.

He's been taking down key players, circling closer and closer to Donald Trump.

But can he finish before the President shuts him down?

This is our last deep dive into a key character in the Russia investigation for this season, but we'll keep you updated with Trumpdates every time an important development in the story breaks.

Keep an eye on your feed.

Want to get in touch? Email russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 16 - Michael Cohen: The fixer with the hush money Sep 03, 2018

Michael Cohen is called Donald Trump's personal lawyer, but really he's a "fixer" - a man who solves problems for the boss.

It all came unstuck when investigators probed into hush money payments he made to a model and a porn star.

He pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts, and announced he was happy to tell the truth to anyone who asked for it.

So what information will he give up and should Trump be worried?

Want to get in touch? Email russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 15 - Felix Sater: Criminal, informant, developer, spy Aug 27, 2018

Felix Sater's life is a mystery.

He went to jail for stabbing a guy in the face, he was involved with the Russian Mafia, and was an informant for the CIA.

He also helped Donald Trump build his property empire. So are there any secrets? And what does he know?

RUSSIA | S01 14 - Trump's Business: Secrets and deals Aug 20, 2018

Donald Trump's business flourished with the 80s real estate boom and bled money when the recession hit.

These days no one really knows how much he really has.

Why the secrecy?

Today, the story of the Trump Organization, and when Russian money might have ended up in his pocket.

RUSSIA | S01 13 - James Comey: Integrity at all costs Aug 13, 2018

Former FBI director James Comey is both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's biggest nightmare.

He's the grandson of a cop with a dogged commitment to integrity, independence and note taking.

But could his integrity be what cost Hillary Clinton the election? And did it cause Donald Trump to commit a crime?

RUSSIA | S01 12 - Michael Flynn: General for hire Aug 06, 2018

General Michael Flynn was a high ranking defence official and a Democrat before he joined up with Donald Trump.

He's now accused of planning a kidnapping, acting illegally as an unregistered foreign agent, and found guilty of lying to the FBI.

Why was he allowed to stay in the White House when he was compromised by the Russian Government?

RUSSIA | S01 11 - Jared Kushner: Trump's Crown Prince Jul 30, 2018

Jared Kushner was in charge of getting his father-in-law Donald Trump elected president.

He was a young property developer with no political experience and crushing debts.

And he went from one family besieged by scandal, to another.

So who is this man prepared to defend first, his father, then his father-in-law?

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

RUSSIA | S01 10 - The Troll Factory: Lies, stolen secrets and chaos Jul 23, 2018

An army of professional Russian trolls tried to change the outcome of the 2016 US election from a four storey building in St Petersburg.

Did the dirty trickster Roger Stone help them? And was the Troll Factory ultimately successful?

Language warning: This episode contains some swearing.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 09 - The Crime: Russia steps over the line Jul 16, 2018

Hacking, leaking, and the spreading of chaos.

How Russian Government hackers timed a Democratic National Committee email leak with Hillary Clinton's biggest scandal.

This week, we find out how Russia stepped over the line and tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election.

This is the ninth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 08 - Donald Trump Jr: The President's son and the 'treasonous' meeting Jul 09, 2018

In 2016 Don Jr took an ill-fated meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower.

The meeting is a pivotal moment in the entire story of Trump and Russia and has since been called "treasonous" and "unpatriotic".

So is the meeting it a smoking gun or was it all just a waste of time?

This is the eighth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 07 - Paul Manafort: The dictator's fixer Jul 02, 2018

Veteran Republican strategist Paul Manafort spent 30 years working for dictators before he struck gold in Ukraine.

But when he returned to America and became the boss of the Trump campaign, his past caught up with him.

How did this man get landed with over a dozen federal indictments, and why is he still refusing to flip?

This is the seventh episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 06 - Christopher Steele: The spy and the pee tape Jun 18, 2018

Christopher Steele is the author of the infamous Trump/Russia dossier.

You remember - the one that contains allegations about sex workers urinating on a hotel bed.

But there's so much more to the dossier than that.

It outlines a massive conspiracy between Donald Trump and the Russian government - a list of allegations which, if proven, would constitute by-far the biggest attack on American democracy in history.

But is Christopher Steele a credible Russia expert? How likely is it that what's written in the dossier ever took place?

This is the sixth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

RUSSIA | S01 05 - Carter Page: The useful idiot Jun 11, 2018

Both the Russians and the Republicans have called Donald Trump's former foreign policy advisor Carter Page "an idiot".

It seems everyone has been able to manipulate him to do their bidding.

So is Carter Page an actual idiot or a Russian spy?

This is the fifth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

RUSSIA | S01 04 - George Papadopoulos: The coffee boy Jun 04, 2018

George Papadopoulos is the first known link between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Just how close was the so-called coffee boy George Papadopoulos to Russian spies offering dirt on Hillary Clinton?

This is the fourth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

RUSSIA | S01 03 - The Oligarchs: Money and power May 28, 2018

The oligarchs hold the power and the money in Russia.

So who are they and why does your average Russian billionaire care about who sits in The White House?

This is the third episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

RUSSIA | S01 02 - Vladimir Putin: The man with a grudge May 21, 2018

The spy from St Petersburg and the lawyer from Chicago. Why does Russia's president have such a deep and abiding hatred for Hillary Clinton?

This is the second episode of Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.

You can go back to hear our earlier episode on Donald Trump plus our special Trumpdate with 7.30 presenter Leigh Sales.

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

RUSSIA | S01 01 - Donald Trump: A Russian love affair May 14, 2018

Donald Trump has always claimed he has "nothing to do with Russia" but is that true? What if Trump was caught in a Russian web, long before he even considered a career in politics?

This is the first episode of the ABC's new podcast, Russia, If You're Listening.

Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.

And keep an eye out for our minisode updates - available whenever news breaks.

Want to get in touch? Email: russia@abc.net.au