The Signal

For a second day, the accused in the keenly watched mushroom murder trial has been questioned in court.Erin Patterson is accused of murdering her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson with death cap mushrooms served at a beef wellington lunch in 2023.She denies the charges. Today, co-host of the Mushroom Case Daily podcast, Stephen Stockwell, on Erin Patterson's evidence and the key evidence the court has heard over the past five weeks. Featured: Stephen Stockwell, Mushroom Case Daily co-host

Elon Musk has spent a lot of time inside the Oval Office since Donald Trump returned to the White House. It was from there that the world's richest man, sporting a black eye, was farewelled from his role in the Trump administration on Friday. He insists his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has made great progress, cutting more than $150 billion from the US budget. But that falls well short of his initial wildly optimistic claims that he could slash one trillion dollars in government spending. Today, staff writer at The Atlantic magazine, Ashley Parker, on Elon's exit and whether that's really the end of involvement with the Trump administration.    Featured: Ashley Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic

Why would dozens of psychiatrists, dedicated to helping people at times of crisis, walk away from their jobs?On one hand it's a simple pay dispute, but those who've been inside the system say it's broken, with a demoralised workforce delivering substandard care.There's a spotlight on the failures of mental health care in the New South Wales public system and a doctor has shared fears of another ‘Bondi Junction' attack after witnessing someone with violent thoughts absconding from hospital.Today, Four Corners reporter Avani Dias on why dozens more doctors are threatening to quit and what it means for patients. Featured: Avani Dias, Four Corners reporterIf this episode has raised any issues for you or anyone you know, Lifeline is one service that can help. Contact them on 13 11 14.

Donald Trump has spent a long time praising him, but now the US president's view of Vladimir Putin is shifting. Trump's high hopes of getting Putin to the negotiating table are fading and Russia has recently launched one of the largest bombardments on Kyiv since the start of the war.  Now, the end of the war in Ukraine seems as elusive as ever and Trump says Putin is ‘crazy' and ‘playing with fire'.Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on why Putin is humouring Trump but will never do as he asks and end the war. Featured: Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York and senior research scholar at Columbia University

When it looked like heavy rain was on its way, Taree farmer Josh Hack knew he had to act and move his cattle to higher ground.Now, like so many others, Josh is facing the cleanup from the record-breaking floods that devastated large parts of the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. Today, we consider the plight of Australia's farmers like Josh, but also those further south fighting their way through severe drought and ask the question; is Australia still fit for farming?  Featured: Josh Hack, Taree farmerJess Davis, ABC climate reporter

Donald Trump is beginning to make a habit of confronting world leaders while the cameras are rolling in the Oval Office.His latest victim is South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa who was ambushed with Trump's claims that white farmers are being persecuted in his country.  Today, Nancy Jacobs, a professor of history at Brown University on why Trump is so keen to spread false assertions of genocide and why white South Africans are moving to the US as refugees.Featured: Nancy Jacobs, professor of history at Brown University

World leaders are strengthening their condemnations of Israel after it's renewed assault in Gaza and limiting the supply of humanitarian aid.Anthony Albanese described the ongoing blockade as 'an outrage' after the UK, France and Canada threatened sanctions last week, urging Israel to halt its latest offensive and allow more food and supplies into the besieged territory. Nevertheless, Israel's leadership is pressing ahead.Today, a British surgeon in Gaza about the conditions on the ground, and a peace and conflict expert about what the world can do now.Featured:Dr Victoria Rose, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in GazaDr Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict studies, University of Sydney

It was a decision driven by spite for Sydney man Peter Anderson. He was determined to buy a solar battery for his home so he could take money away from the big power companies, while never receiving a hefty power bill again. But his plan came unstuck after agreeing to participate in a so-called virtual power plant. Today, energy reporter David Mercer on Peter's dilemma, how giving back to the grid really works and whether it's worth it. Featured: Dan Mercer, ABC energy reporter

Elon Musk's once firm grasp on the EV market seems to be crumbling as Tesla sales slump, so bring in Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He's investing in Slate, an auto start-up building a cheap bare-bones electric pick-up truck in the USA, called a ute in Australia.  It'll be much cheaper than Musk's controversial Tesla Cybertruck.Today, Giles Parkinson, founder and editor of websites Renew Economy and The Driven gives us an update on the EV market in Australia and how Slate could be a game changer if it ever came here.Featured: Giles Parkinson, founder and editor of Renew Economy and EV website The Driven

Interest rates are falling, inflation is down and the Reserve Bank seems happier than it's been in ages.So, have we achieved the so-called soft landing after all the economic turmoil we've suffered since the pandemic?Today, chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on the latest rate cut, how many more we should expect and why Donald Trump could upend it all.Featured: Ian Verrender, ABC Chief Business Correspondent

It had been a constant of federal politics, but the coalition between the Liberal and National parties has come to a dramatic end following a disastrous election defeat.The Nationals are breaking away after the Liberals rejected a demand that key policy areas were part of the agreement between the parties. Today, the ABCs chief digital political correspondent, Jacob Greber, on why they couldn't move past their differences and what it means for Australian politics.Featured: Jacob Greber, ABC chief digital political correspondent

He dropped out of the presidential race last July, but the focus is now back on Joe Biden. The former US leader has not only been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, but a new book released this week has accused the White House of covering up a decline in his health before he stepped down to make way for Kamala Harris.  Today, Bruce Wolpe, a senior fellow from the United States Studies Centre on Biden's cancer diagnosis and why staying in the race for so long may have changed the course of history. Featured: Bruce Wolpe, a senior fellow from the United States Studies Centre

When Queensland woman Emma Lovell was stabbed to death by a teenager in 2022, the community and nation was shocked.The 17-year-old offender had broken into her home on Boxing Day as the family slept. The crime was a catalyst for a campaign for stricter sentencing for youths and Queensland went on to become the first state to introduce ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time' laws. Today, ABC News Queensland presenter Jessica van Vonderen on why other states could follow suit.  Featured: Jessica van Vonderen, ABC News Queensland presenter

This week, Donald Trump paused his massive tariffs on Chinese goods entering the US for 90 days, slashing the rate from 145 to 30 percent.China has also come to the bargaining table, dropping 125 percent tariffs on imports from the US to 10 percent. So, is the US president's economic dream of bringing manufacturing back to America dead? Today, we speak with a US outdoor clothing designer caught up in the tariff chaos about what it's been like and to an economist to make sense of it all.  Featured: Cassie Abel, founder and CEO of Wild Rye outdoor apparelJustin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan

Donald Trump has recently secured a luxury 747 jet from Qatar and billions of dollars in investment deals from Saudi Arabia. But as the US president continues his tour of the Middle East, there's been no talk of a plan for peace in Gaza. Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on Trump's tour and why he won't be meeting the Israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. Featured: Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

The new Liberal leader Sussan Ley has promised a fresh approach after the party's disastrous result in the federal election. But will the first female leader of the party really be able to bring it back from the brink and build a policy offering that's attractive to voters? Today, host of ABC TVs 7.30 Sarah Ferguson on the future of the Coalition's nuclear power plan and Labor's factional stoush that saw two ministers axed.  Featured: Sarah Ferguson, host of 7.30

When tensions flared between India and Pakistan last week the world held its breath because both nations have nuclear weapons.While a ceasefire has been agreed, it hasn't stopped the clashes in the disputed Kashmir region. Today, Aparna Pande from the Hudson Institute in Washington DC explains the long running conflict and what could come next.Featured: Aparna Pande, director of the Initiative on the Future for India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute 

What really lies behind Bunnings' promise of lowest prices? The hardware superstore has carefully built a reputation for being part of the local community with its famous sausage sizzles and friendly advertising. But a Four Corners investigation has found that the haven for DIY enthusiasts has grown to dominate the market, squeezing suppliers and competitors. Today, reporter Angus Grigg on why the Bunnings juggernaut isn't facing the same scrutiny as the supermarkets. Featured: Angus Grigg, Four Corners reporter

A new pope has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The moment was marked by white smoke billowing from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.Pope Leo XIV from Chicago, who worked for years in Peru, has appeared on the balcony above St Peter's Square to greet the thousands of faithful.Today, Andrew West, host of the ABC's Religion and Ethics Report, on what we know about the first American pope and what his election means for the future of the church.Featured:Andrew West, host of the ABC's Religion and Ethics Report

It's an almighty fight. In one corner is Donald Trump and the other Harvard, one of the oldest institutions in America.The US president wants to defund the university, attacking it for alleged anti-Semitism on campus. But Harvard's retaliating, making it among the few major institutions in the US willing to take Trump on.Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank the Niskanen Center on why Trump's targeting Harvard and whether Americans will stand for it. Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, DC

Ian Wilkinson was the sole surviving guest of a deadly beef wellington lunch and now he's had the chance to tell his story in court. He has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson who's accused of attempting to murder him and of murdering his wife and another couple. The jury has also heard that before the lunch Erin Patterson told friends she had been “hiding powdered mushrooms in everything”.Today, investigative and true crime reporter Rachael Brown on the key evidence so far from the mushroom murder trial and how the prosecution is not alleging a motive. Featured: Rachael Brown, ABC investigative and true crime reporter

The votes are still being counted but when the new parliament is formed there will be more female MPs than ever before.But fewer than 10 will be on the Coalition benches. Labor continues to get more women elected and put them into senior roles. Polling suggests Peter Dutton also had a major problem attracting votes from women during the campaign. Today, the ABC's Annabel Crabb on whether the Coalition can ever win back the female vote.Featured: Annabel Crabb, ABC political journalist

We were told time and again cost of living was the biggest issue for voters at the election.So, now Labor has secured a thumping victory, what's it going to do to make things easier? There are some extra tax cuts to come and price increases are slowing, raising hopes of happier economic times. Today, Ian Verrender, the ABC's chief business correspondent, on what to expect over the next three years and why the Trump factor could change everything.Featured: Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent

It was a Labor win and a Coalition defeat of a magnitude few expected.Anthony Albanese has become the first prime minister to win re-election in more than 20 years, leaving the Liberal party gutted and its leader kicked out of parliament. But what will Labor do for Australians over the next three years? Today, Laura Tingle, political editor for the ABC's 7.30 program on the landslide result and how it will change the political landscape for a long time to come. Featured: Laura Tingle, 7.30 political editor 

Anthony Albanese has been returned as Prime Minister, in a Labor landslide. On top of a bruising defeat for his party, Opposition leader Peter Dutton has lost his seat of Dickson.The victory makes Anthony Albanese the first Prime Minister to win back-to-back elections in 20-years. So, where did it go wrong for the Coalition? In this episode from the Politics Now podcast, the ABC's Patricia Karvelas breaks down the election results with political correspondent Jacob Greber. Read more of Jacob's analysis here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-03/voters-reject-peter-dutton-vision-labor-victory/105247610ABC News Daily's Sam Hawley will be back with Laura Tingle's analysis late on Sunday.Subscribe to ABC News Daily on the ABC listen app.

Opinion polls suggest Labor and Anthony Albanese will win Saturday's election, but the ABC's chief elections analyst Antony Green says it's not worth predicting results.He'll let the numbers do the talking as they come in on election night.Antony is usually the first to accurately reveal the result and this election will be his last as a presenter on the ABC after more than 30 years in the role.Today, from seats, swings and preferences to minority governments, he tells us what to look out for and shares his message to voters about the democratic process. Featured: Antony Green, ABC chief elections analyst

We're now in the dying days of the election campaign with the polls suggesting enough Australians will vote Labor to return Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister. While more than four million voters have already cast early ballots, there are 18 million people in all who'll need to make a choice and so the race isn't over and there's still hope for Peter Dutton and the Coalition. Today, political editor for the ABC's 7.30 program Laura Tingle on how the past five weeks have unfolded and the missteps in the opposition's campaign. Featured: Laura Tingle, 7.30's political editor

Listeners have asked us to explain the childcare policies on offer at this election. There's a crisis in the quality of care, with Four Corners recently revealing alarming cases of mistreatment and even abuse of children. Parents also want to see improvements on childcare affordability and access to places.Today, ABC investigative reporter Adele Ferguson answers your questions about the crisis and whether any party has policies that could fix childcare. Catch our past episodes explaining energy, housing and defence policy, the backstories of the leaders and political donations. Featured: Adele Ferguson, ABC investigative reporter

One of the most highly anticipated murder trials in recent memory is about to begin in regional Victoria. Erin Patterson is accused of murdering three people and attempting to murder another after serving up a Beef Wellington allegedly laced with lethal death cap mushrooms. Today, Stephen Stockwell co-host of the ABC podcast Mushroom Case Daily on what to expect as jury selection begins. Featured: Stephen Stockwell, co-host of Mushroom Case Daily

Last year, more than one million Australians travelled to the United States.But if you're planning a visit soon, be aware that under Donald Trump things have changed.The border checks have intensified, some travellers are unexpectedly being denied entry, detained and deported.Today, Sarah Kopit, editor-in-chief of travel industry news site Skift, on what's been happening to travellers at the border and how it's leading people to postpone trips to America.Featured: Sarah Kopit, Skift editor-in-chief

It's a battle between Katy Perry and Katie Perry. One is an international pop super star, the other an Australian fashion designer. Now after 15 years the case has reached its climax, landing in the High Court. So, who will get to claim the name? Today, Dr Sarah Hook an intellectual property law expert at UTS steps us through the trademark fight and what it could mean for all Australian brands. Featured: Dr Sarah Hook, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law at University of Technology Sydney

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was sent to a brutal prison in El Salvador, even though the migrant living in the United States had never been convicted of a crime. Now, Donald Trump is refusing to follow a Supreme Court order to bring the man back to the United States. Today, we take you inside the notorious prison where the migrant was first held with SBS Dateline reporter Catalina Florez and look at President Trump's deal with El Salvador's president, the self-described ‘world's coolest dictator'. Featured: Catalina Florez, SBS reporter

There's a stark difference between Labor and the Coalition on energy policy at this election. Listeners of ABC News Daily have asked us to delve deeper into how Labor's renewable energy targets stack up against the Coalition plans for nuclear power and gas. Today, political correspondent Melissa Clarke steps us through the fork in the road facing voters.  Featured: Melissa Clarke, ABC Radio National Breakfast political correspondent

Pope Francis has died. The Vatican announced his death on Easter Monday. He appeared at St Peter's Square to bless thousands of people on Easter Sunday just hours before his death.  The head of the Catholic Church had been in increasingly poor health including spending a lengthy time in hospital with pneumonia. The Catholic world is now in mourning for the 88 year old who was elected in March 2013. He'll be remembered for the progressive, no frills approach he brought to the church.Today, Vatican Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, Christopher White on Pope Francis's life and legacy.  Featured:Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter

A big concern since Donald Trump returned to the White House has revolved around his authoritarian style and what it means for the future of US democracy. So when he says he's not joking about the possibility of serving another term as President, which is banned under the US constitution, it's not just seen as a flippant comment. Today Philip Klinkner a professor of government at Hamilton College in Clinton New York on how Trump could actually do it Featured:Philip Klinkner, Professor of Government, Hamilton College, New York

This week, Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese unveiled big new policies supposed to make it easier for young Australians to buy their first home.From a five percent deposit scheme to tax deductions for mortgage interest, will the policies really help and which party will leave Australians in a better position?Recently, we brought you our Housing Hostages series with our business editor Michael Janda, all about the housing crisis, how we landed in it and how we get out of it.Today, Michael is back to explain the new policies and analyse what they'd do to the housing market.Featured: Michael Janda, ABC business editor

In two and a half weeks you'll be heading to the polling booth to decide who you want to lead the country for the next three years.Right now, the polls suggest that Labor's Anthony Albanese is on track to be elected again, with Peter Dutton's Coalition trailing.Today, host of the ABC's 7.30 program, Sarah Ferguson, on what you need to know about the campaign so far and why anything associated with Donald Trump is now toxic to Australian politics.She explains how the Coalition's apparent nods to ‘Trumpism', like appointing a shadow minister for government efficiency and targeting work from home policies have seemingly backfired. Plus, her analysis on a listener question about the relevance of the Labor and Liberal leader's backstories; Albanese from public housing and Dutton the Queensland police officer. Featured: Sarah Ferguson, host of 7.30

China has been the main target of Donald Trump and his big tariffs.But can the world's second largest economy weather the storm and even win the trade war against the United States? Today, an expert in China's politics, Neil Thomas, from the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington on why President Xi Jinping already has the upper hand. Featured: Neil Thomas, fellow of Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington DC

The rental crisis remains one of Australia's biggest issues as rent rises increasingly outpace wage growth. Families on an average income have been priced out of a third of postcodes in five capital cities, with Perth now overtaking Sydney as the least affordable place to rent. Today, data journalist Inga Ting on the latest data, what the problem is doing to our cities and how the plight of renters can be improved. Featured: Inga Ting, data journalist with the ABC's Digital Story Innovations

US tariffs have caused Trump-supporting billionaires to lose big in market turmoil, but none more so than Elon Musk, whose net worth has shrunk by $130 billion this year. Now, open feuding with another advisor in the Trump administration over tariff policy could mark a shift in Musk's relationship with the White House.But when Musk's time leading the Department of Government Efficiency is over, will it have been worth it?Today, Wired reporter Vittoria Elliot on what comes next for the world's richest man. Featured: Vittoria Elliot, Wired reporter

Donald Trump has defied investors' hopes that his tariff threats were all bluster and just a short-lived negotiating tactic. The US is pushing ahead with its trade war with China, imposing a 104 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods entering America. Given China is our largest trading partner and so many other countries have been hit too, what does it mean for our hip pocket? Today, economist Susan Stone explains what the economic chaos means for the dollar, shares, superannuation and interest rates. Featured: Dr Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics at the University of South Australia

Last week, two men allegedly each carrying a gun managed to get into the MCG for a packed AFL match.So how could that have happened in Australia, where gun control is so tight and where security screening should be amongst the best in the world? Today, investigative reporter Josh Roberston on what unfolded and whether a new AI security system at the country's largest stadium is really fit for purpose. Featured: Josh Robertson, ABC investigative reporter