ABC News Daily

It’s been dubbed the 'Mamdani effect': support for democratic socialists has been surging since Zoran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York last year.   Now another progressive, Abdul El-Sayed, has defeated a moderate to win Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary.  Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think tank, the Niskanen Center, on what this shift means for the Democratic Party, and whether the party’s leftward momentum poses a threat to Donald Trump and the Republicans.  Featured:   Geoff Kabaservice, Vice President for political studies at the Niskanen Centre

Pauline Hanson wants to be the next Prime Minister but will avoiding scrutiny from some of the biggest media outlets in the country help her get there?   Or will the Trump-like tactic be a turn off for voters?  Today, former ABC correspondent Monica Attard from UTS on Senator Hanson's ban on several Australian news outlets and whether there’s any way to stop her doing it.  Featured:   Monica Attard, Co-Director of the Centre for Media Transition, University of Technology

For years Australia managed to avoid it, but the H5 strain of the bird flu virus is now taking hold after the first mass mortality of birds was confirmed this week.   So much of our native wildlife is at risk, as well as the commercial poultry and egg farming industries.  Today, epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre on how quickly the virus is spreading and why its arrival at poultry, and potentially cattle farms, could have devastating consequences.  Featured:   Raina MacIntyre, epidemiologist and Professor of Global Biosecurity at the UNSW

The cut to the fuel excise has ended, causing petrol prices across the country to spike.   With conflict in the Middle East continuing to strain global oil supplies, many drivers are wondering how long the pain at the bowser will last.   Today, energy expert at MST financial Saul Kavonic on the world’s diminishing oil supply and whether we’re all out of fixes.  Featured:   Saul Kavonic, Senior Energy Analyst at MST Financial

AI glasses are the latest evolution in wearable tech, and thanks in part to celebrity endorsements like Kylie Jenner’s campaign for Meta’s smart glasses, they're taking off.   But these devices, dubbed ‘pervert glasses’ by some critics, are raising fresh concerns about privacy and surveillance.   Today, Dr Milica Stilinovic, a researcher at University of Sydney’s Governing Immersive Tech project on why they’ve become so popular and the risks that come with them.  Featured:   Dr Milica Stilinovic, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Sydney’s Governing Immersive Tech project.

When OpenAI revealed its AI models went rogue during safety testing, science fiction suddenly became a reality.   Since then, the company has revealed that the AI cyber-attack affected four separate companies. So, what happens when humans can no longer contain this technology?   Today, AI safety researcher and co-author of ‘If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies’, Nate Soares, on what happens when AI goes rogue.    Featured:   Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute and co-author of ‘If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies’

It was the first face-to-face meeting between Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump since the war with Iran began almost six months ago.   But the relationship between the two leaders isn’t what it was at the start of the conflict.   Today, Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre on what Netanyahu was hoping to achieve by meeting with Trump and what it means for the future of the war.    Featured:   Barbara Slavin, Distinguished Fellow at The Stimson Center

After becoming one of the most unpopular leaders in Australia’s history, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan reluctantly gave up the top job.   Then, following a chaotic bout of Labor Party infighting, her deputy Ben Carroll emerged as her successor.   Today, Jon Faine, former host of Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne, on Jacinta Allan’s downfall and how she couldn’t escape the shadow of her predecessor. Featured:   Jon Faine, former host of Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne

When you pick up a product at the supermarket, you trust what's written on the label. So, when it says an ingredient was sourced in Australia, why wouldn't you believe it? Today, Adele Ferguson on her exclusive Four Corners investigation into the food fraud hiding in plain sight.  Featured:   Adele Ferguson, Investigative reporter at ABC’s Four Corners

AI has taken the grunt work out of many everyday tasks; from writing emails to planning dinner.   But are we starting to rely on AI to think for us and could it be making us dumber?   Today, Steven Shaw from the University of Pennsylvania on his research into cognitive surrender, AI and your brain.  Featured:   Steven Shaw, post-doctoral researcher at Wharton Marketing School, University of Pennsylvania and incoming associate professor at Kings College London.

This week, Pauline Hanson has again declared that she could become Prime Minister after the next election. But could she?   Or will her recent European tour and a string of controversial comments from immigration to domestic violence start to turn voters away?   Today, former Liberal Party strategist and Redbridge Group director Tony Barry on what voters are saying, and why Pauline Hanson is increasingly setting the political agenda.    Featured:   Tony Barry, Redbridge Group director

At the end of last week Elon Musk’s much-hyped SpaceX shares took a tumble just over a month after the company went public.   But what does that mean for the big AI companies and for the so-called AI bubble.   Today AI critic and host of the Better Offline podcast Ed Zitron on why he thinks it will all come crashing down.  Featured:  Ed Zitron, host of Better Offline podcast and EZ Primary Research CEO

Donald Trump's MOU with Iran was supposed to stop the war and then end it.   Now it's barely worth the paper it's written on. The bombing has resumed. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut. And now the conflict is spreading to the Red Sea, with the Houthis declaring a blockade on Saudi shipping.   So, is this what a forever war looks like?   Today, former US State Department Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller on the few options Donald Trump has left Featured: Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Middle East Negotiator at the US State Department

Pauline Hanson has spent the past fortnight in Europe spruiking her anti-immigration policies which have long been familiar to Australian voters.   But beyond immigration, what does One Nation actually want for the economy?   Today, ABC business and economics reporter Gareth Hutchens looks at the policies that have received far less attention and what Australia's economy could look like under One Nation.    Featured:   Gareth Hutchens, ABC business and economics reporter

For thousands of years the question of extending life or living forever has occupied minds.   But now it’s taken on a new life, from peptides, to IV drips and experimental treatments targeting the heart or kidneys, there’s a buzz around longevity.   Today, Dr Norman Swan on his Four Corners investigation into the big business and the science behind the quest to live healthier for longer.  Featured:   Dr Norman Swan, co-host of the Health Report and What’s that Rash on ABC Radio National

When Donald Trump went to the NATO summit in Ankara, he took one plane in and a different one out.   They were both called Air Force One, but one is 35 years old and is believed to have advanced safety features and the other was a retrofitted luxury 747 given to the US by Qatar.   Why did the US president not fly out on the newer plane that he loves so much?   New York Times journalists have received subpoenas after sources told them it was due to safety precautions related to the war with Iran.   Today, staff writer at The Atlantic, David A. Graham, on the president's planes and the latest attack on the press.  Featured:   David A. Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic

It was dubbed a landmark speech on how the government will deal with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data centres.  But did Prime Minister Anthony Albanese really address the key concerns as the big tech giants move to expand their businesses and even train AI models here?    Today, Kimberlee Weatherall an expert in AI regulation from Sydney University how proposed new laws just touch the surface.   Featured:   Kimberlee Weatherall, law professor at the University of Sydney and co-director of the Centre for AI, trust and governance

Telstra says its sorry for letting Australians down after last week’s nationwide outage, but how is it going compensate customers left out of pocket?  The telco will face questions in a parliamentary hearing later this week on the cause and the effects of the outage, which blocked hundreds of emergency calls and brought down payment systems and even regional trains.   Today, national consumer affairs reporter Michael Atkin on whether Telstra is going to be held to account.  Featured:   Michael Atkin, ABC national consumer affairs reporter

Relatively cheap EVs from China are increasingly seen on Australian roads.   But you won’t find many in the US, because of hefty tariffs and bans due to national security concerns.  Now Swedish based, but Chinese owned Polestar is set to stop selling in the US market from next year due to a crackdown on Chinese-linked vehicles.   Today, cyber security expert and former advisor to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Alastair MacGibbon on what the Chinese government could do to the cars if it really wanted to.   Featured:   Alastair MacGibbon, cyber security expert

When you say 'affordable housing' there’s a natural scepticism.   Across the country developers are being offered perks to be part of schemes supposed to give people a chance to rent without draining their pay packets.  But who gets to live in these 'affordable’ rentals and who sets the rent and when it can go up?   Today, Pat McGrath on his Four Corners investigation into whether 'affordable’ rentals actually are affordable. Featured:   Pat McGrath, ABC investigative reporter