Back to Back Barries

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss how the diving economy will impact Anthony Albanese’s – and Jim Chalmers’ – approval ratings. If the relationship between the prime minister and treasurer is so crucial for the nation, what happens when that relationship breaks down? They also examine the many elections playing out globally. Has Donald Trump’s association with rightwing parties around the world hurt his own cause? And One Nation is under scrutiny again, this time for a political cartoon depicting Bluey ramming politicians with a car

Tony Barry and George Megalogenis (filling in for Barrie Cassidy) examine the response to the horrific alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines this week. While the prime minister pleaded for all to ‘turn the temperature’ down, it didn’t take long for many to dial it right up, particularly online. So can politicians from all sides tell their tribes to tone down the rhetoric? And what lessons can we learn from history to help us all navigate toxic public debate?

Tony Barry and Niki Savva (filling in for Barrie Cassidy) examine the ‘festival of Josh’ that played out in the media this week as the former treasurer spruiked his new memoir. The two former Liberal party advisers weigh in on whether Josh Frydenberg should run again for Kooyong and whether he can live his dream of one day becoming PM. They also discuss what they see as the Labor government’s failure to sell an economic vision during a cost-of-living crisis

Tony Barry and Jessie McCrone examine the latest Redbridge poll (‘the poll that stops the nation’) that shows support for the prime minister and Labor is slipping significantly. Tony asks Jessie – a former senior Labor advisor – how she would counsel Anthony Albanese and what she thinks could improve Labor’s chances against One Nation. And the two former sparring partners also look at the upcoming Victorian election and what it could mean for both the major parties at a federal level

Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry) discuss the Greens leadership change this week. Senator David Shoebridge defeated two women to take out the top job in a rare contested ballot. So what direction will he take the progressive party and can they ‘replace’ Labor as he claims? Also in this episode: what did the prime minister say at George Megalogenis’ Melbourne book launch that surprised both of these former political advisers? And as we draw ever nearer to the Victorian election, what do the polls reveal about how it could all play out?

Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry) look at the prime minister’s week in the US against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s ban of three news organisations from the White House. Would the Australian media ever join together like their American counterparts and boycott a political party or politician? The two former press advisers also examine press conference ethics and why Australian politicians should be wary of using AI to write their speeches

Barrie Cassidy and Jessie McCrone, a former adviser to the former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and now managing partner for FMRS Advisory, examine the migration reforms as announced by the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, this week. Is One Nation controlling the narrative on this issue, and how will the Coalition respond? They also look at the Guardian’s new investigative podcast series The Populist; plus, with just two months to go until the Victorian election, what does Jessie think about the state of play and Labor’s chances at the ballot box? Jessie is filling in for Tony Barry this week Amid claims of ‘mass migration’, Labor hopes a measured approach will take the hot air out of the debate

Barrie Cassidy and Sean Kelly (filling in for Tony Barry this week) go straight to Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie’s stoush with Pauline Hanson over an animated cartoon. Is Hastie one of the few politicians willing to take on the One Nation leader? And could this be the beginning of the Liberal party fighting back? Staying with One Nation: what does the coverage of Warren Pickering’s press conference this week say about how the media – and the public – treats political leaders differently? And the prime minister continues to come under scrutiny over grants awarded to a golf club in his electorate Hastie accepts apology from Joyce over ‘traitor’ cartoon as Hanson doubles down and tells critics to ‘chill’

Barrie Cassidy and George Megalogenis (filling in for Tony this week) examine George’s new book, Three Shocks: Who We are Becoming in the 21st Century, and how these forces are reshaping our national identity and Australian politics. They also look at the politics of the housing market and Barrie responds to a listener who questions his analysis of One Nation’s inability to get over the “wall” around the cities Best Australian books out in September House prices could fall 10%, analysts predict, as fourth interest rate hike looms

Tony Barry and Sean Kelly, sitting in for Barrie Cassidy, examine the politics of immigration and asylum after contradictory policy statements this week from Labor and One Nation. They discuss how much Labor is being led by One Nation and whether the government is doing enough to make the case for migration. They also talk about the concessions made by the Albanese government to the states on GST and renewable energy for datacentres, as well as the bumpy economic road ahead for Labor, with new inflation numbers suggesting possible interest rates hikes in the future Albanese vows refugee intake won’t be slashed, shutting down plans of Coalition-level cut Analysis: One Nation’s immigration policy is clear as mud – but that ambiguity could be a secret weapon for Pauline Hanson

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine the two deals made this week between the Coalition and Labor on gambling advertising and the NDIS. They also look ahead to the upcoming byelection in the Western Australian electorate of Secret Harbour, which sits within Andrew Hastie’s electorate. Could One Nation again emerge victorious? If so, what threat would that pose to the federal Liberal MP’s political fortunes? And after the break the Barries take a question from Neil in Bendigo, a super fan of the show, about when Albanese is likely to go and who could take the leadership

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry look at Liberal senator Andrew Bragg’s speech this week in which he outlined his plan to solve the housing crisis – a plan that doesn’t have the support of his own party. The Barries also discuss the ‘melon-gate’ controversy, with Tony asking if a conservative politician would be subjected to more or less outrage if they had done the same thing. Also in this episode, the deal on gambling between Labor and the Coalition

Barrie Cassidy is back, and kicks off the episode by analysing the conflict in the Labor party over migration that led to the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, pulling out of his scheduled press club speech this week. Tony Barry delves into new Redbridge polling suggesting small gains for One Nation and the Coalition at a federal level. And as the conversation turns to Victorian politics, he surprises everyone – including himself – by defending a trade union leader. They also answer some listener questions, and Tony has his say on Jetstar’s new cabin luggage charges.

Tony Barry and Jon Faine (sitting in for Barrie Cassidy this week) examine the ousting of Jacinta Allan and the anointing of Ben Carroll as the new premier of Victoria. They discuss what it could all mean for the upcoming election and while they say anything can happen, Tony’s tummy compass points to a win for Jess Wilson. And, weeks into the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, Faine gives his take on the hearings so far

Tony Barry and George Megalogenis (filling in for Barrie Cassidy) give their view on One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce’s viral moment this week and why they think it played well to his party’s base. George takes us back to past elections that produced favourable results for One Nation to remind us that we have been here before and that political predictions often don’t come true. And they sign off with a listener email asking if the rise in polling is damaging democracy

This week Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine the One Nation leader’s podcast interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson and ask: will this interview cause fractures within the party and weaken her leadership? They also look at the rightwing party’s position on international affairs and new polling in the lead-up to the Victorian election

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry examine a long list of stumbles and missteps made by politicians this week. They also discuss the prime minister’s Pacific push as China tested a long-range missile – and Nigel Farage’s resignation from politics only to stand at an upcoming byelection

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss what led to the first drop in One Nation’s poll numbers in more than a year, and why the voters turning away from Pauline Hanson are not turning back towards the Liberal party. They also examine the politics of falling house prices and why it may end up being a challenge for Labor

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine a big week in politics. Will Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender prove successful with their new centrist political party? Is Angus Taylor in trouble after a week of stumbles responding to One Nation policies? And what lessons should Anthony Albanese learn from Keir Starmer’s downfall?

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry dissect Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club appearance this week and ask: is the leader of One Nation treated differently to other political leaders by the media? They also give their take on Hanson’s attacks on minorities, her pledge to dismantle public broadcasting and they meditate on whether appealing to people’s prejudices will backfire. And also: will the government’s backdown on tax be enough to silence Anthony Albanese’s critics?