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Cut Through

Crikey
Cut Through
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82 episodes

  • Cut Through

    Secret numbers of the teen social ban and WA’s One Nation vs Labor showdown

    27/08/2026 | 32 mins.
    Why the eSafety Commissioner is arguing it should be allowed to keep some secrets relating to the under-16 social media ban, WA Labor’s gas lobbyist candidate for the Secret Harbour by-election does a runner, and former NACC commissioner Paul Brereton gets exposed by FOIs... again!

    Charlie Lewis and Crystal Andrews recap these stories and many more compelling, illuminating and absurd items from The Snoop, our daily roundup of tips, treasures and titbits from news and politics in Australia and around the world.

    This episode covers:
    Paul Brereton’s redacted conflicts of interest declaration
    Analysis by Rex Patrick: The government’s poor performance on FOIs
    Hit rate and secrets of the eSafety Commissioner
    Labor’s decision to ignore former gambling addict Luke Bateman
    PointsBet CEO calls for more regulation
    Who wins WA Secret Harbour by-election: Labor or One Nation?
    RFK Jr’s ridiculous ringtone

    Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/

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    Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Cut Through

    Shady or smart? Labor and the Coalition’s backroom deals on gambling ads and the NDIS

    20/08/2026 | 36 mins.
    Two major bills passed parliament this week, with Labor and the Coalition coming together to get the job done on gambling advertising reforms and the NDIS overhaul.

    Crikey’s politics writer Rachel Withers joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and media reporter Daanyal Saeed to bring you up to speed on which MPs crossed the floor to vote against their party, the important details buried within both sets of legislation, and whether the optics of a Labor and Liberal duopoly will turn voters off.

    Plus, the anti-abortion bill — and accompanying stunt by the Australian Christian Lobby — you might have missed.

    This episode covers:
    What’s in the final gambling ad ban
    Coalition MPs crossing the floor
    NDIS cuts pass in the Senate
    What does the Coalition get out of this?
    Do voters like major party deal-making?
    Australian Christian Lobby’s “Born Alive” anti-abortion bill
    Tip: More One Nation Victoria candidates
    Tip: Is Clive Palmer returning to politics again?

    Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/

    Subscribe to Crikey now to get 55% off your annual subscription!

    Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter

    Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Cut Through

    Why the Australian media sensationalises men’s violence

    13/08/2026 | 29 mins.
    When it comes to what some call Australia's "epidemic" of men's violence against women, the media plays a significant role – as evidenced by the reporting on the trial of convicted rapist, Melbourne talent manager Ralph Carr. After a decade of media reform advocacy, Jane Gilmore says news headlines are still littered with rape myths, the villainisation of victims and favourable descriptions of perpetrators.

    She joins the podcast to discuss what drives sensationalist media coverage of men’s violence and why AI is about to make matters even worse.

    This episode covers:
    Media reporting on the rape trial of Ralph Carr
    Why headlines continue to demonise victims and downplay the acts of perpetrators
    The end of the “good guy” narrative for male perpetrators of violence
    The role of social media in driving the gender divide
    Gilmore’s “Groundhog Day” experience in advocacy and policy spaces
    Labelling female journalists “activists”
    Tip: The media and court suppression orders

    Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/

    Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription!

    If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

    For counselling, advice and support for men in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Men in WA can contact the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 000 599.

    Read more:
    $1.3 million was spent to improve media reporting on male violence. Twelve years later, I fear little has changed
    Rape myths in the media reporting of the High-Profile Melbourne Man’s rape trial
    Pledge to change suppression order law is small progress that smacks of lip service – The Age editorial
    Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter

    Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Cut Through

    What does good migration policy look like in Australia?

    05/08/2026 | 38 mins.
    Immigration is one of the most dominant and heated political topics of the moment, with the media extensively covering an apparent surge in anti-immigration sentiment among Australian voters. Everything from housing shortages to unemployment is blamed on overseas arrivals, while the care economy is more reliant than ever on foreign workers.

    Bernard Keane joins the podcast to discuss the role of immigration in today’s Australia – which now has more to do with economics than it does with culture – and explain what good migration policy should look like in the years to come.

    Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/

    Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription!

    Read more:

    Seize the Moment by Bernard Keane
    Chapter excerpt: Immigration is a huge opportunity for Australia, but there are obstacles to overcome
    Australian Bureau of Statistics, Overseas Migration 2024-2025
    Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter

    Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Cut Through

    NACC emails exposed, Tony Abbott’s strange mistake and Peter Malinauskas’ News Corp bestie

    29/07/2026 | 28 mins.
    Internal emails exposing the National Anti-Corruption Commission trying to evade one journalist’s questions, Tony Abbott making a very strange mistake in his political commentary, and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas enjoying an intimate dinner with a top News Corp journalist.

    Daanyal Saeed and Crystal Andrews recap these stories, and many more compelling, illuminating and absurd items from The Snoop, our daily roundup of tips, treasures and titbits from news and politics in Australia and around the world.

    In today’s episode we catch listeners up on:

    NACC emails from Paul Brereton, Kylie Kilgour revealed
    Built to fail? NACC: the integrity body undermined from the start on The Point
    NACC inspector drops investigation into Brereton
    Peter Malinauskas’ meetings with News Corp journalist Peter Starick
    Back-Scratching. Premier Malinauskus’ love-in with Newscorp exposed on Michael West Media
    Mamamia’s Luca Lavigne is not the only Australian media nepo baby
    AEC changes Tasmania federal electorates
    Tony Abbott’s confusion about “Truganini”
    Labor MP Josh Wilson “striking” ban from over-45s soccer

    Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/

    Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription!
    Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter

    Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Cut Through
Cut Through is Crikey’s spin-free analysis of Australian news, politics and power. Each week we break down the biggest news stories, stripping away the noise to bring you the information that really matters. Join us every Friday to get your talking points delivered the Crikey way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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