"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Van Badham is reunited with Ben Davison for an episode tackling the politics of inflation, the failures of Australia’s regime of "mutual obligations" and the economic challenges posed by an Australian economy organised around extraction rather than participation. Pluckily, our pair unpick the ideological legacy of trickle-down economics, lambast housing speculation, explore labour market distortions and decry the punitive culture surrounding unemployment... before closing with an unexpectedly hopeful environmental story from the Yangtze River in China. Bonus content includes Germanicus the dachshund licking the microphone, accidental lessons in audio engineering and at least one attempt to explain why “a sudden outbreak of laziness” is not a thing. The Week on Wednesday is BACK, baby! Enjoy it!

Van Badham is joined by the articulate an impassioned Emma Dawson of the Chifley Research Centre to get down and dirty in the "earthquake" aftermath of the Albanese Labor government's nation-changing 2026 Budget. Van and Emma think that Dr Jim Chalmer's has got the right mix of ambition, pragmatism and sweet, sweet tax reform... but what are the opposition parties and online commentariat saying and does it match any reality whatsoever? Emma says "nonsense", Van considers the parallels with how economics is fought as a culture war front in the United States... and, fortunately, the words "tortoise guardians" come into being before the episode is over. Cunning ploys and badly-behaving richkids find their moment, but Van and Emma are bringing truth bombs to a schoolyard dust-up. Hey, kids - enjoy the show!

Van Badham and Ben Davison pack a bumper 90 minute episode with the deep explanations you need to understand the Alabanese Labor government's 2026 Australian budget delivered by Dr Jim Chalmers. Get some clarity amidst the aaaaabsolute nonsense being spread by OH, YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS WHO in the media and online as Germanicus the dachshund snores sweetly in the background. Not only will you hear in this episode literally everything you ever wanted to know about negative gearing and capital gains tax (like, "what, uh, actually are they? how do they affect my life?") but there's also some fantastic news about Trump on the Gold Coast. Maybe not great news for him... but certainly happy times for the rest of us! Enjoy!

Van Badham is in Sydney and Ben Davison’s in Ballarat, but they’re brought together by the miracle of technology and sheer force of will to discuss the Albanese government’s reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, gassing about taxes ahead of the budget, and some truly amazing news - about the environment - out of Ukraine. There’s lots of union news relevant to, well, everyone who works - and you can also help the good concrete workers of Hytec here: https://tinyurl.com/48Blitz-Hytec (https://tinyurl.com/48Blitz-Hytec)

Van Badham and Ben Davison survive Trump’s threat of nuclear was to discuss the Hungarian election and Viktor Orbán’s illiberal rule and its EU/Ukraine implications. They then explore Trump’s escalation with Iran, chaotic U.S. decision-making, international peace efforts, and whether it was wise for Trump to declare a culture war against the actual Vatican. How does this relate to the Ben Roberts‑Smith civil and criminal proceedings - beyond the broader need for military accountability in democratic societies? You’ll have to listen to find out… but the good news is all about beavers. GO THE BEEVS!!