Fourth Estate

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia was framed as routine diplomacy by political leaders and much of the press. But outside the official engagements, thousands protested — and in Sydney, violent clashes between demonstrators and police were captured on camera. Footage showed officers punching and capsicum-spraying protesters, including an 18-year-old pinned to the ground and struck repeatedly. Other videos showed men kneeling in prayer before being forcibly removed. Premier Chris Minns has urged the public not to rush to judgement based on short clips, promising an internal investigation and a review of body-worn footage. So how did Australian media cover the visit — and the crackdown? When powerful images circulate instantly, what responsibility do journalists have to interrogate official narratives? And has the story shifted from diplomacy to police conduct? Plus: Angus Taylor rolls Sussan Ley to become Liberal leader, Lenore Taylor steps down as Editor of Guardian Australia, and we reflect on the life and legacy of cartoonist Jon Kudelka. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Mike Bowers (Host of Talking Pictures), David Leser (Regular contributor to Good Weekend) and Daanyal Saeed (Media Writer at Crikey). Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Fourth Estate, we examine how the media covered the biggest stories of the week, from the attempted bombing at an Invasion Day rally in Perth, now declared a terrorist act, to the latest document dump linked to Jeffrey Epstein. We also look at the shifts happening within the media itself, as Nine Entertainment sells off its powerful talkback radio stations and the ABC launches a new Q+A-style panel show. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Charlie Lewis from Crikey and Daniel James from 7am. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A chaotic week in federal politics has left the opposition fractured and raised serious questions about how power is being exercised in Parliament. As the Albanese government rushed landmark hate-speech and extremism legislation through in under 24 hours, warnings about civil liberties, due process and executive overreach were brushed aside. The speed of the laws’ passage split the Coalition, with the Nationals walking away and Liberal leader Sussan Ley fighting to hold her leadership together. On this episode of Fourth Estate, we unpack how the legislation passed so quickly, why it proved so destabilising for the opposition, and what it reveals about the current political moment — from the use of fear and urgency in law-making to the media’s role in amplifying campaigns for a royal commission. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss are Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor at The Point, and Claudia Long, Federal Politics Reporter at ABC News. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of the Bondi massacre, a sustained media and political campaign intensified pressure on the government to establish a royal commission into antisemitism. Within a day of the Albanese government announcing that one would take place, an invitation to Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at Adelaide Writers’ Week was rescinded, citing concerns around cultural sensitivity. The fallout was swift, more than 180 writers withdrew, the festival collapsed, its director resigned, and the board stepped down. This episode of Fourth Estate examines how sustained media pressure can move beyond scrutiny into something more coercive — shaping decisions, narrowing debate, and contributing to institutional implosion. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Amy Remeikis (The Australia Institute), Paul Karp (The Australian Financial Review) and Osman Faruqi (Lamestream Media). Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or tweet us at ⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special summer edition of Fourth Estate, we turn the clock back to December 2018, when broadcaster and journalist Mike Carlton joined then host Peter Fray for a wide-ranging conversation about his newly published memoir, ⁠On Air⁠. The book traces Carlton’s long career across Australian journalism — from print to radio — offering a candid account of life behind the microphone, the shifting culture of newsrooms, and the pressures shaping public debate. Recorded during a period of profound upheaval in Australia’s media landscape, this conversation reflects on power, personality, and the responsibilities of broadcasters, themes that feel as resonant now as they did then. Plus ça change. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or tweet us at ⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices