On the show: Journalist Emily Maitlis on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's ties to the convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. Zohran Mamdani's blistering campaign to become the next mayor New York with Katy Honan, from The City newsroom The trade truce between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The US president described it as amazing. The story of Australia, as told by one of the country's most eminent historians, Mark McKenna Laetitia Bader from Human Rights Watch on evidence of systematic killings in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher. And the winning skills of food writer Caroline Velik at the World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland.  

Donald Trump is about to embark on a week-long trip through Asia to attend ASEAN and APEC. He'll meet the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and there's also an anticipated meeting between the US President and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. Unpack what's ahead with Demetri Sevastopulo, the US-China Correspondent for The Financial Times and Susannah Patton from the Lowy Institute. History’s most audacious art heists with art historian Pamela James. Arctic expert Elizabeth Buchanan explains why Greenland is much more than a desolate blob at the top of a world map in her new book, So you want to own Greenland? Signs of populism and discontent in Australian democracy with two former state premiers Mike Baird and Jay Weatherill. And India's biggest pop star and fashion icon, Diljit Dosanjh, is touring Australia and has local fans desperate for tickets - find out more from fan and musician,  L-Fresh the Lion.    

One the show: The significant week in Middle East politics with the BBC's Tom Bateman who was part White House press corps travelling on Air Force One to Israel. Foreign affairs journalist, Elise Labott also unpacks the week including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to discuss whether the US will arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russia. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also heads to Washington, what gift should he take along? Paul Brummel, the author of Diplomatic Gifts: A History in Fifty Presents has some gift giving stories and tips. Kate Mulvany on the new Sydney Theatre Company production of the Australian classic, The Shiralee. And Griffin Dunne on coming of age in Hollywood and the many twisting branches of a Hollywood family tree.

On the show: Palestinian aid worker in Gaza City, Hanya Al Jamal, and Israeli journalist, Amir Tibon, on public reactions to the ceasefire. Ghaith Al-Omari, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, analyses what the future of Palestine will look like now the war has ended.  We also look at the Gen Z protests sweeping the globe from Indonesia to Morocco, calling out inequality and corruption. Plus, who are Australia’s Gen Z political influencers, and what are they saying about the movements that are coalescing around them? The complications blowing out the new Snowy River Hydro scheme and botanist Professor Stephen Hopper on the ancient stories embedded in Australia's iconic Eucalyptus trees.  

On the show: Palestinian analyst Khalil Sayegh on the Hamas announcement that it is ready to release remaining hostages in Gaza, if certain conditions of a broader peace agreement were met. Hope for the families of hostages and for peace in the region with Efrat Machikawa, whose uncle was held hostage in Gaza. A new documentary celebrates the much loved restaurant M on the Bund in Shanghai, run by Australian restaurateur Michelle Garnaut. Might President Trump win a Nobel Peace prize. Can democracy survive AI with Peter Lewis and Lizzie O'Shea. And the death of leggings! Fashion writer Gynis Traill-Nash tries to make sense why leggings are out and baggy work-out gear is in. 

James Lindsay from the Council on Foreign Relations and the ABC's Laura Tingle wrap up the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Virginia Hausegger's history of feminist activism in Australia. Accounting academics dispute the extent of financial crisis at the University of Technology Sydney, Jennifer Byrne shares some of her favourite books for the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century and budgie smugglers are back in fashion in Europe.  

Anthony Albanese is about to embark on a trip to the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. After a series of diplomatic disappoints in the Pacific, Arthur Sinodinos discusses how important a meeting with Donald Trump will be. Jon Sopel from the News Agents podcast catches up with Nick to talk UK and US politics. Amanda Cahill explores how regional Australia is working to meet climate targets. Richard Gowan previews the UN leaders week and we have a sing-along with Tricia Paoluccio, who plays Dolly Parton in "Here you come again" is a musical about a Dolly Parton super fan. 

Over the past year, the US has seen political assassination attempts and murders - the latest being Charlie Kirk, a leading, young conservative activist. Nick Bryant delves into the history of American political violence with historian Jeremi Suri from University of Texas at Austin. Also, filmmaker Max Uechtritz's new documentary PNG The Road to Independence screens on ABC TV this week, he joins PNG lawyer Serena Sasingian to discuss independence. And 25 years on from the Sydney Olympics, we take a walk down memory lane.

Harvard historian Rana Mitter, on China’s war experience and the parade in Beijing this week. One of America’s most seasoned diplomats, Nicholas Burns gives his perspective on the parade and President Trump's order to rebrand the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Big picture thinking to tackle the problem of invasive species in Australia with Jack Gough, from the Invasive Species Council.  And Transylvania in a tutu - Joel Burke the director and choreographer of Dracula the ballet.

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.

Hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin gives a fascinating insight into his conversations with Hamas negotiators as a UN-backed group declares famine in part of Gaza, and Israel prepares to send troops to occupy Gaza City.  Plus, Allegra Spender and Innes Willox on what we should take away from this week's Economic Reform roundtable, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO Rose Gottemoeller helps us make sense of what's happening with a Russia-Ukraine peace deal after a series of high-level talks, and Australia’s first female astronaut talks about what it's like to smash the galactic glass ceiling (and gives some tips for future young astronauts out there).    

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.

Analysis of President Trump’s move impose worldwide tariffs; calls for the Federal Government to to scrap the "Job ready" university fee system, with the barrister and former broadcaster Steve Vizard; and the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen on the latest in the Middle East.

Two of America's top journalists break down one of the most fateful decisions in American political history: Joe Biden’s run for re-election despite evidence of his serious decline. Plus, week one of the 48th parliament and a former French spy who turned his secret life into bestselling spy thrillers.

Michael Fullilove joins Saturday Extra from the Aspen Security Forum which for decades has been a bipartisan event. Also on the show: Profound shifts in migration polices as Germany and EU allies meet to discuss migration crackdowns and repatriations of asylum seekers; Donald Trump is due back in Scotland later this month for a private visit to his golf course on the east coast, but while the US President appears fond of his ancestral home, the feeling is not always reciprocated; New research promises to turn sea urchin shells into fabric dye, potentially solving an environmental problem; And meet two new politicians heading to Canberra next week for Australia’s 48th parliament.

Plus, we get an update on the Texas flood recovery, find out what we can expect from the Prime Minister's visit to China and ask whether the future of Australian philanthropy lies with our tech entrepreneurs.

President Trump has signed his big beautiful bill into law at a White House 4th of July celebration. Plus, analysis from the ABC's John Lyons on Hamas' response to ceasefire negotiations. Also on the show, after 148 years, Wimbledon replaces line judges with AI. 

Plus, a mid-year review of global events;  the ethics and pitfalls of addictive true crime podcasts, and Winnie Dunn, the 29 year old Tongan-Australian author shortlisted  for the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, Dirt Poor Islanders.

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.