Donald Trump has called it and it looks like he will take the American presidency for a second time. It would be a dramatic victory, one reminiscent of his stunning 2016 win over Hillary Clinton. And Trump, impeached twice by the US House of Representatives, would make history as the first convicted felon to serve as president.

So what went wrong for Kamala Harris, and what went so right for Donald Trump?

Today, digital foreign editor Chris Zappone, on how the election played out and the cultural realities behind the result.

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It’s finally election day, after what can only be described as a surreal presidential campaign, with moments that might have caused even Salvador Dali to do a double take. But, there are signs that we haven’t seen the last of it.

The main question on everyone’s mind is: to what extent will history repeat itself? The attempts by Donald Trump and his allies to disrupt the election process, still underway as this episode goes to air, contain echoes of the former president’s attempts to overthrow the 2020 election.

Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on how the courts are responding to these latest election challenges. And what some Republicans have told her they plan to do, if Trump loses.

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After weeks of media scrutiny that has painted Anthony Albanese as tone-deaf and out of touch with Australians struggling with financial distress, the Prime Minister launched a compelling pitch over the weekend.

Should Labor win the next election, Albanese would slash student debts in a $16 billion dollar proposal.

Young Australians are in desperate need of help. Student poverty - and hunger - has become so dire, that Western Sydney University has had to establish a food pantry.

Today, Western Sydney University vice chancellor Professor George Williams, and federal political correspondent, Paul Sakkal, on whether the prime minister’s proposed reform would fix what many say is a broken student loan system. And if Labor is using student debt relief to buy the youth vote.

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Inflation figures came out last week, and the annual figure tumbled from 3.8 per cent to 2.8 per cent - the lowest since the March quarter of 2021.

And it's welcome news for at least some of your grocery shop with bread prices, which were climbing at 14 per cent in Sydney and Melbourne a year ago, are now climbing at only 1.2 per cent.

And cheese is getting cheaper too.

So is the cost-of-living crisis over? And what can Australians expect from the Reserve Bank meeting on Tuesday?

Senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, and economics writer Millie Muroi, talk us through what the new inflation figures mean for you.

For more

Read...Shane Wright'ss-your-inflation-rate-then-there-s-the-reserve-bank-s-rate-20241030-p5kmgt.html"> 'There’s your inflation rate – then there’s the Reserve Bank’s rate', The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

Watch...'Inflation falls, but don't expect cuts to follow', ABC's The Business.

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The Prime Minister is facing uncomfortable questions about his relationship with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, and the flight upgrades he received when he was Transport Minister, and also when he was in Opposition. How much damage has this done to the Prime Minister? Did he handle the whole controversy well?Plus - the verdict is in, on how well Australia responded to the Covid pandemic. We also touch on this week’s much-anticipated inflation data, and discuss how it affects the government’s election timing. Chief political correspondent David Crowe and chief economics correspondent Shane Wright join Jacqueline Maley to discuss.

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Should we be surprised that the last week before the American presidential election is breaking historical records? Probably not. This is, after all, the race that has brought us assassination attempts (two). And an 11th hour candidate change. 

Still, never before in modern presidential election campaigns, has the race been this tight so close to election day, say some commentators. And, forget policies. Who wins could come down to the weather on election day, or - as one former aide to Barack Obama put it - “the vibes”.

Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on what the vibes were like in battleground states, during her recent trips there. And whether a legion of so-called shy Kamala voters could help her nab the White House.

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Until now, Level 6 has kept its secrets. The exclusive club in Australia’s most powerful hospitality empire has long entertained celebrities, scions living off their parents’ fortune. And the empire’s own top executives.

But an exclusive investigation by our mastheads reveals claims of exploitation of female staff. As one former manager said of Level 6, it was “one step away from being a brothel”. The company denies these allegations.

Today, investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw, on the staff across Merivale’s venues, who describe a toxic culture of harassment, fear, and pressure to take drugs. And their fears of retribution which have kept them from speaking out.

And a warning, today’s episode contains mentions of sexual harassment. Support is available at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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Is the way you do your washing the latest marker of class? Because a growing number of Australians who live in apartments are in conflict over where they air their laundry. Literally.

Many people who want to dry their clothing outside, say, on their balcony, just want to help the environment. But to some of their neighbours? They’re destroying their building’s “curb appeal.” And bringing down their property value.

Today, environment and climate reporter Caitlin Fitzsimmons on how, in a country as preoccupied with property prices as ours is, where you do your laundry can come with an allegation of racism. Or lead you to court.

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For more than a year, journalists from outside of Gaza have been blocked from reporting inside the occupied territory. But with the conflict expanding to Lebanon, that has changed, and Australian journalists have been on the ground to tell powerful accounts of this ongoing and brutal war.Foreign affairs and national security correspondent Matthew Knott, and photojournalist Kate Geraghty, initially travelled to Israel to report on the anniversary of Hamas’ horrific October 7 attack. And then, their trip changed when the war expanded.

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Politics is full of surprises but few people expected abortion policy to be back on the agenda in 2024. The fierce abortion debate in the United States has been turbocharged by the upcoming presidential election. 

Now the fight over reproductive rights has made its way to Australia. 

Abortion has been a surprise issue in the Queensland election campaign. It was also the subject of an attempted legislative rollback in South Australia last week. Now it is being put on the federal agenda by high-profile Opposition front-bencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss is federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal, and federal politics reporter Natassia Crysanthos. 

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

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