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The Barries are back, and Angus Taylor has won the Liberal leadership battle against Sussan Ley. Speaking on Friday afternoon, the new leader said he did not seek to be ‘One Nation lite’ but he would ‘shut the door’ on people who don’t share ‘Australian values’. But the spill wasn’t the only story in Australian politics this week. Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry unpack the challenge ahead for Taylor, the rise of One Nation and the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog

Angus Taylor has been elected the Liberal party’s new leader, ousting Sussan Ley in a party room ballot 34 votes to 17. Speaking shortly after the vote, Ley said she would quit parliament within weeks in a bid to provide clear air for Taylor’s leadership. In his first speech as opposition leader Taylor pointed to a greater focus on immigration policy, saying: “If someone doesn’t subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut.” Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Nour Haydar about how it all went down and Taylor’s striking shift in tone on immigration

Protesters around Australia, including Nick McKim and other Greens colleagues, gathered to express opposition to the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, this week. The Greens senator tells our political editor, Tom McIlroy, that the confronting scenes of police aggression towards protesters in Sydney were a ‘massive overreach’. McKim is the Greens spokesperson for economic justice and treasury, and is now leading a parliamentary inquiry into the 50% capital gains tax discount. Labor has not ruled out possible changes to the generous tax breaks for investors before the May budget. The Tasmanian senator argues that, with Greens support, the government can ‘marry up the politics and the policy’ to meaningfully addressing the housing crisis

After weeks of speculation, a Liberal leadership spill is set for 9am on Friday when Angus Taylor will challenge the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, for control of the party. Political editor Tom McIllroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about why Taylor is making his move now, whether he has the numbers to win, and what it all means for the future direction of the Coalition

Keir Starmer has seen off a challenge to his leadership after facing calls for his resignation over the appointment of Labour powerbroker Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US – a man who enjoyed a close relationship to Jeffrey Epstein. Monday’s win could prove to provide only a temporary respite for the unpopular UK prime minister, as his critics continue to question his judgment and authority. Guardian Australia’s UK/US site editor, Jonathan Yerushalmy, speaks to Reged Ahmad about how the events of the week unfolded, whether Starmer can hold on to power and how the Epstein files have rocked British politics

Hundreds of jobs have gone at the newspaper that broke the Watergate scandal. Was profit or politics behind the decision? Jeremy Barr reports

In Lake Cargelligo in central west New South Wales, police are hunting for an alleged triple murderer. Julian Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, is suspected of shooting dead his former partner Sophie Quinn, who was seven months pregnant, as well as her new partner John Harris and her aunt Nerida Quinn. He also allegedly shot and injured Kaleb Macqueen.Reged Ahmad speaks with Nino Bucci about the alleged murderer’s past domestic violence offences, and the questions that linger while he is still at large

Last night tens of thousands of people gathered in cities across the country to protest against a visit by Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog. Nine people have been charged after the clashes with police, with police saying more charges are expected to be laid. Guardian reporter Jordyn Beazley was there, and tells Nour Haydar when the protest turned violent and whether it all could have been avoided.

Last week, nine days after a bomb was allegedly thrown into an Invasion Day rally in Perth, police charged a 31-year-old man with engaging in a terrorist act. They allege he was seeking to advance what they described as a ‘racially motivated ideological cause’, saying he had accessed ‘pro-white material’ online. The wanting response from police, politicians and the media has left First Nations people feeling exposed and abandoned. Lorena Allam from the University of Technology’s Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research speaks to Nour Haydar on Australia’s history of racial violence and denial

The Coalition is back together again after the Liberals and Nationals struck a deal over the weekend to end their second break-up in less than a year. But with a leadership battle looking more likely for Sussan Ley, are the Coalition’s deep-seated issues any closer to being resolved? Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether this reunion will stick – and what it all means for Ley.

When senior reporter Kate Lyons scratched beneath the surface of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, she says she found so many hugely complex issues that it was like ‘opening a spring-loaded box-lid’. She tells Reged Ahmad about how, after 18 months of changes – from automated assessments to new definitions of impairments – and as the government tries to limit a blow-out in spending, what comes next could be the biggest moment yet for the scheme since it began

Every Sunday, we’ll be bringing you some of the Guardian’s best stories from the week. Stories we loved, that made us feel happy, or sad, or just made us think, read out by the people who wrote them. In our first episode, education reporter Caitlin Cassidy sits through the screening of the much-maligned ‘Melania’ documentary so you don’t have to

After months of negotiations, threats and refusals, Bill and Hillary Clinton have finally agreed to testify in front of Congress as part of a Republican-led investigation into the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Politico Magazine columnist and former federal prosecutor, Ankush Khardori, about why Donald Trump thinks it is a ‘shame’ the Clintons have been forced to testify

Jon Favreau, former head speechwriter for Barack Obama, Democratic party insider and co-host of Pod Save America, is bringing his brand of insider politics to Australia next week. As ICE agents roam American streets and Donald Trump tightens his grip on the country, he talks to Reged Ahmad about whether he thinks US elections will remain free and fair, and why Democrats are failing to meet the moment

The latest release of the Epstein files has dominated the news this week, with documents related to Bill Gates, Peter Mandelson, Elon Musk and Woody Allen pulling them into the spotlight. But as the US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche suggested the legal review into the Epstein files was “over”, the survivors of Epstein’s abuse made clear it was not the end. Annie Kelly speaks to Lisa Philips, who suffered years of abuse by Epstein in the 2000s and is now one of the many survivors calling for more transparency from the Trump administration. Plus Guardian US columnist Moira Donegan on whether the missing files will ever be released

In this wide-ranging interview with Nour Haydar, federal Labor MP Ed Husic voices his opposition to an upcoming visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog and cautions against attempts to clamp down on protests. He also criticises the finger-pointing by politicians after the Bondi attack and the relative silence following the bomb threat at an Invasion Day rally in Perth

Last August, to the relief of many homeowners, the Reserve Bank’s governor, Michele Bullock, announced a cut in interest rates and expressed confidence that inflation was heading in the right direction. But on Tuesday, the RBA hiked rates for the first time in over two years, raising the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. Guardian columnist and chief economist of the Australia Institute, Greg Jericho, talks to Nour Haydar about what the rate hike means, why he sees it as ‘cowardly’ and what it all has to do with the Ashes

Parliament returns today and the benches might look a little bare on the opposition’s side of the chamber, with the Liberals left with only 28 votes after last week’s split from the Nationals. Political editor Tom McIllroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether the Liberals and Nationals can get back together, and if the prime minister can use this distraction to push through big reforms

When a homemade bomb was allegedly thrown into a crowd of more than 2,000 people at an Invasion Day rally in Perth last week, police said that, had it gone off, it had the potential to cause mass casualties. But in the hours and days afterwards many questioned how police, media and political leaders responded to the alleged attack and criticised what they said was selective outrage that dismissed the violence and racism First Nations people face. Indigenous affairs correspondent Sarah Collard speaks to Nour Haydar on the bomb threat at Boorloo and the sadness and fear that lingers.

The search for Australia’s best children’s picture book is on! Vote now and every day until 5 February for your favourite from 50 of the best, as chosen by Guardian readers. The deputy culture editor, Sian Cain, speaks to author Graeme Base about how he wrote his bestselling and beloved books Animalia and The Eleventh Hour, and why he set out to challenge curious kids

After weeks of federal insurgency, Minnesota fought back, and it seems Donald Trump has lost faith in the people running his ICE operation in the state. So where does this leave Trump’s ‘ICE patriots’? How do Republicans unite over immigration policies that kill Americans? And where does it leave the far-right agitators in Trump’s cabinet? Jonathan Freedland speaks to George Conway, a founding member of the Lincoln Project, who is running for Congress, about what happens next

The scenes on the streets of Minneapolis have been confronting and terrifying to watch: ICE agents rounding people up and shooting two US citizens at near point-blank range, as in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. That’s all while a counter-narrative from the White House paints the victims as perpetrators. Washington DC bureau chief David Smith speaks to Reged Ahmad about why many are asking if fascism has come to US streets and whether the country is at a crossroads

In the first Guardian Essential poll after the Bondi terror attack, both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have fallen in their approval ratings. Meanwhile, One Nation’s support continues to rise and now disrupts the traditional two-horse race in Australian politics. Guardian Australia political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Essential Media director Peter Lewis about why both major parties need to pay attention to One Nation’s popularity – despite the minor party currently having little policy offerings

A preliminary assessment has found that 19-year-old Piper James was bitten by dingoes before and after she died on the island K’gari, and that there was ‘evidence consistent with drowning’. In response to James’ death, the Queensland government has announced it will euthanise the 10 dingoes linked to her death. Environment and climate correspondent Graham Readfearn speaks to Nour Haydar about why the culling has sparked outrage and what killing the animals means for the survival of the protected species

The Coalition has collapsed for the second time in eight months and Sussan Ley’s leadership could follow at any moment. So who should lead the opposition through this tumultuous time? While former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has been there, he himself is not sure who is best placed to take on the challenge, adding ‘the pool of talent is not enormous at the moment’. Turnbull speaks to Nour Haydar about what went wrong between the Liberals and Nationals and what he thinks it will take to resuscitate his party

Crafted in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, Labor’s hate speech laws are designed to give the government a raft of new powers to combat racial hatred, but have faced strong criticism from across the political spectrum. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties president, Timothy Roberts, speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether the new laws go too far, and why he says they risk undermining democracy in Australia

After the cancellation of Adelaide writers’ week in a furore over free speech, conversations are being had about how much Australia value its writers and artists. The renowned painter Ben Quilty is asking that question in a new essay exploring how to be a more courageous country when it comes to the arts. He speaks to Reged Ahmad about the Adelaide festival, Donald Trump and why we need a society that encourages visionaries

At the beginning of Donald Trump’s trip to Davos, the US president’s plans for Greenland were vague, and a worry to European leaders. By the end of the day, military force was off the table and threats of tariffs dropped. This is just one example of what it has been like to follow Trump 2.0 in the last year. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Ashley Parker of the Atlantic about why she thinks Americans are suffering from a new politically induced condition and why the midterms in November might be the perfect remedy

In an eventful start to parliament for 2026, MPs came together with condolences for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and passed hurried reforms on guns and hate speech. And then, on the national day of mourning on Thursday, the Coalition split for the second time and Sussan Ley’s leadership is now all but over. Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, whose electorate includes Bondi, about why she thinks politics can often stand in the way of community safety. She also discusses her concerns that migrants could become a political target during this time of fear and grief

It was the bill that the prime minister hoped would bring people together, but instead, Labor’s hate speech legislation and the Liberal party’s decision to endorse it, has torn the Coalition apart. The entire Nationals front bench has quit Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet leaving the Coalition to come to terms with its second split in less than a year. Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about how this happened and whether Sussan Ley can hold on to the leadership

In just 48 hours, four people were attacked by sharks in New South Wales. In response, nearly thirty beaches have been closed and authorities are warning swimmers to avoid waterways after heavy storms. Nour Haydar speaks to associate professor Christopher Pepin-Neff about the ‘perfect storm’ of environmental factors that has attracted sharks and what we all need to know before entering the water

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, has appeared to permanently cut ties with his family. In an explosive statement posted on Instagram, he claimed his parents had been controlling narratives in the press about his family, and had tried to ‘ruin’ his relationship with his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

In the lead-up to 26 January, co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue, Bridget Cama, says the same divisive debate is playing out around the country, and the silence from political leaders has been demoralising. But she says those who want to see constitutional recognition are regrouping after the voice to parliament defeat and she hopes to see another referendum in a decade. She speaks to Nour Haydar

Tom Burgis on Donald Trump’s friend Ronald Lauder, a billionaire with business interests in Greenland

It has been three years since ChatGPT first launched, and according to OpenAI, the American artificial intelligence company that runs the chatbot, 40 million people ask it healthcare-related questions every day. Now the company has launched a new health feature in Australia that allows the platform to “securely connect medical records and wellness apps” to generate responses “more relevant and useful to you”. Medical editor Melissa Davey speaks to Nour Haydar about how it works and whether AI is changing healthcare as we know it

Conceding that his hate speech and gun law omnibus bill was friendless and unable to pass parliament, Anthony Albanese announced over the weekend that he would split the legislation in two. It was a move the PM said he needed to make if he wanted to get his post-Bondi reforms through. As parliament returns for a special sitting, political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether the prime minister can get his reforms over the line and why the Coalition is being accused of hypocrisy

Last week, the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into the chair of the Federal Reserve – and longtime foe of Donald Trump – Jerome Powell. In an extraordinary move, world central bank governors and bank bosses in America pushed back against the Trump administration. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to the economist Heather Boushey about why a fight with Wall Street might be one the president regrets

Its agents outnumber police on the streets of Minneapolis, are detaining US citizens and clashing violently with protesters. Caitlin Dickerson and Maanvi Singh report

A week after the Adelaide festival disinvited Palestinian Australian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah from its writers’ week, organisers have issued a complete and unreserved apology. The South Australian event collapsed after the author was dropped from its line-up and more than 180 writers pulled out. Now, with a new board, the organisers have apologised for the harm caused and invited Abdel-Fattah to speak in 2027. Dr Abdel-Fattah spoke to Nour Haydar about why she is considering defamation action against the South Australian premier and what this moment represents

It started with US forces attacking Venezuela and capturing its sitting president. And almost immediately more American intervention was flagged, in countries such as Cuba, Colombia and Greenland. For the moment Donald Trump’s focus is now on Iran. Senior international correspondent Julian Borger speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether we are seeing a new ramp-up of Trump’s imperialist intentions, or is this simply the same America we’ve always known?

Australia wants in on the artificial intelligence boom but datacentres needed to run AI require huge amounts of electricity and water. Climate and environment reporter Petra Stock speaks with Nour Haydar about the increasing concerns over the environmental impact of datacentres

Protests have rocked Iran, a brutal crackdown is under way and Trump has threatened to intervene. Ellie Geranmayeh on a dangerous moment for the country’s leaders

About 40% of Australian women without kids say they are hesitant to have children because of climate change. Guardian Australia’s climate, environment and science assistant editor, Donna Lu, is among them. Reged Ahmad speaks to Donna about her anxiety – shared by many – about starting a family as global temperatures rise

Over the summer break, calls for a royal commission into the Bondi beach massacre saturated headlines across parts of the media. And last week the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, bowed to the pressure, launching a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. Nour Haydar speaks with political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy on the political reverberations from the Bondi attack and the tests that lie ahead for Labor in 2026

A backlash against FBS grows and Emilee and Yolande respond to the growing crisis. This is episode six of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne

Emilee and Yolande had seeded an ideology that they grew around the world – a reach investigative reporters Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne could not have fathomed when they started reporting on the story. They set out to see just how far FBS has spread. This is episode five of a year-long investigation

As Australia celebrates a comprehensive 4-1 victory, England’s approach to the Ashes series and Test cricket itself has been under the microscope. Max Rushden is joined by Geoff Lemon, Barney Ronay, Emma John and Ali Martin for a look back on the 2025-26 series

If it’s not threats of military action against Colombia and Cuba, or talk of taking Greenland from Denmark, it’s seizing oil tankers in European and Caribbean waters. All of it has world leaders scrambling to figure out how to handle Donald Trump’s revived form of US imperialism. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Pulitzer-winning author Anne Applebaum about what to expect from a world changing by the hour at the hands of the US president

Within months of the death of Lorren’s baby, Journey Moon, and the public backlash against the Free Birth Society that followed, Emilee Saldaya took the FBS membership private, turning the business into a global multimillion-dollar empire. This is episode four of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne

The US has dramatically seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker between the UK and Iceland, with the support of the UK government. The operation comes after US attacks on Venezuela, the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and threats against Greenland. Lucy Hough speaks to Russian affairs correspondent Pjotr Sauer – watch on YouTube