The Chaser Report

From out of nowhere, the US, UK, and – surprisingly – Australia announced a new security alignment that would, among other things, bring nuclear submarines to the Royal Australian Navy. Why this sudden, secret announcement, and who is it good for, us or the US? We asked Associate Professor David Smith of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney – and couldn't resist examining the latest goings on in Trumpworld as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabbi goes back in time to find out what The Chaser team were like 25 years ago, by reviewing the 1996 documentary ‘Uni’. What was university like in the 90's? How did The Chaser come to be? And was Charles always the way he is? Answer all these questions and more in today’s episode. Plus Bec brings you all the latest Chaser news you can’t trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles tries to recruit Gabbi and Dom to judge his brand new short-film competition: The Christian Porter Film Festival, while Craig provides Christian Porter with some flawless legal solutions. Plus, Lachlan has accidentally begun a quest to become the most sponsored podcast host in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fashion correspondent Vic Zerbst enlightens Dom and Charles with fashion news from the Met Gala, and also teaches them about pegging. The latest iPhone has been announced and Charles and Dom have mixed feelings, and Christian Porter provides full transparency on where his funding came from. Plus Aleksa has a depressing update on Afghanistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina skates onto the show with some totally tubular news from the radical world of skating with a hilarious personal anecdote, and Aleksa tries to convince Charles and Dom that North Korea are not planning on destroying the world - but can he be trusted? Plus Charles' completely accurate predictions for the next iPhone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Picnics are back - but while Charles and Dom are keen to get outside, Gabbi is anything but enthusiastic. Plus in honour of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 John shares some of his favourite pro-military propaganda aired by Disney, and Aleksa recounts a moment when a very special part of him died too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When is a cigarette not a cigarette? John Safran tells Charles and Dom about his latest book 'Puff Piece',, which looks at the clever language and new products that the cigarette-making behemoth Philip Morris is adopting to try and retain its profits while also convincing its global audience of smokers to give up their ciggies – but potentially replace them with another product where instead of smoking tobacco, you... heat it. In typical fashion, the story's funny, circuitous and thought-provoking – and involves multiple visits to Father Bob. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy legend John Safran comes on the podcast to talk about the story behind his new book 'Puff Piece'. Plus Dom is joined by the insightful Mark Pesce for a chat about what the near and far future of Australia will look like living with Covid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Bec Melrose joins the podcast to talk everything from Father’s Day flights, to Guy Sebastian, to swearing ducks. Sami and Dom rekindle the animosity between their states as Sami explains the Victorian Liberal party’s leadership spill. All that plus Charles and Dom attempt to contain their anger as they learn the latest news of the failed Pfizer rollout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Bryant joins the podcast to talk about his new book “When America Stopped Being Great” which unpacks recent US political history. Plus Aleksa takes it upon himself to find a new use for all the troops who just left Afghanistan, and Dom and Charles talk about what an amazing dad the Prime Minister is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE – Former BBC Correspondent, Nick Bryant joins Dom and Charles to discuss his book When America Stopped Being Great. He portrays the broad sweep of American politics as it became increasingly more partisan, ideologically extreme, and unable to agree on anything – even facts – and explains how Ronald Reagan laid the groundwork for Donald Trump. An excerpt of the book features in today's regular episode as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After receiving numerous texts from Craig Kelly, Sami Shah has realised his fondness for the UAP. Dom explains how NewsCorp have solved climate change, while Zander discusses the hottest gossip from their senate enquiry. Plus Charles has discovered a new favourite podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina joins the show today to share a truly disgusting cautionary tale of personal hygiene in lockdown. Gabbi is excited at ABBA's return, and Charles shares yet another hangover experience. Plus a Chaser Report first as John tells a story about sport! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Schloeffel of The Shovel drops in to make the podcast less depressing, a task which proves harder than he expected. American podcaster Joe Rogan has contracted Covid and Charles, Dom, and Gabbi are bewildered by his response. Plus Charles has a new story about his lockdown hairstyle conundrum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angelo Gavrielatos, NSW Teachers Federation president, joins us to examine a curious Coalition plan to hire chaplains to ease school kids’ fears about climate change. Also, Dom finds some allegedly good news on the lockdowns, Charles sells his AACTAs vote, and we play Fridge or No Fridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chaser takes credit for getting Harvey Norman to repay JobKeeper. Also, Zander and Lachlan are thinking of moving in together, John checks out Brexit, and Charles and Gabbi welcome Dom back with implausible sincerity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina Oyama is double vaxxed up and has a hot tip on how to prevent the injection from making you feel sluggish, and Amanda Tattersall reports from the hottest hotspot in South Western Sydney. Plus Charles is unusually upbeat, which might be to do with the fact that Dom is back from tomorrow and this podcast will be saved Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig stops by to share some tips on parenting which are incredibly helpful for Charles, who thinks his own parental skills require vast improvement. Plus Aleksa uncovers the deep secrets surrounding the 5G network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zander and Charles talk to 'The Resilience Project' founder Hugh Van Cuylenburg about mental health, lockdown and the best way to stay afloat. Charles confesses that he can't meditate and Hugh tackles the big questions like 'what's number is too many lockdown beers'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig joins the show today to take his groundbreaking new segment for a test run, and Lachlan seeks help from his bosses with a personal problem. Plus Gabbi and Charles really really hate picnics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan Behan drops by to share his findings from listening to Christopher Pyne’s podcast, which is somehow more self indulgent than this one. Plus John takes a look at the poo that stopped a nation, and Zander and Lachlan reveal how they have been victimising an innocent member of the Chaser for years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom is away for a week, and so Alex Jae and Bec Charlwood drop by to recommend all the best terrible movies you should watch once you get though the good ones. Plus Aleksa takes a look at Neo-Nazis in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today is Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who advocates for survivors of sexual assault, and for clearer, consistent definitions in our criminal law. We talked to her about how to achieve change, and what still stands in the way. (This episode includes an excerpt from a much longer chat with Grace, which we've also published in our feed.) Plus, we hack news.com.au, find a loophole in the mask mandate, and uncover a flaw in Qantas' big giveaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grace Tame is an advocate for sexual assault survivors, and this year's Australian of the Year. We asked her about the changes that she's fighting for, and how she's using her platform to make things happen – and discovered that optimism and humour are a very important part of how she operates. (An excerpt of this conversation appears in today's regular episode.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the weekend, NSW set a new daily record for COVID-19 cases anywhere in Australia – and then broke it 24 hours later! No longer the gold standard for managing outbreaks, NSW is now the gold standard for outbreaks! Plus, comedian Harry Jun tells us about teaching high school English over Zoom, we get an exclusive interview with Scott Morrison, and Donald Trump returns to rallies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conspiracy theories have always done the rounds, but it's unusual for them to be aired on the floor of federal parliament, and more unusual still for it to come from government members. Crikey's Webcam columnist talks us through why anti-vaxxers and QAnon types are finding so many followers these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For some months, comedian Sami Shah has maintained a fierce vendetta against the state of Queensland... until now. And that's not the only deeply-held view this freshly-vaccinated comedian is about to reverse. Also, counterinsurgency expert Dr David Kilcullen explains how the Taliban won – a 30-minute version of that interview can be found in a special episode that's also out today. Plus, Charles ponders gourmet takeaway, and it's Review Reading Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Taliban's swift capture of Kabul means that it now controls Afghanistan – how did they do it, and why didn't any of the experts see it coming? This is a longer version of today's interview with counterinsurgency expert, Dr David Kilcullen. His latest book is 'The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the West'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean – sure, he may be in favour of building a coalition to take action on climate, but can he convince Barnaby Joyce and George Christensen? Also, we apologise for New Zealand's snap lockdown, Lachlan looks at freebies for getting vaccinated, and Charles gets overly emotional about a sandwich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking less about lockdown, as promised! And talking more about a much longer-running, even more interminable problem – Afghanistan. Aleksa has compiled some truly terrible takes on the fall of Kabul, while Craig attempts to adapt insights from Australian politics to improving health care and the situation in Afghanistan. Also, Charles' son wants to buy a gun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat to The Shot's Dave Milner as Melbourne goes under curfew, and belatedly realise that we keep producing the same depressing lockdown episode over and over again, because time now essentially stands still. Rest assured, dear listener, that we will now start ensuring that the podcast deals with topics besides the misery of lockdown, over and over again – but not until tomorrow's episode. If it ever arrives. Also, we discuss a terrifying new invention and a new ABC staff complaint service operated by a caring Coalition senator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At it starts its eighth week of stay-at-home orders, Sydney finally goes into lockdown. Plus, Jan Fran joins us to preview her new show 'Question Everything', which we attempt to do. And, because this podcast never shies away from the tough debates, Charles dares to share his lockdown hair issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's extra Saturday edition – Craig directed a movie! He's here to tell us about The Big Deal, a doco that looks at how money influences our political system. The results of all this influence-buying can be seen in today's other conversation, where climate specialist Ketan Joshi talks us through the landmark IPCC Report on climate change – what's in those 3,900 pages, anyway? And can we do anything stop a climate catastrophe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina has been forced to self-isolate forever after an unfortunate workplace faux pas. Plus, Charles and Zander have an exclusive interview with Barnaby Joyce, Aleksa discovers that being woke loses Olympic medals, and Covid comes to Canberra – where Chaser writer John is out of toilet paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sami escalates his blood feud with the Sunshine State, while Charles wonders whether it's worth just giving up, and Gabbi welcomes him to life as a disillusioned millennial. Also, Dom reckons anyone can become a doctor now, and Zander explains the benefits of the AFP breaking into your social media account. All in all, another episode of unbridled positivity, delivering joy and optimism to our anguished world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabbi catches Charles and Dom sounding drunk during yesterday's episode – were they? Plus, The Shovel's James Schloeffel joins us to talk through the latest news, including the COVID outbreaks in Byron Bay and the arrival of the Moderna vaccine. And we discover that exclusive private schools have received privileged access to Pfizer just like, well, everything else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles, Gabbi and Dom wonder whether the new IPCC Report on climate change has taken account of the important minor lifestyle changes we've all made. Plus, NSW finally has a lockdown exit date from a fairly unlikely source, Chaser writer John has issue with our listener survey, and Charles channels his ever-growing lockdown angst into a halfpipe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig announces a nefarious plan to destroy a certain well-known comedian, while Aleksa listens to Sky News' 'Uncancelled' special and makes a shocking discovery about the nation's least watched news channel. Also, Charles previews the supposedly imminent Moderna vaccine, Zander somehow survives Tokyo 2020, and Bec hand-crafts a fresh crop of artisanal news headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Saturday episode of The Chaser Report, we go behind the scenes with Aleksa Vulovic as he describes carrying out his latest Chaser stunt, successfully getting into a major arms dealer conference called Land Forces, which was held in Brisbane earlier this year.Their website says "Although protesters attempted to interrupt the event, they failed to prevent it from going ahead as planned and from being an important platform in advancing Australia’s industrial and defence capability" – but they don't mention that one satirist managed to sneak his way in... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to broaden your listening interests this lockdown? On today's special ep, 7:30's Mark Humphries takes a deep dive into the podcasts you should be listening to, to while away the hours. Plus, a glimpse at the future of satire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actual housemates Vic Zerbst (Freudian Nip) and Tom Cardy (a frankly ridiculous number of followers on TikTok) made a video for the Feed about how lockdowns turn housemates into... something more... that is also very much less, and relive their tensions with us. Also, Gabbi is suitably baffled by Luxe Listings, Charles declares bankruptcy, and partying Olympians vomit in inappropriate places. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Burke is the federal Labor MP for the Sydney seat of Watson, most of which is currently under the hardest lockdown rules – he explains what life's like on the inside, as well as why a photo-op with Guy Sebastian wasn't enough to help vulnerable arts workers. Plus, we look at vaccine passports, poo-powered planes and the current self-isolation regime at Charles' house, while Zander reports on the athletes' muck up day at the Olympic Village. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In response to listener feedback, we nobly make the best of everything for once. Also, after the baffling revelation that Senator Matt Canavan went on Steve Bannon's podcast, we thought we'd find out more about what Bannon – the brains behind Donald Trump's election win – is up to, and the state of the Trump resistance in general. Assoc Prof Dave Smith from the US Study Centre at the University of Sydney joins us. Plus, after Sky News' YouTube channel is suspended, Charles helpfully explains some ancient technology from his youth to Gabbi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom ponders the PM's Norman 'Nugget' May impression, Chris considers the Australian Army's deployment to suburban Sydney, and Zander covers the athletics in Tokyo. Charles unveils his Morrison Certainty Principle while previewing life after COVID. As always, Rebecca breaks, then painstakingly reassembles, the latest news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nina confesses the very criminal thing she did which was genuinely lovely but still extremely illegal. Alan Jones* objects to having to face consequences – in this case, being dumped by the Daily Telegraph. Plus Zander investigates why our athletics team is as isolated as he is in Tokyo, and Lachlan tries to deliver an unprecedented outcome for The Chaser – turning a profit.* Dan Ilic of 'A Rational Fear', of course – go and listen to his podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabbi battles a neighbour who's making her lockdown even more agonising with loud dance music, while Sami Shah explores the bizarre appearance of Senator Matt Canavan on former Trump Svengali Steve Bannon's podcast. Plus, Zander goes to the rowing in Tokyo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom and Charles celebrate the joyful fact that everyone other than Sydneysiders is now out of lockdown. Their magnanimity even in the face of news that they’ll be locked down for at least another month shows you what wonderful people they are. Plus Zander goes to the Olympics and Aleksa heads down to Melbourne – disguised as a removalist – to cover the moment Victorians regained their liberty. We also cross to the voice of Melbourne, Dave Milner of The Shot, to taste the vibe of freedom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig joins us to share how he's become the legal representative for certain prominent horse-punchers and fire-twirlers, and takes on the challenge of fixing everyone's NBN. Plus, we send Zander to Tokyo 2020, and discover a few new ways to escape from lockdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Charles and Dom interview UK-based Australian comedian Sarah Kendall to find out whether the UK is a paradise now that all the COVID restrictions have abruptly been ended. We also discover the secret of Boris Johnson's appeal, and a thoroughly gross story about a staircase. Plus, Rebecca De Unamuno with all the latest headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We ask Queensland's Acting Premier, Steven Miles, about his boss' trip to Tokyo, and bid for The Chaser to run the Opening Ceremony for Brisbane 2032. Also, Gabbi Bolt watches Annabel Crabb's 'Ms Represented' and discovers that parliament didn't have women's toilets until 1975, and Scott Morrison finally says sorry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.