News and politics recap: ‘Melons’ podcast host got ‘real’ Albanese as PM reveals Trump tariff pitch in call
RECAP: Nikki Osborne has claimed Anthony Albanese ‘knew what he was coming into’ when appearing on her podcast as the PM reveals what was discussed with Donald Trump in a surprise overnight phone call.
Scroll down for a recap of the latest news and updates.
Key events
14 Aug 2026 - 04:23 PM
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14 Aug 2026 - 12:52 PM
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14 Aug 2026 - 09:59 AM
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14 Aug 2026 - 09:54 AM
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14 Aug 2026 - 09:36 AM
New Reserve Bank board member named
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Jacinta Allan quits politics after 27 years: ‘I didn’t waste a day’
14 Aug 2026 - 09:10 AM
‘I’ve responded’: PM side steps ‘melons’ podcast questions
14 Aug 2026 - 08:42 AM
Podcast host claims PM ‘knew what he was coming into’
14 Aug 2026 - 08:00 AM
Albanese supports ‘fair’ GST deal ahead of report release
14 Aug 2026 - 07:51 AM
Bowen takes aim at One Nation’s ‘monoculture’ vision
14 Aug 2026 - 07:37 AM
Butler coy on ‘carefully developed plan’ to bring down migration numbers
14 Aug 2026 - 07:04 AM
Albanese doubles down on refusal to apologise over Japanese PM ‘melons’ remark
14 Aug 2026 - 06:14 AM
PM pressed on calling for end to US-Iran war
14 Aug 2026 - 06:03 AM
‘Best treatment’: Albanese makes tariff pitch to Trump
14 Aug 2026 - 05:58 AM
Overnight call included discussion on regional and global issues: PM
14 Aug 2026 - 05:47 AM
Albanese addresses media after ‘substantial’ phone call with Trump
14 Aug 2026 - 05:31 AM
Albanese and Trump hold surprise phone call overnight
Chloe Maher and Madeline Cove are reporting live.
Overnight call included discussion on regional and global issues: PM
Anthony Albanese says the Middle East conflict, and global and regional issues were discussed with Donald Trump during a “productive, constructive, lengthy” overnight call.
“The President and I exchanged views on a number of global and regional issues, including the conflict in the Middle East and recent developments in the Pacific,” he told reporters on Friday.
“This included briefing the President on the recent alliances that we have established, the coming into force of the alliance with Papua New Guinea, the signing of the alliance with Fiji, and the other arrangements that we have made right across the Pacific and South-East Asia.
“We discussed the progress on pillar two of AUKUS where we have agreed our significant project focused on joint development of cutting-edge payloads and and enabling systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles.
“We were able to review progress of our agreement on critical minerals which is is making real progress under which we are delivering more than $3.5 billion worth of critical minerals projects.”
Albanese addresses media after ‘substantial’ phone call with Trump
Anthony Albanese is holding a press conference after speaking with Donald Trump on the phone overnight.
The news broke on 2GB on Friday morning, saying a White House official confirming the leaders spoke overnight Australian time.
The Prime Minsiter is now revealing details about what the two leaders discussed.
Say with us as we bring you the latest.
Albanese and Trump hold surprise phone call overnight
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have reportedly spoken by phone overnight, with the surprise conversation confirmed by a White House official.
The news broke on 2GB on Friday morning, saying a White House official confirming the leaders spoke overnight Australian time.
However, details of what was discussed remain unclear and there has been no official statement from the Australian Government or the White House about the contents of the call.
The conversation is believed to be the first phone call between the two leaders since March, following Mr Albanese’s meeting with Mr Trump in Washington in October last year.
