Sky News host Peta Credlin has discussed the cost and the impact of childcare on both families and the economy with former deputy prime minister John Anderson. Ms Credlin pointed to the “enormous money pit” it had become as reports show some parents spend up to $23,000 annually with taxpayers subsidising around $13 billion into the industry. “Rather than tip more money into childcare, how about we give parents some choices,” she said. Mr Anderson implored Australians to be “absolutely honest” in a discussion around the long-term effects of childcare. “I almost hesitate to say this because I know it is not popular but we know that not only do many mothers – the statistics are very clear despite what some people would have you believe – prefer to do things differently,” he said. “We really need to be concerned about the impact on very early children’s development.”

Sky News host Paul Murray says Australians believe the country is heading in the “wrong direction” and have thought so consistently for months. A recent Essential poll has revealed 49 per cent believe Australia is headed down the wrong track; compared to only 32 per cent who believe the country is going in the right direction. The poll also showed 47 per cent of Australians disapprove of Anthony Albanese’s leadership, compared to the 41 per cent who approve. “The wrong choices being made by a Prime Minister, who daily, shows us that he is not the man for the job,” Mr Murray said. “Interesting to see – this is a lefty poll, which is why I bring it to you in detail.”

Sky News host Andrew Bolt says there has been a “pile on” via social media after a woman who owns a bookshop complained about missing “positive male lead characters” from bookshelves. “There seems now to be a fight back against the woke tyranny,” Mr Bolt said. “Susanne Horman – complained what is missing from our bookshelves in store, positive male lead characters of any age. “Well unfortunately there’s been … a real pile-on, on this poor woman. “Bookshop’s apologised, said the comments were taken out of context.”

Judo Bank Chief Economic Advisor Warren Hogan says a plunge in consumer spending is “to be expected” after a series of interest rate hikes during a cost of living crisis. “I actually think this is going to get worse before it gets better,” Mr Hogan told Sky News host Sharri Markson. “There shouldn’t be any surprises here ... we are in a declining trend for spending and that’s going to put pressure on many retailers.” Retail sales in December fell 2.7 per cent month on month, revealing a shift away from consumer spending in the lead-up to Christmas. This December, sales are up 0.8 per cent compared with last year with $35.18 billion worth of goods sold.

Newsweek's senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer has hit back at SNL for mocking Donald Trump’s use of the word “de-bank” in a recent skit. During a “Weekend Update” segment of the show, cast member Colin Jost accused Mr Trump of making up the word “de-bank.” Mr Hammer said it is an “extraordinarily troubling phenomenon.” “This is very serious stuff… this impacts people’s livelihoods,” Mr Hammer told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi. “Regardless of what the remedy is this term has been around for a long time. “I’m actually very happy Donald Trump is talking about it.”

Young Turks host and creator Cenk Uygur has hit out at Israel for trying to “drag the US into a giant war” in the Middle East because America will pay with “blood and treasure”. US President Joe Biden has warned the US will respond after three Americans were killed in a drone strike by Iranian-backed militants on a base in Jordan, and Donald Trump said the world is on the brink of World War Three. “The idea that America should fight Israel’s war for it is absurd – no – hard no,” Mr Prager told Sky News host Piers Morgan. “[Israel is] dragging us into a giant war in the Middle East that they’re going to ask us to pay for both in blood and treasure. “There are no Americans that are actually in favour of that, other than neoconservatives that dragged us into Iraq and that debacle over there. “So, my answer to Netanyahu is a hard no – no way to I want to go to war with Iran to help your political career.”

Sky News host Chris Kenny has slammed Anthony Albanese’s “alarmist nonsense” after the Prime Minister claimed scientific data warned climate change would cause more extreme weather events. According to the Earth Systems and Climate Change hub, the total number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region has “decreased significantly in recent decades”. "Climate models indicate that tropical cyclone numbers in the Australian region are likely to decrease this century due to increased human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases,” the report reads. The CSIRO also predicts a “strong tendency for a decrease in tropical cyclones” in the Australian region. “There you go Prime Minister. You can spend billions destroying our electricity grid and making our energy-rich nation energy-poor, making our energy more expensive,” Mr Kenny said. “You can do that if you like but don't try and blame cyclones on climate change, don't try to make political mileage out of people struggling in the here and now against natural disasters.”

Sky News host Rita Panahi says the honeymoon is “well and truly over” for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Ms Panahi’s remarks come as the Prime Minister was “booed loudly” at the Australian Open on Sunday night. “Very different to the reception he got at the last Aus Open,” she said. “There’s certainly a change into how the Prime Minister’s being perceived now compared to the last Aus Open.” Ms Panahi is joined by The Australian’s Media Writer Sophie Elsworth to discuss the reaction to the PM’s attendance.

Conservative talk show host Dennis Prager has condemned people accusing Israel of genocide for their “vile smear” and says the word is now “neutered of its meaning”. On Friday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said several employees were allegedly involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel. The agency’s commissioner-general immediately terminated the contracts of the staff members involved and launched an investigation into the allegations. “The idea that Israel wants to starve the Palestinians is vile – it is another left-wing atrocity on language, like Israel is committing genocide,” Mr Prager told Sky News host Piers Morgan. “Genocide has been raped like the word racism has been raped. “Every decent term has been neutered of its meaning by people on the left ... All the evils have been removed from their context. “It is a vile smear.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Coalition is “all over the shop” when it comes to their stance on the government’s changes to stage three tax cuts. Mr Albanese claimed the Coalition are “addicted to saying no to everything”. “They’re all over the shop aren’t they, that’s the truth and we have a plan that we will put to the parliament of every Australian taxpayer, getting a tax cut,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday. “And we know that the Coalition talk a lot about cost-of-living pressures but they vote against all of them. “They’re so addicted to saying no to everything that … first response was to say that they were going to fight it and they were against it, they didn’t know what it was, it was before the announcement.

Political journalist Ava Santina and Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan have clashed in a heated discussion about transgender women competing in women’s sports. Trans swimmer Lia Thomas has now mounted a legal fight against World Aquatics to overturn its restrictions on the participation of trans athletes in elite women's competitions. “I don’t think it’s fair that people who have experienced gender dysphoria when they’re growing up and don’t feel they’re in the right body should not be allowed to compete in sports,” Ms Santina told Mr Morgan. “Lia Thomas, she’s a woman, and so she is competing as a woman. “What do we say about trans women … do we just say they’re not allowed to play sport ever?”

Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese knows that he will "lose a lot of paint" over the broken stage three tax cut promise. "It is something that he will be criticised for every single day between now and the next election and right through the election," he said. "So obviously the judgement they made was that … Australians are crying out for cost of living relief, "We will have a significant test of how much paint Albo’s lost in the Dunkley by-election in a few weeks. "I’ve lived through the consequences of being seen to break a promise – I don’t accept that argument – I’m trying to relitigate history from 13 years ago. But there was always political damage."

Shadow Attorney General Michaelia Cash has unleashed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his broken stage three tax cut promise, saying he is someone who can no longer be trusted. “Our stage three tax cuts were backing in aspirational Australians – you want to earn more? Guess what, we’re going to back you every single step of the way and make sure you don’t pay more tax,” Ms Cash told Sky News Australia. “And what has Mr Albanese done? He is playing politics over good policy – but more than that … we now have, without a doubt, a liar in the Lodge. “This is a man whose word can no longer be trusted and the proof is on the over 100 times he looked down the barrel of a camera and he said to Australians, ‘your legislated tax cuts are safe with me’. “He lied to Australians.”

Parts of South East Queensland are facing flash flooding after the region was lashed by heavy rain overnight. The Samford Valley was the worst hit, receiving 300mm in just three hours from midnight to 3am. The SES has received 28 calls for help this morning and has launched water rescues for families trapped in their homes. A severe thunderstorm warning for intense rain has been issued for the west of Caboolture. However, a more general severe thunderstorm warning still remains in place for South East Queensland.

Senator Jacqui Lambie has taken a jab at the “heap of rich people” who heckled the Prime Minister at the Australian Open after Labor’s announced tax cut changes. The MC’s welcome to Anthony Albanese was followed by booing at the men’s final on Sunday night. “We’ve got a heap of rich people over there watching the tennis finals, and they’ve had a bit of their tax taken off them,” Ms Lambie said in an interview with Today. “To pay it forward, to give to those who are less fortunate. “For God’s sake, I don’t have a problem with that.”

The Pentagon has identified the three soldiers who were killed in a drone strike at a military base in Jordan on Monday. Sargeant William Jerome Rivers, aged 46, Specialist Kennedy Landon Sanders, aged 24, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffet, aged 23, were revealed as the casualties. The troops were killed on Saturday night by Iran-backed militants after a housing unit was struck, killing three service members and injuring at least 40 more. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh honoured the “fallen” soldiers who were deployed to Jordan as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. “These brave Americans and their families are in our prayers, and the entire Department of Defense mourns their loss,” she said.

New Zealand Greens co-leader James Shaw has announced on Tuesday that he will be resigning from the role. Mr Shaw noted in his speech that it’s “the right time” for the Greens party to have a new co-leader. “We are very much a new caucus now moving into opposition again for the first time in six years, and I feel the time is right for a new co-leader,” he said. Mr Shaw has been co-leader for the New Zealand Green party for eight years and was New Zealand's Climate Change Minister for six years under the previous Ardern government. He was best known as the architect of the zero-carbon act, making New Zealand the first nation in the world to enshrine a net-zero target into law. Nominations for his replacement will open on Wednesday.

The Northern Territory government will review its funding of the Environmental Defenders Office over its conduct during a Federal Court challenge to the Barossa gas project. Santos won the case, and work has now resumed on laying the pipeline from the Barossa field to Darwin, with the first gas expected to be produced early next year. In the Federal Court’s judgement, Justice Natalie Charlesworth found the EDO had “distorted and misrepresented” what Tiwi Islanders had said. “Yes, there does need to be some consequences for anybody who’s lied, particularly about something that’s so important to the Territory economy,” Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said. “We fund them $100,000 a year, and I’ve asked Kate [Worden] to have a look at the contract and the details around that because we need to work together in partnership with the Environmental Defenders Office.”

The New South Wales government has launched its latest campaign to crack down on vaping addiction in young people. It comes as the latest NSW Population Health survey reveals a 16.5 per cent increase in vaping in those aged between 16 and 24. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said by putting young people at the centre of the campaign, they hope to drive vaping rates back down and for more people to seek support. "I think this is the biggest public health challenge our community and certainly our young people face," he told Sky News Australia. “What we're trying to explain to young people is the short-term effects we already know about - breathing, respiratory issues, problems with their lungs, poisoning. “These are issues that we know can happen really quickly on top of, obviously, one of the worst things that can happen, which is nicotine addiction. “What we’re saying to young people is please don’t get addicted to nicotine because we already know the damage that drug can do. “We saw some real challenges over the last century bringing smoking rates down; we can’t wait that long to bring the rates down for people vaping - it will just lead to too much harm.”

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says the US needs to respond “more robustly and decisively” to the drone strike in Jordan, which is a “more serious escalation” by Iran than previous incidents. The Pentagon has promised to use all necessary actions to defend American troops after a drone strike killed three US soldiers in Jordan. “They need to respond much more robustly and decisively than what they’ve done in the past,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “This strike by the Iranian-sponsored militias have now killed three US service people and wounded over 30 US service people – that is a much more serious escalation by Iran than previous incidents, so the US does need to respond decisively. “They’ve got various different options they can look at, and I think probably high on the list of targets would be the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for these militias that are doing these strikes. “They could hit their bases, and I think these are the sorts of options the US will be weighing up on how best to do it.”