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Matt Bevan on the players in Trump’s orbit

The US President Donald Trump has surrounded himself with colourful and controversial characters.  From Steve Witkoff, who once bought Trump a sandwich and is now taking the lead on peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine, to Howard Lutnick, the tariff tsar. How did they secure their key roles and what effect are they having on the policies of the most powerful nation on Earth? This week, Sam Hawley is joined by ABC presenters and journalists to discuss their best stories and interviews from 2025. Today, Matt Bevan, host of the ABC's If You’re Listening podcast, on the cast of characters in Donald Trump’s orbit.

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  Leigh Sales on humanity’s best stories

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  Stephanie March on Gaza, autocracy and elephants

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  Alan Kohler on robots and the future of work

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  Is Bondi the start of a new era of terror?

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  Albanese’s 'wicked' antisemitism problem

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  Everything we know about the Bondi shooters

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  Jewish leaders’ call to action after the Bondi massacre

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  The Bondi terrorist attack targeting Jewish people

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  Will the Netflix-Warner Bros deal kill the movies?

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  Why Anika Wells’ travel costs don’t fly with taxpayers

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  Which houses will survive this bushfire season?

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  The e-bike problem on our roads (and footpaths)

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  The reality of the teen social media ban

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  Is Trump about to go to war with Venezuela?

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  Can farmers take on transmission towers and win?