Mornings with Mark Levy

Mornings with Mark Levy on 2GB

Mornings with Mark Levy is a central pillar of the talkback radio landscape in Sydney, Australia, broadcasting on the 2GB network. Airing every weekday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, the program serves as a comprehensive information hub for listeners seeking the latest developments in local and national news, sports, traffic, and weather. The show transitioned to its current format following the retirement of long-time broadcaster Ray Hadley, with Mark Levy assuming the role in late 2024 to continue the station's legacy of high-impact morning programming.

The editorial focus of the show is characterized by hard-hitting political interviews and rigorous commentary on the day’s most pressing issues. Mark Levy, an award-winning broadcaster with nearly two decades of experience at 2GB, utilizes his background in news and sports to guide discussions that range from granular community concerns to high-level policy debates. His approach is rooted in a direct and investigative style, often featuring live interviews with government ministers, opposition leaders, and industry experts. This format allows the program to function as a platform for public accountability and civic engagement within the New South Wales region.

Beyond politics, the show maintains a significant emphasis on sports coverage, reflecting Levy’s long-standing connection to the Wide World of Sports and the NRL’s Continuous Call Team. The broadcast integrates regular updates on transit and weather, ensuring that its audience remains informed about practical daily requirements alongside broader current events.

For digital audiences, the program is curated into two primary podcast formats. Listeners can access the "Full Show" recordings for a complete archival experience of the three-hour broadcast, or opt for "Highlights" episodes that isolate specific interviews, editorial segments, and significant debates. These digital offerings ensure that the show's content is available on-demand for a global audience, maintaining its relevance well after the live broadcast concludes. As a staple of Sydney’s news cycle, the show continues to shape public discourse through its commitment to live, local, and informative audio content.

00:00
00:00

Episode's summary

This episode of The Summary examines the blurred lines between political satire and propaganda, focusing on the controversy surrounding One Nation's 'Please Explain' online cartoons. Comedian Charles Firth discusses how these animations use the technical elements of comedy to deliver messages that align with elite interests, suggesting they function more as funded propaganda than subversive art. The discussion further explores the sociological implications of using humor to normalize extremist narratives. Featuring insights from Professor Julian Drugan, an expert in online extremism and disinformation, the episode analyzes how strategic humor can be used to camouflage hateful or violent sentiments, making them more palatable to mainstream audiences and lowering the barriers toward radicalization.

Chapters

Click on a chapter to go directly to that moment

Highlights

This is not subversive at all. This is just... the interests of the elite dressed up very seductively as satire.

00:04:11 · Charles Firth describes the underlying political messaging found within the One Nation animations.

That's where the conditions exist that that... enters their imagination. That's what stochastic terrorism is all about.

00:07:17 · Charles Firth explains how making certain violent ideas part of a casual conversation can lead to real-world violence.

There are examples of humour being used by extreme groups and extremist individuals as a way of lowering the barriers towards hateful and racist and extremist narratives.

00:09:56 · Professor Julian Drugan discusses how humor can be weaponized to make extremist ideologies more acceptable.

It's also been used to camouflage really hateful, violent sentiments and to make them seem more palatable, to align more with normal mainstream opinions and attitudes.

00:10:54 · Professor Drugan explains the strategic use of humor to disguise dangerous political agendas.

There are examples, I suppose, where humour... can be used to reinforce, say, a stereotype which might lead historically or today towards people being attacked or violence being perpetrated against them.

00:14:04 · Professor Drugan identifies the threshold where humor becomes dangerous by reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

Episodes

10662-

From The Summary Podcast - Please Explain: When Cartoons Cross the Line

This episode of The Summary examines the blurred lines between political satire and propaganda, focusing on the controversy surrounding One Nation's 'Please Explain' online cartoons. Comedian Charles Firth discusses how these animations use the technical elements of comedy to deliver messages that align with elite interests, suggesting they function more as funded propaganda than subversive art. The discussion further explores the sociological implications of using humor to normalize extremist narratives. Featuring insights from Professor Julian Drugan, an expert in online extremism and disinformation, the episode analyzes how strategic humor can be used to camouflage hateful or violent sentiments, making them more palatable to mainstream audiences and lowering the barriers toward radicalization.

02 Nov 2026
10661-

Mornings with Mark Levy - Full Show 2nd November

Mark Levy covers a wide range of pressing Australian news, from the rise of drone-delivered contraband in NSW prisons to the severe economic strain on small businesses facing high insolvency rates. The episode explores political shifts involving One Nation and the Albanese government, alongside discussions on housing affordability and the impact of interest rate hikes. The program also features updates on sports, including rugby league and Melbourne Cup prospects, as well as community-focused segments like Movember and a new initiative to support local businesses. Additional topics include international news regarding a train crash in Spain and legal developments involving Mark Latham.

02 Nov 2026
10660-

'Good for Australia, bad for us' - Liberal Senator backs Charlton to take Treasurer's job

In this episode, Shadow Housing Minister Senator Andrew Bragg joins the program to discuss the significant downturn in the Australian property market, noting that house prices have fallen for seven consecutive months. The discussion covers the impact of government taxation on housing supply and rents, the potential for interest rate rises driven by inflation, and the Coalition's proposal to allow Australians to access superannuation to purchase homes. The conversation also addresses broader economic concerns, including mortgage stress affecting over half a million households, political polling trends showing a decline in trust, and the potential leadership transitions within the Labor Party. The host concludes with an analysis of the need for experienced politicians in key economic portfolios, highlighting recent insolvency rates among small businesses.

01 Nov 2026
10659-

EXCLUSIVE - 'Pigeon' drone-drop highlights ongoing contraband issues

This episode investigates the increasing frequency of drone-delivered contraband within the New South Wales prison system, specifically focusing on a recent incident at Goulburn Supermax where mobile phones were discovered inside a taxidermied pigeon. The report details the methods used by criminal syndicates to establish aerial supply lines for communication devices and storage media to facilitate untraceable contact from behind bars. The program critiques the New South Wales Government's slow procurement process regarding anti-drone technology, such as geofencing and frequency jammers. While Corrections Minister Anilak Chandavong outlines plans for trials and taxpayer-focused procurement, the report highlights urgent warnings from correctional officers who fear that these drone incursions will soon escalate to the delivery of 3D-printed firearms and explosives.

01 Nov 2026
10658-

Mark Levy hits back at horse racing protesters ahead of the Melbourne Cup

A defense of the horse racing industry against animal rights activists during the Melbourne Cup carnival. The speaker argues that protesters misunderstand the nature of thoroughbreds and overlook the significant advancements made in equine welfare, veterinary care, and post-racing rehoming over the last decade. The episode highlights the economic importance of racing to regional Australia, noting its role in supporting breeders, farmers, and local businesses in country towns. The speaker characterizes the protests as performative marketing and calls for support for the hardworking community of stable hands, trainers, and breeders who sustain the sport.

30 Oct 2026