The people have spoken! The rakali, a water rat, is Australia's most underrated native animal!
 

So, what makes an animal an icon exactly? Our emblems and mascots are influenced much more by historical and social accidents than by nature or science. Think emu, kangaroo or koala. But are these our most significant animals? 
 

This Science Week, ABC Science counted down the most underrated native animals, from the dugong, burly turtle frog to the almost-alien cuttlefish.
 

After more than 65,000 votes, the rascally rakali took out the top spot, with the palm cockatoo and the cuttlefish close behind. Read more in this recap.
 

And on the literary front, author Trent Dalton is sounding the alarm for writers. The acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe writer tells the Radio National Hour that Meta's Artificial Intelligence (AI) has "plundered" his work without permission. He has joined nearly 1,900 Australian authors in a fight to protect creative rights in the digital age. Listen to the interview with host Fran Kelly here.
 

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has shaved 0.25 points off the cash rate, bringing it to 3.60 per cent. That's welcome news for borrowers, and the government has called it a win. But the RBA has warned slowing productivity could limit future cuts. So what could that mean for mortgage holders? Politics Now breaks it all down in this latest episode.

We asked you to vote on the most underrated native animal and after more than 65,000 votes, the rascally rakali took out the top spot, with the palm cockatoo and the cuttlefish close behind.

Author Trent Dalton has called AI software "the most serious issue facing working Australian writers today". The Boy Swallows Universe author told Radio National Hour he's joining a mass push against Meta after discovering that multiple editions of his books were on a pirate site used to train the tech company's AI platform.

The RBA board delivered mortgage holders a long-awaited interest rate cut this week. It was an independent decision, but will Labor be counting it as a political win? Patricia Karvelas and Brett Worthington break it all down on Politics Now.

Film critic and writer David Stratton died this week aged 85. He formed an indomitable on-air partnership with Margaret Pomeranz, which spanned decades and became a cultural touchstone. In a a special episode, The Screen Show pays tribute to Stratton's cinematic life.

In a historic move, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will recognise a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly next month. So, what does that mean? Global Roaming hosts Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald discuss the significance of following other western governments in taking this step.