With dire numbers coming out of Victoria and a devastating death toll mounting in aged care centres, governments are scrambling to contain COVID-19.

Meanwhile, new Closing The Gap targets have been signed off.

And Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds head to the US for AUSMIN talks.

To unpack it all, Fran and PK are joined by Peter Hartcher, political editor and international editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.