Recently, Spotify’s founder, Daniel Ek, announced he’s stepping back from running the company. He leaves as one of the richest men in his home country of Sweden – with Forbes estimating his wealth at $9.6 billion. In a departure note to staff, Ek said he wants to focus on creating more European “supercompanies” – companies he described as “developing new technologies to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time”. The move comes months after Ek’s involvement in the global defence industry...
Oct 11, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1689
Labor is trying to land one of its toughest reforms – an overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws. Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants to speed up housing and energy project developments, make it clear where construction can and can’t go ahead, and create a federal environment watchdog. After a failed deal with the Greens in the last parliament, Labor is now dealing with the Coalition. So what will that mean for the environment? Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remei...
Oct 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1688
Almost two years to the day since October 7, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. The agreement involves the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, with Israel pulling back its troops to an agreed-upon line and allowing aid into Gaza. The first hostages are expected to be released as soon as this weekend. Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on the negotiations that got us here – and wha...
Oct 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1687
Anthony Albanese was first elected on a pledge to fix the climate wars. The most recent test of that promise was the emissions targets he announced on the world stage. But if the targets themselves don’t meet the standards set by scientists – and the policy underpinning them hasn’t dramatically altered – what’s really going to change? Today, journalist Nick Feik on the inadequacies in the government’s climate policy – and how the media has allowed a political narrative to overshadow the reality ...
Oct 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1686
The government says it wants to make it easier for Australians to buy a home. Its latest expansion of the five per cent deposit scheme means almost anyone, regardless of income, can now buy a home with a fraction of the usual savings required for a deposit. It is the boldest version yet of a policy first introduced under the Morrison government. But behind the promise of affordability is a political calculation: there are far more votes to be won from rising house values than from cheaper homes....
Oct 07, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1685
It started with a series of posts on social media. Nostalgic images of Australia from decades ago, accompanied by statements like "we're starting to feel like strangers in our own home” WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s public posts about what he’s calling “out of control” immigration, as well as housing and energy costs have now led to his resignation. While that means he’s on the backbench right now, the conservative MP has made no secret about his ambition to lead. Today, political reporter Karen...
Oct 06, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1684
Every Wednesday morning during sitting weeks, politicians, staffers, public servants and journalists gather for a friendly game of sport. It’s meant to be casual, even wholesome. But recently, that club, the Parliament Sports Club, quietly re-registered as a lobbying organisation. Its board includes the Prime Minister. Its members include representatives from the major sporting codes – and one of its sponsors is the gambling lobby. All of this is happening while the government sits on a report t...
Oct 05, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1683
This week, Rick Morton won the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for his book Mean Streak. It’s a huge achievement and we are thrilled for him. This book was the culmination of years of reporting on Robodebt – a government scheme that destroyed lives. At 7am, we were lucky enough to work with Rick on a series, which we published in 2023, about how Robodebt was allowed to happen. And there’s one episode from that series that we still think about all the time – about a woman who saw what was happen...
Oct 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1682
Anthony Albanese recently returned from a major overseas trip, rubbing shoulders with royalty and sharing the stage with world leaders. But behind the scenes, there were also quiet discussions about a possible Plan B for AUKUS. With parliament about to sit again, his government faces pressure from the crossbench over defence and foreign policy – while the Opposition is consumed by internal divisions and power plays. Today, contributing editor at The New Daily Amy Remeikis, on what Albanese reall...
Oct 03, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1681
TikTok is the most influential media platform for Australians under the age of 25. It’s where millions now get their news - whether they realise it or not. But the app is no longer just a cultural force. It’s now at the centre of a global power struggle - between China – and Trump’s America, over who gets to control the algorithm. In the US, a Trump aligned group of investors is taking over TikTok’s American operations, raising questions about how one platform could influence the political views...
Oct 02, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1680
Rick Morton was writing about the restructures happening at several universities earlier this year when documents from the University of Technology Sydney caught his eye. UTS had hired KPMG to help it save $100 million through a restructure. That restructure has now led to the announcement of 400 job losses, with the entire School of Education gone. Rick noticed that UTS had asked KPMG to provide a spreadsheet ranking researchers by how much money they were bringing in, which raised the question...
Oct 01, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1679
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have unveiled a 20-point proposal they say could end the war in Gaza “immediately” – after nearly two years of bombardment and mounting international pressure. At its core, Hamas must release all hostages, disarm and have no role in Gaza’s future governance. Israel would not commit to a full withdrawal – retaining the freedom to re-enter Gaza and a widened footprint inside The Strip. The plan also creates a new “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump to oversee a tr...
Sep 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1678
Dr Rachel Coghlan is a palliative care doctor based in Melbourne, who worked with doctors in Gaza before October 7, 2023. Since then, she has been in regular contact with her colleagues there, as they have continued to show up for work to care for their patients in increasingly horrific circumstances. But now, as Israel’s bombardment of Gaza City intensifies, doctors in Gaza face a devastating decision: stay and care for their patients, or flee to save their families. Today, Dr Rachel Coghlan on...
Sep 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1677
When Donald Trump took power, he promised retribution against his political opponents. Now, he’s delivering - and he’s using the justice department to do it, with the US Attorney launching a two-count indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. And it seems like that’s just the beginning. The justice department has also been directed to investigate the Open Society Foundations, a group funded by the billionaire George Soros. Today, former Human Rights Watch director and federal prosecuto...
Sep 29, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1676
Anthony Albanese has finally managed to get a meeting with Donald Trump, after months of trying. But why did it take so long? And what does it say about just how rocky our relationship with the US has become? As political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton reports, the Australian government has been working hard to soften the Trump administration’s attitude over many months, announcing policies favourable to them. At the same time, Albanese knows that downplay...
Sep 28, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1675
The communications watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Optus after a 13-hour failure blocked about 600 triple-zero calls – now linked to three deaths. The government is furious, calling it “completely unacceptable”, and warning of “significant consequences”. But is it actually their fault too? Today, journalist and contributor to Crikey, Michael Sainsbury, on what went wrong and how the government’s choices led to this disaster. You can read Michael’s reporting at https://www.crikey....
Sep 25, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1674
The Albanese government has been on an unprecedented campaign of diplomatic activism in the Pacific Islands – all to keep China’s military at a distance. At the same time, AUKUS is remaking our defence strategy, with eight nuclear-powered submarines, expanded facilities for US forces, and plans for a new east-coast submarine base. For some watching on, those two approaches are at odds – the diplomacy aims to prevent a Chinese foothold, while AUKUS gives them the exact reason why they need one. T...
Sep 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1673
Almost a month after two police officers were shot and killed in regional Victoria, the accused gunman – Dezi Freeman – is still at large. Victoria Police have deployed thousands of officers, searched more than a hundred properties, and offered the biggest reward in Victorian history – with no result. People have also been combing Freeman’s Facebook history, which plots a journey from nature photos and family updates, to calling police “Gestapo cowards” and who deserve “Nuremberg 2”. Today, repo...
Sep 23, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1672
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in New York for the UN General Assembly, where Australia has formally recognised the State of Palestine – a step that more than 150 UN member states have now taken. The move is part of what Australian calls "a co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution". But with no active peace process, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to fight calls for Palestinian statehood, and the US attempting to scuttle the process – ...
Sep 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1671
The Coalition is again in crisis. The latest Newspoll puts its primary vote at 27 per cent – its worst on record. And with one frontbencher sacked over immigration comments and others threatening to quit over climate policy, the party seems more divided than ever. Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton on the ideological battle lines tearing the party apart. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch...
Sep 21, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1670
Having released the National Climate Risk Assessment – a report full of apocalyptic climate warnings – earlier this week, the government has now announced its 2035 emissions reduction target. It’s a range, not a single number: 62–70 per cent below 2005 levels. The government says it’s achievable and ambitious, backed by more renewables and industry support. Critics say it adds little beyond what the states are already on track to deliver, the modelling leans on technology that doesn't exist yet,...
Sep 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1669
The UN Commission of Inquiry has delivered its starkest assessment yet – finding that Israel has been and is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has rejected the report, saying it’s acting in self-defence and takes steps to protect civilians. Meanwhile, Israel has begun a major ground offensive in Gaza City after weeks of bombardment. And abroad, Israel’s strike in the Qatari capital of Doha has rattled Qatar's mediator role and put hopes of a ceasefire further in doubt. Today, Senior Diplomatic...
Sep 17, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1668
In the days since the assassination of prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, the White House ordered flags flown at half-staff and memorials were organised in Washington, DC and Arizona. But what followed wasn’t just mourning. The Trump administration is urging people to report anyone who criticised or mocked Kirk’s death, and has pledged to use federal power to uproot and dismantle left-leaning groups it says foment political violence. Today, host of the independent media podcast Lamestre...
Sep 16, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1667
Last week, the federal environment minister approved Woodside’s plans to keep its North West Shelf project producing gas out to 2070. Both the government and Woodside claim that gas is a necessary transition fuel as the world decarbonises – but how convincing are their arguments? Today, investigative journalist and author of the Quarterly Essay Woodside vs the Planet, Marian Wilkinson, on how one company captured the country – and convinced us that we need the gas industry. If you enjoy 7am, the...
Sep 15, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1666
In opposition, Anthony Albanese said Scott Morrison was running "A shadow government that preferred to operate in darkness." Now in power, the Albanese government is planning to water down Australia's transparency laws and make secrets easier to keep. The proposed changes to Australia’s Freedom of Information act would limit who can make requests, and make it easier for officials to refuse them. Today, former Senator and transparency advocate Rex Patrick, on the culture of secrecy plaguing Austr...
Sep 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1665
When Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan introduced the state's treaty bill into parliament, she said it would pave the way for a formal apology, the introduction of Aboriginal truth-telling into the school curriculum, and a better future for Indigenous Australians in the state. The treaty is the culmination of almost a decade of work that established the First Peoples’ Assembly – which led the negotiations – and delivers on ‘Voice, Treaty and Truth’, making Victoria the first state in the country t...
Sep 11, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1664
Indigenous leaders across the country have welcomed Victoria’s treaty. The legislation will enshrine a democratically elected body for First Peoples, called Gellung Warl, that will be consulted on laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities. Now there are calls for other states and territories to use the Victorian example as a model to establish their own treaties. But there’s also pushback – with critics calling it costly and divisive in claims that echo The Voice debate – and with state...
Sep 11, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1663
Images of child sexual abuse generated by artificial intelligence are on the rise. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says 100,000 Australians a month have accessed an app that allows users to upload images of other people – including minors – to receive a depiction of what they would look like naked. Predators are known to share know-how to produce and spread these images – and in Australia, the AI tools used to create this material are not illegal. All the while, Julie Inman ...
Sep 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1662
US President Donald Trump was once skeptical of digital assets, saying Bitcoin “seems like a scam” and that crypto’s value was “based on thin air.” Now, cryptocurrency is at the centre of both his economic agenda, and his personal wealth. Since returning to office in January, Trump has put out executive orders supporting the industry, expanding the government’s use of digital assets, and paving the way for retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrencies – all while his administration dismantles t...
Sep 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1661
After saying that the value of cryptocurrencies were ‘based on thin air’, US President Donald Trump changed his tune – pledging to be a ‘pro-Bitcoin president’ and earning the backing and campaign donations of the industry. Since taking office, Trump’s family has launched numerous crypto ventures that have potentially earned in the billions. Today, tech and power reporter for The Guardian Nick Robins-Early, on the conflicts of interest of the ‘Bitcoin president’ being a crypto-billionaire. This ...
Sep 09, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1660
