7am

In 2020 we brought you the story of the last family left on Nauru. 

Just over a week ago - that family was released. They were among the 26 refugees freed from onshore detention. 

So, today we’re re-releasing that 2020 episode, featuring journalist Hannah Ryan on the story of Mustafa and Salah. 

Their story is a reminder of what hundreds of refugees have endured within the Australian detention system.

Guest: Journalist, Hannah Ryan.

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Today, we are spotlighting an episode of 7am from the archive: A major study found that the therapeutic use of the illicit drug MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, could cure people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

At the time, an Australian psychologist was finally embarking on Australia’s first ever clinical trial using the drug. 

James Bradley on the healing power of MDMA - and why Australia has been so slow to explore its possibilities. 

Guest: Writer for The Monthly, James Bradley.

Editor's Note: Since this episode was published, a complaint has been referred to Health Canada over MAPS's research, alleging inappropriate conduct towards patients, undocumented side effects and flaws in how data was used.

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As Russian forces have withdrawn from around Kyiv, Ukrainians have found shocking scenes of civilians executed and evidence of alleged war crimes. But Russia isn’t leaving these towns to give up on its war in Ukraine.

Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman, on the race to gather evidence of war crimes and Vladimir Putin’s new plan to win the war in Ukraine.

Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper, Jonathan Pearlman.

Background reading: Evidence of atrocities as Russians retreat from Kyiv in The Saturday Paper.

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In the final days of a Government, before an election is called, last-minute appointments are often made. Last week, the Morrison government made 19 of those, to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Half of the people appointed have ties to the Liberal Party or to conservative politics.

Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the case of one young man, who never got his chance at redress.

Guest: Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

Background reading: Coalition stacking Liberals across the boards in The Saturday Paper.

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With an election called, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has six weeks to convince Australia he would make a better prime minister than Scott Morrison. The challenge is to avoid the mistakes of the last Labor election campaign, but as a small target, can he still be inspiring enough to win over voters – and secure a majority?

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper and biographer of Anthony Albanese, Karen Middleton, on his rebrand and what it tells us about Labor’s strategy.

Guest: Author of Albanese: Telling It Straight, Karen Middleton.

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After years in public life, Scott Morrison can still seem hollow and one-dimensional. According to his biographer, this is deliberate. But with the election now running, Morrison faces one of the strange truisms of politics: that what helped him win last time could be what costs him victory this time. Sean Kelly, author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison, on what we know about the prime minister and what that tells us about the kind of campaign he will run.

Guest: Author of The Game Sean Kelly.

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With the countdown to the federal election on, both sides of politics are attempting to shore up internal support and reassure voters. 

Labor is still firmly ahead in the polls, but the race is getting tighter, at least according to newspoll. 

In an unprecedented development, however, members of the Liberal Party have begun turning on Scott Morrison.

Today columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the fight ahead.

Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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From The Monthly and LiSTNR comes The Politics Podcast, a new daily podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers you the in-depth analysis of the moments that defined the day in politics. Hosted by Rachel Withers from The Monthly, The Politics Podcast drops at 5.30pm each weekday.

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Across the country, COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise. Yesterday, NSW recorded more than 24,000 new cases and in Victoria there were more than 12,000. While deaths and hospitalisations have not hit the highs of January, over 2,500 Australians are in hospital and the figure has been rising. 

So, what’s driving the spread of COVID-19 right now? 

Today, Professor Raina MacIntyre, a member of the World Health Organization’s advisory group, on what we’re misunderstanding about the current wave of infections, and what the long term costs are. 

Guest: Professor Raina MacIntyre.

Background reading: Why Australia’s daily Covid cases are on the rise again in The Saturday Paper.

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Fifteen years after winning the safe seat of Cook, the true story of Scott Morrison’s ugly preselection fight can now be revealed. For the first time, statutory declarations show how Morrison allegedly used race and religion to undermine a rival.

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton, who broke the story, on what really happened and what it tells us about Scott Morrison as a politician. 

Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Middleton

Background reading: ‘Actually a Moslem’: The true story of Morrison’s ruthless preselection in The Saturday Paper.

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