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 Middleton, on Andrew Hastie’s rebellion – and what it means for Sussan Ley’s future.

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Guest: Political reporter Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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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 that recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling ads; a ban that experts say is urgently needed to protect families and communities from the harms of gambling. 

Today, media reporter for Crikey Daanyal Saeed, on how a casual sporting meet up became a vehicle for lobbyists, and what it tells us about the gambling industry’s grip on politics. 

You can read Daany’s reporting here: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/30/parliament-sports-club-gambling-lobby/
 

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Guest: Crikey’s media reporter Daanyal Saeed

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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 happening and called it out.

We hope you read Rick’s important book Mean Streak – and we hope you enjoy this episode from our series Inside Robodebt.

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Guest: Rick Morton, author of Mean Streak and winner of the non-fiction prize at the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 

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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 really brought back from his overseas tour, and how the coalition's implosion is reshaping politics in Canberra. 

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Guest: Contributing editor at The New Daily Amy Remeikis

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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 of an entire generation. 

Today, Associate Editor at Crikey, Cam Wilson, on Trumpification of TikTok.

You can read Cam’s reporting at Crikey.

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Guest: Associate Editor at Crikey, Cam Wilson

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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 questions – were they using this to inform their restructure? And if they were, what does that say about how Australian universities are grappling with the pressure to be profitable at a time when research and learning is under threat?

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Guest: Journalist Rick Morton

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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 transition, but leaves key gaps: about who would truly govern Gaza, and whether Palestinian statehood remains on the table. 

Today, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent for HuffPost Akbar Shahid Ahmed on how this proposal outsources Gaza's future and gives leverage to Israel.

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Guest: Akbar Shahid Ahmed is the Senior Diplomatic Correspondent for HuffPost

Photo: Sipa USA

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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 what’s left of Gaza’s hospitals, and the daily toll for doctors as they try to keep them going. 

You can read Dr Coghlan’s work at Crikey: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/25/gaza-evacuation-palestine-gaza-strip-israel/ 

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Guest: Humanitarian and palliative care practitioner, researcher and advocate Dr Rachel Coghlan 

Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana

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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 prosecutor Kenneth Roth on how Trump is eroding checks on presidential power, and the chilling effect it could have. 

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Guest: Former Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth

Photo: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

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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 downplaying his willingness to placate the US President is important to his domestic audience and that he can’t back down on his own objectives: pursuing recognition of Palestine and spruiking Australia’s clean-energy transition. 

Today, Karen Middleton on the task ahead for Albanese – and what a successful meeting with Trump would look like.

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

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Guest: Political journalist and author of Albanese: Telling it Straight Karen Middleton 

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