7am

New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan is famous for his trainwreck interview with Donald Trump at the height of covid.
Now, he’s exposing the US president again with a forensic look at what he says was the most consequential year of an American presidency in our lifetime.
Donald Trump’s first presidency was defined by chaos – but also by the people around him trying to contain it.
Swan says the second term is different. Trump has returned to the White House with a tighter circle of loyalists, and far fewer people willing to say no.
In a new book Regime Change co-authored with Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan goes inside the first 14 months of Trump’s return to power, documenting a presidency using the machinery of government to punish enemies, pressure institutions and test what one president can get away with.
Today, Jonathan Swan, on Trump’s second term – and how he’s changed America forever.

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Guest: Co-author of Regime Change Jonathan Swan
Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco
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Another major telco outage has raised the question: what happens when you call triple-zero and can’t get through?
This week, Telstra blamed a software defect for a national outage that disrupted phones, payments and transport – and left more than 300 triple-zero calls failing to connect. The communications watchdog is now investigating.
It comes after last year’s catastrophic Optus failure, when a 13-hour outage blocked hundreds of emergency calls across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and was linked to deaths.
ACMA opened an investigation into Optus, but still hasn’t published final findings.
Today, journalist and Crikey contributor Michael Sainsbury – on what went wrong at Optus and how the government’s choices led us here.
This episode was originally published in September 2025.

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Guest: Journalist and Crikey contributor, Michael Sainsbury
Photo: AAP Image/George Chan
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese has, with growing confidence, spent years trying to convince voters he's relatable
But this week that confidence carried him somewhere the office of Prime Minister probably shouldn’t go – a game of “shag, marry, date” on a comedy podcast.
The apology came quickly. Then, as the Prime minister turned to rugby league diplomacy in the Pacific, China tested a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
It was a week that moved swiftly from political embarrassment to regional unease, and left Labor managing the Prime Minister’s image at home and Australia’s influence abroad.
Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno on a turbulent week for Anthony Albaense, marked with missteps, a communication breakdown and a focus on Pacific diplomacy in tumultuous geo-political waters.

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Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno
Photo: @nikkiosborneofficial via Youtube
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A call came through with a warning: political operatives were digging for dirt.
For Amy Remeikis, it wasn’t the first time. But this time, she was told, it was more vicious than usual.
In Canberra, that kind of warning is part of the machinery: a whisper campaign, a rumour, a file passed around – backgrounding against opponents or perceived threats to vested interests. Enough to make a journalist think twice about who they speak to, where they go and what stories they pursue.
Too often for women in public life, the tactics are familiar and designed to cut deep.
Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis, on the forces trying to intimidate journalists and why she decided to call it out.

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Guest: Contributing editor for The New Daily Amy Remeikis
Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivors say it’s like being stabbed in the back; some were just days away from finally having their day in court against the Christian Brothers when their cases were suddenly put on hold.
The Catholic religious order is crying poor, saying it doesn’t have enough money to pay child sexual abuse victims the compensation they’re owed.
But it’s been revealed that assets worth billions of dollars – that could have been used in the payouts – were instead transferred just out of reach of survivors.
Today, Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley, on the multimillion-dollar properties sold off for just a dollar, and the crushing court decision that’s left victims in the cold.

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 with us on Instagram
Guest: Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley
Photo: AAP Image/Eoin Blackwell
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.