In 2007, future United States president Donald Trump stepped into the wrestling ring for a showdown with Vince McMahon, then head of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump’s close friend.

Trump played the villain perfectly.

For decades now, Trump has been shaped by a love affair with professional wrestling. It taught him how to control and manipulate a crowd, how to speak, and how to respond to criticism.

It also shaped his cabinet, with Trump appointing Linda McMahon, Vince’s ex-wife, to the position of secretary of education.

Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Joseph Earp on how Donald Trump brought the art of pro-wrestling to politics.

 

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: Journalist and author, Joseph Earp.

Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File

In 2007, future United States president Donald Trump stepped into the wrestling ring for a showdown with Vince McMahon, then head of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump&rsquo;s close friend.
Trump played the villain perfectly.
For decades now, Trump has been shaped by a love affair with professional wrestling. It taught him how to control and manipulate a crowd, how to speak, and how to respond to criticism.
It also shaped his cabinet, with Trump appointing Linda McMahon, Vince&rsquo;s ex-wife, to the position of secretary of education.
Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Joseph Earp on how Donald Trump brought the art of pro-wrestling to politics.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Journalist and author, Joseph Earp.
Photo:&nbsp;AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

How pro-wrestling shaped Trump

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d77ba7ba-cdca-4d36-a79b-b41e005f73c2/transcript

Cory Doctorow is the author and tech critic who brought us the term ‘enshittification’ – which refers to the gradual decline in the quality of digital platforms and services over time.

Now he’s warning that what we’ve been led to believe is the inevitable march of AI towards world domination isn’t that inevitable after all, and actually what we’re marching towards could be the end of the AI bubble.

Because every time you ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini a question, companies like OpenAI are losing money. The more we use, the more they lose.

And while those AI giants burn through billions of dollars a year, gambling that eventually they’ll figure out how to turn it into a profitable business, the world’s economy is hanging in the balance.

Today, Cory Doctorow, on why the AI boom is being pushed into every part of our lives and what happens when the bubble bursts.

 

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

 

Cory Doctorow is in Australia this August for appearances at Sydney’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas, and in Melbourne at The Capitol, presented by The Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. His new book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, is out via Verso 

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author Cory Doctorow

Photo: AAP Image/James Ross

Cory Doctorow is the author and tech critic who brought us the term &lsquo;enshittification&rsquo; &ndash; which refers to the gradual decline in the quality of digital platforms and services over time.
Now he&rsquo;s warning that what we&rsquo;ve been led to believe is the inevitable march of AI towards world domination isn&rsquo;t that inevitable after all, and actually what we&rsquo;re marching towards could be the end of the AI bubble.
Because every time you ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini a question, companies like OpenAI are losing money. The more we use, the more they lose.
And while those AI giants burn through billions of dollars a year, gambling that eventually they&rsquo;ll figure out how to turn it into a profitable business, the world&rsquo;s economy is hanging in the balance.
Today, Cory Doctorow, on why the AI boom is being pushed into every part of our lives and what happens when the bubble bursts.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Cory Doctorow is in Australia this August for appearances at Sydney&rsquo;s Festival of Dangerous Ideas, and in Melbourne at The Capitol, presented by The Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. His new book, The Reverse Centaur&rsquo;s Guide to Life After AI, is out via Verso&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author Cory Doctorow
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/James Ross

Who decided AI was inevitable?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/c5e9fd05-4dd2-4e07-9049-b494005fc6f1/transcript

Alan Joyce was once one of Australia’s most admired business leaders.

By the time he left Qantas, he had become one of the country’s most hated men.

His final years at the airline were marked by unlawful sackings, cancelled flights, withheld refunds and a collapse in public trust. But in a new memoir, Riding the Jet Stream, Joyce defends many of the decisions that made him a symbol of corporate arrogance and public distrust.

Today, former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, on what he believes Australians got wrong about him – and whether he accepts responsibility for the damage done to the Qantas brand on his watch.

 

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: Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce

Photo: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Alan Joyce was once one of Australia&rsquo;s most admired business leaders.
By the time he left Qantas, he had become one of the country&rsquo;s most hated men.
His final years at the airline were marked by unlawful sackings, cancelled flights, withheld refunds and a collapse in public trust. But in a new memoir,&nbsp;Riding the Jet Stream, Joyce defends many of the decisions that made him a symbol of corporate arrogance and public distrust.
Today, former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, on what he believes Australians got wrong about him &ndash; and whether he accepts responsibility for the damage done to the Qantas brand on his watch.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Joel Carrett

‘I know I’m a polarising figure’: Alan Joyce on Qantas, reputational collapse and his legacy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/da800dca-a606-45bc-840c-b491005bd590/transcript

When Robert F Kennedy Jr was sworn in as Health and Human Services Secretary, his confirmation came off the back of a fiery questioning from Democrats and Republicans alike about RFK Jr’s record on vaccines. And under oath, RFK Jr denied he was against them.

But now, Reuters reports he considered scrapping the entire childhood immunisation schedule, removing polio and MMR vaccines, and spending five billion dollars investigating the disproven link between vaccines and autism.

Kennedy has spent two decades campaigning against vaccines, using his famous name to become one of the movement’s most prominent figures.

Today, we return to our conversation with investigative journalist Brian Deer, on Kennedy’s anti-vaccine campaign – and the deadly consequences of vaccine misinformation in Samoa.

This episode was originally published in February 2025.

 

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: Investigative journalist Brian Deer

Photo: AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

When Robert F Kennedy Jr was sworn in as Health and Human Services Secretary, his confirmation came off the back of a fiery questioning from Democrats and Republicans alike about RFK Jr&rsquo;s record on vaccines. And under oath, RFK Jr denied he was against them.
But now, Reuters reports he considered scrapping the entire childhood immunisation schedule, removing polio and MMR vaccines, and spending five billion dollars investigating the disproven link between vaccines and autism.
Kennedy has spent two decades campaigning against vaccines, using his famous name to become one of the movement&rsquo;s most prominent figures.
Today, we return to our conversation with investigative journalist Brian Deer, on Kennedy&rsquo;s anti-vaccine campaign &ndash; and the deadly consequences of vaccine misinformation in Samoa.
This episode was originally published in February 2025.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Investigative journalist Brian Deer
Photo:&nbsp;AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

RFK Jr’s anti-vaccine obsession

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f37daee3-b738-4743-ad60-b491004da36f/transcript

How pro-wrestling shaped Trump

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