Veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher has reported on Elon Musk for decades. In that time, they’ve talked publicly and privately on many occasions. 

But not anymore.

Elon Musk is in the process of dismantling US government spending as the head of the new “Department of Government Efficiency”, better known as DOGE. 

And Kara Swisher says the techno-dictatorship he’s building with Trump’s blessing is just the beginning. 

 

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Guest: Tech journalist Kara Swisher.

Veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher has reported on Elon Musk for decades. In that time, they&rsquo;ve talked publicly and privately on many occasions.&nbsp;
But not anymore.
Elon Musk is in the process of dismantling US government spending as the head of the new &ldquo;Department of Government Efficiency&rdquo;, better known as DOGE.&nbsp;
And Kara Swisher says the techno-dictatorship he&rsquo;s building with Trump&rsquo;s blessing is just the beginning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/7ampodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Tech journalist Kara Swisher.

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.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Kara Swisher has known Elon Musk for decades - she saw this coming

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/edd5e2a2-cf3f-48f6-b7b9-b280005bf1bb/transcript

The United States has entered a new war in the Middle East – alongside Israel – launching strikes inside Iran.

Iranian authorities say civilians have been targeted, including in a strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab – killing more than a hundred children. Israel says it’s targeting the regime’s military and nuclear infrastructure. And across the region, Iran has already fired missiles and drones at Israel and at Arab states hosting American forces.

Then came the most consequential announcement of all: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead.

Khamenei was the centre of Iran’s power for decades – and his death leaves the country’s leadership in flux, at the exact moment the conflict is spreading.

Today, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif – a Gulf politics expert, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University and non-resident fellow at The Arab Gulf States institute – on the goal of regime change in Iran and whether Gulf states will pick a side.

 

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: Gulf politics expert and assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif

Photo: EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

The United States has entered a new war in the Middle East &ndash; alongside Israel &ndash; launching strikes inside Iran.
Iranian authorities say civilians have been targeted, including in a strike on a girls&rsquo; primary school in Minab &ndash; killing more than a hundred children. Israel says it&rsquo;s targeting the regime&rsquo;s military and nuclear infrastructure. And across the region, Iran has already fired missiles and drones at Israel and at Arab states hosting American forces.
Then came the most consequential announcement of all: Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead.
Khamenei was the centre of Iran&rsquo;s power for decades &ndash; and his death leaves the country&rsquo;s leadership in flux, at the exact moment the conflict is spreading.
Today, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif &ndash; a Gulf politics expert, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University and non-resident fellow at The Arab Gulf States institute &ndash; on the goal of regime change in Iran and whether Gulf states will pick a side.
&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: Gulf politics expert and assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif
Photo:&nbsp;EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Trump’s Iran war: regime change or regime chaos?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/9798e4c7-2280-43b2-a39d-b400006d52fe/transcript

Immigration is back at the centre of federal politics – again.

The Coalition’s new leadership is arguing Australia needs lower numbers, tougher rules, and a clearer cap on how many people we bring in each year.

It’s a familiar conversation. In the lead up to the 2024 election, Peter Dutton tried to put a hard number on it – promising to cut migration by 100,000 a year, saying it would help free up housing for Australians.

But critics say a large cut would hit the workforce Australia relies on, including the people needed to build more homes.

Abul Rizvi was a senior official in the Department of Immigration from the early 90s to 2007, when he left as deputy secretary.

He says the argument we keep having – election after election – skips the bigger question: Australia’s need for a long-term population plan, and what we want it to achieve.

Today, Abul Rizvi on the politics of population growth.

This episode was first published in April, 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: Former deputy secretary of the department of immigration, Abul Rizvi.

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Immigration is back at the centre of federal politics &ndash; again.
The Coalition&rsquo;s new leadership is arguing Australia needs lower numbers, tougher rules, and a clearer cap on how many people we bring in each year.
It&rsquo;s a familiar conversation. In the lead up to the 2024 election, Peter Dutton tried to put a hard number on it &ndash; promising to cut migration by 100,000 a year, saying it would help free up housing for Australians.
But critics say a large cut would hit the workforce Australia relies on, including the people needed to build more homes.
Abul Rizvi was a senior official in the Department of Immigration from the early 90s to 2007, when he left as deputy secretary.
He says the argument we keep having &ndash; election after election &ndash; skips the bigger question: Australia&rsquo;s need for a long-term population plan, and what we want it to achieve.
Today, Abul Rizvi on the politics of population growth.
This episode was first published in April, 2025.
 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 deputy secretary of the department of immigration, Abul Rizvi.
Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

How big should Australia be?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/11d02339-bad1-4c4e-9bd1-b3fb003f6226/transcript

In Canberra, a fight both major parties have tried to avoid is back.

The Senate is examining the capital gains tax discount – the Howard-era change that slashed tax on asset profits and helped turn housing into a national obsession.

It’s long been considered untouchable, especially after Labor’s bruising 2019 election defeat. But with house prices entrenched, inequality rising and the budget under strain, pressure is building on the government to do something.

Today, economist and Executive Director of the Australia Institute Richard Denniss, on why the concession exists, the vested interests resisting change, and whether the politics around it are finally shifting.

 

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: Executive Director of the Australia Institute, Richard Denniss

Photo: EPA/LUONG THAI LINH

In Canberra, a fight both major parties have tried to avoid is back.
The Senate is examining the capital gains tax discount &ndash; the Howard-era change that slashed tax on asset profits and helped turn housing into a national obsession.
It&rsquo;s long been considered untouchable, especially after Labor&rsquo;s bruising 2019 election defeat. But with house prices entrenched, inequality rising and the budget under strain, pressure is building on the government to do something.
Today, economist and Executive Director of the Australia Institute Richard Denniss, on why the concession exists, the vested interests resisting change, and whether the politics around it are finally shifting.
&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: Executive Director of the Australia Institute, Richard Denniss
Photo:&nbsp;EPA/LUONG THAI LINH

Beer, gas and capital gains tax

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/2d2a4860-5b52-47ad-9782-b3fe0057355f/transcript

Kara Swisher has known Elon Musk for decades - she saw this coming

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