When Labor insiders are asked who was responsible for their thumping election victory, one name keeps coming up: Paul Erickson.

Even though Erickon likes to keep a low profile, Anthony Albanese made a point of thanking him in his victory speech on election night.

So, who is Paul Erickson? And what is next for the quiet force behind Labor’s landslide win?

Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis, on the electoral battles that shaped Paul Erickson and whether he has a future in parliament.

 

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: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis

Photo: AAP Image / Mick Tsikas

When Labor insiders are asked who was responsible for their thumping election victory, one name keeps coming up: Paul Erickson.
Even though Erickon likes to keep a low profile, Anthony Albanese made a point of thanking him in his victory speech on election night.
So, who is Paul Erickson? And what is next for the quiet force behind Labor&rsquo;s landslide win?
Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis, on the electoral battles that shaped Paul Erickson and whether he has a future in parliament.
&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: Special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image / Mick Tsikas

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.

The quiet force behind Labor’s landslide

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/afe3fc97-88b7-4173-92ac-b2de006553d6/transcript

This weekend in Vegas, athletes including Australian swimmer James Magnussen will take part in the Enhanced Games – a competition that freely allows doping. 

It's the creation of controversial Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, and it's bankrolled by Peter Thiel and one of Donald Trump’s sons. 

The competition has enticed athletes with huge cash prizes – and is, in turn, selling the performance-enhancing drugs those athletes will experiment with. 

Today, Chief Sports Writer at The Sydney Morning Herald Tom Decent – on the spectacle, and the seediness of the Enhanced Games. 



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: Chief sports writers at the SMH, Tom Decent

Photo: Instagram: james.magnussen

This weekend in Vegas, athletes including Australian swimmer James Magnussen will take part in the Enhanced Games &ndash; a competition that freely allows doping.&nbsp;
It's the creation of controversial Australian entrepreneur Aron D&rsquo;Souza, and it's bankrolled by Peter Thiel and one of Donald Trump&rsquo;s sons.&nbsp;
The competition has enticed athletes with huge cash prizes &ndash; and is, in turn, selling the performance-enhancing drugs those athletes will experiment with.&nbsp;
Today, Chief Sports Writer at&nbsp;The Sydney Morning Herald Tom Decent &ndash; on the spectacle, and the seediness of the Enhanced Games. 
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: Chief sports writers at the SMH, Tom Decent
Photo:&nbsp;Instagram: james.magnussen

Doped-up athletes and million dollar prizes: The Enhanced Games is here

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ba90d302-3273-42a3-b2c2-b44e00556d57/transcript

Over the weekend, Eurovision got a feel-good ending. Bulgaria won the contest for the very first time with their infectious song Bangaranga. And Australia came close - with Delta Goodrem placing 4th.

But the controversy over Israel didn’t go away. Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second, after getting a huge huge public vote – despite protests outside the contest, boycotts from five countries, and warnings over the Israeli broadcaster KAN running a campaign telling people to vote ten times.

Eurovision insists it’s a non-political contest... but over the past three years, Israel’s place in it  has exposed how political that stage can be – and how useful it can be for a government trying to shape how the world sees it.

Today, author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World’s Greatest Song Contest, Chris West, on the boycott, the vote, and how Israel turned the world’s biggest song contest into a soft-power campaign.

 

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

 

And Eurovision audio is courtesy of SBS.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest, Chris West.

Photo: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Over the weekend, Eurovision got a feel-good ending. Bulgaria won the contest for the very first time with their infectious song Bangaranga. And Australia came close - with Delta Goodrem placing 4th.
But the controversy over Israel didn&rsquo;t go away. Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second, after getting a huge huge public vote &ndash; despite protests outside the contest, boycotts from five countries, and warnings over the Israeli broadcaster KAN running a campaign telling people to vote ten times.
Eurovision insists it&rsquo;s a non-political contest... but over the past three years, Israel&rsquo;s place in it&nbsp; has exposed how political that stage can be &ndash; and how useful it can be for a government trying to shape how the world sees it.
Today, author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World&rsquo;s Greatest Song Contest, Chris West, on the boycott, the vote, and how Israel turned the world&rsquo;s biggest song contest into a soft-power campaign.
&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;
And Eurovision audio is courtesy of SBS.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author of Eurovision!: A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest, Chris West.
Photo:&nbsp;EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Eurovision, Israel and the politics of pop music

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/c291a794-f660-4c9b-9fa1-b44d0042d01f/transcript

This week’s budget shows AUKUS is getting bigger.

The government is putting more money into the agencies, workforce and infrastructure needed for nuclear-powered submarines.

But the deal still relies on the US agreeing to sell them to Australia, and on a Trump administration that has already reviewed AUKUS through an “America First” lens.

And as the program grows, the public still knows very little about what Australia is trading away to keep it alive.

Today, former Director of War Studies for the Australian Army, Dr Albert Palazzo, on the secrecy around AUKUS – and the US military expansion on Australian soil.

This episode was originally published in December 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 Director of War Studies for the Australian Army and adjunct professor at UNSW, Dr Albert Palazzo

Photo: AAP Image/Pool, Colin Murty

This week&rsquo;s budget shows AUKUS is getting bigger.
The government is putting more money into the agencies, workforce and infrastructure needed for nuclear-powered submarines.
But the deal still relies on the US agreeing to sell them to Australia, and on a Trump administration that has already reviewed AUKUS through an &ldquo;America First&rdquo; lens.
And as the program grows, the public still knows very little about what Australia is trading away to keep it alive.
Today, former Director of War Studies for the Australian Army, Dr Albert Palazzo, on the secrecy around AUKUS &ndash; and the US military expansion on Australian soil.
This episode was originally published in December 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: Former Director of War Studies for the Australian Army and adjunct professor at UNSW, Dr Albert Palazzo
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Pool, Colin Murty

AUKUS: This could only end in a very bad place

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f8d6e32b-8509-40ee-b18c-b44a00a08313/transcript

The quiet force behind Labor’s landslide

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