Australia is caught in a perilous balancing act. 

This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Premier Xi Jinping to stabilise ties with China; as leaks from Washington revealed the steep demands of our AUKUS agreement with the United States. 

In the shadow of rising tensions over Taiwan, the question of where Australia stands, and who we stand with, has never been more complicated.

Today, host of the ABC podcast Global Roaming, Hamish Macdonald, on how the Albanese government is navigating our fraught alliances – and whether we could be headed for war.

 

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: Host of the ABC podcast Global Roaming, Hamish Macdonald

Australia is caught in a perilous balancing act.&nbsp;
This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Premier Xi Jinping to stabilise ties with China; as leaks from Washington revealed the steep demands of our AUKUS agreement with the United States.&nbsp;
In the shadow of rising tensions over Taiwan, the question of where Australia stands, and who we stand with, has never been more complicated.
Today, host of the ABC podcast Global Roaming, Hamish Macdonald, on how the Albanese government is navigating our fraught alliances &ndash; and whether we could be headed for war.
&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: Host of the ABC podcast Global Roaming, Hamish Macdonald

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.

Will Australia go to war over Taiwan?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/276af5c6-6f83-4bfa-b8c8-b31d009de18f/transcript

Sarah Krasnostein has had a huge year. She’s teamed up with Helen Garner and Chloe Hooper to write The Mushroom Tapes – a true-crime book about Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial that asks what our fascination with the case says about us.

She’s also continued her work as a television critic, watching a hell of a lot of TV.

In her list of the best TV of 2025, Sarah Krasnostein is drawn to shows that feel uncomfortably close to real life – from teenage boys pulled into the manosphere to post-apocalyptic worlds shaped by AI. And for her, even the bleakest series this year are ultimately hopeful: they’re less about what’s been destroyed than about what could be rebuilt, and the chances that still exist to step in before things go wrong.

Today, she’s picked her top 5 shows for you to binge over the summer.

 

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: Author and critic, Sarah Krasnostein

Photo: Apple

Sarah Krasnostein has had a huge year. She&rsquo;s teamed up with Helen Garner and Chloe Hooper to write The Mushroom Tapes &ndash; a true-crime book about Erin Patterson&rsquo;s triple murder trial that asks what our fascination with the case says about us.
She&rsquo;s also continued her work as a television critic, watching a hell of a lot of TV.
In her list of the best TV of 2025, Sarah Krasnostein is drawn to shows that feel uncomfortably close to real life &ndash; from teenage boys pulled into the manosphere to post-apocalyptic worlds shaped by AI. And for her, even the bleakest series this year are ultimately hopeful: they&rsquo;re less about what&rsquo;s been destroyed than about what could be rebuilt, and the chances that still exist to step in before things go wrong.
Today, she&rsquo;s picked her top 5 shows for you to binge over the summer.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy&nbsp;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: Author and critic, Sarah Krasnostein
Photo:&nbsp;Apple

The best TV of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/4b13fed8-f11a-48d8-ba7b-b3a80088e52c/transcript

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, the country is grieving. It's a moment that calls for unity and for leadership.

But what we’ve seen is something else. Within days, political lines hardened. A former prime minister stepped in. The opposition shifted its message. And international leaders joined the chorus.

With political venom so close to the surface, the moment has revealed something deeper about how crisis is now handled in Australian politics.

Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno, on the gap between who we want to be – and who we are.

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: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, the country is grieving. It's a moment that calls for unity and for leadership.
But what we&rsquo;ve seen is something else. Within days, political lines hardened. A former prime minister stepped in. The opposition shifted its message. And international leaders joined the chorus.
With political venom so close to the surface, the moment has revealed something deeper about how crisis is now handled in Australian politics.
Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno, on the gap between who we want to be &ndash; and who we are.
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>.
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

Albanese's plan to tackle anti-semitism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/82fc5231-a342-4bb6-affe-b3b7017908a0/transcript

Two months ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan for Gaza.

But since the truce began on October 10, Gaza authorities say Israel has carried out nearly 800 attacks, killing almost 400 people – including in a recent strike targeting a senior Hamas commander.

Israel, meanwhile, says militants have repeatedly violated the ceasefire, killing at least three Israeli soldiers.

And as Hamas refuses to disarm, Washington seems to have gone silent.

Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on why plans for peace have stalled – and who may end up running Gaza.

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: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom

Two months ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan for Gaza.
But since the truce began on October 10, Gaza authorities say Israel has carried out nearly 800 attacks, killing almost 400 people &ndash; including in a recent strike targeting a senior Hamas commander.
Israel, meanwhile, says militants have repeatedly violated the ceasefire, killing at least three Israeli soldiers.
And as Hamas refuses to disarm, Washington seems to have gone silent.
Today, Middle East correspondent for&nbsp;The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom, on why plans for peace have stalled &ndash; and who may end up running Gaza.
If you enjoy&nbsp;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>.
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Gregg Carlstrom

Why the peace plan for Gaza has stalled 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/e2d39ad8-f064-411d-af39-b3b7006a80e5/transcript

Will Australia go to war over Taiwan?

In 1 playlist(s)

7am

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips