How big should Australia be?

Peter Dutton says he’ll cut migrant numbers by 100,000 people a year as soon as he gets into office. He says it’s part of his plan to free up housing for Australians, but it could also impact the workforce needed to build new homes.  Dutton is putting a number to his plans just days after immigration dominated the first leaders’ debate. Abul Rizvi was a senior official in the Department of Immigration from the early 90s to 2007, until he left while serving as deputy secretary. He says our current discourse ignores the need for a long-term population plan, addressing how big our country should be – and why. Today, Abul Rizvi on the politics of population growth and the real impact of immigration on the housing crisis.   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. Background Reading: If I was immigration minister, I would develop a population plan Photo: AAP Image/Lukas CochSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk is pressing NASA to abandon its planned journeys to the moon – projects that have been decades in the making, with billions already spent and contracts already signed. Despite backlash from NASA insiders and politicians on both sides of Congress – who view his plans as costly, disruptive and politically toxic – Musk remains resolute. Today, Wall Street Journal reporter Emily Glazer, on whether the SpaceX CEO can really upend NASA’s return to the moon. This is part two of a two-part series.   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: Wall Street Journal reporter, Emily Glazer. Background Reading: Elon Musk’s Mission to Take Over NASA—and Mars Photo: Yichuan Cao/Sipa USASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump wants to write the next chapter in US spaceflight history. With billionaire tech CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk by his side, he’s outlined an ambitious agenda: to land the first humans on Mars before he leaves office. Whether or not that goal is achievable, the plan would massively reshape America’s space program to the benefit of Musk’s company. NASA has already suffered from Musk’s efforts to gut the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency – and key SpaceX officials have been gaining power at the space agency. Today, Wall Street Journal reporter Emily Glazer, on Elon Musk’s plan to take over NASA.   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: Wall Street Journal reporter, Emily Glazer. Photo: Sipa USA / Scott SchilkeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese won the first leaders debate of the election campaign last night. But it was a tight contest, with both leaders well prepared and polished, as they faced undecided voters in Western Sydney. Anthony Albanese spoke of a country rallying in spite of difficult global conditions. For Peter Dutton, it was about painting a dire picture of economic pain – and blaming Albanese for it.  Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis on the biggest moments of the first debate – and what it tells us about the next stage of the campaign.   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 TsikasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We made a mistake” are tough words for any politician, but in the heat of an election campaign, they can really hurt. In a spectacular reversal, Peter Dutton has walked back his policy to sack 41,000  public servants, saying he’ll now wait for people to quit and will no longer force those who remain back into the office. Dutton’s backtracking doesn’t just raise questions about sincerity – it also leaves the opposition with a giant black hole when it comes to funding their other election promises. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Jason Koutsoukis, on the panic inside the coalition – and what it means for Peter Dutton’s leadership.   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 TsikasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It looked like a scene from a very different period of history: US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, standing in front of a prison pen filled with gaunt, shirtless men, their heads shaved, staring silently at the cameras.  The footage is from El Salvador, where the US government had whisked away over 200 Venezuelan migrants to be held in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).  It’s just one of the surreal propaganda posts the Trump administration has released, bragging about imprisoning men they deemed murderous gang-affiliated terrorists.   But looking at these images, one woman saw not a terrorist, but her husband.  In his investigation into these deportations, Mother Jones reporter Noah Lanard found that ordinary men, with no gang affiliations, had been targeted because they had tattoos. Today, Noah Lanard on the people America is disappearing and what the spectacle of deportations says about Trump’s immigration agenda.   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: Mother Jones reporter, Noah Lanard Background Reading: What the Hundreds of Venezuelans Trump Sent to El Salvador Are Up Against Photo: AP Photo/Alex BrandonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colm Tóibín is regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest authors — and for good reason. With a career spanning 30 years and 11 award-winning novels under his belt, Colm is beloved both at home and abroad. In his latest book, Long Island, Tóibín returns to familiar territory with a sequel to 2009’s best-selling Brooklyn. On this episode of Read This, he and Michael discuss what it means to write a sequel, the importance of James Baldwin’s writing, and, of course, Costco.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s only been a week, but the election campaign is already off script.  Trump’s tariffs have landed like a grenade in the middle of the campaign, with the announcement of a 10 per cent tax on all Australian goods bound for the US providing a real world test for both leaders.  While Dutton’s plan to tackle tariffs lacks detail, he’s clear on one thing: he’d quite like to live in Kirribilli.  Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on Dutton’s missteps, Albanese’s reset and the global forces shaping the campaign.   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: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno. Photo: AAP Image/Lukas CochSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Berih has lived in the same Melbourne flat for most of his life. He has mild cerebral palsy and is cared for by his mother. He has all the medical support he needs, along with his mosque nearby and his Eritrean community surrounding him. But one afternoon, without warning, Barry watched the then Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, announce on TV that the iconic public housing towers in the city would be demolished. One of those towers is his home, making Barry one of about 10,000 people set to be evicted. With that threat looming, some of his neighbours decided to leave. But Barry has been fighting back, and today at 10am, he and hundreds of other people in his class action will find out whether they’ve won their case against the Victorian government. Today, reporter and co-host of 7am Ruby Jones, on the plan to demolish public housing during a housing crisis, and how Melbourne’s inner city will change if Barry loses his case.   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: Reporter and co-host of 7am, Ruby Jones. Photo: James Ross / AAPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian defence officials are preparing to choose whether to buy warships from Germany or Japan. It’s an $11 billion decision – and is about far more than ship design and cost. Given Japan describes Australia as its most important security partner after the United States, our decision will send a signal about whether the relationship is reciprocated. These considerations have been sharpened by the recent appearance of the Chinese navy off our shores – and by the Trump administration's reshaping of American foreign policy. Today, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis, on the frigate deal that could cement the Japan-Australia alliance, or sink it.   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: Connor Morrison / ADFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.