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Solstice Media
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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.

  1. Revisiting Creative Australia’s decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi

    2 HR AGO

    Revisiting Creative Australia’s decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi

    The fallout from this year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week debacle has reignited fierce debate about political interference in the arts and about who gets to speak in Australia’s cultural spaces. After the invitation to Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah was withdrawn, 180 writers pulled out in protest.  The festival was eventually cancelled and Adelaide Festival has since apologised for excluding the author from Writers’ Week, admitting it had failed to uphold artistic freedom. The whole saga raises urgent questions about how decisions are being made – by governments, by boards, and by those in charge of our institutions.  Today, we’re bringing you a story from last year that exposed one of the initial fault lines in cultural administration. It’s about artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was dropped from representing Australia at the Venice Biennale after political pressure. Then, as the backlash intensified, Sabsabi was reinstated.  It’s an episode that feels more relevant than ever.  It features chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow, speaking with Ruby Jones. This episode originally aired in February last year.   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 political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow Photo: Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino in Granville. Photo: Anna Kucera See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min
  2. Hannah Ferguson on the politics of hate speech

    1 DAY AGO

    Hannah Ferguson on the politics of hate speech

    On Monday, parliament will return early to debate new laws to deal with hate speech and gun ownership. The legislation has been drafted in a hurry – under mounting pressure in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack. But support for the bill has already fractured. The Coalition says it goes too far. The Greens say it doesn’t go far enough. Both want more time to consider the changes. The debate over what is and isn’t hate is unfolding at a time of deep political division with consequences not just for parliament, but for Australia’s cultural institutions. Today, CEO of Cheek Media and host of the Big Small Talk podcast, Hannah Ferguson, on the politics of hate speech and how a fight over free expression spilled into the arts.   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: CEO of Cheek Media and host of the Big Small Talk podcast, Hannah Ferguson Photo: Supplied See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min
  3. Why Trump “needs” Greenland

    2 DAYS AGO

    Why Trump “needs” Greenland

    Directly after Donald Trump intervened in Venezuela, capturing president Nicolas Maduro and laying claim to the country’s oil industry, the US President set his sights on Greenland. Trump claims America “needs” Greenland for national security, and has asked his military chiefs to draw up plans to invade if neccessary.  Meanwhile, a meeting between US Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt ended in a stalemate – with Trump doubling down, and Denmark asking for European back-up. Today, defence editor at The Economist Shashank Joshi, on the real reason Trump wants Greenland, and how his plan could change the world.   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: Defence editor at The Economist Shashank Joshi Photo: EPA/THOMAS TRAASDAHL DENMARK See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
  4. Will Trump go to war with Iran?

    3 DAYS AGO

    Will Trump go to war with Iran?

    Is the world about to see the United States intervene in another country – this time, Iran? Since late December, Iran has been rocked by mass protests, and the government has responded with force. The internet has been cut for days at a time, making it difficult to verify what’s happening on the ground. Reports suggest a death toll in the thousands, with even larger numbers of protesters detained. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has been publicly encouraging protesters and declaring that “help is on the way”. Today, Iranian-born analyst and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Trita Parsi, on a regime fighting for survival – and on what Trump’s threats could mean for the entire Middle East.   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: Iranian-born analyst and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Trita Parsi. Photo: AP Photo/Kin Cheung See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min
  5. How cancelling a Palestinian writer blew up Adelaide Writers Week

    4 DAYS AGO

    How cancelling a Palestinian writer blew up Adelaide Writers Week

    Adelaide Writers’ Week has been cancelled after the removal of Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah sparked a mass boycott of the event by more than 100 writers who were programmed to attend, as well as the resignation of the festival’s director. In a statement on Tuesday, Adelaide Festival apologised to Abdel-Fattah, but rather than reinstating her, they announced that Australia’s premier free literary event would not go ahead – and almost all remaining board members would stand down. The board described the cancellation as a “deeply regrettable outcome”. Today, InDaily journalist Helen Karakulak on questions of political influence – and what the cancellation means for the future of the arts.   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: InDaily journalist Helen Karakulak Background reading: https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/entertainment/books/2026/01/13/adelaide-writers-week-cancelled Photo: PR Image See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 min
  6. What's next for Venezuela?

    5 DAYS AGO

    What's next for Venezuela?

    Ten days out from the American capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the country faces an uncertain future. Pro-regime gangs with guns are roaming the streets, citizens are deleting their messages and search histories before going out, for fear of being searched and punished for being critical of the government. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump insists he will control the oil-rich nation. Today, we speak to a Venezuelan journalist who lives abroad. We aren’t using her full name as her family back home fear retribution. She talks about Maduro’s legacy, the reality on the ground after Trump’s intervention, and what comes next for the people of Venezuela.   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: Venezuelan journalist living abroad  Photo: AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min
  7. Meet our new host!

    5 DAYS AGO

    Meet our new host!

    Ruby Jones is taking some time off from 7am to report an episode of the ABC’s premier investigative news program, Four Corners. While she’s gone, Daniel James will be sharing hosting duties with journalist and foreign correspondent Nicole Johnston. Originally a country girl from regional NSW, Nicole has spent almost two decades reporting on the biggest events shaping our world. From the Middle East to Africa, Europe, the US and Asia, there aren’t many frontlines she hasn’t been on. In this bonus episode, she tells Daniel about some of the most impactful moments in her career so far, including living in Gaza for a year and witnessing Egypt’s military coup against the Mohamed Morsi government. “That was really for me one of those moments where you're sitting on the edge of history and thinking, I can't believe that I'm here.” 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: Foreign correspondent and 7am host Nicole Johnston Photo: Supplied See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    11 min
  8. Why Albanese changed his mind about Bondi

    6 DAYS AGO

    Why Albanese changed his mind about Bondi

    Last week, Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission – something he’d spent nearly a month arguing against. Now, former High Court justice Virginia Bell will lead an inquiry into the Bondi terror attack and the rise of antisemitism in Australia. It’s a major shift for the Prime Minister – one that raises questions about how he makes decisions and how he handles pressure. Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on the scope of the royal commission, the political fallout of Albanese’s reversal and the risk that it could all lead to deeper division.   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 journalist Karen Middleton Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
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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.

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