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This week, seven Australians returned home after being detained by Israel.

They had been part of the Global Sumud Flotilla – more than 400 activists from 56 countries trying to reach Gaza by sea, carrying food and medicine.

Four days after they set sail from Turkiye, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters and took the passengers to Israel.

Israel says the operation was lawful and that no one was harmed. But the Australians who have now returned say they were beaten, humiliated, denied food and water, and held for almost 80 hours.

Today, in part one of a two-part episode, filmmaker and flotilla participant Juliet Lamont on what she says happened from the moment Israeli forces reached her boat.

7am has contacted the Israeli embassy for comment.

And a warning, this episode contains reference to sexual assault.

Listen now at the link in bio.

Australia is again being forced to reckon with the violence being inflicted on women and children.

The PM is adamant a royal commission isn’t the answer, dismissing the idea in an interview that’s gone viral. But his sudden disdain for royal commissions is out of step with what thousands of Australians want to see in response to the scourge of domestic violence.

After another devastating week, thousands of people from all walks of life have backed calls for a royal commission into the killing of women and children at the hands of an intimate partner or someone they know.

Today, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, on the pressure for a national reckoning, the limits of government response, and the growing concern about how violence is shaping the lives of young people.

Listen now at the link in bio.

For the Coalition, backlash over the budget should be an opportunity. Instead, it's One Nation turning that frustration into real momentum.

This week on 7am, Director of Strategy and Analytics at RedBridge Group, Kos Samaras, on Labor’s budget woes, the Coalition’s failure to capitalise, and the populist right’s growing hold on Australian politics.

Listen now at the link in bio.

The federal budget has been hit by a fierce campaign from large sections of the media and a handful of high-profile millennial entrepreneurs. But so far, Labor’s polling has remained relatively unscathed.

But that doesn’t mean voters are happy. People might not be shifting their votes over this budget, but many still feel there’s nothing in it for them right now.

Today, Director of Strategy and Analytics at RedBridge Group, Kos Samaras, on Labor’s budget woes, the Coalition’s failure to capitalise, and the populist right’s growing hold on Australian politics.

Listen now at the link in bio.

After another devastating week, thousands of people from all walks of life have backed calls for a royal commission into the killing of women and children at the hands of an intimate partner or someone they know.

On Monday, 7am is joined by Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, to discuss the pressure for a national reckoning, the limits of government response, and the growing concern about how violence is shaping the lives of young people.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Today on 7am, Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends his budget.

Listen now at the link in bio.

For two decades, we’ve had a tax policy that pushed up house prices, gave landlords huge advantages, and ultimately created an intergenerational wealth divide.

A week ago, the government said it wanted to do something about that and announced changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax.

But the budget hasn’t gone down well – for some, it doesn’t go far enough to make a real difference to the housing market. For others, particularly in business, changes to capital gains go too far.

Today, Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends his budget.

Listen now at the link in bio.

Today, co-founder of Lamestream, Osman Faruqi, on border control, censorship and why the Australian government should be pushing back on Trump's border crackdown.

Listen now at the link in bio.

Australian musician Adam Hyde has become the latest high-profile victim of Trump’s tough border rules – after he was denied re-entry to the States in the middle of his North American tour.

The explanation? National security concerns. That’s it – nothing more.

And it’s not an isolated incident. In Trump’s America, Australian artists are increasingly finding themselves blocked from entry, threatening their careers and livelihoods in a market that’s crucial for their success.

Today, co-founder of Lamestream, Osman Faruqi, on border control, censorship and why the Australian government should be pushing back

Listen now at the link in bio.

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.

Listen now at the link in bio.

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.

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.

Listen now at the link in bio.

Angus Taylor’s budget reply showed where the Coalition wants the argument to go next: migration, welfare and net zero – as One Nation surges in the polls.

This week, Cheek Media CEO and host of Big Small Talk, Hannah Ferguson, on the ambition, compromises and contradictions in Labor’s budget – and what young voters are being asked to accept.

Listen at the link in bio.