The Briefing

Wednesday Headlines: Another interest rate hike now twice as likely as tensions flare in the middle east Pauline Hanson hits back at White Australia claims Interim report into Kumanjayi Little Baby's death finds child protection failings Victorian teachers to strike after rejected pay offer Aussie mum of 1 in 15 million quadruplets shares social media update Deep Dive: Victoria's Premier has spent the past few days taking on some of the biggest companies on the planet.  Jacinta Allan wants to force tech giants to reveal who's behind anonymous accounts spreading hate. She wants to clear the way for families to drag those same companies into court. And she wants to stop employers using artificial intelligence to monitor staff - right down to how often they visit the toilet.  But none of it’s been written yet, parliament is almost out of time, and some experts say the tools to fix this already exist.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou puts those questions to Jacinta Allan and asks whether one state government can actually take on Silicon Valley.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Israel criticises proposed Labor policy on even of national conference Melbourne ‘ISIS bride’ granted bail Andy Burnham sworn in as the new UK Prime Minister Australia's ski resorts set new winter heat record Aussie mum's 1 in 15 million birth sees her deliver identical quadruplets Barnaby Joyce with the top contender for TV blooper of the year Deep Dive: Now in its fifth year, it seems like there is no end in sight to the war between Russia and Ukraine, especially on the back of another round of deadly strikes on Kyiv over the weekend.   But conflict in the middle east is having an impact on how this war is being fought, and there is a sense that Putin's army is slowing down.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou and Dr Malcolm David discuss the latest in the Ukraine war and try to figure out what might happen next.  Further listening from the headlines: How Australia funds Israeli settlements Who is Andy Burnham, the man who could lead the UK next? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  One Nation rebounds in the polls and Pauline Hanson criticised by Albo Fighting continues in Iran as two US personnel killed Tate brothers arrested New rules for gov departments using AI   2026 FIFA World Cup final plays this morning Deep Dive: More than half a million Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank - in settlements the UN's top court considers illegal, and which have kept expanding while the world's focus has been on the wars in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza.  Australia’s noticed. Last month, the government sanctioned three Israeli settlers over escalating violence against Palestinians.   But our connections to the settlements may run deeper than sanctions suggest - from West Bank wines in local bottle shops to allegations Australian charities are helping finance settlement projects.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Rawan Arraf, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice, to unpack life under the settlements - and whether Australia's response goes far enough.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One and a half billion sets of eyes will be on New Jersey come Monday morning, when Spain and Argentina face off to decide who takes home football's biggest prize. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Ed Kavalee - co-host of SBS's nightly show Santo & Ed's Cup Fever - to get you across everything you need to know before kick-off.   They unpack Ed's theory on how both finalists made it this far, whether the World Cup is rigged, plus: the Ronaldo-Messi era reaching its final chapter, Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA's president, and an honest post-mortem on the Socceroos' performance this year. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgie Tunny has spent more than a decade working her way through Australian newsrooms, from an ABC cadetship to Network 10's flagship desk.  In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Helen Smith asks Georgie what it took to carve out a place in sports journalism as a woman when the industry offered few seats at the table, the exhaustion of breakfast TV and the long road to trusting her own instincts.   She also reflects on turning 35, her time on The Project, taking on The Amazing Race Australia with her fiancé Rob Mills and her debut novel set inside the cutthroat world of television, inspired by the friendships and rivalries she's lived firsthand.  You can get your hands on Georgie’s debut novel ‘Over to You’ here.  THE WEEKEND LIST:   Listener Bec’s to-do: Phase 10 + guac for six hours with friends To read: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus To do: Delete Pinterest  To do: Start a Spotify account and only listen to Powderfinger  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheBriefingPodcast"

Friday Headlines:  Bianca Jones’ father calls on Albanese to intervene over inadequate methanol poisoning charges Iran launches fresh attacks on Gulf states as US strikes ship attempting to breach blockade Second case of bird flu detected in NSW Smoking rates hit historic low across Australia Pauline Hanson and Gina Rinehart spotted at White Lotus hotel Deep Dive: Is Australia a world leader on AI? Anthony Albanese wants you to think so – he gave a speech last week in the Great Hall at The University of Sydney, where he implied that new Australian AI regulations could set a global benchmark – similar to superannuation and the social media ban.  Today we’re looking at Labor’s AI plan, and whether it really is a world-leading attempt to curb the harms of AI and harness its potential. What’s right with the plan, and what’s missing?  Joining The Briefing is AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of New South Wales.  Further listening from the headlines: Why smoking is ‘cool’ again Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Albanese’s plan to protect water, energy, and content from AI Brisbane teen granted bail after alleged school stabbing Trump threatens to expand strikes on Iran  A network of Australian doctors’ clinics have been hit by a cyberattack Argentina v England World Cup semifinal is underway  Deep Dive: From the demolition of the White House East Wing to his push for a towering, 250-foot Triumphal Arch, Donald Trump is physically rebuilding Washington D.C. to match his personal brand.   But aside from an obsession with the grandiose, what is motivating the president to push for these ego-driven federal megaprojects?  In this episode of The Briefing, former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explore why he believes this obsession with monarchical grandeur is a direct threat to democratic ideals.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  Donald Trump walks back threat to charge toll on the Strait of Hormuz Albanese to announce world-first AI office Brisbane teen critical after school stabbing Angus Taylor rules out a coalition with One Nation First FIFA World Cup semi-final underway Deep Dive: Beetlejuice has cancelled its national tour; Waitress is no longer coming to Sydney. The big musicals said that production costs were too high and sales were too low. The show could not go on.   This week, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance held an emergency meeting to discuss the future of Australia’s musical theatre industry and how to save it.   In this episode of The Briefing, the Federal President of the MEAA, Michael Balk, joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to reveal the union's plan to save the industry, and how fans and the government can help.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Trump says US will collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz Sydney daycare worker accused of abusing 150 children Alleged DV murder victim’s family attend court vowing to fight for justice Albanese to unveil AI vision as Labor plots hands-on approach Tributes flow for actor Sam Neill, after his death at the age of 78 Deep Dive: Australia has been plagued by a chronic skills shortage in recent years, exacerbated by declining apprentice numbers, the pandemic and a cultural shift towards university as the preferred post-school pathway.  Labor has this week claimed a couple of big wins in this space, talking up 814,000 TAFE enrolments in the last three years and more than 30,000 new apprentices in the past 12 months, off the back of two key policy roll outs.  But do these numbers tell the full story? Is Australia’s tradie crisis really close to being solved? In this episode of The Briefing, Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  One Nation loses support to the Coalition Trump says strait of Hormuz open despite Iran closure Australian Universities forced to adopt new definitions on antisemitism and Islamophobia Aussie students flock to free TAFE courses, but apprentice figures dip Australia to wave goodbye to paper arrival cards for incoming travellers Deep Dive: Pattaya has long traded on two reputations: a tourist playground by day, and one of the world's busiest red-light hubs by night.   That darker side made global headlines last month when the body of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase beside a railway line on the edge of the city.  A 45-year-old Australian man has been accused of her murder, which he denies.   The case has reignited scrutiny of an industry that's technically against the law in Thailand, yet thrives in full view - raising questions about corruption, worker safety, and the surprising truth about who's actually driving demand.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with emeritus professor at George Washington University and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia's Premier Erotic Playground, Ronald Weitzer to unpack it.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this week's NATO summit in Turkey, Donald Trump was once again talking about wanting to take control of Greenland.So why does the US President keep talking about the country, could the US really try to take it, and what and what does it all mean for Australia?  In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we revisit Tara Cassidy's chat with defence and security expert, Jennifer Parker, who explains why Greenland has become such a fixation for the US president, and why this isn’t as unprecedented as it might sound. Jen explains the strategic value of the Arctic, the role of NATO and Denmark, and why Trump’s rhetoric is alarming key allies.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karl Stefanovic launched an independent podcast at the beginning of the year and one Sunshine Coast radio host has been paying VERY close attention.  Henry Bretz has posted dozens of videos parodying Nine's former breakfast king - earning a follow from Karl himself, then an unfollow, and now a full block.   In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Chris Spyrou sits down with the comedian behind the impressions to discuss his viral posts, what Lisa Wilkinson said when she slid into his DMs, and what he really thinks is going on with Karl's "lurch to the right.”   Plus, Sportsbet has Henry at $34 to replace Karl on the Today Show… so is Channel Nine actually calling? The Weekend List:   Henry's recco: Olivia Rodrigo’s new album - you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love  Listener Brett’s recco: Madonna’s Confessions II album   To eat: It’s winter which means ... soup! Check out RecipeTin Eats soup recipes here, and the recipe for the Greek lamb lettuce soup here (dill optional, but it’s fine if you’re a dill person).  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  SA death possibly linked to Telstra outage Modi mania sweeps Melbourne US and Iran exchange fire as Supreme Leader buried Angus Taylor mounts strongest attack yet on Pauline Hanson Bonnie Tyler has died at the age of 75 Deep Dive: Ten years ago, in 2015, the world collectively launched 221 objects into space. Last year that number was 4,510, a record by a huge margin. There’s now a record number of satellites and other space objects zooming over our heads.   Why are we shooting so many objects into space? Most launches are coming from the United States, where a commercial space race is well and truly underway. But what are the consequences for the rest of the world?   As mysterious space debris washes up on our shores here in Australia, we speak with Dr Matt Agnew, the scientist (and former Bachelor star) to learn about why we’re launching thousands of satellites a year.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Fresh Telstra outage hits customers Trump says Iran-US ceasefire is ‘over’ Australian rents hit record high Australians with cancer are living longer NSW wins 2026 State of Origin Deep Dive: The tragic death of 27-year-old Melbourne footy player Nathan Fitzgerald has sparked questions over the hidden hazards of shared suburban fields and whether enough is being done to protect local athletes.   This tragedy coincides with an alarming new report from the Australian Sports Brain Bank and Four Corners revealing high rates of the brain disease CTE in deceased players, ramping up the pressure on the AFL to establish formal CTE protocols.   In this episode of The Briefing, neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce joins us to break down the latest brain research and ask the difficult question: as the evidence stacks up, can footy ever truly be safe again?  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  Aussies suffer sharpest decline in real wages in the developed world Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigns and vows to fight to win by-election Prince Harry and Elton John lose privacy lawsuit against Daily Mail’s publisher NATO summit underway as Trump revives Greenland bid Male testosterone levels have halved in 50 years Pam the Bird prankster to remain behind bars Deep Dive: You might have heard that house prices are falling – at least in Sydney and Melbourne, which tend to set the direction for the other capital cities. Auction clearance rates were below 50% for the third weekend in a row, and experts say the slump could continue.  Is Australia on the brink of a Labor-created societal collapse? Or are we finally having the much-needed correction of an overstimulated property bubble? What direction do we want house prices to go, anyway?  Joining Chris Spyrou in this episode of The Briefing to look beyond the headlines is My Bui, an economist with AMP.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  China’s pacific ballistic test labelled ‘destabilising’ by Australia Melbourne teacher dies after footy head knock Hamas to dissolve Gaza government  Trump admits he asked FIFA for red card review  Karl Stefanovic reportedly blocks comedian that keeps parodying him Deep DIve: Dodgy businesses, you’ve been warned. Last week Australia’s consumer watchdog launched a Federal Court case against Amazon for unfairly stuffing ads into its Amazon Prime streaming service; and, in the same week, the federal parliament passed laws that’ll protect consumers against unfair trading practices.  Those ‘dark patterns’ that make it super hard to unsubscribe from a service, or the countdown timer that pressures you into a purchase? They’ll be targets under the new laws, along with surprise fees. The laws were passed last Thursday, and will be implemented from 1 July 2027.  On The Briefing today is one of the people who campaigned loudest for the new Unfair Trading Prohibition laws, Chandni Gupta, the deputy CEO and Digital Policy Director of the Consumer Policy Research Centre.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  Albo slams Liberal party rebrand ahead of Pacific blitz  Cannibalism link being investigated in NSW child murder USA celebrates its 250th independence anniversary as Iran mourns supreme leader Warnings against panic buying after bird flu confirmed in third Australian state Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tie the knot Deep Dive: If you believe the polls, One Nation is demolishing the political order and might become Australia’s biggest party.   At this moment of political flux, two of the ‘teal’ independents are bidding for a piece of the action by establishing their own alternative party: Community Strong Australia.  Joining us on The Briefing to discuss her new party, why she started it and whether it’ll have any electoral cut through is Waringah MP Zali Steggall.  Further listening from the headlines:Bird flu's hit Australia. What now? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the rumours are true, Taylor Swift has tied the knot this weekend in a stadium in New York City.  Since Swift's August 2025 engagement to footballer Travis Kelce, there has been speculation about the venue, the guest list, the setlist... everything. Swift is, after all, one of the world’s biggest pop stars, and her success has been built on turning the details of her life into stories. This wedding is one hell of a story.  On this bonus episode of The Briefing, we revisit Swift’s most recent batch of stories on her 2025 album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’. Chris Spyrou speaks with Kate Pattison, a PhD candidate on Swift’s fandom and our in-house TS expert.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few politicians in Australian history have quite the standing that John Howard does.  While his time in power as Australia’s 25th Prime Minister between 1996 and 2007 was characterised by both economic wins and policy fails (think industrial relations and immigration), he is looked to now as an elder statesman and a symbol of when things in Australia were ‘good’.  But that’s revisionist history, according to political journalist Amy Remeikis, whose new book Where It All Went Wrong: The Case Against John Howard, explores how Howard sold out the younger generations to benefit their parents, undermined the public health system and destroyed the housing market.  In this chat with Amy Remeikis, Sacha Barbour Gatt explores these ideas with Remeikis while discussing the Canberra bubble and how a child of a conservative Lithuanian dad who voted One Nation went on to become one of the leading progressive voices in this country.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Social media platforms are monetising gore content: eSafety Commissioner Man pulled from rubble in Venezuela eight days after twin quakes NSW to crack down on nangs Australia’s wealth going backwards but the rich get richer Eminem loses trademark battle with Aussie beach brand Deep Dive: We’re more than a decade into the Netflix era, and every year we’ve heard the prediction that streaming will kill in-person cinema.   In 2026, those predictions are wrong, again, with June and July set to mark, some of the biggest release months this year with films including Odyssey and Toy Story 5 expected to rake in billions.  But it’s not only the big films that are winning with smaller franchises and female-skewing films also outperforming expectations.  So, is the box office back, for good? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Christian Kloukinas from Village Cinemas to find out.  Further listening from the headlines:  Venezuela's 'abysmal' earthquake response Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  New analysis proves its harder to own a house now than when interest rates were 17% Pollies turn out for Midwinter Ball  Online fraud and scams have increased as we become less vigilant Karl Stefanovic to lose radio show  Details emerge about Taylor Swift’s wedding Deep Dive: Twin earthquakes tore through Venezuela's north last week, leaving more than seventeen hundred dead and tens of thousands missing.  The emergency response has been widely criticised, international aid has faced unexpected obstacles getting in, and the government is carefully controlling the narrative as the outside world watches.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by LiSTNR senior journalist Claudianna Blanco to examine what this disaster reveals about the state of the country and what life actually looks like for Venezuelans six months on from the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro.  Further listening from headlines: What a 'free' Karl Stefanovic really means Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  Thai police investigating Australian man for possible links to suitcase murders Support for One Nation remains high despite rejection of key policies House prices drop by biggest amount since 2022 Donald Trump’s controversial birthright citizenship policy struck down by Supreme Court Grad sacked after allegedly accessing Albo’s bank account  NT residents named the happiest in the country Deep Dive: July 1 marks the start of the new financial year and also when a raft of new laws, policies, regulations and pricing comes into effect.   This year that includes cheaper electricity for most states, bucking recent trends which have seen prices for everything else go up.   But it’s a little more complicated than just getting a cheaper bill, in fact, some people will be paying more.   In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Canstar’s Data Insights Director, Sally Tindall, to unpack the changes coming to our power bills and how to get the best deal.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Anthony Albanese backs multiculturalism as Coalition considers a rebrand US-Iran talks resume Bruce Lehrmann loses bid for Brittany Higgins footage Aussie fuel prices return to pre-Iran war levels Musical theatre industry calls for government help Deep Dive: Karl Stefanovic got tongues wagging last week when he had controversial UK figure Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast for a conversation that did little to challenge the far-right agitator on his problematic views about immigration and Islam.  Within days of the podcast episode going live, it had sensationally been pulled from all platforms, and the Nine Network’s highest-paid star had been shown the door, in an exit that signals yet another shift in the media space.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Jacqueline Maley, columnist and senior writer at The Age to discuss Karl’s Nine exit, why he’s happy about it and what it means for free speech and the broader media landscape in Australia.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:   Labor recovers in the polls, One Nation takes a hit Australian man denies murder charges after 17-year-old's body found in suitcase Thousands still missing from Venezuela earthquakes US and Iran recommence strikes NSW announces major shark mitigation strategy after Coogee attack World Cup moves to the knockouts Deep Dive: Your cybersecurity is at risk, according to the world’s spies. Five Eyes is the alliance of spies from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia – and last week, they published a warning that cutting-edge AI “accelerates the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber threats”.  They also wrote that the timeline of the transformation is “not years, it is months.”  How worried should we all be about these cyber threats? And what can we, individually and collectively, do about them?   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by cybersecurity expert Alastair MacGibbon, the founding head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre.  Further listening from headlines: The truth about shark culls Your guide to Aus v Paraguay  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Theo first captured Australia's attention as one of the stars of Love on the Spectrum.   Since then, he's gone on to lead the ABC comedy-drama Austin - a performance that has now earned him a Silver Logie nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy. To mark the nomination, we're revisiting one of our conversations with him from the archives. This bonus Sunday episode of The Briefing is Antoinette Lattouf's 2024 conversation with Michael Theo about finding fame through Love on the Spectrum, making the leap into acting, and the very specific checklist he has for his ideal partner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He went from busking in Pitt Street Mall to winning Australia's Got Talent with Justice Crew, signing a record deal despite none of them being trained singers, and touring the world with the likes of Pitbull, Janet Jackson and One Direction.   Now John Pearce - Big Strong John, the internet's "hot Wiggle" - sits down with Chris Spyrou in this episode of The Weekend Briefing to look back on the wild ride from western Sydney dancer to ARIA chart-topper, including what he actually did with his AGT prize money, whether twin telepathy with his brother Lenny is real, and the moment Justice Crew quietly wound down.  They also get into how he came to join the Wiggle-verse, how his life has changed since becoming a dad and his honest feelings about being labelled a heartthrob while dressed as a children's entertainer.WEEKEND LIST:  To watch: Widow's Bay on Apple TV (Listener Nial)  To eat: GYG Breakfast Burrito  To gift: Gourmet Basket To explore: Bunnings on Uber Eats?! Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  World leaders commit aid after Venezuela hit by two earthquakes Albo to target social media companies and algorithms in strengthening of under-16 ban Sydney shark attack victim awake, reunited with daughter Nearly 1 in 20 fuel pumps short-changing Australians   SBS braces for record viewing audience as Socceroos take on Paraguay Deep Dive: The Socceroos are back in action today, taking on Paraguay in their final World Cup group match.  Australia heads into the clash knowing a win or draw would put it in a strong position to reach the knockout stage - but even a loss may not be enough to end our campaign.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by SBS's Santo & Ed's Cup Fever host Ed Kavalee to unpack Australia's chances, the big names to watch, and the World Cup facts that'll help you sound like you've been following the tournament all along. Further listening from headlines: Your anger is being sold, Ed Coper knows what to do about it Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Bird flu found in second Aussie state Hanson says Socceroos are an example of monoculturalism ASIO defends resourcing ahead of Bondi attack, warns of ‘unprecedented’ number of threats Karl Stefanovic to leave after podcast interview with far-right activist Neil the seal is back 🦭 Deep Dive: The world is in El Niño again – the weather pattern caused by warmer sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean. For Australia, an El Niño usually means less rain and hotter days, but also more extreme temperatures, including a higher frost risk.  The big question, though, is whether hotter and drier conditions are likely to lead to a dramatic bushfire season. Could we be in for another Black Summer?  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Dr Kimberley Reid, a Research Fellow with the Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century at the University of Melbourne to unpack it all.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can someone please explain what’s going on in the United Kingdom? Within two years of a landslide election, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer became so unpopular that his own party wanted to throw him out. The man set to replace him, Andy Burnham, seems like he’s going to assume the top job unchallenged, after only recently being re-elected into parliament. Burnham will be the seventh UK Prime Minister in a decade. What went wrong with UK politics? And is the Labour leadership drama just a distraction before the right-wing Reform party sweeps the next election?  Joining this episode of The Briefing is Katy Balls, an editor and columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  Labor to pass contentious tax reforms  Angus Taylor grilled on multiculturalism Urgent testing underway but no new cases of bird flu yet 40 die in France amid record heat Legal win for Sydney nurses after viral video struck out Daryl Braithwaite announces retirement from live gigs Deep Dive: The Australian political narrative has been completely hijacked by the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation, as the party and its leader continue to surge ahead in the polls.   But after the Prime Minister publicly challenged her claim that she is the ultimate champion of the "Aussie battler" this week, a critical question remains: who does her party actually stand for?    In this episode of The Briefing, Big Small Talk host Hannah Ferguson joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the reality behind the rhetoric.  Further listening from headlines: Bird flu's hit Australia. What now? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  UK PM Sir Keir Starmer resigns Vance says Iran will allow nuclear inspectors Aussie support for multiculturalism plunges in historic survey shift Rare warning from Five Eyes urges leaders to ‘act now’ on powerful new AI models Messi breaks World Cup goal-scoring record  Deep Dive:For years, Australia managed to avoid a strain of bird flu that has devastated wildlife populations and agricultural industries across much of the world.  That changed over the weekend, after authorities confirmed an infected migratory bird was discovered with H5N1 in Western Australia.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health, about what we know about the virus, the risks it poses to both humans and animals, and why authorities are urging us to roll up our sleeves for this year’s flu shot to help reduce its impact.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  National Cabinet to meet today to lock in fuel excise cut extension JD Vance says ‘great progress’ made as Iran talks kicks off in Switzerland UK Prime Minister could resign in next 24 hours Auction clearance rates hit lowest levels since the pandemic Socceroos 90% likely to reach next stage of World Cup Deep Dive:Last month, Australian neo-Nazi group White Australia, also known as the National Socialist Network, became a prohibited hate group. That means it is now illegal: it’s a crime to join, fund, or support the group. The NSN is challenging the government’s declaration, with a showdown scheduled in the High Court for September.  In the meantime, it’s been revealed a $2.5m Victorian property the neo-Nazi group is currently using as their headquarters has been paid for by a millionaire backer. And it’s not just one millionaire, but a network of rich and influential sympathisers.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with journalist Sherryn Groch from The Age, who has followed the money to find the neo-Nazis' mansion and the millionaire-backers supporting them.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April, a company called Anthropic claimed they had a new AI model that was too powerful to release. They called it ‘Mythos’, and said it could find new ways to hack computers which humans had overlooked for decades. Mythos, they said, was too dangerous for public consumption. Instead, Anthropic released Mythos to trusted partners in government and businesses, including in Australia.   Then, in mid-June, a public version of Mythos was made available. Anthropic said this version was safe for anyone to use; the U.S. government strongly disagreed. After only a few days the U.S. government banned foreigners from accessing the new AI model. Australians were cut off, and we don’t know when access will be resumed.  Today, we’re bringing back an interview from April with cybersecurity expert Dr. Suelette Dreyfus. What dangers does Mythos pose, and are we ready for a tsunami of AI-enabled hacking? Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was meant to bring us all together, to cross the divides of land and sea and become a virtual town square. A place for people to connect and share their thoughts, ideas and dreams.  The vision was there, but the reality of social media has become something much different.  It’s a place driven by outrage, hate, and controversy. And it’s ruining public debate and possibly us as a society.  Ed Coper is one of the founding strategists behind GetUp! and he’s written a new book, Angertainment, about how social media has birthed an entire outrage industry that is harvesting and monetising our worst impulses.  In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Ed tells us how we got here and why understanding it is the first step to defeating it.  The Weekend List: To do: Get to a Jazz bar (recommended by listener Timmy)  To do: Get around the SBS  To Watch: John Safran’s new doco Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran (on SBS) To Watch: The Socceroos (beat?) the US at the World Cup  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Australia’s migration numbers revealed Ships begin moving through the Strait of Hormuz  Gina Rinehart gifts Pauline Hanson a 'beautiful big fat orange bulldozer'  Labor unveils CGT carve-outs as inquiry hands down report All eyes on Seattle for Socceroos vs USA Deep Dive:Australia has been rocked by another shark attack this week, with a Sydney mum losing an arm after being mauled by a suspected Great White.   It’s prompted yet another debate about how to keep people safe at our beaches, but calls have grown louder this time around for a shark cull to be brought in to lower populations and protect swimmers.   But it’s not as simple as that, says Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist with Humane World for Animals.    In this episode of The Briefing, he sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain shark culls, their flaws, and what could work better.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Pauline Hanson criticised for press club address as AFP investigates banner incident US officials reveal Iran peace deal details Pakistani officials apologise for fatal shooting of Australian girl First non-stop flight to Europe from Australia’s east coast confirmed The Maroons thump the Blues in State of Origin 2 Deep Dive:Kyle Sandilands and ARN have settled their legal dispute, clearing the way for the radio shock jock to make his next move in the audio space.  But it turns out he’ll still be tied to his former employer, which will be taking a cut of the profits from his new show, and they’ll still have to host ads for him on the station he once called home.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined again by industry insider Craig Bruce to break down the deal and what it means for the future of audio in Australia.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  Interest rate hike reprieve, but the pain might not be over Ben Roberts-Smith bail conditions varied  Pauline Hanson to address the National Press Club for the first time in her political career Virgin Australia lashed as it plans to pocket $90 million in travel credits Kyle Sandilands apparently settles with ARN for $15 million Deep Dive: The Albanese government has been struggling to convince voters its proposed changes to the Capital Gains Tax – as outlined in last month’s budget – will be beneficial for Australians.   The business sector and Coalition is up in arms about the effects it will have on investment in this country, with accusations the two-day Senate inquiry into the planned changes is rushed.   Independent economist Saul Eslake appeared at that hearing this week. In this episode of The Briefing, he joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain how the reforms to CGT will affect different Aussies and give his verdict on the changes.    Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Skepticism surrounds US-Iran peace deal AFP confirms investigation into allegations of sexual assault by flotilla activists Sydney shark attack victim loses arm Economists back government’s CGT plan, but admit it’s not perfect Gina Rinehart buys ‘significant’ stake in SpaceX Deep Dive: A new cosmetic procedure is plumping faces – and raising eyebrows – in the US.   It involves using the fat from dead bodies as filler in patients seeking plumper lips, butts and faces, despite very limited clinical trials or proof it’s safe.   In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by QLD plastic surgeon Dr David Sparks to talk zombie filler and ask not only whether it’s safe, but also whether it’s ethical to use cadaver tissue for beauty.  Further listening from headlines:'I heard the screams': Inside Israeli detentionElon’s road to $1,000,000,000,000 Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States and Iran have announced a cease-fire deal that would pause fighting for 60 days. “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump wrote on social media.  Sacha Barbour Gatt has this breaking news update.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  New poll has Pauline Hanson as preferred PM Trump tells all sides to ‘stand down’ amid peace talks Nine-year-old Australian girl killed in Pakistan Renewed calls for a Sydney shark cull after Coogee attack Socceroos stun in World Cup opener against Turkiye Deep Dive: A proposed $900 million waste-to-energy plant in Fiji sparked fierce criticism before it was ultimately rejected, with opponents warning the nation risked becoming the "Pacific's ashtray" and accusing Australia of engaging in "waste colonialism".  The project has reignited debate around waste-to-energy technology, which supporters say can reduce landfill and generate electricity, but critics argue risks creating a dependence on burning waste rather than reducing it.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with environmental researcher Professor Ray Wills about the Fiji proposal, the future of waste-to-energy in Australia, and whether burning rubbish is a necessary part of solving the country's growing waste problem.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terence Tao was a child prodigy, and became a mathematics professor in the United States at age 24. In his early 30s he won the Fields Medal, known as 'the Nobel Prize of Mathematics'. Tao is considered one of the greatest living mathematicians, in part because of the breadth of his contributions to the field – from finding new patterns in prime numbers to solving several of the "unsolvable" Erdős problems. On Monday, the King's Birthday, Tao was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia. In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Terence Tao, AC, speaks with Natarsha Belling about the pleasures of solving problems, and how maths makes the world a less scary place. If you want more Terence Tao, one of the YouTube channels he mentions is 3Blue1Brown, and Tao is featured on an episode. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He became one of the breakout stars of Married At First Sight Australia last year, but life after it wasn't exactly what Dave Hand expected.  The self-described "gentle giant" found himself navigating one of TV’s biggest experiments, alongside sudden fame and online scrutiny all while his dad was undergoing cancer treatment.   And this year he swapped one reality TV juggernaut for another, joining Netflix's Perfect Match alongside stars from Love Is Blind, Love Island, Vanderpump Rules and Too Hot To Handle.  In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Dave joins Chris Spyrou to unpack the reality behind reality TV, from MAFS dinner parties to producer relationships, tattoo regrets and how he managed to avoid Bali belly while filming in ... Mexico.  The Weekend List  To Watch: Project Hail Mary (recommended by listener Rebecca)  To Watch: Not Suitable For Work on Disney+ To Do: Get around Baby Bunting’s ‘Storktake’ sale  To Listen: Anything from Madonna’s upcoming Confessions II album.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Pauline Hanson says $2.6m donations legit after PM casts doubt Donald Trump calls off strikes on Iran El Niño returns, likely to bring extreme weather to Australia Government says it won’t repeat the mistakes of the resource boom with AI  FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico Deep Dive: The world could see its first trillionaire soon, as Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, goes public. If the SpaceX public offering goes to plan, then Musk could increase his personal fortune by hundreds of billions of US dollars in just a few days.  How did Musk get so filthy rich? And how should we think about one individual controlling a trillion US dollars, and the unique power that type of wealth confers?  In this episode The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Tom Maloney - an editor and wealth reporter at Bloomberg in New York to unpack Musk’s path to a trillion and how he conquered capitalism.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Briefing, we continue Chris Spyrou’s chat with NSW Premier Chris Minns.   After discussing medicinal cannabis driving reforms, abortion laws and the state of political debate in part one, the conversation turns to One Nation.   Minns shares whether he pays attention to the polls, why he's concerned about his own seat, his reactions to the Federal Budget and his response to the political donations case heading to court next week. Listen to part one here Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Trump promises to hit Iran ‘hard again today’  Belfast stabbing accused faces court as victim’s family condemns unrest Pauline Hanson met with protests on Perth campaign trip TGA launches crackdown on unregulated peptides Bad Bunny meets the Pope Deep Dive: There’s a lot going on in Aussie politics at the moment.   One Nation is polling ahead of Labor in surveys for the first time, abortion access is being debated, and one of the country's tougher states on drugs is carving out an exemption for medicinal cannabis users who drive.   NSW Premier Chris Minns is at the centre of a lot of it.   In part one of this two-part chat with Chris Spyrou, the Premier walks us through the state’s cannabis driving reforms, the push to outlaw sex-selective abortions and his reaction to the “ditch the witch” campaign targeting Jacinta Allan. Listen to part two here. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  High Court: Australian government may have to compensate people who were illegally detained  One Nation’s anti-Labor fundraising drive brings in hundreds of thousands Neale Daniher farewelled at MCG state funeral Alleged Bondi shooter charged with 19 more offences Oyster farmer elected to run for U.S. Senate New research links iPhone to declining birth rate  Deep Dive:  The Iran war has escalated again, and the ceasefire has never looked more fragile. In the last 24 hours a U.S. helicopter was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz, leading to further rounds of strikes between the nations. Iran and Israel have also been exchanging fire, and Israel is still conducting an offensive against Lebanon.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by defence and maritime expert Jennifer Parker. Is the Middle East heading back into all-out war?  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: <a

Wednesday Headlines:  Trump promises to ‘respond’ after US helicopter shot down by Iran Elon Musk calls for anti-immigration protests after brutal stabbing in Ireland Apple ‘inspired’ by Australia’s world-first social media ban Opening date announced for new Western Sydney Airport Matildas win friendly against Mexico in Caitlin Foord’s 150th game Deep Dive: Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital has taken a 15-year-old girl to the Supreme Court after she refused treatment for her leukaemia – and won.   Backed by her mother, who believed God could heal her daughter, the teenager rejected a bone marrow transplant despite doctors warning her chances of survival without it were just five per cent. The court sided with the hospital, authorising treatment against her wishes last month.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with University of Sydney law professor Cameron Stewart about the legal doctrine that allowed the court to intervene and what happens when medicine, parental authority and religious belief collide.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Angus Taylor isn't ruling out One Nation preference deal  Trump's $US100,000 H-1B skilled worker visa fee struck down by Judge  New research calls for urgent Jobseeker boost with Aussies skipping meals and healthcare  Survey finds 57% of Netflix subscribers spend $119 a year without watching a thing  Deep Dive:  The FIFA world cup kicks off in a few days, but the tournament has already been rocked by a number of controversies including visa denials - with the US, a host nation, denying a top referee entry into the country citing vetting concerns.   Then there’s also the interesting bromance between Donald Trump and the controversial FIFA president who recently gifted Trump a peace prize.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by David Rowe, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Research, Institute for Culture and Society from Western Sydney University to unpack how politics and sport collide.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines: Iran and Israel promise to halt strikes 35 people dead after 7.8 earthquake strikes the Philippines PM condemns ‘ditch the witch’ campaign against Victorian premier as Hanson tells her to ‘suck it up’ Every Australian generation thinks things are worse than they were ten years ago Couple donates $40 million to Fight MND at this year’s Big Freeze Deep Dive: Every time there is a major sporting event, be it State of Origin or the AFL grand final, we hear how they coincide with an increase in domestic violence reports.  It’s a trend that advocates call “predictable and preventable” with calls growing for changes to liqour laws to help combat the scourge.  In this episode of The Briefing, survivor, advocate and investigative journlaist Jess Hill sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss how simple regulatory changes could be a gamechanger when it comes to the prevention of DV.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Valentine passed away in April, voluntarily. The beloved ABC radio presenter and musician had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and chose voluntary assisted dying so he could have a say over how he lived his last moments.  Valentine cared about moments. In a moving eulogy at Valentine’s public memorial, his son, Roy Valentine, said that his dad always asked the question: “How do you want to live?” James Valentine lived with joy, curiosity, and openness, and wanted everyone else to be able to do the same.  Today, James Valentine is being officially honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Roy Valentine to talk about his father’s legacy.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.