The Briefing

Episod

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  Our Take: Trump TV, Albo’s selfie & Nollsy for the NRL Grand Final? 25.09.2026 35min

  Welcome back to Our Take! It's the time of week that we loosen our ties (except we famously don't wear ties), kick off our shoes (figuratively because WHS rules) and talk the week that was in news and pop culture.  This episode starts with The Debrief, and we take on the launch of Trump TV and the US President banning certain media outlets from White House press events.  Then we crack open The Inbox to hear YOUR thoughts on the biggest stories of the week, with drug reform, Albo and Trump's selfie and the NRL dumping Tones and I dominating our comment sections and DMs.  Then it's time for the Weekend Quiz and this weekend we have our very first listener joining us to test their knowledge – listener Nat, who also got some very impressive (not really) merch. Questions below, make sure you listen to get the answers!  As always, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories we've covered, or ones you'd like us to cover! Hit us up on Instagram @thebriefingpodcast and don't forget you can comment on eps if you listen on Spotify.  The Weekend Quiz:    Albo’s in the US this week, and while there he has launched a campaign for Australia to get a seat on WHAT?  In the AFL, who won this year’s Brownlow medal, on Monday night? Donald Trump wants to change the name of AI, what has he suggested it be called instead?  A new report this week found that half of Aussies in their 20s are still doing what?  We lost an Aussie rock icon this week. Who was it? The Weekend List:   To Listen: Potterhead (Listener Pepper)   To make: Porridge (listener Helen, link here)   To watch: The Golden Spurtle on Netflix See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Trump's press ban overturned + The price of a Grand Final pop star 24.09.2026 29min

  Friday Headlines:  Trump welcomes Xi to White House for AI talks Albanese disappointed in OpenAI after Medicare breach White House lifts press ban after judge order Two children die in NSW following separate tragedies Rate hike almost certain next week despite jobs data Lachie Neale wins appeal as Lions and Freo take unchanged sides into tomorrow's AFL Grand Final Deep Dive: Kylie Minogue headlines the AFL grand final this weekend.    A week later, the NRL will kick off its decider without a star act. The league says it would rather put the money into junior footy than pay a performer $90,000 a minute. Its broadcaster reportedly isn't happy, all the while plenty of fans are shrugging.   So are these pre-game spectacles worth the millions, or just a tradition nobody has thought to question?   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Dr Hunter Fujak, senior lecturer in sport management at Deakin University. They unpack who these shows are really for, how they’ve changed over time and why the NRL’s move could completely change the game moving forward.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  More young Aussies than ever living at home + When will women be safe? 23.09.2026 28min

  Thursday Headlines: Iran accuses US and Israel of terrorism as Albanese pledges $60million to Ukraine Gus Lamont's parents make emotional plea as $1m reward offered Half of Aussies in their 20s still living with their parents as housing and financial stresses bite Swans players return to the club for the first time  Angry Anderson dies aged 79  Deep Dive: In the past week, four more women and children have been added to the national domestic violence death toll in Australia, which is currently sitting at 72.  They were lost in suspected murders across NSW, including a shocking case involving three children in the Blue Mountains, with their mother now accused of murder and two counts of attempted murder.  As these horrific cases continue to hit the news, it can feel like progress has stalled or completely halted.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the NSW Women's Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin to discuss the ongoing fight to end domestic violence in our communities, and whether we're getting closer to that goal.  Additional resources:  1800 RESPECT: https://1800respect.org.au/ or call 1800 737 732  Full Stop Australia: https://fullstop.org.au/   eSafety Commissioner: https://www.esafety.gov.au/    Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  US hits out at Aus opt-out laws + The Houthis vs Saudi Arabia explained 22.09.2026 28min

  Wednesday Headlines:  Donald Trump addresses UN General Assembly on Iran, AI and domestic record NSW mother charged after fatally stabbing her son Beau Lamarre-Condon claims self defence in double murder case Coroner says Hayden Panettiere died from accidental overdose Brisbane Lions dealt major blow ahead of grand final NRL finals to go ahead without pre-match entertainment  Deep Dive: A patch of sea between Yemen and Saudi Arabia has become the Middle East's newest flashpoint. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have swept down Yemen's coast and now sit within reach of a shipping lane the whole world leans on.   Saudi Arabia is bombing back.   Missiles, drones, and tens of thousands of people have been forced to run.   So how did a rebel group end up with its hand on a valve of the global economy, and how much worse could this get?  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Jessica Genauer, Associate Professor in International Relations at UNSW, to explain who the Houthis really are, why the US is staying on the sidelines and what it all means for the price you pay at the bowser.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Fox News joins Trump boycott + Australia's migration debate explained 21.09.2026 38min

  Tuesday Headlines:  Albanese signs AI warning alongside world leaders Trial of accused killer of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies gets underway Calls for Telstra to be stripped of Triple Zero responsibilities  Fox News among outlets refusing to cover Trump after CNN banned from White House Nick Daicoss wins Brownlow in record-breaking vote Deep Dive: Migration has long been of the most fiercely debated issues in Australian politics. But it's reached a fever pitch in recent years following an explosion in migrants coming to Australia in the wake of the pandemic.   What has followed has been a debate around what that number should be, driven by competing demands across the economy, housing, the labour market, and our shared values.    As the major political parties roll out their platforms ahead of the next election, we're cutting through the noise to dive into what they're promising, what real-world impact these policies will have, and find out if anyone is actually getting the balance right.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Albo takes AI fight to UN + Why we’ll never win the 'war on drugs' 20.09.2026 28min

  Monday Headlines:  Australia launches UN seat campaign while Albanese in the US Child and three women dead after horror weekend of domestic violence in NSW Coalition unveils cheaper fuel plan Vic police working to ban AFL fans who threw bottles at umpires Ed Sheeran takes to the stage alone in first show since Macklemore axing Deep Dive: Australia is one of the world's biggest consumers of illicit drugs, and the numbers are still climbing. The country's top cop, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett, says the way forward is to talk about it louder - to convince Aussies that their weekend habit is bankrolling the gangs behind a wave of violence. But one of the nation's leading drug policy researchers doubts that will help.   If decades of cracking down on supply hasn't dented demand, what actually works and why does so little funding go towards it?   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Professor Alison Ritter, director of the Drug Policy Modelling Program at UNSW, to discuss.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Our Take: Sydney Sweeney's ad, we got hacked & the manosphere vs Chris 18.09.2026 35min

  Oh, we are SO back - with our looser, lights off Our Take! This weekend, Chris and Sach debrief the Sydney Sweeney drama, as the actress's latest ad - for a sports-prediction market she happens to have an equity stake in - kicks off online.  Then we crack open the inbox for your takes on Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour plus the Aussie HYROXer who shat herself in Beijing.   Taking on the Weekend Quiz this week is Isobel from marketing, who (to our surprise) smashed it out of the park.  Also, our insta got HACKED and Chris finally addresses how he’s been targeted by the manosphere.  It’s a lot.   Enjoy.   The Weekend Quiz:   The week got off to a rough start when an Australian athlete did what?  Pauline Hanson apologised for two things this week. What were they? AI company Anthropic signed a $32 billion deal to build its first data centre in Australia. Which state? Two STIs have climbed more than 50% in Australia over the past decade - name one. An icon returned to the stage in Paris this week. Who?  The Weekend List:   Listener Julie: go on an adventurous picnic!  Sach: Watch season 3 of The Traitors AU on Paramount+   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Hyrox poo athlete apologises + Unpacking Ed Sheeran vs Macklemore 17.09.2026 32min

  Friday Headlines:  Labor faces criticism over new migration laws Australian accused of murdering Thai teen faces court Federal Government considers AI glasses ban  Gov scraps planned veteran allied health cap  Australian HYROX athlete apologises for poo incident  Deep Dive: Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour is making headlines after rapper Macklemore was dropped as a support act for saying ‘Free Palestine’ on stage.   It’s had a flow on effect, with all four of Ed’s other openers withdrawing in solidarity with the rapper.   In this episode of the Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Catherine Strong, Associate Professor in the Music Industry program at RMIT to unpack the relationship between musicians and politics, and what that means for the rest of Ed Sheeran’s tour.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Labor plans to cut migration + The far-right win Australia can't ignore 16.09.2026 25min

  Thursday Headlines:  Labor to unveil migration plan today More details emerge about Bali double murder suicide More than 100,000 displaced as Yemen conflict intensifies  Anthropic signs agreement for the country’s biggest data centre Kim Kardashian awarded €1 in damages for Paris robbery Deep Dive: A far-right party just came closer to running a German state than any has since the Nazi era.  It's not a one-off. The same movement now sits in or beside government across Europe and it’s reaching Australia too, with a known neo-Nazi group fighting the government in the High Court for its right to exist.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by far-right researcher Kaz Ross to unpack how much ground the far-right is gaining worldwide, what's driving the surge, and what it all means for us here in Australia.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Ed Sheeran responds to Macklemore axing + No, AI isn't going to destroy us all 15.09.2026 31min

  Wednesday Headlines: Pauline Hanson apologises for comments about Indigenous Australians, PM's mum Gov accused of wanting to protect AI companies over Australians  Ed Sheeran responds to Macklemore backlash  One of Sydney’s biggest councils bans smart glasses at local swimming pools Karl Stefanovic and podcast partner in Supreme Court   Deep Dive: There have been renewed and urgent warnings this week from not only former staff, but also the big tech bosses themselves about the existential threat AI poses to humanity.   We've been warned by the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic and Grok that an urgent slowdown is needed in the advancement of this tech, with fears it could result in the extinction of the human race, possibly as soon as 2030.   While most have taken them at their word, some experts are a little more skeptical, and others think it's downright fantasy.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Professor Emily M. Bender, the Director of the Computational Linguistics Laboratory at the University of Washington to offer an alternative view to the narrative that AI is going to kill us all.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Hanson MIA amid resurfaced 'racist' comments + The $855bn cost of rising seas 14.09.2026 26min

  Tuesday Headlines:  One Nation's migration fight Pauline Hanson slammed for racist comments Indonesian police investigating death of Australian man and children in Bali as suspected murder-suicide Donald Trump claims there’s a 'sick conspiracy' against AI, that’s helping China Rates of Gonorrhea and syphilis up by more than 50% in Australia HYROX issues apology over Australian woman pooing during comp Deep Dive: Rising sea levels are no longer a looming threat in the distant future, they're here right now and Australia is especially at risk.   We know the physical impacts of this; accelerated coastal erosion, property damage and loss as well as the destruction of natural barriers like mangroves and wetlands. But there's also a dollar amount we can expect to fork out too.   In an Australian first, the Climate Council has crunched the numbers, with a conservative estimate that we'll need to find an extra $855 billion by 2100 to cover the costs of rising sea levels.   In this episode of The Briefing, Adjunct Professor Andrew Watkins from Monash University and the Climate Council joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to talk about the threat, who pays the bill and whether Australia is pulling its weight when it comes to climate change.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  PM 'proud to be a houso' + Why Elizabeth Holmes is going viral again 13.09.2026 30min

  Monday Headlines:  Pressure mounts, again, on Pauline Hanson to apologise Albo's approval slides as comms minister flags concessions to digital duty of care laws Australian woman identified after falling to her death from a poplar beach near Bali South Australia records first bird flu case in a sea lion  New screen time limits for NSW public school students Celine Dion makes an emotional return to the stage in Paris Deep Dive: Clips from a new documentary about Silicon Valley start-up founder turned convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes have gone viral after a secret screening at the Telluride Film Festival.   Directors of You Can See Everything Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim stayed with Holmes in the days leading up to the start of her 10-year prison stint in 2023.   In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by culture critic for Triple J's The Slop, Michael Sun, to talk about the extraordinary story of Holmes and why we're so obsessed with it.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  BONUS: How to make friends with a magpie this swooping season 12.09.2026 12min

  Spring brings with it some pretty wonderful things; blooming flowers, warmer weather and longer days. But it also means another thing that can strike fear into the heart of nearly every Australian – magpie swooping season.   From August to October, the black and white birds are nesting, which means they’re feeling extra protective and have been known to fly at humans as they pass by their babies.   In this episode of The Briefing, we're revisiting Sacha Barbour Gatt's chat with bird expert Sean Dooley to break down the facts and myths around these fabulous animals this swooping season. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Our Take: HBO's Harry Potter, a kidney donation & Chris loses to English (again) 11.09.2026 35min

  Well, well, well… fancy seeing you here.  Welcome back to The Briefing: Our Take, our weekend hang-out where we loosen our ties and kick off our shoes to take you behind the scenes of the week that was, and what you (and we) made of it.  This week Chris and Sach get into HBO's new Harry Potter series dropping on Christmas Day. They react to the latest trailer, dig through your comments on it, and discuss whether they’re going to watch it.  They're also joined in studio by 2DayFM's very own Emma Chow, who steps up to The Weekend Quiz but somehow manages to get them talking about Tipping Point and Sach’s days as a court reporter. They also discuss Emma’s very exciting news she received this week!  The Weekend Quiz (just questions, no answers): The government this week proposed new laws that could give us the power to opt out of, or switch off, the algorithm on socials. What's it called? Pauline Hanson was on ABC News24 this week and got into a bit of argy-bargy with Chris Kenny. What were they arguing over?  We spoke to Greens Senator David Shoebridge on the pod this week. He was appointed the party's first-ever spokesperson for what? A Melbourne council this week announced it would be banning what from public pools and playgrounds? What subject did Chris and Sach admit on the podcast they cared the least about in school?  The Weekend List:  To watch: New Zealand Spy on ABC iview (thanks to listener Jay) To listen to: Harry Potter audiobook for free on Spotify  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  SPECIAL: The long shadow of 9/11 twenty-five years on 10.09.2026 35min

  Twenty-five years ago, the September 11 terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and changed the course of history. The images of hijacked planes striking the World Trade Center, the collapse of the Twin Towers and the devastation left behind became defining images of this century.  But the consequences of 9/11 reached far beyond the United States. The attacks triggered America’s longest war - a 20-year conflict in Afghanistan that began with the fall of the Taliban. This year also marks five years since the war came full circle: the Taliban returned to power as the US withdrew its troops.  BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet witnessed that extraordinary arc. Drawing on almost four decades of reporting from Afghanistan, she takes LiSTNR Senior Journalist Claudianna Blanco from the aftermath of 9/11 and the hope that followed the Taliban’s fall, to the chaotic final days at Kabul Airport and the Afghanistan of today.  This special episode of The Briefing looks back at the long shadow of 9/11, 25 years on.  Lyse's debut book Lyse on The Weekend Briefing Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Is Trump buying votes? + Insta warns killing the algo will 'overwhelm' you 10.09.2026 15min

  Friday Headlines:  Head of Instagram warns against turning off algorithm Barnaby Joyce apologises to Andrew Hastie over 'traitor' video Donald Trump accused of bribery over 5k election promise August declared hottest month on record Historic NFL game takes over Melbourne  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  'Wanker': Hanson slams Hastie + What can save Australia's ski industry 09.09.2026 29min

  Thursday Headlines:  Pauline Hanson defends Victorian One Nation leader, Andrew Hastie cartoon  Anthony Albanese defends pork barreling allegations Another man killed in Sydney's escalating gangland war Melbourne council bans smart glasses from public pools and playgrounds Apple unveils new folding iPhone Further listening from the headlines:  Sach's deep dive on Sydney's gangland war Chris' chat with David Shoebridge Deep Dive: Australia's not really well known for skiing, but there is a dedicated ski fraternity who love getting to the slopes each winter. So, what happens if there’s no snow?   That’s the question being put to the country’s resort operators after a dismal 2026 season plagued by warm, dry conditions and patchy snow cover.   With most ski fields wrapping up their seasons over the weekend and just a couple still clinging on, we’re being warned winters like this will become more likely, not less.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with the CEO of Snow Resorts Australia, Josh Elliott about the future of snow tourism in Australia. We also hear from Dr Lily O’Neil from Protect our Winters to talk about what climate change’s role is in all of this    Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Aus readies fresh Israeli sanctions + Is the gov really taking on big tech? 08.09.2026 35min

  Wednesday Headlines:  Labor unveils new laws to govern social media giants Missing Australian found alive in Nepal Penny Wong prepares new sanctions against Israeli settlements One Nation Victorian leader says he's no angel, admits to previous drug use  Aussie kids record their worst reading and maths results Further listening from headlines:How Australia funds Israeli settlements Deep Dive: Does Australia need a Minister for AI?   That's the call from Greens Senator David Shoebridge, who this week was appointed the party's first-ever spokesperson for Digital Rights and AI.   It comes as the government insists it's doing whatever it can to put big tech on a leash and keep people first - while at the same time selling Australia as the perfect home for the very infrastructure driving AI's expansion: data centres.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Senator Shoebridge to discuss his new portfolio, whether Australia can pull itself back from being AI's wild west, and what it'll actually take to put people ahead of profit.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Barnaby Joyce isn't Jesus Christ + Opting out of the manosphere 07.09.2026 25min

  Tuesday Headlines:  One Nation has been forced into a quick defence of its plan for superannuation Australian bureaucrats want to ban videos from parliamentary hearings being shared on social media  Trial of alleged killers of Australian brothers in Mexico gets underway Food prices could be pushed higher by record strength El Niño King Charles issues clarification on Harry and Meghan Deep Dive: For years, a secret formula has dictated everything we see on social media, hooking our attention spans at the expense of our mental health.  Now, the federal government is unveiling a plan to let users opt out of the algorithm entirely and return to a chronological stream of accounts they actually follow. But with increasing pressure to protect young men from the insidious manosphere, how much will an opt-out actually change?  In this episode of The Briefing, reporter Amber Schultz joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to detail her experiment posing as a 17-year-old boy online, where it took just 13 minutes to land on manosphere content, and what these proposed changes will mean for our feeds.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Is banning the algorithm censorship? + The teens being hired to kill 06.09.2026 27min

  Monday Headlines:  Gov to strengthen teen social media ban as it looks to create an opt-out approach to social media One Nation reveals superannuation policy Coalition wants to ban flag burning Manhunt underway for Victorian man who allegedly attacked his family with an axe US envoys hold peace talks with Russia and Ukraine Lindsay Clancy trial ends in a mistrial Deep Dive: In Sydney, a staggering six cases of mistaken identity in the city’s bloody gangland war has left innocent people dead, exposing a horrifying shift toward young, inexperienced gunmen carrying out underworld hits.  The body count stems from a bitter turf war which ramped up six years ago with the murder of Fares Abounader, which ignited a battle between rival crime families for Sydney’s billion-dollar illicit trades.  In this episode of The Briefing, we trace with criminologist Dr Vincent Hurley how this bloody conflict has spiralled into 24 deaths, why the criminal underworld changed, and how cheap, reckless hitmen are firing at the wrong targets.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.