The Briefing

Race on for Ebola vaccine + Wage rise for millions of Aussies 02.06.2026 14min

Headlines:  Minimum wages rise across Australia by 4.75% New Australian sanctions against West Bank settlers AI company Anthropic, worth $900bn, is going public Tennis legend Serena Williams is returning to the game 1,037 Marilyn Monroes celebrate her 100th birthday  Deep Dive:  “Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” a Médecins Sans Frontières spokesman said about the current Ebola emergency in the Congo. Officially, at least 43 people have died with 263 cases confirmed. Doctors suspect the numbers are much higher.  As the disease spreads the race for a vaccine is on. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Ebola expert and epidemiologist, Professor Paul Griffin.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has 17 new billionaires + How Trump can rig the midterms 01.06.2026 25min

Tuesday Headlines: Iran reportedly halts peace talks with US over Israeli strikes on Lebanon Peter Garrett to head independent probe into Aukus Australia hits record number of billionaires UNSW ranked best Australian uni Jill Biden reveals her reaction to Joe Biden’s disastrous presidential debate against Donald Trump Deep Dive: They may be five months away, but chatter is already ramping up ahead of the US midterm elections.  The vote – which helps decide who controls Congress – will be the first major verdict on Donald Trump’s second presidency, but factors other than his performance in the White House will be at play.  In this deep dive, Planet America’s Chas Licciardello joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break it all down and explain how this election could signal be end of democracy.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel storms castle in Lebanon + Scrutiny on NSW Police brutality 01.06.2026 15min

Headlines:  Jim Chalmers brushes off One Nation polling  Israel expands ground offensive in Lebanon, seizes 900-year-old castle  Police investigate Melbourne house fire that killed child  Harvard speaker urges grads to “kill AI”  Deep Dive:  Complaints against NSW Police have risen by almost 70% in the last decade, and last year police paid $40 million in legal costs and settlements over alleged misconduct. Today the ABC’s Four Corners is airing an explosive report with videos of police bashing civilians, and calls for greater scrutiny.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Four Corners reporter Dylan Welch.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Nation outpolls Labor + Australia's $2bn PFAS lawsuit explained 31.05.2026 25min

Monday Headlines:  One Nation becomes most popular political party in Australia Defence Minister reveals changes to AUKUS pact Searches continue in flooded Laos cave for missing miners Australian house prices fall Socceroos lose friendly as countdown to the World Cup hits two weeks Deep Dive: The government last week launched its biggest lawsuit ever: Australia is suing the US corporate giant 3M for $2 billion, alleging that 3M concealed the fact that its firefighting foam was harmful.  3M's firefighting foam was made from PFAS chemicals, which scientists now say are environmental contaminants, and the government is seeking damages for the contamination of 28 military bases around Australia.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Ian Wright, Associate Professor in Water Science at Western Sydney University, to unpack what we know about PFAS and whether the Commonwealth's case goes far enough.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS: Life on the Moon is closer than you think 30.05.2026 12min

Elon Musk has sparked fresh space-race chatter after revealing SpaceX is shifting its focus from Mars to the Moon, with ambitions to build a “self-growing” lunar city within the next decade.   With multiple countries and private companies rolling out lunar missions, the push to develop Earth’s only natural satellite is heating up fast.   In this bonus episode of The Briefing, astrophysicist Brad Tucker from ANU joins us to break down who the major players are, what a self-growing city actually means, and why inflatable moon hotels might not be as sci-fi as they sound. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why John Safran is comfortable in the uncomfortable 29.05.2026 41min

John Safran is a cult Australian documentarian and professional bear-poker whose career has included everything from trying to join the Ku Klux Klan to getting crucified in the Philippines - and he says he’d probably still do it all again.  The filmmaker first gained fame in Race Around the World in 1997 and since then has always inserted himself into the centre of uncomfortable stories, including squatting inside Kanye West’s abandoned mansion while trying to understand the psychology behind Ye’s antisemitic spiral.   In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, John shares his take on free speech in 2026, why censorship means something completely different in the internet age and how Australians are smarter than we give them credit for.   Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Daniel TO READ: Griefdogg by Michael Winkler TO WATCH: Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) on Netflix TO TRY: Uber pool  TO DO: Check out Broadsheet Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon crackdown + Australia's first female NRL caller 29.05.2026 21min

Headlines:  Aussie Rents could increase Opposition Leader withdraws his comments Amazon Backpack in trouble with ACCC Tribute show to John Farnham announced Deep Dive:  Sports journalist Emma Lawrence made history this year as the first woman to call an NRL game, with her achievement being hailed as a win for all women in broadcasting and the industry.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Emma who reveals why she wanted to smash the glass ceiling and how her young daughter inspired her to take on one of the toughest jobs in a male dominated industry. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PM called ‘prick’ in parliament + Why the ‘joy economy’ is booming 28.05.2026 26min

Friday Headlines:  90% of young Aussies will be better off under tax overhaul  US and Iran agree on 60-day ceasefire extension Australian joins rescue mission for Laos villagers trapped in a cave AFP commissioner defends Ben Roberts Smith airport arrest Blues women win clean sweep of Origin Deep Dive: The way Australians think about their money has shifted amid years of uncertainty and global impacts outside their control, according to a new report.  One of the big ways we’re seeing this is in Aussies focusing on the things they can control, from joining loyalty programs and rentvesting, to splurging on things that bring them joy and prioritising travel.  In this episode of The Briefing, ING’s CEO Melanie Evans sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to reveal why we’re seeing this, and whether the great ‘Australian dream’ has permanently shifted from full time work and houses to side hustles and investing. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Govt sues 3M over PFAS + Teen sex today: more STIs & less safety 28.05.2026 16min

Headlines:  Govt. launches $2bn lawsuits against 3M over “forever chemicals”  Fourth ‘ISIS bride’ arrested and charged with terrorism offences  Trump rape accuser targeted by criminal investigation  More US strikes in Iran, alongside peace negotiations  Germany’s “most wanted” woman, 67, found guilty of armed robbery  Deep Dive:  Teenagers are having worse sex and getting more STIs. New research shows that one in five teenagers (aged 14-18) have experienced unwanted sex, and that condom use is falling. What’s happening to Australia’s teenagers?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Jennifer Power, Deputy Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, and the lead researcher of the new study into teenage sexual health.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson appeal set + Why rapists can no longer be 'top blokes' 27.05.2026 21min

Thursday Headlines:  Appeal date set for Erin Patterson Five people found alive after week trapped in Laos cave 240,000 people to be cut from NDIS over four years Labor’s controversial tax changes to be introduced to parliament today Blues win Origin 1 in stunning comeback  Deep Dive: Australia’s courts have long allowed judges to consider “good character” references during sentencing, even in child sexual abuse cases.  For many survivors, hearing offenders described in court as “good people” or “champions of young people” can be deeply retraumatising and after years of campaigning, one Australian state has now changed its laws.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with survivor advocate and co founder of Your Reference Ain’t Relevant, Harrison James, about the new laws and why advocates believe this should become a national standard. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centrelink overhaul + Why the anti-corruption boss resigned 27.05.2026 12min

Headlines:  Inflation drops to 4.2% in year to April  Biggest shake up in the employment system in decades  Westpac hit with 26-million-dollar penalty  Europe swelters in record summer heatwave  NASA reveals plans to settle on the Moon Deep Dive: What caused the top boss of the National Anti-Corruption Commission to resign? We unpack Paul Brereton’s controversial tenure at NAC and who may be next to take on the top job...  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by UNSW Law Faculty Prof. Gabrielle Appleby.  Read her article here: We need a new anti‑corruption commissioner. Here’s how to pick the right one Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Albo’s budget backdown + 'I heard the screams': Inside Israeli detention 26.05.2026 24min

Wednesday Headlines: More ‘ISIS brides’ touch down in Sydney and Melbourne  More small businesses to be exempt from CGT changes amid backlash Australia records first diphtheria-related death in almost a decade Donald Trump to undergo third physical in 13 months Europe hit by unseasonal heatwave  Aussie wildcard downs former world number one at French Open Deep Dive: The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail for Gaza two weeks ago with the intention of delivering aid to the people of Gaza, as Israel continues its land, air, and sea blockade of the strip.  Instead, 428 activists on board 50 vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces and detained, with video footage of some of what they went through posted by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, drawing global outrage.  In this episode of The Briefing we speak with Neve O’Connor, one of the 11 Australians who were part of this group to hear her story of being captured and abused in Israeli detention.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gus Lamont search renewed + What you need to know about MND 26.05.2026 12min

Headlines:  Two men arrested in Victoria in connection to Dezi Freeman  Police renew search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont Energy prices to fall for most households in NSW and QLD, with bigger drops for businesses US military unleashes new ‘self-defense' strikes on Iran, amid tense peace talks  The Australian share market tumbles, following news of US strikes on Iran Vivid Sydney drone shows cancelled, following technical malfunction    Deep Dive: Following the death of former AFL great and charity campaigner Neale Daniher, many are asking what is Motor Neurone Disease (MND), what are the warning signs, and what can we do to help prevent it?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Labor’s begging for your cash + Will Malcolm Turnbull lead the Teals? 25.05.2026 24min

Tuesday Headlines:  Labor asks for donations to fight One Nation surge Tributes flow for Neale Daniher New group of ‘ISIS brides’ to return within days Ebola outbreak in Central Africa outpacing health response Aussie astronaut offered a spot on the ISS Enhanced Games finish with just one record broken  Deep Dive: Is Australia about to get a brand-new political party?  Canberra has been abuzz this week after reports surfaced over the weekend that the already elected Teal independents were gearing up to unite under one banner.  In this deep dive, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss the centrist movement and whether he'd consider joining it. Further listening from the headlines:Footy's ice-cold ritualHow to be an Astronaut with Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-PeggAntisemitism Royal Commission returns + Did the ‘steroid Olympics’ flop?Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antisemitism Royal Commission returns + Did the ‘steroid Olympics’ flop? 25.05.2026 16min

Headlines:  Budget legislation is coming Thursday, as CGT pushback grows  Steggall and Spender explain why they’re exploring a new political party Royal Commission hearings return with focus on Bondi attack Second person dies of diphtheria in the Northern Territory More Aussie flotilla activists return, and Israel’s president condemns poor treatment Guzman y Gomez faces US class action lawsuit over hasty exit  Deep Dive:  Can drugs make us superhuman? That’s one question behind the Enhanced Games, the juiced-up sporting event that took place in Las Vegas throughout today. Athletes were paid big money to compete, with US$1 million for anyone who broke a world record time. In the end, only one drug-enhanced athlete did. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Tom Decent, chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, who was at the event in Vegas. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aussie accuses IDF of sexual assault + Going inside a $1b cocaine sting 24.05.2026 23min

Monday Headlines:  Flotilla activists claims of sexual assault while detained Trump says no rush for Iran deal despite it being ‘largely negotiated’ Second Australian killed in shark attack in as many weeks  Independents in 'advanced talks' to create a new political party Animals thriving in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone  Deep Dive: One of Australia’s biggest cocaine stings almost collapsed because of a behind-the-scenes turf war between Australian police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At the centre of it was a $1 billion shipment linked to a Mexican cartel and a covert operation that exposed deep fractures inside the agencies meant to stop it.  Behind the White Line, published in collaboration with The West Australian on LiSTNR's Secrets We Keep feed, traces the journey of cocaine from narco to nostrils, uncovering the global syndicates, corruption and violence behind Australia’s appetite for the world’s glamour drug.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with investigative journalist Richard Baker about the extraordinary operation, the infighting that threatened to derail it, and the human cost behind Australia’s cocaine obsession.  Listen to Rich’s latest season of Secrets We Keep: Behind the White Line here.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS: Is the 'Australian dream' just for the wealthy? 23.05.2026 15min

What happens when the Australian dream turns into a family nightmare?  The new Australian film Birthright takes a darkly funny look at housing inequality, intergenerational wealth and the growing divide between baby boomers and younger Australians - as more adults find themselves moving back in with their parents.  As Australia’s housing crisis deepens, the idea that hard work alone can secure a home is feeling increasingly out of reach, fuelling resentment, financial pressure and shifting family dynamics.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Zoe Pepper, writer and director of Birthright, to unpack the reality behind the satire and ask whether the ‘great Australian dream’ has become more myth than reality.  Find Birthright in cinemas now  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet the woman who calls war zones home 22.05.2026 47min

Lyse Doucet is a proud Acadian woman who was born in a small town in Canada and went on to become the BBC’s chief international correspondent - having just the other week returned from reporting in Iran.  She's spent her career on the ground in some of the most dangerous and infamous war zones - ranging from Damascus to Tehran and the Ivory Coast to Gaza, but she’ll be the first to tell you that there’s a lot more to these places than the conflicts they become known for.  In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Lyse unpacks her new book which takes place inside the walls of Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel, the importance of truth in journalism and how to make a home even in the midst of bombs and wars.  You can see Lyse at Sydney Writers Festival on May 24 Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Roxy TO WATCH: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Disney+ TO WATCH: Nakba video by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani  TO DO: Skin check! TO WATCH: At home with the Fury's on Netflix Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guzman y Gomez $40m blow + Inside Kylie Minogue's Netflix doco 22.05.2026 20min

Headlines:  Australian man dies after fall on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu  Guzman y Gomez is closing its doors on US business  New Zealand’s Finance Minister invites Aussies over after latest budget changes  Stephen Colbert's Late Show finale begins  Deep Dive:  Kylie Minogue kept her second cancer diagnosis a secret – until this week. Australia’s pop princess has a tell-all Netflix documentary out now, which includes the stories of her 2021 diagnosis and her struggle to become a mum. Filled with home footage, the documentary gives an insider look at Kylie’s rise, her losses, her loves, and the music that helped her through.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by entertainment reporter Justin Hill.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aussies released from Israeli detention + Explaining Karl & Eddie’s radio move 21.05.2026 23min

Friday Headlines:  Australian flotilla activists released More ‘ISIS brides’ heading to Australia Pauline Hanson announces Norway-inspired gas policy, staffer tells journalist to ‘shut up’  New documents reveal Queen’s hopes for Andrew  Legendary BBC international correspondent Lyse Doucet on the Weekend Briefing Deep Dive: The sudden departure of Kyle and Jackie O has triggered a power struggle in Australian radio, leaving KIIS’s parent company ARN on the hunt for listeners.  In a surprising move, the network has gambled on television veterans Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire to headline a brand-new national show.  In this episode of The Briefing, industry expert Craig Bruce joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the strategy behind the move and whether this controversial pairing can help save the embattled network.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.