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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 himDeep 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.
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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 knotDeep 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:
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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.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 brandDeep 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
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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 weddingDeep 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:
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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 countryDeep 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.
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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 helpDeep 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:
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YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 knockoutsDeep 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 ParaguayFollow The Briefing:
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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.
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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.
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?!
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:Follow The Briefing:
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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 ParaguayDeep 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 itFollow The Briefing:
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YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.
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YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.
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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 gigsDeep 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: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 recordDeep 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.
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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 CupDeep 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.
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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?
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.
Ed Coper appears at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday 24 June. Angertainment is available now.
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 CupFollow The Briefing:
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 USADeep 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:
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YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Visa fler
