It wasn’t hiding on the dark web either, but in plain sight on forums and websites accessible by anyone with an internet connection. 

So far, we’ve heard from CNN’s Kara Fox about the early days of her team’s probe, and in this episode, we learn how they tracked one of these abusers to his hometown in Poland – and what happened next. 

You can read Kara and her team’s investigation piece here. 
 
Listen to part one here. 
Pt 1: Exposing a global ‘rape academy’

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Angus Taylor overtakes Anthony Albanese as preferred PM
• Tributes flow for Perth dad killed in shark attack
• WHO declares global health emergency over Ebola outbreak
• Health experts warn big tobacco is exploiting illicit market fears to unwind health gains
• Cops guarding king under investigation for falling asleep

Deep Dive: The shocking case of Gisèle Pelicot was one that gripped the world and lead a team of investigative journalists to expose what’s come to be known as a ‘global rape academy’.  

Their investigation revealed that just like Gisèle’s former husband, men around the world are taking to forums and websites to openly discuss, plan and carry out and profit from the drug facilitated sexual abuse of their partners without their knowledge as they sleep.  

In this special two-part deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by CNN Senior Reporter Kara Fox, whose team tracked down perpetrators and spoke with survivors to expose the online world hiding in plain sight.  

You can read Kara and her team’s investigation piece here.

Listen to part two here.
Pt 2: Tracking an abuser inside the global ‘rape academy’

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With exclusive interviews of high-ranking detectives, undercover operatives, DEA agents and coke users, Behind the White Line, examines the human cost of the world’s glamour drug hosted by investigative journalist Richard Baker.

Available from 21 May on LiSTNR's Secrets We Keep, on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After becoming a household name on My Kitchen Rules, Colin continued to travel through food and delivering TV gold, but behind the fiery one-liners and shows, he’s now opening up about therapy, burnout and the pressure of constantly performing.

In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Colin opens up about the realities of making television, why a recent filming trip to Mongolia pushed him to his limits, his friendship with Pete Evans and what food still means to him after decades in the industry. 

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Bree TO READ: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• TO TRY: L'Oreal Paris Elvive Bond Repair shampoo and conditioner 
• TO EAT: Get a slow cooker!
  
• TO WATCH: Ladies of London season 4 on Hayu

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• Neo-Nazis are now a prohibited hate group
• Hantavirus cruise passengers land in Perth
• Ten remain in hospital after Queensland bus crash kills one
• New poll has One Nation beating Labor
• Day Two of Trump’s China visit is underway
• Delta Goodrem is through to the Eurovision grand final 

Deep Dive: 

Housing tax reforms were at the centre of Labor’s Budget, but the big question is: will they help? Is Labor right that investment incentives are the problem, or is the Coalition right to blame migrants... or are both parties missing the biggest issues with Australia's housing market?

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by housing expert Dr Michael Fotheringham, Managing Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

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• Angus Taylor has laid out his budget reply
• Xi says US and China ‘should be partners, not rivals’ despite earlier warning on Taiwan
• Leadership challenge imminent on UK PM Sir Keir Starmer 
• NSW wins Women’s State of Origin
• Sam Kerr to leave Chelsea
• Delta hits the Eurovision stage

Deep Dive: Australia is currently deep in what some experts are calling a ‘running revolution’.  

It feels like everyone and their dog are tracking their workouts on Strava, getting kitted out in the best gear and signing up for their local half-marathon.  

Should you be too? In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Emeritus Professor Mark Hargreaves, an expert in physiology, to discuss. 

Further listening from headlines:
China’s quiet role in the Iran war

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• Trump boasts of high-powered delegation to China
• Aussie hantavirus passengers to begin their journey home
• Labor has a new senator, as Tammy Tyrell switches sides
• Budget reactions see major Aussie banks lose value 

Deep Dive: 

Coles misled its customers over false discounts, a Federal Court ruled today. The supermarket raised prices only to slightly drop them, and then presented the new, higher, prices as “Down Down” discounts. Coles shoppers were misled over hundreds of common supermarket items, the judge found. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Joel Gibson, consumer expert, to talk about what penalties Coles could face and whether we’ll ever be able to trust supermarkets again.

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• Coalition to stop non-citizens from accessing welfare 
• Trump arrives in Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping
• Aircraft secured to bring Aussies home from hantavirus outbreak
• US Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions and orders new trial
• Evidence of dentistry found in Neanderthals

Deep Dive: This week, in the shadow of the budget, the federal government dropped its long-awaited response to gambling harm.  

It’s left critics not only underwhelmed with the response, but also angry at the decision to try to bury it under headlines focusing on the 2026 budget.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Independent MP Kate Chaney joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to dissect the government’s response and what needs to happen next to address gambling harm in this country. 

Further listening from the headlines:
Budget reactions, from love to hate
China’s quiet role in the Iran war

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• Politicians react, and budget battle lines are drawn
• Iran still has missiles, according to US intelligence
• FBI director grilled over his drinking
• Inquest begins into taser death of 95yo Clare Nowland
• Scrapped: plans for Gold Coast Trump tower

Deep Dive: 

On the day after the Federal Budget we get a preview of a year’s worth of political messaging. The Coalition are calling the tax reforms an assault on aspiration, while the Greens have said the budget helps big corporations and cuts off disabled Australians. Barnaby Joyce thinks you might be better off buying a boat than investing. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Tim Lester, Politics and National Security correspondent for Channel 7. 

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But amidst the numbers and policies, what are the things you should know about? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou take you through the biggest announcements, from changes to negative gearing to a little tax time sweetener. 

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• Soldier Lachlan Muddle dies in parachuting accident
• Another hantavirus infection, as Aussies wait in Netherlands
• Chalmers gives a final pre-budget preview
• UK is heading towards a leadership spill
• Canvas hack resolves with hackers supposedly deleting data
• ... and Wordle is becoming a TV game show 

Deep Dive: 

Australia is a data centre destination: investors and developers love our stable infrastructure and the submarine internet cables that connect us to the rest of the world. That means that we have a lot of data centres, and more on the way. 

So: what exactly is a data centre? Who owns them? Who uses them? And where are they being built? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Bronwyn Cumbo from the University of Technology Sydney. 

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• Aussies on hantavirus cruise ship board flight back home
• Pauline Hanson says she’ll ‘never ever’ give Coalition a preference deal again
• Police find body believed to be Lake Cargelligo triple murderer
• Alleged white house dinner shooter pleads not guilty
• Trump says Iran ceasefire on 'life support'
• Dua Lipa sues Samsung

Deep Dive: Australia is on the brink of a major shift in ADHD care, with GPs across the country now able, or soon to be able, to diagnose the condition for the first time.

But questions remain about whether the system is ready to do it well. 

Prescription rates have surged elevenfold in 20 years, access has long been unequal across regions, and each state is rolling out its own rules with little consistency in training requirements or funding. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Leanne Maskell - author, ADHD and autism advocate, founder of ADHD Works, and adviser to Australian state governments on this rollout- to explain what getting this right actually looks like in practice, and what's at stake if it goes wrong.

Further listening from the headlines: 
Our chat with Pauline Hanson

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• One Nation aims for Western Sydney next, says Barnaby Joyce 
• Media boss Catalano faces court over assault allegations
• Trump calls Iran peace plan “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
• Australian pharmaceutical giant CSL suffers 17pc one-day drop
• Delta Goodrem walks the ‘turquoise carpet’ for Eurovision 

Deep Dive: 

Pauline Hanson joins Natarsha Belling for a conversation about the wipeout election in Farrer. One Nation won its first lower house seat in the federal parliament, and is already aiming for more. How does Hanson feel about the Liberal Party? Should Australians trust someone who has been to prison? Are her supporters racist? Senator Pauline Hanson responds. 

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• Coalition leadership questions after Farrer by-election loss to One Nation
• Melbourne ‘ISIS brides’ to apply for bail
• Aussies stuck on hantavirus ship set to fly home tomorrow
• Woman charged after allegedly making antisemitic comments at junior netball game
• Best place to live in Australia revealed

Deep Dive: As we head into winter, Australians are being told the same thing: get your flu jab.  

But how much do we know about the vaccine we’re encouraged to get every single year? And how effective is it really? 

The science behind the flu jab is more nuanced than the public messaging often suggests - and that’s something infectious disease expert Professor Peter Collignon thinks we need to talk about more honestly. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with the ANU Medical School professor, physician and microbiologist about how the flu spreads, who benefits most from vaccination, and whether public health messaging around the flu shot has become too simplistic. 

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Research shows more than 1 million women lose their mums before the age of 44. There are fears their grief is being ignored with women reporting higher rates of depression, anxiety, prolonged grief and post-traumatic stress.

So, is their pain being ignored? And what can be done to raise more awareness to make sure they get the help they need?

In this rewind episode of The Briefing, we talk to Danielle Snelling – the Co-Founder of Motherless Daughters Australia to find out.

If this episode has raised any issues for you, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

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The country artist freestyled the now viral line 'did your boots stop workin'?' and it changed her career trajectory - earning her fans from Australia to Europe, and even inside prison walls.

Dasha is rewriting what it means to be a woman in country music as she does shooeys for the crowd and follows the lead of the great Dolly Parton on how to break every rule with a smile.

In this chat with Helen Smith, Dasha opens up about navigating overnight success, what she learned about gut instinct and trusting yourself and why she believes the girls are officially taking country back. 

Weekend list with The Briefing Mums and Helen Smith

• Helen's Mum: French toast!
• Jade's Mum: Frozen Portuguese Tarts from Aldi
• Sacha's Mum: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
  
• Kurt's Mum: Kick your shoes off, be in the moment and do something you love

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• Renewed fighting in the Strait of Hormuz
• NT announces review into child protection system
• Julie Bishop resigns as ANU Chancellor
• ‘ISIS brides’ charged, and are set to apply for bail on Monday
• More budget announcements: $3.8bn for Melbourne’s rail project
• ... and talk of a French Open boycott 

Deep Dive: 

Months after Dezi Freeman escaped into the bush after killing two police officers, nobody was sure if he was even still alive. One journalist, Cassie Zervos, followed the case even as the trail went cold. Then, months into the hunt, Zervos received two text messages from her police contacts: “DF found”, and “DF dead”. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Cassie Zervos to talk about the search for Freeman, and the speculation about how he might have survived on the run for so long. 

Follow The Briefing:  

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• ‘ISIS Brides’ arrested and expected to face court today
• Vigils held across the country to honour five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby
• WHO assures the world hantavirus outbreak isn’t the next Covid
• Man arrested after allegedly threatening former Prince Andrew with a weapon
• Parasitic wasp named after David Attenborough for his 100th birthday

Deep Dive: David Attenborough is 100 today, and to celebrate a century of extraordinary storytelling and wildlife filmmaking, we’re taking a look back on his career. 

From the accidental presenter of Zoo Quest in the 1950s, to the most trusted voice in the natural world, he’s also received two knighthoods, has had 30 species named after him, and is a fierce advocate for action on climate change. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by science broadcaster, journalist, and longtime host of ABC RN's The Science Show, Robyn Williams AO, who has known and worked alongside Sir David for decades, to discuss the documentarian’s incredible life. 

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• ‘ISIS brides’ and children landing around 5:30pm AEST
• Education platform Canvas hit by global data breach, with Aussies affected 
• Apparent Epstein suicide note is unsealed
• Melbourne reverses course on Fed Square FIFA matches
• ... and French professor investigated for awarding fake prize to himself

Deep Dive:

When the Liberal Party dumped Sussan Ley as leader, they inadvertently set up a direct challenge with One Nation. Ley’s old seat of Farrer is going to a by-election this weekend, and One Nation is aiming to win its first seat in the House of Representatives. The Liberal candidate isn’t even a frontrunner; instead, the competition is between the independent Michelle Milthorpe and One Nation's candidate David Farley. Is One Nation about to become an existential risk to the Coalition? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Tony Barry, an expert political consultant from the Redbridge Group.

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• US-Iran deal could be closed soon
• Deadly hantavirus outbreak spreads to Europe
• Three states to cop snow in cold snap
• Legal warnings as One Nation backs Ben Roberts-Smith 
• One Nation volunteer clashes with Liberal senator James Paterson
• Public FIFA screenings banned in Melbourne ahead of the World Cup

Deep Dive: Critical minerals are being sold as the backbone of Australia’s future, and right now, countries around the world are scrambling to secure them. 
 
But what exactly are they? Why have they become such a major economic and national security priority? And what does Australia, a country built on digging things up and shipping them overseas, stand to gain? 
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Professor in Global Governance at the University of Sydney Susan Park to unpack it all. 

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• Police investigate swastika wearer outside Royal Commission
• Three NT child workers stood down over Kumanjayi Little Baby case
• Islamic State wives and children book return to Australia
• Fuel update: $10bn in budget for fuel security
• Trump steps back Hormuz hostilities, pauses Project Freedom
• ... and the Pope calls customer support 

Deep Dive: 

There's a cruise ship off Africa that’s infected with hantavirus – but what exactly is hantavirus? How does it spread? Should we be worried about this disease?

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Meru Sheel, an epidemiologist from The University of Sydney, to get the facts about hantavirus. 

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• Australia’s big four banks pass on rate hike with more pain on the way 
• WHO suspects human-to-human transmission in deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak
• Carlton whacked with fine over Elijah Hollands incident
• Illegal cigarettes could wipe out the legal trade in Australia as soon as 2030
• Met Gala red carpet has dominated social media feeds overnight

Deep Dive: Restaurants, pubs, brothels and bars have become the latest targets of firebombings across Melbourne, with a new taskforce set up to investigate the recent spate of attacks. 

Since February, at least 32 businesses have been hit with molotov cocktails, shot up with bullets and broken into. 

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by former AFP officer who led one of Australia’s illicit tobacco taskforces Rohan Pike to find out why the city’s hospitality businesses are being targeted by organised crime gangs and what’s being done to stop the violence. 

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• RBA raises cash rate target to 4.35%
• Australian author Craig Silvey pleads guilty
• Jefferson Lewis excused from first court appearance
• Police confirm fatalities of two Marine Rescue Crew
• Lively and Baldoni settle two weeks before trial 

Deep Dive: 

For the third month in a row, the RBA has raised interest rates. At the start of February, the RBA’s cash rate target was 3.6%; it’s now 4.35%. We know that rising rates will affect consumer debt, like mortgages – but what are the flow-on effects for businesses? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dan Hunter, the CEO of Business NSW. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Government to keep EV tax break despite cost blowout
• Three dead in waters off NSW as rescue goes wrong
• UAE intercepts Iranian missiles for first time since ceasefire 
• Calls for urgent action after revelations police can be tracked through their tasers
• Britney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving
• Met Gala is about to get underway in New York 

Deep Dive: Palantir has grown from a post-9/11 counterterrorism tool into a powerful AI platform now embedded across military, security, and corporate systems, including here in Australia. 

But its ability to collect and analyse huge amounts of data is raising big questions about privacy, surveillance, and who really has control and challenging the idea that if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with Greens senator David Shoebridge about how Palantir’s presence in Australia poses a national security risk and why he’s calling for closer scrutiny. 

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• Royal Commission hears stories of antisemitism
• Australia and Japan sign agreement on energy and critical minerals
• US to begin guiding ships through Strait of Hormuz
• Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former lawyer, is hospitalised
• Hantavirus kills three on cruise ship
• Shakira performs for free on Copacaban Beach 

Deep Dive: 

What were the 1970s oil shocks? As the world reacts to the blocked Strait of Hormuz, energy experts are comparing the current economic fallout to the crises of the 1970s, when oil supplies were also suddenly constrained. The effects of those oil shocks lasted for decades. Will the effects of the current oil shock be just as severe... or even bigger? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Greg Bourne, a former energy advisor to British PM Margaret Thatcher, former regional president of BP Australasia, and now a councillor at the Climate Council.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Family of Kumanjayi Little Baby ‘relieved’ after man charged with her murder
• PM setting up major budget announcement that’ll break election promise
• Man charged over ‘horrendous’ alleged triple murder in Sydney’s southwest
• Japan’s Prime Minister touches down in Australia
• Kate Ceberano among 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame inductees

Deep Dive: Amidst growing concern about our vaccine uptake, the Australian government has launched a new ad campaign specifically targeting parents, encouraging them to get their kids immunised. 

But with vaccine fatigue, hesitancy and misinformation at an all-time high, what happens if the messaging doesn’t cut through? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Health Minister Mark Butler joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss why it’s becoming increasingly critical to change the messaging around jabs. 

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But instead of compassion, what followed was a torrent of online abuse and dark conspiracy theories, with trolls levelling heinous accusations against a mother mourning her child.

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by 7News Spotlight investigative journalist Sarah Greenhalgh, who set out to understand why Shelley Sykes became a target.

You can watch Spotlight on 7Plus

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You might recognise her from appearances on MasterChef, but for many, Stephanie’s presence has been constant on the bookshelf with her iconic book The Cook’s Companion guiding generations of Australians through everything from kitchen basics to timeless recipes.

In this conversation with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Stephanie reflects on 30 years of The Cook’s Companion, the philosophy that has defined her career, and why she believes good food doesn’t need to be complicated - just thoughtful, shared and perhaps best enjoyed with a roast chook, a glass of red and a proper cloth napkin. 

See Stephanie at Melbourne Writers Festival on May 10th and find The Cook's Companion 30th Anniversary Edition here

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Laura TO LISTEN: Matt Corby's new album Tragic Magic
• TO WATCH: Roommates on Netflix
• TO WATCH: The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl
  
• TO TRY: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask and Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask

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• Dr. Reza Adib, parter of former Queensland Premier, charged with rape
• Calls for calm after grief and rage in the Northern Territory
• Trump is briefed on further Iran strikes
• House prices fall in Sydney and Melbourne
• Cellmate claims there’s an Epstein suicide note
• ... and the brands that Aussies trust most 

Deep Dive: 

In 1991, an American physiologist made the wild claim that a human could run a marathon in under two hours. Last weekend, that physiologist was proven right, when Sabastian Sawe ran the London Marathon in 1:59:30.  

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by the pioneering American physiologist, Dr. Michael Joyner, to talk about the extraordinary human achievement of the sub-2 marathon, and what it takes to push yourself to the limit.

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7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the case from every angle: what happened, how it unfolded, his ideology, and the impact on those left behind.

Dezi Freeman: The Hunt, is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production.

Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7+.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Violence erupts in Alice Springs after Jefferson Lewis arrested over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby
• Australia in talks with US to open Strait of Hormuz
• Queensland rules out gun buyback
• Chalmers criticised for ‘grandfathering’ CGT and negative gearing changes
• NSW women claim first Origin win

Deep Dive: The new Michael Jackson biopic has opened to rave reviews from fans and has broken box office records here in Australia. 

But the film is courting controversy with critics saying it’s sanitised and ignores some of the grittier details of the artist’s highly contentious life. 

In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by entertainment guru Justin Hill to break down everything we need to know about the new Michael Jackson movie, Michael. 

Further listening from headlines: 
Bondi Beach Royal Commission findings

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• Body of missing Sharon found near Alice Springs
• The US gives a cost estimate for the Iran war
• Mark Latham to pay $100k for tweets
• More Aussie residents now from India than England
• ... and the top 50 Aussie films 

Deep Dive: 

The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion handed down its interim report this morning, and PM Albanese has already vowed to implement all 14 recommendations. Among those recommendations are that Jewish festivals and events should receive greater security protections from police, and that Australia’s national gun control laws should be strengthened.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Antony Loewenstein, a journalist, film-maker, and author of The Palestine Laboratory, who is also on the Advisory Committee of the Jewish Council of Australia.

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• China to resume jet fuel exports to Australia
• Pauline Hanson billed taxpayers for multiple flights to fundraisers
• Family of missing Alice Springs girl say they’re ‘desperate’ for her return
• Australia’s meth use soars to record highs
• Australia’s best places to work revealed

Deep Dive: A new toolkit targeting 'uniquely female' mental health challenges is being put to the test - addressing burnout, caregiving, stigma and coercive control, where traditional approaches haven't kept pace. 

Launched by Smiling Mind in partnership with the Sisterhood Foundation, the free Women and Girls Mental Fitness Hub focuses on building everyday resilience and prevention, and it's already showing promising results. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Michele, a psychologist, mother, carer and survivor of coercive control, who shares how the program has helped reshape her daily life. 

Further listening from the headlines:
Why smoking is ‘cool’ again

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• Child abuse material found at Dezi Freeman’s home
• Mum of Beau Lamarre-Condon charged with witness tampering
• James Comey, former FBI director, faces new retribution charges
• ... and a dinner menu fit for a king 

Deep Dive: 

Inflation is on the rise again, with consumer prices rising 4.6% in the 12 months to March. Transport costs alone rose 8.9% over the last year, jacked up by the oil crunch caused by the US-Iran war.

What do these figures mean for you? And for interest rates? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Carrington Clarke, host of the ABC Business Daily podcast and the ABC’s Fuelcast. 

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• King Charles addresses US Congress
• Tech giants slam PM’s news laws
• World’s most powerful oil cartel dealt major blow
• New poll shows a majority of Aussies approve of Pauline Hanson’s leadership
• Victorian teachers to be offered major pay deal
• Olivia Rodrigo shows up unannounced to New York open mic night

Deep Dive: Donald Trump has once again been the target of an assassination attempt, with Cole Tomas Allen charged with attempting to kill the US President. 

It’s the third time in less than two years that a plot against Trump has been either attempted or foiled, and you might be wondering – what would happen if an assassin succeeded? 

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou investigates what succession plan is in place if the US President is killed in office and how such an event could reshape US politics and the world.  
 
Guest: Garrett M. Graff, journalist, historian and author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die 

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• Trump unhappy with Iran's proposal to end the war 
• The US names a new Aussie ambassador
• Rebel Wilson begins her evidence in court
• PM announces new levy on Big Tech
• Elon Musk is suing Sam Altman: expect fireworks
• Elbie the dog saved from window ledge ordeal 

Deep Dive: 

On 28 April, 1996, a gunman killed 35 people in Australia’s worst mass shooting. Within months, Prime Minister John Howard had harnessed the grief of the country to implement world-leading gun control laws. We didn’t have another mass shooting for decades, until recently. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Mike Amor, who reported from the scene of the Port Arthur massacre. 

You can find the Alannah & Madeline Foundation here.

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• Cole Tomas Allen charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump
• Iran offers deal to end the war
• RSL to review its Welcome to Country policies
• Port Arthur 30th anniversary
• Majority of Aussie teens still using social media
• Taylor Swift is trying to trademark her voice amid AI concerns

Deep Dive: For two months, the world’s been fixated on the escalating conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel, but another superpower, China, has been quietly shaping events behind the scenes. 

While Beijing presents itself as a calm mediator, reports suggest it may also be covertly supporting Iran’s war efforts. 

So, is China a peacemaker, a silent backer, or simply playing both sides? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou asks international conflict expert Dr Jessica Genauer. 

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• Trump responds to shooter’s manifesto
• Iran’s foreign minister is meeting with Putin
• Two children dead in Bowen Mountain house fire
• Abduction fears for Alice Springs 5-year-old
• And: ANZAC Day with Brian Barry 

Deep Dive: 

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men; and it’s highly treatable. April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and in this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by race car driver Thomas Randle to talk about his diagnosis and how he survived the disease. Plus: Randle gives some potentially life-saving advice. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump likely target of shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner
• Israel-Lebanon ceasefire shattered
• Penny Wong to visit China, Japan and South Korea to shore up fuel supply
• Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies are “overused”
• London Marathon sees world record tumble

Deep Dive: Since the devastating October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel in 2023, and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, racism in Australia has been on the rise.  

Impacted communities have reported increases in threats, graffiti, abuse, and violence against them, and now a new report is shining a stark light on the situation.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman to break down a groundbreaking report into racism against our Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities in the wake of October 7. 

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One key moment often pointed to is the 2017 Charlottesville rally in the US, where white supremacists, neo-Nazis and counter-protesters clashed violently, leaving one woman dead and many injured. 

In her book Charlottesville: An American Story, historian Deborah Baker examines not just the event, but the long history of racism and political tension that led to it. 

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Baker about why Charlottesville is seen as a turning point for the modern far right.

You can see Deborah at Sydney Writers' Festival (17-24 May)

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As the eldest Hemsworth brother, Luke was actually the first to step in front of the camera, building his early career in Australian TV before breaking through internationally with Westworld and beyond - all while carving out his own identity alongside brothers Chris and Liam. 

In this chat with Helen Smith, Luke reflects on the unexpected journey into acting, leaving the US to return home to Australia and his latest action film Beast – sharing why he believes Australian stories still deserve a bigger place on the world stage. 

Weekend list with Sacha Barbour Gatt

• Listener Billy TO DO: Watch the ANZAC day sport matches 
• TO WATCH: Twister 2024 sequel on Netflix
• TO DO: Sell your old electronics
• TO DO: Update you rewards app

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• Trump announces 3-week Lebanon-Israel ceasefire
• Charges for soldier who gambled on Maduro capture
• Ben Roberts-Smith to attend ANZAC Day event
• More tech layoffs: Microsoft and Meta
• Spotify turns 20, releases top artists of all time 

Deep Dive: 

The nation’s biggest radio drama went to court today. Both Kyle and Jackie O are suing their former boss, ARN, and ARN is suing them right back. Kyle appeared in court, while Jackie O has said she never wants to be in the same room as Kyle again. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by workplace relations lawyer Michael Byrnes to explain the strengths and weaknesses of each legal suit.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump claims the US is in control of the Strait of Hormuz even as Iran seizes ships
• Court documents have revealed Ben Roberts-Smith was allegedly attempting to move overseas before his arrest
• Albanese unlikely to increase tax on gas exports
• British actor Russell Brand has admitted to having sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30
• Tomorrow is ANZAC Day, with commemorations happening right across the country

Deep Dive: Burnout is often framed as a personal failure, but neuroscience tells a different story, one where chronic stress and cognitive overload are predictable biological responses to modern work and life. 

Basically, our brains aren’t equipped to deal with how we’re forced to work and live in 2026. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Neuro‑performance scientist Dr Kristy Goodwin explains how chronic stress rewires our heads, why the brain prioritises short‑term survival over long‑term health, and why “powering through” often leads to physical breakdown, not resilience. 

Further listening: Your guide to the budget’s tax reforms

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• US turns back more Iranian ships
• National Cabinet: PM says fuel secure
• Royal Commission interim report coming next week
• Microsoft to invest $25 billion in Aussie data centres
• Vale to James Valentine

Deep Dive: 

The British Prime Minister is on the ropes as the scandal around Peter Mandelson continues. Mandelson was the UK’s ambassador to the United States, but was forced out due to his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by journalist Juliet Rieden to talk about “the dark prince” of British politics.

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• Iran says reopening of the Strait of Hormoz is impossible if ceasefire continues to be breached
• NDIS cuts set to impact autistic Aussies the most 
• First home buyer scheme driving up house prices
• KIIS sues Kylie and Jackie O
• Netflix has revealed more details about Kylie Minogue’s long awaited doco

Deep Dive: The 2026 Federal Budget is shaping up to be one of the biggest in recent years when it comes to tax reform. 

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is promising sweeping changes, but how will they balance the needs of struggling Aussies with that of the budget bottom line? 

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by economist Matt Grudnoff to break down the five areas we could see reform on May 12 and how the changes could impact you. 

Further listening: 

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• Further cutbacks to the NDIS
• Australia to get more fuel shipments
• Iran reacts to Trump’s extended ceasefire
• Britain will ban selling tobacco to next generation
• ChatGPT under criminal investigation in Florida shooting
• Scientists study salmon on cocaine 

Deep Dive: 

Uh oh – AI is now really, really good at hacking. Earlier this month, the leading AI company Anthropic declared it would hold back from releasing its latest model, named “Mythos”, because the model could find novel ways to hack computer systems. In one instance, Mythos found a bug that's been undetected for 27 years in a fundamental piece of software. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr. Suelette Dreyfus, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Information Systems at The University of Melbourne. 

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This comes after peace talks between the two nations were put on hold earlier today. 

In this breaking episode of The Briefing, we unpack the US Presidents announcement as the blockage on the Strait of Hormuz continues. 

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• The hopes of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran are fading
• Major changes to NDIS to be announced today
• The Australian government has been urged to protect Chinese international students
• Rebel Wilson called “f****ing nuts” by crisis PR team, court hears
• Victorian Premier slams YouTuber who filmed Dezi Freeman’s hideout

Deep Dive: The mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s sporting professionals has been thrust into the spotlight this week, after AFL player Elijah Hollands played during what the club has now called a “mental health episode”. 

While the AFL and Carlton launch separate reviews into last Thursday’s incident, serious questions are being asked about whose responsibility it was to pull Elijah from the field. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by sport media and branding expert Associate Professor Robert Gill to discuss what should happen next and whether anyone is to blame. 

A reminder, if you or someone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76 

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• Uncertainty over Iran peace talks, ceasefire extension “unlikely”
• New Zealand’s PM survives his own leadership spill
• Keir Starmer, UK PM, under pressure
• Apple gets a new CEO 

Deep Dive:

Woolworths is in court, accused of misleading practices around its pricing of “discounted” goods. The case, brought by the ACCC, began in Sydney today. It follows a similar case against Coles. What are the supermarket giants accused of?

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by behavioural economist Dr. Meg Elkins of RMIT, to discuss what, if anything, can be done about alleged dodgy pricing. 

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• Hopes of a peace deal between Iran and the US fade
• ACCC is accusing Woolworths of deliberately misleading shoppers
• AFL player Elijah Hollands admitted to hospital following mental health episode
• Rebel Wilson has appeared in federal court for a major defamation trial 
• Robot beats human record in half-marathon

Deep Dive: Protest laws are under fresh scrutiny in Australia, after the arrest of 20 people in Brisbane over the weekend who used a phrase now banned by the state government. 

Peaceful protest remains a fundamental human right under international law, so with these tighter rules in the wake of pro-Palestinian rallies and climate change marches; are we eroding that right? 

In today's episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Sarah Schwartz, Legal Director at Human Rights Law Centre speaks, who explains Australia’s patchwork of protest laws, your rights when you march, and how far authorities can go in restricting them. 

If you or anyone needs help you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76

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• Treasurer flags risks to inflation, unemployment
• U.S. attacks and boards an Iranian ship
• Mass shooting in Louisiana, 8 children killed
• Geelong oil refinery recovery better than expected
• South Korean wolf captured safely
• Robot runners blitz a Beijing half-marathon 

Deep Dive: 

Thousands more Australians will now be able to donate blood after outdated restrictions were lifted. All donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will be able to donate blood.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Jemma Falkenmire from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to explain the important changes and her message for Australians wanting to make a difference.

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• Iran has rejected a second round of peace talks with the US
• Ben Roberts-Smith breaks his silence
• 33 year old learner driver charged over Supanova death
• Support for One Nation wanes in two new polls 
• Madonna wraps up Coachella

Deep Dive: Australia’s migration debate has taken a sharper turn, with the Federal Opposition unveiling a plan that puts ‘Australian values’ at the centre of the visa system.   

The plan includes enhanced screening for all visa applicants, including social media checks, a legally binding ‘values’ statement and tougher enforcement measures aimed at refusing or removing people deemed not to meet the threshold. It also signals a broader tightening across the system, from faster visa refusals to stronger action on overstayers and reduced avenues for appeal. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Abul Rizvi, a former senior immigration official and one of the country’s most experienced analysts of migration policy to unpack what this policy could look like in practice.  

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This week, looksmaxxer influencer Clavicular was hospitalised in Miami after a suspected overdose during a livestream. He’s previously spoken about using drugs, including methamphetamine, to suppress his appetite as part of the trend. 

After leaving hospital, he described his substance use as “a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public” and “not a real solution.” 

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by UNSW public health researcher Samuel Cornell who unpacks the rise of looksmaxxing and why influencers are selling so-called 'ascension' programs. 

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From carving out a career in food media to earning her first Logie nomination, she’s rubbed shoulders with names like Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Robert Irwin and Poh Ling Yeow - learning what it takes to stand out in a world full of big personalities.

In this chat with Chris Syprou, Sofia shares stories from her travels, the reality behind her career, and the personal loss of her father to Motor Neurone Disease, a cause she’s now more driven than ever to fight.  

Weekend list with Sacha Barbour Gatt and Helen Smith

• Listener Matt TO WATCH: Big Mistakes on Netflix
• TO LISTEN: Raye's album This Music May Contain Hope
• TO WATCH: Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix

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• Bail for Ben Roberts-Smith 
• Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins 
• Trump “not happy” with Australia 
• Pope calls out “tyrants” 
• A Sydney man gets a $40m phone call 

Deep Dive: 

Harry and Meghan are finishing their Australian tour. Thousands turned out to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meghan as they visited Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, and the Australian media followed the pair around on every stop. One journalist in the press pack was 7 News journalist Paul Dowsley – he gives the inside view of the tour.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump confirms 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel
• Farmers warn of impending grocery price rises
• Ben Roberts-Smith to face court today
• Prince Harry praises Australia's social media ban 
• Red hair gene favoured by natural selection

Deep Dive: You might’ve heard of the term ‘mum brain’ or ‘baby brain’ to describe the forgetfulness and brain fog that women can experience during pregnancy and into motherhood. 

But there’s actually a word for it – matrescence – and rather than denigrating the experience of women during this evolutionary phase of their lives, it describes the total biological, psychological and emotional transformation that comes with becoming a mum. 

Now, there are calls for ‘matrescence’ to be added to the dictionary.  

In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt talks about why that recognition is important with the president of the Peanut app, Michelle Battersby. 

You can check out the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/it-s-time-to-gaf-about-mothers-add-matrescence-to-the-dictionary

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• Bowen on refinery fire: “Not good timing”
• Marles lays out Australia’s next defence challenges
• Bank data shows 45% rise in fuel spending
• Unemployment at 4.3%
• NZ Airlines introduces bunk beds
• Jail time for ant-smuggler

Deep Dive: 

Fuel prices were high, and then an oil refinery caught on fire. Australia has two oil refineries and late on Wednesday night one of them sprung a leak that became a half-day fire. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the blaze at Viva Energy Refinery in Geelong was “not great timing”. But why is Australia reliant on such fragile energy infrastructure?

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by David Leaney, a Lecturer at the ANU College of Business and Economics and expert in international supply chain management.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Iran threatens to stop all trade in the Gulf region 
• Labor set to boost defence spending by $53bn over next decade
• Large fire broken out at one of Australia’s only two remaining oil refineries
• Second school shooting in Türkiye in two days

• A British tourist has paid a LOT of money for a kebab while on holiday in Brazil. 

Deep Dive: The government is unveiling its new defence strategy that places drones and autonomous systems at the forefront of how it prepares for future conflict. Shaped by lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, the plan signals a major shift away from traditional big-ticket military assets toward cheaper, scalable technologies designed for speed, surveillance, and agility. 

But as the government commits billions to this transformation, questions remain about whether Australia can move fast enough to keep up with the pace of modern warfare, close critical capability gaps, and balance ambitious spending with existing defence priorities. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by retired Major General Mick Ryan, a former Australian Army commander and respected military strategist who has closely studied the war in Ukraine and the future of industrial-age warfare to explain how drones and autonomous systems are changing the way we approach conflicts.  

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• Gina Rinehart to pay rival family millions
• Virgin also cutting flights due to fuel prices
• Albanese back in Asia; Chalmers flies to D.C.
• Israel and Lebanon agree to peace talks
• South Korean wolf still on the loose 

Deep Dive: 

It's about to get easier to access the pill. In NSW, pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe the contraceptive pill without a GP appointment. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined in the studio by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to talk about the change to pill access and the concerns raised by GPs. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Positive ceasefire talks between the US, Israel and Lebanon
• International Monetary Fund warn of global recession
• NSW city shaken by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake
• St Kilda VFL player handed 9 week ban for using homophobic slur 
• Royal Ballet and Opera thank Timothee Chalamet for boosting ticket sales

Deep Dive: Millions of Australians are turning to chatbots instead of doctors - using AI to interpret symptoms, scan results and diagnoses without clinical oversight. 

A recent YouGov poll found 40 per cent of Aussie adults have already done it, with many acting on that advice or using it to question their GP - raising concerns about accuracy, regulation and trust. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Poppy Reid about the rise of the “shadow doctor,” why and how people are relying on it, and what it could mean for the future of healthcare. 

Further listening: Will Asia fix our fuel crisis? and THE BEEFING: The AFL vs homophobia

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Headlines:

• More face-to-face U.S.-Iran negotiations coming
• Australia in talks to safeguard Strait of Hormuz
• Qantas and Uber hike prices
• TGA warns against unregulated peptides
• Harry and Meghan visit children’s hospital 

Deep Dive: 

What happens when you offend a billion Catholics? Trump’s about to find out. After feuding with the Pope and posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, Donald Trump is facing criticism from some of his biggest supporters.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Corey Alpert, a researcher at the University of Melbourne and a former staffer in the Biden Administration, to talk about the role of religion in American politics and Trump’s religious boundary-pushing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• US blockage of the strait of Hormuz has officially begun
• The Opposition leader will unveil the details of the Coalition’s Immigration Policy
• Booking.com hit by data breach
• Two thirds of under 16s still have access to social media despite the ban.
• Harry and Megan will touch down in Australia today for a four day visit

Deep Dive: Anthony Albanese is continuing his rapid diplomatic tour through Southeast Asia, visiting Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore as fuel security concerns grow amid escalating Middle East tensions. 

With petrol and diesel prices staying high and Australia’s supply under pressure, the government is trying to reassure the public but at the same time has launched a $20 million ad campaign asking us to use less fuel. 

So how secure is Australia’s fuel supply, and could the country actually run out?  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Saul Kavonic, Head of Energy Research at MST Financial, to find out. 

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• Reactions to Trump’s Hormuz threat 
• Trump’s broadside against Pope Leo
• Albanese reveals new defence chief
• Three Victorian ministers resign
• Rory McIlroy wins the Masters, again 

Deep Dive: 

Hungary’s right-wing strongman, Viktor Orbán, suffered an election wipeout this morning, despite an endorsement from Donald Trump. How will this historic moment change Hungary? And what are the implications for the EU and the war in Ukraine? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Associate Professor Ben Wellings to talk about Hungary’s fading illiberal democracy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump says the US Navy would start a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz 
• Anthony Albanese continues Southeast Asia fuel blitz
• Convicted gang rapist arrested after five days on the run
• Bondi stabbing heroes honoured two years on
• Gout Gout’s win heralds new sprinting golden age

Deep Dive: Donald Trump has fired two high-profile women this year; the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and now Pam Bondi, the Attorney-General. Why? 

Trump has put huge expectations on his lieutenants during the second term – but both women also made serious political fumbles which cast Trump in a bad light. For Noem it was a US$220 million dollar ad campaign, and for Bondi it was her mishandling of the Epstein investigation. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith and Chris Spyrou break down the stories of Bondi, Noem, and their very public downfalls. 

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So how did he get like this?

In this bonus episode from The Briefing's archive, we're bringing you the extended version of Tom Tilley’s compelling interview with Donald Trump's niece Mary.

You’ll hear Mary’s fascinating insights into her uncle, whom she describes as "the world's most dangerous man."

With a PHD in psychology, Mary’s helps us understand more about the man, his mind, and what he might do next.

Mary wrote the book Too Much and Never Enough - How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man.

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From those beginnings in Manchester to producing one of Australia’s biggest radio shows, The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Josh’s path has been anything but conventional.

In this chat with Chris Syprou, Josh opens up about the reality behind his MAFS persona, his unexpected foray into OnlyFans, and the darker chapters he’s faced - from getting divorced before 30 to reinventing himself as one of the country’s most listened-to podcasters.

Content warning: This chat does touch on themes of suicide and sexual assault

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Chris TO LISTEN: 
• TO WATCH: Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom on Netflix
• TO WATCH: The Moment
• TO READ: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert

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• Albanese's energy agreement with Singapore
• U.S.-Iran talks to begin over the weekend
• Queensland MP found dead
• Artemis II splashing down Saturday morning
• A wolf on the loose in South Korea 

Deep Dive: 

Is Australia ready for an electric car revolution? The war in Iran has sent petrol prices spiking and Aussies looking for other ways to drive. But is our infrastructure ready for a rapid transition? And what should you watch out for if you’re considering an EV purchase? 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Paul Maric from carexpert.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Israel tells hundreds of thousands in Beirut to evacuate
• Melania Trump says rumours linking her to Epstein ‘need to end today’
• Convicted gang rapist remains on the run after escaping police custody 
• Funding cuts force Grace Tame Foundation to close
• Traffic volumes take a dive across the country 

Deep Dive: Smoking is making a comeback in pop culture, appearing in shows like The Bear and Euphoria, and in music videos from Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter. Even Australian band DMA’S opens their latest video My Baby’s Place with multiple people smoking within the first 30 seconds. 

The trend isn’t limited to entertainment. Instagram ‘cigfluencers’ are glamorising the habit, while depictions of smoking have surged by 70%, despite it remaining a leading cause of death worldwide. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by public health professor Becky Freeman to discuss why smoking is resurfacing and whether vaping is playing a role in its resurgence. 

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• The world watches a shaky Iran ceasefire
• Albanese travels to Singapore to secure fuel supply
• A hammer attack in a Sydney hospital
• Bruce Lehrmann loses final chance to appeal defamation case
• Plus: the cop chase stopped by a cactus 

Deep Dive: 

When women began disappearing on Long Island in the 1990s, police didn’t know they were facing a new serial killer. Today, architect Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to the murders of eight women in what have become known as the Gilgo Beach murders.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Xanthe Weston, associate professor of criminology and host of the Motive & Method podcast, to talk about how the killer was caught.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Ceasefire in doubt as Israel pounds Lebanon and Iran halts oil tankers
• Fuel price drops unlikely to hit your tank in a hurry
• AI tool that spots heart failure risk five years before it develops
• Activist group infiltrates Coles
• You could own a Queensland town for $400K  

Further listening from headlines: 
Your supermarket is spying on you
The controversial ICE tech at our door

Deep Dive: Israel says its invasion of Lebanon is about security and pushing Hezbollah away from its northern border. But on the ground, more than a million people have been displaced, infrastructure is being torn apart, and tensions inside the country are rising fast. 

With villages flattened, others cut off, and communities turning on each other, fears are growing of a prolonged Israeli occupation and the risk the conflict could tip Lebanon into something it hasn’t seen since the 1970s – a civil war. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Middle East and counter-terrorism expert Dr Mariam Farida from Macquarie University about Israel’s long-term strategy in Lebanon, whether it can ‘dismantle’ Hezbollah and why the risk of a broader crisis is rising. 

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• A two-week ceasefire in Iran
• Matt Canavan sets out his “Patriot Agenda”
• Ben Roberts-Smith doesn’t seek bail
• Australia’s sporting rich list revealed

Deep Dive: 

Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire against Iran, hours after making the threat to wipe out the “whole civilization” if a deal wasn’t reached. 

But will the ceasefire last? And what does Trump have to show for his five-and-a-half weeks of war? 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Jennifer Parker, an expert on national security and the principal and founder of Barrier Strategic Advisory. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump warns a 'whole civilisation will die' if Iran doesn't make deal
• Ben Roberts Smith to appear before court today
• Record number of scam websites taken down by Australia's financial regulator
• Kanye West blocked from entering the UK
• EV sales hit record highs in Australia

Deep Dive: War used to be reported. Now it’s being packaged. 

Footage shared by the White House showing strikes on Iran is being edited like gameplay - complete with stylised overlays, dramatic pacing and even ‘killstreak’-style visuals, pulling in millions of views. 

But this isn’t a one-off. From ICE raid clips set to the Pokémon theme to military operations branded like blockbuster titles, conflict is being reframed through the language and aesthetics of entertainment. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Daniel Baldino from the University of Notre Dame Australia about how war is being gamified - and what that shift does to public perception, accountability, and reality itself. 

Further listening: Will Elon unplug your EV dream?

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It comes after a joint operation by the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by lawyer Justin Quill to explain what this latest development means.

Headlines: 

• Trump repeats threat to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran 

• PM Albanese will be travelling to Singapore to address the fuel shortage 

• One Nation surges in the latest Newspoll 

• The Artemis mission is heading home 

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• Donald Trump says Iran ‘can be taken out in one night’ 
• Fuel shipments to Australia are now secured 'well into' May  
• 14 people killed on roads over Easter long weekend
• Kanye West's right to enter UK under review
• Artemis II sets new record

Further listening from headlines: 
Why today’s moon mission matters

Deep Dive: Zomi Frankcom was the Australian aid worker killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza, and her family still want answers. 

Last week was the second anniversary of Zomi’s killing, and her brother Mal Frankcom was in parliament advocating for a more open and transparent investigation into Israel’s strikes, which also killed six other aid workers. 

The day before the anniversary, Israel’s ambassador to Australia refused to apologise for the killing. He said “sympathy had been expressed”. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Mal Frankcom about the family’s push for justice. 

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• Trump threatens Iran in expletive-laden social media post
• WA gets tough on Petrol Retailers
• Pope Leo urges those with the power to unleash wars- to choose peace.
• Sydney Kings break their championship Trophy
• Newcastle Knights injury against Raiders

Deep Dive: Married at First Sight isn’t just dominating TV ratings - it’s driving a constant stream of online content that keeps the show alive well beyond each episode. 

Beyond the drama on screen, a growing ecosystem of podcasts, parody accounts and creators are shaping the conversation - stretching a few episodes a week into a 24/7 cycle in your feed. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with creator Amanda Catalano about why MAFS is “the easiest content on the internet,” how her parody videos rack up huge numbers, and what it says about how we feel about the show. 
 
You can follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda.catalano and TikTok @amanda.catalano 

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Global cocoa prices spiked last year, but climate change and inflation aren’t the only culprits - with a little-known international deal also at play. 

In this episode of The Briefing, we revisit Chris Spyrou’s chat with journalist and host of The Internet Reviewed on YouTube Kirsten Drysdale where they unpacked what’s really driving the rising cost of chocolate.

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But alongside the physical and mental toll came a historic win, becoming the first Arab Muslim to take out the title, and the $500,000 prize. His time on the show became something bigger: a chance to challenge stereotypes, represent his community, and show a different side of his culture and faith to a national audience.

In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Feras opens up about what really happens behind the scenes, how the experience changed him long after the cameras stopped rolling, and why representation in Australian media still has a long way to go.  

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Lindsey TO READ: Remarkably Bright Creatures
• TO WATCH: Season 4 Love on the Spectrum on Netflix
• TO EAT: Nagi Maehashi My very best Vanilla Cake
• TO DO: Tell everyone it's your Birthday!

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• Australia takes part in talks to re-open straight of Hormuz
• TV Broadcasters call for financial help after gambling ad ban
• Artemis II crew preparing to leave earth's orbit
• Manly beat the Dolphins and the Lions beat the Pies in the AFL

Deep Dive: The Good Friday Appeal is synonymous with the Easter long weekend, and this year will be no different. 

Culminating with a primetime TV event and telethon on Channel 7, the appeal – in its 95th year – looks to raised much-needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. 

In today’s deep dive, you’ll meet an incredible family whose little boy ended up on an RCH operating table at just four weeks old, along with Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, hosts of The Morning Show, about why the the Good Friday Appeal is such a worthy cause. 

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He began by saying the US military operations in Iran have been an overwhelming success, calling them “victories like few have ever seen before.”

Mr Trump hinted the US would leave the war in the coming weeks and urged other countries to head to Iran to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, to secure their own oil.

Earlier in the day Mr Trump said he was considering removing the United States from the NATO alliance.

Headlines:

• PM Albanese addressed the National Press Club, announcing bans on gambling ads
• NASA's Artemis mission is on its way to the moon
• Mary Fowler signs a record-breaking $10 million deal with Adidas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Anthony Albanese’s address to the nation draws criticism
• Trump to give primetime address on Iran war
• Gambling reform finally on the way
• Gen Z craving connection, collecting vinyls without record players 

Further listening from the headlines:
Why Albo isn’t banning gambling ads

Deep Dive: More than fifty years after the last Apollo mission, humans are heading back toward the moon.  
 
NASA's Artemis II launches today - a ten-day fly-by that marks the first crewed mission to travel this deep into space since 1972, and the first to include a woman and a Black astronaut. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with astrophysicist and ANU Associate Professor Dr Brad Tucker about what Artemis II is actually testing, why the moon has become the centrepiece of a new global space race, and what Australia's quietly crucial role looks like. 

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He outlines temporary measures the Federal Government is taking to ease cost‑of‑living pressures, while imploring Australians to "do their bit" by resisting the urge to stockpile and taking public transport where possible.

Acknowledging the coming months "may not be easy" and these are "uncertain times", Mr Albanese says we will deal with these global challenges "the Australian way".

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In this episode of the Briefing, the study’s lead author Bernard Stewart, an Adjunct Professor in the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health at UNSW Sydney, joins Natarsha Belling to discuss "by far the strongest evidence" that vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancer. 

Headlines: 

• PM to address the nation on war in the Middle East
• ATO hands small business tax relief in wake of Iran war
• Double demerits in NSW/ACT kick in tonight for the Easter long weekend.
• Tiger Woods stepping away from golf to focus on his health 

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• Trump tells allies to ‘get your own oil’  
• Israel's ambassador defends new death penalty for Palestinians
• Dezi Freeman’s family speaks out after his death
• Hip pocket changes coming in from today
• Kris Jenner becomes Chinese cultural icon

Deep Dive: Despite its insanely strict, all-encompassing rejection of meat and animal by-products, veganism was once the darling of sustainable and ethical consumption. 

But lately, many are reporting a decline in interest in the lifestyle, with areas once dominated by vegan restaurants and stores now seeing a move away from it. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by freelance food journalist Quincy Malesovas to try to answer the question – is veganism in Australia dying? 

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Police are now trying to determine if he was helped by anyone else. Freeman considered himself to be a sovereign citizen, so he believed Australian laws didn’t apply to him. 

How did he survive for so long on the run, how did he evade police for all that time, and what can we learn from the investigation now underway? 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Macquarie University’s Dr Vincent Hurley, one of Australia leading policing and criminological academics… 

Headlines: 

• RBA scraps card surcharges in big win for consumers
• Jackie O sues ARN Media
• Iran says there have been no negotiations with US + Further Attacks
• Celine Dion to return to live performing

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• Cheaper fuel could take weeks to flow despite excise cut
• Albanese calls on Donald Trump to be clearer about his war plans
• Vaping likely causes cancer
• Five social media platforms are being investigated for potentially failing to comply with the social media ban
• Latest additions to the National Film and Sound Archive revealed

Deep Dive: A landmark US court ruling has found Meta and Google legally responsible for the way their platforms are designed, declaring Instagram and YouTube addictive by design. 

The decision is being framed as big tech’s “big tobacco moment,” raising the prospect of global lawsuits while intensifying pressure on governments, including in Australia, to regulate algorithms before more harm is done. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young about her party’s proposed ‘Fix Our Feeds’ bill, how it would give users control over algorithms, and whether Australia is ready or even capable to take on the power of big tech. 

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In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Katina Curtis, Canberra bureau chief at The West Australian, to bring you everything you need to know and the PM’s plans for the nation for challenging times ahead.

Headlines: 

• Dezi Freeman shot dead in rural Victoria after seven months on the run
• Trump claims Iran has agreed to most of 15-point peace plan
• One Nation wins third seat in South Australia
• ARN to call Jackie O as witness in case against Kyle Sandilands  

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In this breaking news update from The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt gets you up to speed on what we know so far. 

Further listening: 
Inside the hunt for Dezi Freeman

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• National Cabinet to discuss fuel crisis today
• Iran says it will ‘rain fire’ on US troops
• Emergency relief announced for residents after tropical Cyclone Narelle
• Australia to play a key role in this week’s moon expedition 
• Kylie Minogue to headline AFL grand final

Deep Dive: The state of democracy is always up for debate here in Australia - whether it’s the rise of One Nation, the influence of Donald Trump and his “voter fraud”, social algorithms, or just how well our democratic society is really functioning. 

While democracy is often seen as stable or even untouchable, that may not actually be the case. So, what does it take for a democratic society to function successfully? 

In this episode of The Briefing, David Moscrop, a Canadian political scientist and author of Too Dumb For Democracy, unpacks what happens when factors like emotion, technology, AI and our values begin to work against it. 

David Moscrop appears at Melbourne Writers Festival (7-10 May) and Sydney Writers' Festival (17-24 May)

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In the latest case to make headlines, twin sisters discovered they weren't biologically related to their parents following a DNA test. The woman they knew as mum had been implanted with the wrong embryos in an IVF mix-up 30 years ago in Sydney.

They're not alone. In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling talks with Amelia Oberhardt, who investigated the fertility industry for her podcast Secrets We Keep: By Any Means

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She’s an engineer, a space leader, and one of just a handful of people on the planet to complete astronaut training with the European Space Agency selected from more than 22,000 applicants.

In this chat with Helen Smith, Katherine unpacks what it really takes to become an astronaut, the invisible ways space technology shapes our everyday lives, and whether we’ve truly made progress for women in STEM.

Find Katherine on Insta @aussieastrokatherine

Weekend list with Dan Mullins

• Listener Zoey TO WATCH: Australian Survivor
• TO WATCH: Project Hail Mary 
• TO DO: Walk 🚶🏼‍♂️
• TO WATCH: The Magic Faraway Tree

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But experts warn online fertility advice can be exploitative and is creating unnecessary pressure and anxiety among people trying to conceive.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Rachel Rodgers, fertility specialist at IVF Australia, to discuss the growing focus on health before pregnancy - and sort fact from fiction.

Headlines: 

• PM responds to Trump condemning Australia's lack of support for US in war 

• Calls to cut fuel excise amid skyrocketing costs

• Cyclone Narelle smashes WA coast
• Kyle Sandilands has his day in court over $100 million contract

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• Trump says it’s up to Iran to make ceasefire deal
• Fuel crisis continues with more than 650 stations running dry
• Tropical Cyclone Narelle heads to north west WA
• IOC bans trans athletes from women's Olympic events
• Former Venezuelan president appears in court in New York

Deep Dive: The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton is one of those stories that’s been loved across generations and now, it’s getting a fresh life on the big screen.  

The new film tackles our addiction to technology and follows a modern family who swap screens for the outdoors, only to discover a magical world that helps them reconnect with each other and themselves.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Jessica Gunning, who plays Dame Washalot and who you might also recognise from Baby Reindeer. She joined us while in Australia ahead of the film’s premiere to unpack why nostalgia continues to resonate, and whether the Faraway Tree series reminds us of the wonder we lose when we’re always looking down at our devices. 

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A Los Angeles jury has delivered the victory for a young woman who filed a lawsuit against the big tech giants, claiming their platforms contributed to her childhood social media addiction with negligence being a substantial factor  .

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Seven’s Sarah Greenhalgh, who’s reported extensively on social media, to talk about the decision expected to have wide-reaching implications, potentially shaping the outcome of hundreds of similar cases currently moving through US courts. 

Headlines: 

• Qantas to swap larger planes with smaller one to save on fuel
• National Cabinet to meet next week to discuss fuel crisis 
• Trump prepares to ‘unleash hell’ on 'uncooperative' Iran 
• Israel making further advances into Lebanon 
• NAB slashes almost 500 jobs 

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• Iran rejects US peace plan
• Meta and YouTube found liable in social media addiction trial
• National cabinet is set to convene next week to discuss Australia’s fuel supply 
• Super El Nino on the way later this year
• Ahmed al Ahmed keys to the city

Deep Dive: The Installation of the 106th, and first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, took place at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday March 25 (UK time), the Feast of the Annunciation. 

Historically known as an enthronement, the Installation marks the symbolic start of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s public ministry in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion. 

The Canterbury Cathedral released a statement saying: “Rooted in centuries of tradition, the service will look forward with the hope of Jesus Christ - and celebrate the diversity of the Church of England, the nation and the Anglican Communion today”. 

In this episode of the Briefing, Natarsha Belling talks to cultural historian Associate Professor Cindy McCreery about this historic moment for the Church.

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Farmers are warning they’re already unable to purchase enough fertiliser and diesel to plant their winter crops. It’s a perfect storm.

The federal government this week announced a new trade deal with the European Union, worth $10billion. Farmers say it was a dud deal. 

With the war in Iran now showing no signs of easing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Hamish McIntyre, President of the National Farmers Federation to take us through what will it mean for Australians and their weekly grocery bills?

Headlines: 

• US sends 15-point plan to Iran to stop the war
• Commonwealth not planning on fuel rationing 
• ABC staff walk off the job over pay dispute
• Inflation slightly lower than expected
• Narelle gearing up for record-breaking move

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• Fuel shortages ramp up as diesel standards lowered
• Most Aussies want the Iran war to end and Pakistan tipped to lead peace talks
• ABC programs pulled as staff walk off the job
• Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling has died at the age of 54
• The Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special is out

Deep Dive: It’s been more than a thousand days since a landmark inquiry recommended a full ban on gambling advertising in Australia, yet despite the scale of harm and billions lost each year, the federal government has failed to act. 

Evidence from the probe revealed an inescapable and predatory system, with aggressive tactics normalising gambling for young Australians and targeting those most at risk. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Independent MP Kate Chaney about why reform has stalled, the influence of powerful lobbying groups, and her push to force change in Parliament. 

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In this episode of the Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Malcolm Davis, a Senior Analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Defence Strategy Program to discuss the standoff between the US and Iran. What are the latest developments and what they mean...and are we paying the price of Trump's war games? If Trump gets this strategy wrong, what it could mean for the rest of the world.

Headlines: 

• Australia signs trade deal worth $10b per year.
• War continues as Trump extends 48-hour ultimatum.
• Consumer confidence crashes in wake of war.
• Tehran-aligned terror group claims responsibility for London ambulance attack.
• Bill Cosby ordered to pay $US19m for historical sexual assault.

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• Trump postpones strikes on Iran’s power plants, says talks scheduled for today
• Multiple crises headed for Australia as Iran war continues
• Australia to sign free trade deal with EU
• ABC staff to strike for the first time in 20 years
• Less eggs and higher prices hit Easter choccies

Further listening from the headlines: 
China & the secret chocolate factory

Deep Dive: One Nation had its biggest showing in a state election in decades - with one in five South Australians backing it at the ballot box over the weekend. 

The polls flagged it was coming, but the scale of support has forced a harder look at what's really driving voters away from the major parties, and it's not just Pauline Hanson’s anti-immigration politics. 

In this episode, Chris Spyrou speaks with Sean Kelly, a former advisor to Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, to unpack the forces behind One Nation's resurgence, what the major parties can actually do about it, and whether this result is unique to South Australia. 

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Mr Minns talks about problems facing all Australians opening up about his greatest achievements and his greatest learnings.

This is an extended sit-down interview and Mr Minns announces a new bond rental scheme for the very first time.

Headlines: 

• Iran not backing down to Trump’s ultimatum.
• Cyclone Narelle moves west as tropical low.
• Kyle Sandilands sues ARN for breach of contract.

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• One Nation wins at least one lower house seat at SA election
• NT braces for flooding on the back of ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle
• Deadline looms for Iran to re-open strait of Hormuz
• Aussie gen Z women feeling more disconnected than men
• Saturday Night Live UK debuts to mixed reviews

Further listening from the headlines: 

Part 1: The real victims of the manosphere 

Part 2: How Flynn escaped the manosphere

How Wil Anderson escaped the Sunday scaries

Deep Dive: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO has been the backbone of western security for eight decades. But with Donald Trump turning up the heat on the alliance and a war in the Middle East pulling members in different directions, questions about its future are louder than ever.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by national political editor of The Nightly, Andrew Greene to unpack what NATO actually is, why it matters to Australia, and what western security might look like if the US walked away. 

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Campaigners say this isn’t just a European issue, pointing to a rise in the sale of child-like sex dolls to Australians through major online platforms like Shein and Temu. With advocates warning these dolls may normalise child abuse, and argue some platforms are using questionable tactics to bypass strict laws and border enforcement in Australia.

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Caitlin Roper from Collective Shout, who is leading the campaign for stronger action.

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From the highest-paid player in the NRL to a world champion boxer, he's one of the most talked-about athletes this country has ever produced. But it's never just been about sport.

Mundine has always mixed his success with politics, music, and moments that have kept him firmly in the headlines - sometimes for the right reasons, sometimes not.

In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Chris Spyrou sits down with Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine to hear about the moments that shaped him – from growing up with little money to owning the same car as James Bond, the racism he faced on and off the field, and why he walked away from footy at the peak of his powers.

They also get into his complicated relationship with the Australian media, what he really thinks about Pauline Hanson, and the deeply personal story behind his collaboration with the late Archie Roach - a song about the Stolen Generation that sat unreleased for nearly 20 years.

Weekend list with Sacha Barbour Gatt

• Listener Matty TO LISTEN: From Zero by Linkin Park
• TO LISTEN: Tracy Chapman 
• TO TAKE: Berocca Immune Daily Defence
• TO PLAN: Flu vaccine 

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In this episode of the Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by the curator of the annual list, John Stensholt, to unpack the top 10 and the Aussie leaders who have made and lost billions. 

Headlines: 

• The Prime Minister has played down being heckled while visiting a mosque in Western Sydney
• Trucking industry groups are warning that food costs will skyrocket as operators deal with fuel and diesel shortages
• US President Donald Trump has made a joke about Pearl Harbour while meeting the Japanese Prime Minister
• Australia has slipped to its lowest-ever ranking in the World Happiness Report

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Flynn now says he was 'radicalised' by figures like Andrew Tate, with the constant stream of content shaping how he saw the world. Now, he warns much of what these influencers promote is misleading and often false.

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith talks to Flynn about how he got pulled into the manosphere, the role his mental health played and the support that helped him find a way out.

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• Tropical Cyclone Narelle to make landfall today
• Australian soldiers considered 'legitimate targets' by Iran
• Health insurance premiums to hike as much as 25%
• Power prices to fall by July
• Queen Mary and King Frederick wrap up their Australian visit

Further listening:
How to beat the private health hike

Deep Dive: The Manosphere has hit the mainstream this week, with Louis Theroux’s Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere exposing the very dark corner of the internet targeting young boys and men.  

While it’s gaining critical acclaim for shining a light on the toxic space, others say it completely ignores the real story.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with the CEO of The Man Cave, Ben Vasiliou about the lessons we need to learn about the manosphere and ‘toxic masculinity’. 

Listen to Part 2: How I escaped the manosphere here

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Seven News Political Reporter, Josh Martin, to unpack the latest developments. 

Headlines: 

• There’s been a concerning escalation in the war in the Middle East, with key gas plants targeted in ongoing strikes.
• The Former Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Centre has broken his silence over the Iran war after sensationally quitting from the top job
• Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has brushed off speculation that she could face a leadership challenge
• And Australia’s unemployment rate has increased to 4.3%

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• Emergency National Cabinet meeting called amid fuel shortage fears
• Iranian women’s soccer team back in Iran as third senior leader killed
• Changes coming for Australia’s tobacco laws
• Pauline Hanson confronts SA Premier
• Possum hides among soft toys at Hobart Airport

Deep Dive: Have you ever heard of water cremation? What about human composting or natural burials?  

These are some of the greener ways Aussies are choosing to dispose of their bodies after they die, in place of traditional burials or cremations.   

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Dr Sandra van der Laan talks about the newest and greenest ways to go when you die. 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by lead author of the study, Dr Jack White, who unpacks the groundbreaking research and why he’s calling for tighter regulations on medicinal cannabis prescriptions. 

Headlines: 

• Australian military facilities in the UAE have been damaged in an Iranian attack
• The Prime Minister has urged Australians not to panic buy petrol 
• Residents in Far North Queensland are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Narelle 

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Further listening: 
Inside the Kyle & Jackie no show
Who really split Kyle & Jackie O 

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• Australia’s big four banks pass on interest rate rise 
• Donald Trump calls out Australia in scathing post
• Potential jail time for displaying banned Islamic symbols in NSW
• Pauline Hanson fails to properly declare Gina Rinehart flights
• Matildas book spot in Asian Cup final

Deep Dive: Mass layoffs are sweeping through the tech sector, with one of Australia's biggest success stories cutting hundreds of local jobs in the name of efficiency.  
 
Across the industry, artificial intelligence is being pointed to as part of the explanation - raising questions about whether AI is genuinely reshaping work or simply becoming the most convenient scapegoat in corporate history.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with AFR senior columnist James Thomson about “AI washing,” what the new wave of tech layoffs signal and whether Australia’s economy is ready for what’s next. 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by financial expert Jessica Brady, who explains the fallout from an increase in interest rates and why the government now needs to look at other economic measures to try and control inflation. 

Headlines: 

• A number of world leaders have condemned escalating violence in Lebanon
• The family of the men accused of the deadly Bondi Beach massacre say they’re living in constant fear and have faced death threats and harassment
• Two Iranian footballers who sought asylum in Australia have started training with Brisbane Roar FC

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• Consumer watchdog to grill petrol companies over price hikes
• Australians blaming the federal government for cost of living pain
• Sydney Swans apologise for removing references to Jewish community in Bondi speech
• Whistleblowers claim Meta and TikTok push harmful content to remain competitive
• Melbourne trial of tap and go payments on public transport begins

Deep Dive:

Should we be paying grandparents to look after kids, instead of childcare centres?  

That’s what some parents and politicians think should be happening in the wake of distressing revelations of abuse within the industry.   

But taking kids out of the system isn’t necessarily the best way to protect them.  

In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent, to break down what the major parties are offering and what the future of childcare should look like.

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by defence analyst, John Blackburn, who’s been sounding the alarm for more than a decade, warning governments from both sides of politics that Australia’s fuel supply chain leaves the nation vulnerable in a global crisis...like the one we’re currently unfolding in the Middle East. 

Headlines: 

• Donald Trump has warned it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if allies fail to help protect the Strait of Hormuz
• Australia’s media watchdog has cracked down on ARN, the radio network behind The Kyle and Jackie O Show
• Controversy at the Oscars

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In this special Oscars coverage from The Briefing team, we unpack the latest from the red carpet, the big winners and how the internet is reacting in real time. 

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• Four more Iranian soccer players give up asylum in Australia
• Gov expects inflation to rise, while facing pressure to send warship to Middle East
• New leader has little impact on Coalition’s polling
• Vape catches fire on Virgin Australia flight
• Queen Mary and King Frederik tour Uluru

Further listening from the headlines: 
Is it unethical for us to read the lips of famous people?

Deep Dive:
Porn sites like Pornhub, RedTube and YouPorn have gone dark for Australians, not because they were banned, but in protest of our new age-verification rules. 

The government says it’s about protecting kids from “lawful but awful” content, but it could mean handing over your ID, credit card, or even your face just to access parts of the internet. 

In today’s deep dive, Chris Spyrou chats with Dr. Giselle Woodley from the School of Arts and Humanities at ECU about how teens are reacting to the new rules and how it’s not just them that could be pushed to very dark corners of the web as they come into effect. 

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So, what does it really take to succeed at work? How do you ask for a pay rise or a promotion? And why do so many of us still hesitate to put ourselves forward for leadership roles?  

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Helen McCabe, who left one of Australian media’s most coveted roles as editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly to launch her own business, Future Women - a platform dedicated to helping women grow their careers and leadership skills. 

Read about Helen in the The Nighty On Leadership here https://thenightly.com.au/on/leadership

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But after doing just about everything in Australian media, he’s returning to where it all started - stand-up, for the first time in six years, with his new tour No. 10 Hope St, which touches on everything from family to failure and full-body ringworm.

In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Matt debates dogs versus cats, reflects on going bald, and gets really candid about losing his mum when he was just 12. 

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Kate TO WATCH: Beetlejuice 
• TO EAT: Bingsu dessert
• TO WATCH: Taskmaster UK series
• TO BUY: Mode Mischief 

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In this episode, Katie recounts the moment it all began in 2009 -- celebrating the launch of her clothing label before opening a shocking cease-and-desist letter that threatened to shut down her business.  

What followed was years of legal fights, emotional setbacks, and a roller-coaster court battle that stretched all the way to the High Court. 

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• Australian officials told to leave Israel and the UAE
• Australian towns run out of fuel amid Middle East crisis
• Families of Chinese backpackers killed in Queensland floods to travel to Australia
• Grace Tame says she has no more speaking engagements, blames ‘smear campaign’ 
• How much Super you need to retire 'comfortably' revealed
• The Pussycat Dolls are reuniting

Further listening from the headlines: 
Will petrol hit $3 a litre?
BONUS: Inside the life of the 'difficult' Grace Tame

Deep Dive: Last week we brought you an inside look at all the drama surrounding the shock axing of the Kyle and Jackie O show.  

After 25 years on air, it seemed the pair were no more ...   

But in the week and a half since we covered the story, a LOT has changed.  

In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt welcomes industry insider Craig Bruce back to The Briefing to discuss all the latest developments on the Kyle and Jackie O saga, and answer the question: is this just a massive publicity stunt? 

Last week's deep dive: 'Inside the Kyle & Jackie no show' 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Karoline Thomsen from UNSW to explain how this popular platform works and the dangerous fallout. 

Headlines: 

• Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced an extra 100 million litres of fuel a month will be made available as concerns grow over Australia’s fuel supplies in the wake of the Middle East war
• Australian software giant, Atlassian, has confirmed it’s slashing 1600 jobs
• Former ASIO boss, Dennis Richardson, has abruptly resigned from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism
• Melbourne has been crowned the best city in the world

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• Iran accuses Australia of hypocrisy and kidnapping footballers
• Ships targeted in the Strait of Hormuz 
• Protestors arrested for using banned pro-Palestinian phrase
• Calls for NAPLAN test to be scrapped after test outage
• Aussie city crowned the best in the world
  
  

Further listening from the headlines: 

THE BEEFING: Sydney vs Melbourne

Deep Dive: Israel and the US’s war on Iran has seen missiles flying across the Gulf, regional powers drawn in and Australia now sending aircraft, weapons and personnel to the Middle East. 

While Donald Trump is suggesting the conflict could end soon, many analysts warn the reality is far more complicated, and that the roots of this war stretch back decades, long before the latest strikes began. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with foreign policy expert Trita Parsi about the history shaping the conflict: from a CIA-backed coup in Iran in 1953 to the 1979 revolution, the rise of Iran’s regional alliances and why attempts to overthrow the regime have repeatedly failed. 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by The West Australian Canberra bureau chief, Katina Curtis. They discuss why Littleproud really stepped down, the role of the surging support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in reshaping the political landscape, and new Nationals leader Matt Canavan -- an outspoken figure now tasked with reviving the party as it faces internal unrest, defections, and declining support in key rural seats.

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• Iranian women footballers defected to Australia last night
• US warn today will be the most intense so far in Iran
• Nationals to choose new leader after Littleproud’s shock resignation
• Lululemon cops $700k + fine for spam emails
• Australia’s favourite toilet paper revealed

Deep Dive: Digital price tags that can change instantly, smart trolleys that track what goes in your basket and cameras that are monitoring more than just shelves.  

The modern supermarket is evolving quickly as major chains invest heavily in automation, AI and data-driven systems designed to make shopping faster and more efficient. But while many of these changes promise convenience for customers, they also raise important questions about privacy, pricing and the growing power of Australia’s supermarket giants. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou dig into some of the tech quietly reshaping our supermarket aisles and what it could mean for the future of shopping. 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Katie Bird, who explains how EMDR changed her life... but also prevented her from seeking justice in a flawed system. 

In a statement to the ABC, who originally reported this story, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions would not comment on individual matters but said: "Each prosecution is assessed individually in accordance with the prosecution policy of the Commonwealth." 

"Part of the assessment is the consideration of the admissibility of the evidence both at statute and common law." 

For information and support, you can contact Australia's national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service on 1800 RESPECT.

Headlines:

• Nationals Leader David Littleproud has sensationally quit as leader of the National Party
• The federal government has stepped up its commitment to the War in the Middle East
• The 5 Iranian soccer players who fled from their handlers overnight have been granted humanitarian visas
• Labor will push through new superannuation tax changes after securing support from the Greens in the Senate
• A spokesperson for Kyle Sandilands has released a statement demanding the radio host be allowed back on air

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• Donald Trump and Albanese speak about Iranian footballers
• Alleged Bondi terrorist seeks suppression order
• Nationals float tripling paid parental leave and lowering HECS debts for women
• Union calls on Labor to legislate four-day work weeks
• Anger at plan to charge visitors an entry fee to the Twelve Apostles

Deep DIve: Fuel prices are already rising and the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel could push them even higher. But the impact won’t stop at the bowser. 

From fuel and gas to inflation and interest rates, global conflicts can quickly hit household budgets in Australia, even when the fighting is thousands of kilometres away. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with AMP Chief Economist Dr Shane Oliver about how long the pressure could last and what the conflict could mean for inflation and the Australian economy. 

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In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who explains the rise of Mojtaba Khamenei, who has stepped into power during one of the most volatile moments in Iran’s history. Kylie reveals what his rise means for the Iranian people, why the US and Israel may be deeply unhappy with this outcome, and whether the escalating conflict could spiral into a long and messy war. Plus, the growing calls in Australia to offer asylum to Iran’s women’s soccer team amid fears of persecution back home. 

Headlines: 

• Former NSW Liberal MP, Rory Amon, has been found not guilty on a majority of child sex abuse charges
• More than $110 billion has been wiped off the Australian stockmarket
• Investigations are underway after two separate shootings in Sydney’s west 
• Prince Harry and Meagan will visit Australia next month

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• Australia’s role in Middle East being considered
• Crocs “absolutely everywhere” in flooded NT
• Tributes for 22-year-old Melbourne Good Samaritan 
• Age verification comes into effect for porn sites from today
• Matildas draw 3-all with South Korea in electric Asian Cup clash

Further listening from the headlines:

• Watching porn? ID please
• How I escaped porn addiction

Deep Dive: There are fears one family is accumulating more control over tech, government and media than any other family in modern history. Most Australians have barely heard of them, but they probably should.  
 
Tech titan and Trump backer Larry Ellison is one of the wealthiest people on the planet, and his company Oracle doesn't just do business with governments - it helps run them.  
 
Now his son David has won the most expensive bidding war in entertainment history, bringing a vast collection of film studios, news networks and streaming platforms under the same family umbrella.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by NPR host Roben Farzad to unpack what the Ellison empire actually controls and what its latest moves tell us about who really holds power in 2026. 

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The former Australian of the Year has endured more scrutiny than many public figures twice her age, all while staying fiercely outspoken and unapologetically herself.

In this bonus episode of The Weekend Briefing with Antoinette Lattouf, we bring you a discussion with Grace Tame about what it really takes to ‘win’ as a woman in Australia.

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