The Briefing

Eliza Hull is a musician, author and a disability advocate who’s teaching children how to have better conversations about people living with disability. On social media Eliza has been putting a spotlight on what it would be like for people with existing disability in Gaza and all of those with new acquired disabilities because of the constant bombardment. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf Eliza shares some heart wrenching moments from her childhood and how Gaza has impacted her parenting. WEEKEND LIST TO EAT - Spicy (NOT FIRED) chicken wings TO READ - 4am: Answers to the conundrums that keep you up at night • Advice from Ask Shameless TO DO - Set an alarm for deep breathing TO DO - The Antoinettes Live Show - Syd June 22nd Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Donald Trump was this morning found guilty on 34 charges relating to paying off a porn star. Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006. The story emerged in the lead-up to the 2016 election and Trump, through his then lawyer Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to kill off the story Prosecutors in New York brought the charges against Trump – the first time a US president or former president has faced criminal charges – and he was found guilty on all 34 counts. We’re joined by Professor David Smith from the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney to find out what’s likely to happen next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 charges in a New York court. In this special bonus episode of The Briefing, you'll hear what Trump had to say after the verdict was handed down. Sacha Barbour-Gatt and Katrina Blowers bring you the very latest on one of the biggest news stories in decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s 10-year-old daughter North West made her acting debut not on a school stage like other kids - but in a major 30th anniversary concert performance of the Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl. And people weren’t happy. Hollywood is full of nepo babies and it makes sense - but what about the people missing out on roles or opportunities because they weren’t born into a famous family? In this episode of the Briefing entertainment reporter and gossip guru Richard Reid joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain why we love to hate nepo babies. Headlines: BOM releases Winter outlook as 2024 shapes up to be the hottest year on record Trump jury continues deliberations as former President is accused of using racial slur Labor MP quits foreign affairs committee after ‘river to the sea’ comments US man on suspended licence shows up to virtual court date behind the wheel Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inquest into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker wrapped up this week after hearing shocking allegations of racism permeating the Nothern Territory Police Force. Walker was shot dead during an attempted arrest in 2019 by then police officer Zachary Rolfe, who was charged with murder but then acquitted following a trial. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Melissa Mackay from the ABC’s bureau in Alice Springs, to find out what we learned at the inquiry and what lessons, if any, will be learned from the death of Kumanjayi Walker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24-year-old Laura Nuttall is the youngest ever Greens representative elected to any Australian parliament. Laura is also the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly ever. Laura and her advisor Dani - who is 22 - are passionate about environmental and economic justice, and young peoples’ participation in decision-making that affects their lives. In this episode of the Briefing, Antoinette investigates what a Gen Z MP can bring to a parliament and how and why young people’s issues ought to be front and centre of any government’s decision-making process. Headlines: Aussies likely caught up in Ticketmaster hack with 560 million people at risk Immigration Minister refusing to stand down over allowing convicted criminals visas Jury begins deliberations in Trump hush money trial Temperatures hit 50C in Delhi Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traumatic vision has emerged showing the aftermath of recent Israeli airstrikes on a makeshift tent city in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, that reportedly killed 45 people, with 249 others wounded. Aid groups have said the Israeli Defence Force had designated the area a humanitarian safe zone before launching the attack – although Israel denies this. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive” in Rafah, but in ambiguous terms, which the Israeli Government has interpreted to mean its Rafah offensive can continue. Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, the Israeli defence minister, and three Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks with international law expert, Juliette McIntyre, and Frankie Leach, spokesperson for humanitarian organisation ActionAid. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next 10 years in Australia $5 trillion is expected to move down the generations, with around $2.3 trillion to be given to Boomers’ children, $1 trillion to their grandkids, and $1.7 trillion to charities. The bank of mum and dad is somewhere between the 5th and 9th biggest lender according to the Productivity Commission. In this episode of the Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Compare the Market’s Economic Director David Koch to explain what impact this will have on the economy. Headlines: Australia demands Israel halt Rafah offensive Daughter of Perth double murderer claims police ignored her pleas to stop her dad Rental affordability goes from bad to worse Pope apologises for using homophobic slur Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News broke last week that a teenager is about to become the world’s first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis passed away in 2006, but spent his life spreading his faith, coming to be known as the patron saint of the internet for his work creating websites about Catholicism and its saints. So, how does the Catholic church decide on who gets to be a saint? What’s the criteria, who tests the miracles and what role could coincidence and other factors play? Sydney priest, Father Anthony Robbie joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss on this episode of The Briefing. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last week, China launched a comprehensive two-day military drill around Taiwan, mimicking a full-scale attack. The drills included dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles, alongside navy vessels stationed at strategic locations around the island. The military operations have been viewed as retaliation to Taiwan's newly elected president, Lai Ching-te, who in his recent inauguration speech reinforced the island's independence from China. So how much has changed in the tensions between Taiwan and China over the last few months? And what does this mean for Australia? In this episode, Bension Siebert unpacks the situation with Dr Roger Lee Huang, an expert in Southeast Asian politics and international relations at Macquarie University. Headlines: Netanyahu describes deadly Rafah strike a “tragic mishap” Fears death toll in the thousands in PNG landslide Experts to meet in fast-tracked gender-based violence review Fly high Bette; world’s longest serving flight attendant dies Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s become one of the world’s biggest online shopping marketplaces, churning out more than a million parcels to be flown to customers around the globe every day. Here in Australia, more than 1.2 million of us shop on Temu every month – and it’s our most downloaded app. But how did the Chinese start-up skyrocket to global online megastore - selling everything from clothing and household items - less than two years after launching? Dr Shasha Wang from QUT joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain Temu’s unique recipe for success in commerce and its meteoric rise. A Temu spokesperson says: Claims that Temu's competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labourpractices are unfounded. We urge a closer examination of our approach, whichhinges on removing unnecessary expenses. Our cost-efficiency is due to a directconnection between consumers and manufacturers, cutting out middlemen and theirmarkups. Our model also streamlines the logistics of production and distribution,allowing us to offer lower prices to our customers. Many merchants on Temu are reputable manufacturers with advanced productionfacilities, supplying to well-known US brands and retailers like Amazon, Walmart,and Target. These manufacturers adhere to high industry standards and arerecognised for their quality production. Temu is dedicated to upholding ethical labour practices. Our Third-Party Code ofConduct forbids any form of forced, child, or penal labour and requires adherence toall local labour laws, including those related to wages, working hours, voluntaryemployment, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. Wedemand strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right tosever ties with any business that breaches our Code of Conduct or the law. As for the concern about forced labour in product compliance, we take this issueseriously. Our standards and practices align with those of major U.S. e-commerceplatforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, rendering any allegations completelyungrounded. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a cost of living crisis, who can resist the invitation to “shop like a billionaire” at bargain-basement prices? Online juggernaut Temu is Australia’s most popular free app, offering a vast vortex of low-cost merchandise from fashion and homeware to toys and electronics. But amid the thrilling rush of retail therapy lie some serious questions: Where does this stuff come from? What are conditions like for those at the bottom of the supply chain? And what about the environment? On this episode of The Briefing Sacha talks to Sarah Rogan, senior labour rights campaigner at Oxfam. A Temu spokesperson says: Claims that Temu's competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labourpractices are unfounded. We urge a closer examination of our approach, whichhinges on removing unnecessary expenses. Our cost-efficiency is due to a directconnection between consumers and manufacturers, cutting out middlemen and theirmarkups. Our model also streamlines the logistics of production and distribution,allowing us to offer lower prices to our customers. Many merchants on Temu are reputable manufacturers with advanced productionfacilities, supplying to well-known US brands and retailers like Amazon, Walmart,and Target. These manufacturers adhere to high industry standards and arerecognised for their quality production. Temu is dedicated to upholding ethical labour practices. Our Third-Party Code ofConduct forbids any form of forced, child, or penal labour and requires adherence toall local labour laws, including those related to wages, working hours, voluntaryemployment, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. Wedemand strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right tosever ties with any business that breaches our Code of Conduct or the law. As for the concern about forced labour in product compliance, we take this issueseriously. Our standards and practices align with those of major U.S. e-commerceplatforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, rendering any allegations completelyungrounded. Headlines: More than 600 feared dead in PNG landslides WA Premier describes murder of mother and daughter as ‘chilling’ Hamas launches rockets at Tel Aviv for the first time in months Donald Trump booed at Libertarian convention Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abbie Chatfield is an Australian media personality, television host, radio presenter and podcaster. She is best known for her appearances in reality television as both a contestant and host, she is also the host of Listnr podcast “its a lot.” In this episode of The Weekend Briefing Abbie tells Antoinette about the crime of bad change room lights, oversharing, unexpected fans and why she could never go on Farmer Wants a Wife. WEEKEND LIST TO WATCH OR NOT TO WATCH - Bridgerton TO DO - Check you credit cards statements TO DO - Theatre shows and cheap tickets in your city Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week, Sean “Diddy” Combs admitted to physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back in 2016, after brutal footage of the attack started circulating online. After his fall from grace as one of the most successful and best-selling rap artists, will Diddy be cancelled? Or will we continue to hear his music online and on-air? Tim Burrowes is the founder of the media and marketing news website, Unmade. In this episode, he speaks with Sacha Barbour Gatt, unpacking when and why companies boycott artists with serious allegations and convictions, and the effectiveness of cancel culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a huge increase of Functional neurological disorder or FND in teenage girls since the pandemic and the rise of TikTok. FND occurs when there’s miscommunication between the body and brain and can often look a lot like tourettes, where people suffer from impulsive tics. Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Amanda Maxwell, a clinical psychologist specialising in tics, to unpack why we are seeing a spike in the number of cases of FND. Headlines: Details of serious injuries suffered by Singapore Airlines passengers revealed Chinese military conducts drills around Taiwan Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s ex, speaks out Australia’s biggest ever lotto winner nabs $150 million Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AstraZeneca has withdrawn their Covid 19 vaccination after admitting it can cause rare blood clots. This month marks 50 years since the global rollout of the world’s first major vaccination program – with new research showing vaccines have saved over 154 million lives. Professor Margie Danchin is a paediatrician at the The Royal Children's Hospital and joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain the benefits and the side effects of vaccines. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain have both died during a helicopter crash earlier this week. What do these untimely deaths mean for the power structure in Iran, and to relations in the middle east? And why are some people happy to see the end of President Ebrahim Raisi’s leadership. In this episode, Antoinette Lattouf speaks with Middle East politics expert Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh to better understand the situation, and what we can expect to happen next. Headlines: Rishi Sunak announces snap UK general election Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognise Palestinian state Australian passengers on Singapore Airlines flight hit by turbulence start arriving home Mattel to make Mary Fowler Barbie Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discourse around a portrait of Australia’s richest person has hit a fever pitch this week, after she made a private plea to have it removed from an exhibition. The painting of Gina Rinehart, by artist Vincent Namatjira, is hanging in Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia, and it’s sparked a debate about how we look at and consider art. Someone who can empathise with Rinehart in this instance is The Briefing’s Antoinette Lattouf who in this episode explains the relationship between art, society and our own vanity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians will be heading to the polls to vote in a federal election in 2025, and nuclear power is shaping up to be a key battleground.Labor is pushing ahead with renewables as the key source of green energy for Australia, but the Coalition thinks building reactors is the way to go. In fact, the Liberals and Nationals have already started polling community sentiment around nuclear energy in electorates where future reactors could be built.Nationals leader David Littleproud explains the Coalition's strategy to Sacha Barbour-Gatt - and why they believe it's the way to get to zero emissions. Headlines: One dead after Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence Australia to ban replica Ozempic drugs Government rejects claims it should condemn ICC Forget Melbourne or Sydney, Canberra offers the best quality of life Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trans men, women, and nonbinary young people are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to cis-queer men and women. Australian research found that one in five young trans people have experienced homelessness and data from the Trans Justice Project saw an increase in anti-trans hate in the year leading up to April 2023 Activists say we are not doing enough to support the transgender community in their moment of need, Laura Pettigrew from the LiSTNR Newsroom joins Simon Beaton to talk us through details. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sexsomnia is a sleep disorder that causes people to engage in sexual behaviors in their sleep, such as dirty talk, masturbating and even intercourse. The disorder occurs in the deepest stages of sleep and unsurprisingly it raises many questions around consent. How can consent be maintained when a partner is unconscious? And can sexsomnia be used as a defence in cases of sexual assault? Aleks Trkulja from the Pleasure Centre and specialist sleep physician Dr David Cunnington joins Helen Smith to explain how common sexsomnia is. Headlines: ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders Julian Assange granted leave to appeal extradition to the US Sam Kerr trial date set Sussan Ley calls for Diddy boycott Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new drug has been detected in Australia that can be up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl – which is already stronger than heroin. Introducing nitazene, an incredibly dangerous synthetic opioid that was linked to over 20 overdoses in western Sydney and was found in Canberra’s pill testing service for the first time over the weekend. Professor Suzanne Nielsen, the Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre, joins Simon Beaton to explain the dangers of nitazene which could be lacing your party drugs. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for a missing person can capture the attention of the entire nation. Currently, we’re waiting to hear the outcome of an appeal of Chris Dawson, who was convicted of killing his wife Lynette Joy Simms in December of 1982, despite her body never being found. So what happens behind the scenes of one of these investigations? And how is someone charged with murder when a body is never located? Journalist Tessa Randello from the LiSTNR Newsroom has spoken with former New South Wales Detective Anthony Macklin about this topic. On this episode, she unpacks what she’s found out with Sacha Barbour Gatt. Headlines: Iran’s President missing after helicopter crash Charges laid in Sydney police stabbing Sean 'Diddy' Combs admits to DV 700 ‘Kyles’ not enough to break world record Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Morrison is the 30th Prime Minister of Australia, lover of chicken curries and author of his new book - Plans For Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness Morrison has had his fair share of controversies over the years - Hawaii, his response to COVID and his many ministries. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Morrison opens up about his time as PM, repenting his sins and his impact on Australians. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media has gone into meltdown after a video from a US college commencement speech went viral. The footage shows NFL player and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker addressing the female graduates in the crowd, telling them that ultimately, their main and most valuable vocation in life is being a wife and mother. Butker has sparked a storm of criticism, the NFL even coming out to distance itself from his comments. In the post #MeToo world and amidst a spike in violence against women in Australia, we’re breaking down and debunking Butker’s comments and why they are so dangerous.'' Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Chat GPT revealed the next steps in the way their AI interacts with humans. Now the interface can recognise emotions and have more nuanced conversations with the user. Meanwhile Google has revealed its new AI assistant “Astra” and their plans to scrabble back searches previously lost to Chat GPT by integrating more AI into Google search. But what is the cost of greater humanising of AI? And is it safe? Tech entrepreneur Ashi Bhat joins The Briefing to unpack the AI rat race. Headlines: Peter Dutton wants to slash immigration Company at the centre of major data hack revealed ANU and Deakin University move to shut down pro-Palestine encampments Namatjira responds to Rinehart portrait controversy Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is in the grip of a teacher shortage that is a decade in the making. New research by McCrindle has revealed more than half of educators are considering leaving the profession. On top of that, teaching is increasingly becoming an aging profession, with 20% of the workforce to reach retirement age over the next decade. On today’s briefing, we speak with social researcher and demographer, Mark McCrindle, to explore why this is happening and what’s being done to attract more people to study teaching. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over half a century, the US and Australia have operated Pine Gap - a joint top-secret spy base at Alice Springs in the heart of outback Australia Today, concern is mounting that spies at Pine Gap may be eavesdropping on the Middle East and passing critical information on to the Israeli Defence Force. This would mean Australia is playing a role in the conflict, raising serious questions about the public’s right to know how our land, resources and geographical advantage is being deployed, especially when it makes us a nuclear target for foreign powers. Today we’re joined by Alice Springs journalist Alexandra Barwick, host of new ABC podcast Spies in the Outback, to assess the evidence and get a local perspective. Headlines: Sydney council reverses same sex parent book ban Slovakia PM shot in assassination attempt Labor senator breaks ranks to label Israel’s war in Gaza genocide Gina Rinehart has demanded the National Gallery of Australia remove a portrait of her Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you take a gulp of bottled Mt Franklin spring water, you might imagine it comes from a pristine and abundant water source in an exotic wilderness location. But In reality, Coca-Cola has been legally pumping groundwater for free out of a bore on the outskirts of Perth in WA to sell as bottled water for 32 years. And now residents have had enough. They’re worried about the amount of water being extracted without obvious oversight in a region that’s drying out and prone to fire. WA Water Minister Simone McGurk talks to Simon Beaton about what she's doing to hold Coca-Cola to account. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Budget, aka the economic plan for the next four years and beyond. On the positive side, he delivered his second consecutive surplus and a bunch of cost of living sweeteners – including a new $300 payment in energy bill relief for every Australian household, which he reckons will help put downward pressure on inflation. We saw more detail on Treasury’s optimistic new forecast showing inflation will drop below 3% by Christmas, plus the things we knew already about like Stage 3 tax cuts and $3 billion in student debt being wiped. But on the negative side: critics have described it as a “band aid” budget that relies on a lot of variables for its economic outlook, benefits billionaires and multinationals and could actually make inflation worse. And while the Treasurer can pat himself on the back for this year’s surplus of $9.3 billion, looks like we’re heading deep into the red next year with a $28.3 billion deficit, followed by a $42.8 per cent deficit in 2025-26. With an election looming, the year ahead will be critical in determining if he hit the right note between bringing inflation under control without hurting the economy. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatening nuclear war as his invasion of the Ukraine continues. Putin last week ordered Russian troops to perform military exercises to prepare for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Tactical nukes are generally smaller and less powerful than traditional nuclear weapons, but use of such weapons would be catastrophic. It’s now been more than 800 days since Russia’s massive ground invasion of Ukraine, a military operation supposedly intended to only run for ten days. In this episode of The Briefing, Benison speaks to Dr Keith Suter, former President of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney about why Putin would make this new threat now, and just how worried should we be in this moment. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a month since the horrific attack at Bondi Junction Westfield, during which a man stabbed 18 people, killing six. Most of his victims were women. The event was heavily reported on by the media, and in the wake of the tragedy we’ve seen dozens more instances of violent knife crime right around Australia. It may feel like we’re seeing an increase in these sort of attacks, but is that true? What do the stats tell us? And does more media reporting mean more people want to copy what they see? Criminologist Xanthe Mallett from the University of Newcastle joins the Briefing to breakdown Australia’s knife crime. Headlines: NSW moves on new bail laws for domestic violence offenders X no longer forced to remove videos of Wakeley church stabbing Treasurer to announce $9.3 billion surplus in tonight’s budget #Blockout2024: Celebs lose hundreds of thousands of followers over their silence on Gaza and insane displays of wealth Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Childhood and dementia aren’t two words you’d expect to hear together, but children are dying from this disease at the same rate as they are dying from cancer. One in every 2,900 children are born with childhood dementia, a progressive disease that is caused by rare neurodegenerative genetic disorders It’s a heart-breaking condition that has historically received little attention and research hours. In this episode of The Briefing Antoinette chats to Meg Maack, Director and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, about what a new grant will mean for those suffering and their families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a critical current in the Atlantic that moves heat, carbon, and nutrients from the tropics, which is cooled and sinks once it reaches the Arctic. The current is important because it helps regulate climate on Earth. Now this current is slowing, and it’s impact on global climate could be disastrous. At the same time we’ve seen the end of a hot, dry, El Nino weather pattern, which came after three back-to-back wet La Nina’s....and there’s a strong chance that we could see another La Nina next season too – a frequency and sequence that’s never been recorded before. So are these two weather systems linked? Could this be a sign that things might be changing faster than expected? Professor Matthew England from the University of NSW joins host Simon Beaton to answer these questions and more. Headlines: Inflation could fall to within target range by the end of the year US steps up condemnation of Israel Man who received first pig kidney transplant dies Aussies go wild for Aurora Australis Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most families, Mother’s Day is about celebrating our mums and all they do for us. But for those whose Mum is no longer around, it can be a pretty tough day. New research shows this is having a big impact on women, with over 1 million losing their Mum before the age of 44. Now 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? On today’s episode of The Briefing, we talk to Danielle Snelling – the Co-Founder of Motherless Daughters Australia to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keiynan Lonsdale grew up in Sydney’s Western suburbs, with 11 siblings and a dream to make it in Hollywood. From the small screen with shows like ABC’s dance academy to the big screen with Love Simon – he’s ticking off his bucket list. Now after being in the music industry for 16 years Keiynan is embarking on his first headline tour. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Keiynan breaks down his latest role in SBS a Swift Street and what it was like to come out on Instagram. You can find a Swift Street on SBS on demand here WEEKEND LIST TO EAT - Eggplant and meatball pasta from Antoinette's adopted Nonna TO WATCH - Unfrosted on Netflix TO EAT - Deconstructed sushi bowls TO LISTEN - Any soundtrack from Lin-Manuel Miranda Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Starting out as an expression of unity and goodwill after WWII and a technical experiment to create a live televised music competition across so many borders, Eurovision now features 37 countries, including Australia. So what happened with our entry for this year? And what else has been most controversial throughout the competition? In this episode, Bension Siebert and Chris Spyrou unpack the history, the scandals, and what’s been most topical so far in this year’s Eurovision event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, women’s magazines had a place on every hairdresser’s bench top, family kitchen table and teenager’s bedside drawer. That all changed with the advent and surging dominance of online media – and magazine numbers slowly dwindled with dozens of titles axed in Australia. Now, Cosmopolitan, one of Australia’s favourite magazines for women is making a comeback. Publisher of Cosmo, Katarina Kroslakova from KK Press, talks to Sacha Barbour Gatt about why Cosmo is making a comeback now and how she plans to make it successful. Headlines: Joe Biden says the US won’t supply weapons to Israel for Rafah invasion The Federal Government wants us to have more babies TikTok, Meta bosses to be grilled on how they damage society in senate inquiry Apple cops it over piano crushing ad Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some true crime content – like The Teacher’s Pet or Up and Vanished has helped lead detectives to suspects, even resulting in convictions on cold cases. But armchair detectives don’t always get it right – like the TikTok star in Idaho who wrongfully accused a professor of murder. Take the popular Netflix series Baby Reindeer, based on a wild, but true story. Fans have started to investigate the real-life people characters were based on, despite the writer and director going to pretty great lengths to try to keep their true identities private. Is online sleuthing here to stay? And can it cause greater harm than good? In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Greg Stratton from RMIT, who is currently writing a book about true crime and wrongful convictions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Popular rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar are currently embroiled in a very public spat. It’s a feud that has a long history, but things have really escalated. Hip hop journo and author Simone Amelia Jordan explains why this feud is more than petty online drama. Headlines: US pauses weapons delivery to Israel amid Rafah offensive Treasurer forecasts a growth in disposable incomes in Budget sneak peak Stormy Daniels details Donald Trump encounter in hush money trial World reaches crucial clean energy turning point Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local council in Sydney has voted to ban books about same-sex parents from its libraries. Six Cumberland City Councillors voted in favour of the ban, while five, including Mayor Lisa Lake, opposed it. The New South Wales Government has warned it could breach the Anti-Discrimination Act and even threatened to pull the council’s library funding, as a result. Councillor Steve Christou proposed the ban, arguing that most of the council’s constituents are conservative and religious, and don't want “any form of sexualised experiences” available to children in the library. But is a same-sex parenting book sexualised content? In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks with Councillor Steve Christou to find out why he proposed the ban.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s birth rate has been in a relatively steady decline since a peak in the early 1960s. It’s rebounded a small amount after hitting a record low in 2020, but it still sits well below the total fertility rate of 2.1 that’s needed for a population to sustain itself. Is that a bad thing for Australia? And how does the rest of the world compare? On today’s deep dive we speak with Professor Amanda Davies from the School of Social Sciences at the University of Western Australia to try to answer those questions. Headlines: Parents of slain Aussie brothers speak for the first time Israel takes control of Palestinian side of Rafah crossing as ceasefire deal stalls Interest rates staying at 4.35 per cent TikTok sues to block US law that’d ban the app Mona’s ‘Ladies Lounge’ could become a toilet or church in a bid to keep men out Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli tanks have reportedly been spotted just 200 metres from the edge of Rafah, less than a day after an estimated 100,000 Palestinian civilians were ordered to evacuate. Bordering on Egypt, the southernmost city of Gaza has become the last refuge for around 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled the violence and destruction elsewhere. The impending invasion comes after Hamas agreed to a proposed ceasefire that was declined by Israel, and after the forced the closure of foreign media outlet Al Jazeera - one of the only media broadcasters active from the Gaza strip. To explain more, Bension Siebert is joined by Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist, film-maker and author of the best-selling book, The Palestine Laboratory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Witch hunts aren’t just the stuff of colonial America; they’re happening right now all around the world. People are still being persecuted and often murdered on suspicion of being involved in witchcraft, in a trend that’s currently being driven by fundamental Christianity, poverty and civil conflict. On today’s briefing we’re joined by Professor Miranda Forsyth to find out who is at risk, why they’re being targeted and what’s being done to address the issue. Headlines: Hamas accepts “softened” ceasefire deal Tributes for Aussie brothers killed in Mexico Judge in Trump hush money trial threatens jail as ex-President breaches gag order for a 10th time Met Gala Monday is here Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend in Perth, a sixteen-year-old boy has been shot dead by police after allegedly wounding a man who was unknown to him with a knife. WA Premier Roger Cook has said that there were indications that the teenager had been radicalised online. The news comes just weeks after Sydney's Wakeley church attack, where another 16-year-old boy allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, in what has been labelled a terrorist act. In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks with internationally renowned expert on terrorism and extremism, Deakin University Professor Greg Barton, to establish how big of an issue radicalisation is in Australia, and what is being done to prevent and safeguard our youth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cities in China are sinking and satellite imagery shows Beijing is among one of the fastest going under. According to a new study in the journal Science, development and groundwater pumping are causing land subsidence and heightening the risks of sea level rise. Within 100 years, a quarter of China’s urban coastal land could sit below sea level. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Robert Nicholls, a climate scientist and civil engineer at the University of East Anglia who reviewed the paper to find out why China’s cities are sinking and what can be done to fix the problem Headlines: Israel shuts down Al Jazeera Labor to introduce weekly payment for nursing, teaching students on placements Free Madonna concert draws crowd of 1.6 million in Rio de Janeiro Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ziggy Ramo is a Wik man, powerful storyteller and rapper - but it took him fives years to release his first album because the world wasn't ready to embrace his art and perspective. Soon after the Black Lives Matter movement Ziggy set his words into the world releasing his music and he’s now written a book – his memoir – Human? In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Ziggy explains how racism in Australia continues to dehumanise groups of people and what lead him to rap. Ziggy will be appearing speaking throughout the Melbourne Writers Festival and on May 10th Jan Fran will be joining Ziggy live. Event details here WEEKEND LIST TO READ - Pheasants Nest by Louise Milligan TO EAT- Pasta salad by Emily English on TikTok TO WATCH - Baby Reindeer on Netflix TO LISTEN - I Forgot to Tell You Something podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smut used to be the kind of genre you’d find hidden away in the back corner of bookstores. But not anymore. Now, smut series are being featured on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and a quick search of #spicybook or #smut on TikTok will find hundreds of thousands of videos. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its issues. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Esmé Louise James, author of “Kinky History”, to find out about the history of smut, discuss problematic characters, and get her personal smutty recommendations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the Matildas world cup frenzy we’ve seen a rise in soccer participation numbers – not just for young girls – but also boys and older women too. The A League Women season will come to a close tomorrow with Melbourne City taking on Sydney FC in what will hopefully be a record-breaking crowd. On today’s briefing, we chat to Moya Dodd, lawyer, sports administrator and former Matilda, to find out if these numbers are sustainable. Headlines: Police dismantle UCLA pro-Palestine encampment as Biden speaks out New ad campaign to show misogynistic social media feeds Aussie kids are seeing Australia’s housing crisis not going anywhere Sex scenes decline by 40% in Hollywood flicks Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snus is a small tobacco sachet placed between your gum and upper lip. But now there’s a new form of ‘snussing’, with products that take out the tobacco and replace it with flavours like cool mint, espresso, or bellini, and leave in the nicotine. Advertised on TikTok as an alternative to vaping, following a federal crackdown on non-prescription vapes, are these products just another sneaky way to keep the tobacco industry alive? In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Associate Professor Becky Freeman, from the School of Public Health at Sydney University, to learn more about nicotine pouches and their growing popularity in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.