The Briefing

Public confidence in Australian universities is continuing to erode, as institutions face funding issues, widespread job cuts and allegations of failures to report gender-based violence across campuses. The University of Technology and the Australian National University have both faced various controversies over the past couple of years, prompting renewed scrutiny of university governance and priorities. Experts fear universities are prioritising profit over education, losing sight of their purpose as educational institutions and acting as businesses first. In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith, is joined by Senator David Pocock to explain what needs to change in the governance of Australian universities and how the sector can rebuild public trust.  Afternoon headlines: Prime minister Anthony Albanese gives his first speech to the UN, Bali hospital denies allegations of organ theft after body of Australian repatriated without heart and Snoop Dog still set to perform at the AFL grand final Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Albo and Trump have become Insta official, Trump slammed by London Mayor over 'Islamophobic' sharia law comments, WHO issues statement on paracetamol causing autism claims, fresh warnings for online machete sellers, A-League footballers sentenced over their involvement in a gambling scam and would you pay over $2K for kindy artwork? Deep Dive: Former UFC champion Conor McGregor’s bid for Ireland’s presidency had all the hallmarks of a modern populist campaign - from promises to make his country great again, to anti-immigration rhetoric and ties to one of America’s most powerful families.    While he withdrew from the race last week, what lessons can we learn from his run and could something similar happen in Australia?    In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by political strategist turn pollster and director of RedBridge group, Kos Samaras to unpack the celebrity-to-politician pipeline, and whether someone like McGregor could ever make it in Australian politics. Further listening from the headlines:  Fact-checking Trump’s UN speech How to stop teen machete murders Trump’s autism misinformation Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US president Donald Trump made a fiery 56-minute speech at the UN General Assembly - well over the customary 15-minute time limit - telling world leaders their ‘countries are going to hell’ over migration and that climate change was a ‘con job’. The speech was delivered to a room of visibly unsettled world leaders and drew immediate global attention, triggering a flurry of fact-checking efforts. In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Cory Alpert, from Melbourne University and a former Biden White House staffer, to explain if Trump’s speech was an attack on the United Nations.   Afternoon headlines: ABC ordered to pay $150,000 fine for unlawfully sacking Antoinette Lattouf, calls for Optus CEO to resign as the telco is ordered to pay $100m fine for ‘predatory’ sales practices and Jimmy Kimmel returns to screens.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over four years after Brittany Higgins first went public with allegations she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House; the political and legal fallout is still playing out today.  It's included a criminal trial, corruption probes, multiple defamation cases, and fresh allegations aimed at her rapist.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy and Chris Spyrou unpack everything that’s happened since the explosive defamation trial between Bruce Lehrmann and Lisa Wilkinson, up to the latest courtroom sagas, payouts and “James Bond-esque" investigation.Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: White House confirms Albo meeting after Trump sprays UN, Australian childcare bosses grilled over mistreatment and abuse at inquiry, Elon Musk’s father accused of child sexual abuse, new changes for millions with student debt, and the country’s most culturally powerful people have been named. Deep Dive: Higgins v Lehrmann: Part 1 Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann are names that continue to dominate headlines over four years after Brittany first went public with allegations she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House.  Since then, a legal, political and media domino effect ensued, including a criminal trial, corruption probes and multiple defamation cases that are still playing out today.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy and Chris Spyrou unpack the case at the heart of it all, the media frenzy and the Lehrman v Network Ten defamation suit.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr - now Donald Trump’s Health Secretary - has made dubious claims about vaccines, with his latest suggesting common painkillers like Panadol could cause autism in unborn children. His statements, widely rejected by doctors and health experts, have reignited controversy not just in public health but within one of America’s most famous dynasties: the Kennedys. In our first episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks the feud between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his family. From being called a 'threat to the health and wellbeing of every American' to facing condemnation from relatives including the former US Ambassador to Australia, RFK Jr.’s crusade has sparked a family stoush with political and cultural consequences far beyond the dinner table.  So how did he stray so far from his family’s legacy? We’re breaking it down in... The Beefing!  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a bombshell statement sending shockwaves around the world, the US President has claimed paracetamol use in pregnant women is linked to autism. Although admitting he’s not a doctor, Donald Trump also made concerning allegations about vaccines. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by leading autism researcher, Professor David Trembath, to unpack today’s statements from the US President and shares important advice for concerned women and expecting parents.  Headlines: A senior police officer has been charged with the assault of Hannah Thomas, a man known as the “Moore Park Rapist" has plead guilty to a number of sexual assaults, and Matilda’s Captain, Steph Catley, has won a prestigious international award.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Opposition leader Sussan Ley welcomed to Israel over Palestine pushback, Super typhoon set to make landfall in China, Hong Kong and the Philippines, The Duchess of York dropped by charities over Epstein apology, Instagram rolls out AI to detect teens lying about age, and AFL's night of nights – the Brownlow! Deep Dive: Boycotts and ‘political consumerism’ are on the rise, with consumers actively choosing to buy from companies that align with their political views.   It’s become one of the most common forms of political participation in western liberal democracies, including right here in Australia, over issues like Palestine, Ukraine, Tesla and Disney.   In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Erin O'Brien, an Associate Professor in International Relations at Griffith University, to explain if you can create change by joining a boycott.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fallout continues over the Optus disaster as pressure grows on the Telecommunications Giant after its deadly triple-zero outage. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells says Optus has failed the Australian people, warning the company will face significant consequences.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by tech expert Trevor Long to unpack what caused the outrage, who’s to blame and the warning to other telco giants.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Australia joins Canada and the UK in formally recognising Palestine, Charlie Kirk's funeral service is underway at a stadium in Arizona, at least five people tried to warn telco giant Optus of an outage that impacted 000 calls, Tony Abbott, Liz Truss, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price headline a conservative conference in Brisbane, and it turns out plenty of Aussies are willing to risk a fine when catching public transport. Deep Dive: The fatal stabbings of two boys, aged 12 and 15, in Melbourne’s west shocked the nation and put a spotlight on youth violence across Victoria.  Police have since arrested seven teenagers over the brutal attack, but deeper questions remain about what’s fuelling this trend and whether government responses are helping or harming.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with criminal lawyer and forensic psychologist Dr Brianna Chesser to unpack it.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coachella 2026 line-up has officially dropped, featuring major headliners like Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter, but one Aussie act also taking the stage is Royel Otis.  Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic make up the pop duo, who recently went viral for their covers of Linger by the Cranberries and Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor.  In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we’re revisiting a chat from last year with Tom Tilley and Royel Otis who explain how they came together and the story behind their debut album, Pratts & Pain Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gwilym Lee is a proud Welshman and self-proclaimed ‘pretender’, best known for portraying Queen guitarist Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody. The actor grew up in Birmingham and began his career on stage before staring in television dramas like The Great, Midsomer Murders and Top End Bub - alongside Aussie actor and co-writer Miranda Tapsell. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Gwilym shares what it was like filming in the Northern Territory and playing Ned, the ‘confused white guy’, while gaining insight into First Nations culture, community, and art. Weekend list with Helen Smith TO WATCH: Mr Fantasy music video TO EAT: Musashi protein bars TO EAT: Potato salad party TO READ: Zeteo news Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race is on to find the next NSW Police Commissioner, but the top candidate is already plagued with controversy. The NSW Premier says he’s willing to overlook bad decisions and that the NSW police commissioner did not need to have a “lily-white record”. It comes at the end of a massive week for the NSW government... after it passed groundbreaking legislation that could set a precedent across the country.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by NSW Minister Rose Jackson to explain the new deepfake laws and housing planning overhauls and also her reaction on who will be the state’s next Police Commissioner.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Donald Trump says Jimmy Kimmel being taken off air is not a free speech issue, Queensland becomes the first state to ban pill testing, doctor who treated Erin Patterson reprimanded by medical board for 'crazy bitch' comments, Brigitte Macron to submit 'scientific evidence' proving she is not a man and a new survey for dog-obsessed Aussies! Further listening from the headlines:  The Macrons vs Candace Owens Part I on Apple Podcasts and Spotify PART 2: French president sues podcaster over claims first lady is a man on Apple Podcasts and Spotify The drug report the government won't release on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Deep Dive: A UFO sighting confirmed by hundreds of Australians has been shrouded in secrecy for decades.  Now there are fresh calls for the government to hold a parliamentary inquiry into the Westall incident, as well as the government cover-up that followed.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with UAP researcher and activist Grant Lavac, who started the petition, about why the public and the government need to follow the US’s lead in taking UFO sightings seriously.Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s war on the media has just escalated, with the Jimmy Kimmel Show cancelled after the late-night night host made comments about the US President’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. President Trump today also banned Australia’s ABC from attending a news conference after a 4 Corners journalist questioned the US leader over his family’s business dealings.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Crikey journalist Charlie Lewis to unpack what these latest developments mean for the independence of media and freedom of speech.  Headlines: A major court win for former broadcaster Alan Jones, the federal government has handed down its long-awaited emissions reduction target, and retail giant Kmart has been found to have unlawfully used facial recognition technology.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Thousands protest in London as Donald Trump receives a royal welcome in the UK, Vic Police warn of fake cop collecting donations for Porepunkah victims, Australian-first trial to combat gender-based violence to launch, Ben & Jerry's co-founder quits over Gaza dispute with parent company, and Gout Gout qualifies in Tokyo!Deep Dive: Influencers and content creators are facing backlash for ‘Taliban tourism’, accused of accepting paid trips to militant-ruled Afghanistan.  Australian blogger Chloe Baredinsky made national headlines over her two-month trip to the country, where it was later revealed she accepted payments toward accommodation, food, permits and guides.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by two Afghan women, Senator Fatima Payman and former worker in Afghanistan's Ministry of Women's Affairs, Nasima Kakaea, to discuss the controversial tourism trend.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s being labelled as a major diplomatic blunder by the Albanese government, with Papua New Guinea pulling out of signing a key defence treaty with Australia at the last minute. While the federal government was confident of sealing the deal, the dramatic turnaround has raised serious concerns over Australia’s security and diplomatic future in the critical Pacific Region.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Pacific Islands diplomatic expert Mihai Sora to unpack why the failed treaty is a concerning setback for Australia and an important win for China.  Headlines: Several protestors have been arrested in England after projected images of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were displayed on a castle, hundreds of jobs are set to go in one of Queensland's biggest coal mines, the NSW Government has announced the biggest overhaul of planning laws in half a century, and Virgin Australia has launched its 'Pet in Cabin' flights.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: Murder charges laid against Charlie Kirk’s accused killer, terrorism offenses tossed for Luigi Mangione, former broadcaster Alan Jones facing more indecent assault charges, thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza City as UN report finds Israel is committing genocide, White House labels Aussie journo ‘foreign fake news loser’, Albanese government to invest $1.1 billion in sustainable fuels, and Coachella’s 2026 lineup is here!Deep Dive: Some of our big banks have announced mass redundancies over the last month, impacting thousands of Australians, and the ripple effects for productivity could last for years.  ANZ said they are cutting around 3,500 jobs over the next 12 months and since then are now facing a record $240 million penalty for widespread misconduct. NAB also announced they will be cutting more than 400 roles and hiring more employees overseas.   In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Swinburne law and corporate governance expert Helen Bird to explain what happens in mass redundancies and why they aren’t always about cost-cutting.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunscreen is back in the spotlight, with groundbreaking new research showing a link between daily sunscreen use and vitamin D deficiency. Earlier this year, several sunscreen brands were pulled from shelves over conflicting SPF testing results. Now, new Australian research has shown sunscreen use can also affect our vitamin D levels. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by the author of the study, Professor Rachel Neale, who unpacks the new findings and explains why we should still be using sunscreen.  Headlines: At least one person has been killed and 7 others have been injured after a gas leak at a Sydney restaurant, guidelines for the under-16 social media ban have been unveiled, and the chief executive of one of Australia’s biggest retail groups has been sacked over an alleged relationship with a senior staff member.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dementia is now Australia’s leading cause of death, and it doesn’t just affect the elderly.   Around 90 kids die from childhood dementia each year in Australia, that’s about the same number of children that die from cancer.   In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we revisit Antoinette Lattouf’s conversation with Meg Maack - CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative and mother to two children with childhood dementia.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.