The Briefing

Tuesday Headlines: Libs’ hardline immigration policy leaked, ‘ISIS brides’ turned back after leaving Syrian camp for Australia, grandparent of Gus Lamont arrested, intermittent fasting makes “no difference” to weight loss, and Barack Obama clarifies his stance on aliens. Deep Dive: Allegations of mob-linked figures, intimidation and inflated costs on taxpayer-funded i...

It’s been called the “Case of the Century”, and it could change supermarket pricing forever.  The ACCC is taking Coles to the Federal Court, alleging it engaged in a planned campaign to mislead customers over price discounts. Coles is denying allegations, saying the prices were a result of global inflation.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha is joined by e...

Monday Headlines: New-look Libs get on the policy front foot following spill, Albanese shakes off AUKUS concerns with $3.9bn downpayment, Winter Olympics officially Australia’s best-ever, 52-year-old man to face court over Egyptian artefact theft, and millions of Aussies have scored an extra public holiday. Deep Dive: Peptides are being hyped online as miracle fixes for everything...

In a historic first, NSW police have used Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG, to identify and arrest a 77-year-old man over alleged sexual assaults dating back to 1991. It’s a watershed moment for Australian forensic science. But how exactly does it work? In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we're sharing the first part of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?. In the series,...

Ash London has interviewed Taylor Swift in Paris, hitched piggyback rides from Ed Sheeran and helped shape the sound of Australian radio for more than a decade - but in 2026, she’s entering a bold new era across the ditch. The former national radio host is back on the airwaves in New Zealand with a brand new show - after helming Ash London LIVE for five years, co-hosting 2Day FM’s powe...

Australia’s most dangerous killers...The new podcast series that investigates our country’s soaring rates of domestic violence and homicide.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling speaks with the host of “Kiss and Kill”, Alison Sandy, who explains the dangerous narcissistic traits these murderers display, the warning signs to look out for, and the urg...

Friday Headlines: We’ve won our first gold at the Winter Olympics, Liberal leadership spill today, Israeli President's visit to Australia wraps, ICE agents to pull out of Minnesota, Katie Holmes pays tribute to Dawson's Creek co-star James Van Der Beek and Kylie Minogue's been honoured with her very own Barbie collector doll. Deep Dive: Emily Brontë’s  Wuthering Heights &nbsp...

After months of speculation, Angus Taylor will finally challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal Party leadership. So, who is Angus Taylor, and can he save a party heading into political oblivion?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by political reporter Katina Curtis to unpack how the spill will unfold and the race to save the Liberal Party.  Headlines : Only 4 of th...

Thursday Headlines: Leadership spill imminent as Angus Taylor quits, Herzog cancels visit to firebombed Synagogue amid security concerns, just three Aussie millionaires have backed calls for more taxes on the super rich, police release audio of Austin Appelbee’s heroic 000 call, Jakara Anthony misses medal in moguls final, and Britney Spears sells rights to her music catalogue. Deep Dive: El...

“Globalise the Intifada” has been in the spotlight this week after Grace Tame used the contentious phrase at a pro-Palestinian rally. Calls are growing from both sides of politics for Grace to be stripped of her Australian of the Year Award, with the NSW Premier inferring the phrase means a violent uprising in Sydney streets.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is j...

Wednesday Headlines:  Albanese meets with the President of Israel, Liberal leadership challenge set to begin today, Australia calls in Lao ambassador over response to the methanol poisoning deaths of Melbourne teens, Aussie ruled out of Winter Olympics after neck fracture, and Robert Irwin has been reduced to a daggy white boy on the internet. Deep Dive: Convicted Christchurch terrorist Brent...

What began as a peaceful rally in Sydney’s Town Hall Square turned into scenes Abigail Boyd MP says she never thought she’d witness in New South Wales. In this episode of The Briefing, the NSW Greens MP joins Natarsha Belling to describe the moment she was knocked to the ground and allegedly punched by police while filming a protest, and what she says unfolded around her as officers mo...

Big tech is under fire for failing to protect Aussie kids from online sexual abuse, including a sharp rise in sextortion and abuse via video calls and livestreams.   Reports to the Australian Federal Police jumped 41% last year, showing just how fast the problem is growing.   In part two of this deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with Brisbane radio host Ma...

Tuesday Headlines: Violence erupts at Sydney protests against Israeli President’s visit, King Charles 'ready to support' police investigation into Prince Andrew, Communications Minister seeks urgent meeting with Roblox over predator claims, and Elon Musk switches Space X’s focus to the moon. Deep Dive: Big tech is under fire for failing to protect Aussie kids from online sexu...

Australia’s definition of terrorism was set up after the Sept 11 terror attacks, but now the world and Australia have changed dramatically. In 2026, the landscape of terror and radicalization is complicated with new threats from a range of different groups including lone actors.   In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Associate Profe...

Monday Headlines: Sussan Ley could face leadership spill within the week, Sydneysiders told to avoid non-essential travel during Israeli President’s visit, Tropical Cyclone Mitchell approaches Exmouth, Christchurch mosque terrorist to appeal sentence, fears Australia is on track to becoming an “artless country” and The Super Bowl is on today. Deep Dive: Protests are planned in ev...

Chappell Roan took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2025, clocked more than 68 million streams in the first 6 months of 2024 and she's currently touring Australia, headlining Laneway music festival.  Over the last few years, female-made, female-focused pop has been in the middle of a full-blown renaissance and all signs suggest it’s carrying straight through into 2026 - with artis...

At just 19 years old, Sherele Moody’s life was irrevocably changed when she learned her stepfather had murdered a child in the home he shared with her, her siblings and their mother. Since then Sherele has become a pioneer in the domestic violence space - widely known as Femicide Watch on Instagram with over 123k followers, where she tracks every woman and child killed by violence. She went...

Hundreds of new 'Jeffrey Epstein files' were dropped this week, with more damaging allegations about high-profile politicians. The British PM Keir Starmer’s leadership is now under serious threat after his links to former ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Foreign Editor of 7 News, Hugh Whitfeld, who unpacks this week&rs...

Friday Headlines: Deadline looms for Coalition reunion, Penny Wong defends Israeli President’s visit among death threats, Queensland man charged with 596 child abuse offences, child vaccination rates plunge to 30-year low and footy fandom has tangible impact on our stress levels. Deep Dive: The Super Bowl halftime show is set to make history this year, with Bad Bunny becoming the first ...

The findings of the coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack have been handed down, and they paint a devastating picture of a mental health system riddled with gaps. Six people were killed and ten others injured when Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing rampage in April 2024. The Coroner has now recommended the psychiatrist who treated Cauchi be referred to the Queensland Healt...

Thursday Headlines: Future of Coalition in doubt after peace talks fail again, Donald Trump’s would-be assassin handed life sentence, Bill Gates denies ‘false’ allegations in new Epstein files, prominent neo-Nazi has become Australia’s first person to be jailed for performing a nazi salute, Australia’s Winter Olympics flag bearers named, and Draco Malfoy has become an...

Every year, hundreds of young Australians aged 15 to 29 take part in the Burnet Institute’s Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll survey - a look into the behaviours, attitudes, and well-being of our nation’s youth. First launched at the Big Day Out in Melbourne more than a decade ago, the survey covers sexual behaviours and alcohol and other drugs, giving us a rare, long-term look...

Wednesday Headlines: Four major banks pass on interest rate hike, first senior royal publicly comments on latest release of Epstein files, Melbourne man charged over allegedly giving Nazi salute to Jewish schoolchildren, Sydney’s biggest Mardi Gras party cancelled, and Aussie teen hailed a hero after swimming 4km to save family swept out to sea. Deep Dive: AI-generated inanimate objects have...

Former Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi is the latest recruit to join One Nation as support for the party continues to soar. So, will the swing to the hard right One Nation party work in the long-term as disillusioned voters desert the major parties?  In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by ANU Political Expert Dr Jill Shepard to unpack the latest developments and why the m...