The Briefing

The race for the White House is almost over - but how does it all work again? This week, millions of Americans will cast their vote in the country’s election. The result will be historical and is likely to shape democracy for the US and the world.  Before the counting begins, The Briefing brings you the first part of this week’s special US election coverage. Today, Chris Spyrou is joined by Matt B...

Headlines: Kamala Harris’ SNL appearance may have violated TV political rules, Anthony Albanese’s promise to young voters and Sydney hosts the world premiere of Wicked. Deep Dive:  A network of volunteer doctors in Australia are stepping up to provide free medical care for Palestinians who have fled Gaza. From performing surgeries on patients with amputated limbs to treating chronic illness, they...

Craig Foster is a massive overachiever. He was Australia’s 40th Socceroos captain, he’s been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and is a fierce human rights advocate. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Craig reveals why he declined an invitation to meet the King, what his nightmare blunt rotation is and how he chooses what human rights causes to champion. Weekend List TO LISTEN: Coldp...

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other. In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they f...

Headlines: Over 1000 large companies didn’t pay tax in Australia last year, 60 million Americans have already voted, and Russia has fined Google more money than there is in the entire world. Deep Dive: Is it possible that there’s a serial killer wreaking havoc along the NSW coast? That’s the question that’s been raised by Jeremy Buckingham, Legalise Cannabis Party MP and member of NSW legislative...

Do you know what to do if a snake bites you? Snake season is upon us, and Australia is living up to its international reputation for alarming wildlife in unexpected places. An unusually high number of snakes are being spotted in suburban homes in Australia right now – so if you come into contact with one over the coming months, what should you do? And if you’re bitten, what’s the steps you need to...

Headlines: Anthony Albanese says he never called Alan Joyce for flight upgrades, UN Security Council warns Israel against banning UNRWA, and Harris and Biden walk back ‘garbage’ comments. Deep Dive: Are Australia’s mortgage wars back? After a period of corporate coordination, banks have started making moves and competing hard for your money – happy news for mortgage holders, and people hoping to e...

A long-awaited and lengthy report by an inquiry looking into Australia’s COVID response was handed down yesterday. It found that while state and federal governments nailed the early response to the threat of the virus, tough restrictions, poor communication and a lack of consideration of our human rights eroded public confidence and trust. On today’s episode of The Briefing, we’re digging deeper i...

Headlines: Key takeaways from Australia’s first COVID response inquiry, 90% of federal pollies are members of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge and 50 Cent knocked back $3 million USD to perform at Trump's New York rally. Deep Dive: Would you take MDMA to help your mental health?  In this two-part special, The Briefing is taking an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offering MDMA-ass...

Youth crime has been in the spotlight nationally in recent years, with stories of teenage offenders dominating mainstream news bulletins. It’s sparked a groundswell of support for political parties that are promising to be tough on the issue, and it’s worked, with the Liberals having decisive wins in the Northern Territory and Queensland in recent weeks. With promises of locking up kids at younger...

Headlines: The fallout from Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, calls grow for Senate inquiry into Albanese-Joyce relationship, NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed in Russia and a new survey reveals the sexual diversity of Aussie students. Deep Dive:  Today, The Briefing is doing MDMA. In this two-part special, we take an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offe...

Moving mountains isn’t meant to be an easy feat. But did you know that mountains can, and are currently, getting taller? It's true – and researchers have found Mount Everest is one mountain which makes that list. The mountain has risen an extra 15 to 50 meters over the last 89,000 years. This works out to be around 2 millimeters per year – which might not sound like much. But what impact could thi...

Headlines: David Crisafulli claims victory for LNP in Queensland, Anthony Albanese defends Qantas upgrades, US politics wrap and American Airlines are trialling new tech to bust line cutters at airport gates.  Deep Dive: Since Israel’s assault on Lebanon has escalated, schoolteacher Nahed Mawassi and her daughter Zainab have been anxiously clinging to hope for their family’s safety, while enduring...

Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott first meet as grid girls and connected immediately, but little did they know their friendship would turn into one of the most popular podcasts in Australia.   The duo is behind the podcast Happy Hour , where they chat about everything from relationships, to sex, running a fashion brand and being a woman in your 30s.   Lucy and Nikki have described their friendship t...

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other. In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they f...

Headlines: Australia in spat with China over racism and climate change, BRICS leaders call for ceasefire, Revelations about Rudd and Gillard deal in new political memoir, and what are the top Halloween costumes for 2024 according to Google? Deep Dive: Israel claims the number of people killed in Gaza – the steadily rising and horrific number we hear on the news just about every day – is inflated....

Senator Lidia Thorpe made international headlines when she shouted at King Charles, rejecting the monarch’s sovereignty and accusing him of genocide, in Parliament House this week. The Gurnai Gunditjmara and Djab-Wurrung woman has since claimed she did not really swear allegiance to the late Queen Elizabeth’s heirs, as in King Charles, but to the Queens’ “hairs”. Senator Thorpe has rejected calls...

Headlines: Lidia Thorpe says she didn’t swear allegiance to the King, terrorist attack in Turkey leaves four dead, Xi and Modi hold first formal talks in five years, Coles and Woolies deny tricking customers with dodgy sales, and the sun has hit peak solar energy! Deep dive: International intelligence last week revealed North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 30,000 of its own troops to Russia, to...

Sometimes, what happens in one part of Australia says lot about the direction of the country as a whole. Right now, that’s exactly what seems to be happening in Queensland, as the state’s voters head to the polls this weekend. Will the state be the latest in a swing towards more conservative politics in Australia? Archie Milligan is a LiSTNR journalist based in Queensland. He joins Bension Siebert...

Headlines: Royals wrap up Australian tour, over 20 world leaders meet with Putin at BRICS summit, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested on sex trafficking charges, the Murray River named in a global top travel list, and a Cockatoo has been rescued from a Sydney Coles after a month trapped inside. Deep dive: Few crimes in Australia in recent years have been as shocking as the murder of Bruce...

America is heading to the polls on Wednesday, November 6, to decide between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the presidency. With polls showing a razor-thin race, it raises a critical question: can we trust them?   In 2016, polling failed to predict Trump’s stunning victory. Have things changed? Are polls more accurate now, or should we be sceptical? In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Sieb...

Headlines: Lydia Thorpe and the royals, Meta and Google could face ‘big tech tax’ under Labor plan, Moldova narrowly votes in favour of joining the EU and an Italian surfer has been killed by a swordfish in a freak accident. Deep dive:  Another week, another story of misogynistic behaviour in sport.  Last week 13 Greater Western Sydney (GWS) players were slapped with sanctions, following their dec...

How long you might have to wait for a bathroom in public spaces looks set to change in Australia. The Australian Building Code Board wants businesses to provide 1.8 times the toilets for women than they provide for men to help shorten the queue. But why is the line for women’s bathroom almost always longer than the line for men’s? And what is some of the thinking behind changing how many are avail...

Headlines: King Charles and Queen Camilla kick off royal tour, As many as 87 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza, ACT election, Elon Musk giving away $1 million US to Trump supporter everyday until the election and an airport in New Zealand has introduced a time limit on hugs. Deep Dive: How much should you be paying for a bottle of milk? More than a decade on, there are...

Sharon Johal is playing the first turban wearing Sikh character in Binge’s award-winning TV drama The Twelve. As an Indian-Australian woman in entertainment she’s constantly paved paths that had previously been closed off - and her journey hasn’t always been easy. On this episode of The Weekend Briefing, she joins Antoinette Lattouf to talk about her latest project, the impact on her career since...