The Briefing

Two of Australia’s richest people – Gina Rinehart and Anthony Pratt - were on the invites list to Donald Trump’s inauguration, as he was sworn in as US President for the second time today. It was the latest example of Trump collecting some billionaires from around the world to be part of the new president’s inner circle. So what does this mean for Australia? Could these rel...

Headlines: Donald Trump returns to the White House, new polling shows Aussies are more optimistic in 2025 and Alex de Minaur is through to the AO quarter-finals! Deep dive: We have a lot to be thankful to Australia’s trade unions for; the five-day work week, annual leave entitlements and protections against unfair. Since the 1800s, the movement has been working hard to protect workers’...

Novak Djokovic has made global headlines for opting out of a customary on-court interview following comments made by broadcaster Tony Jones, who chanted “Novak, he’s overrated... Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.”  Djokovic said Jones’ comments “made a mockery of Serbian fans” and that they were “insulting and offensive” with member...

Headlines: First hostages freed in Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal Peter Dutton promises tax-free lunches for small businesses TikTok back online for American users after Trump promises to save it Djokovic skips post-match AO interview awaiting apology from Nine Deep Dive: Who decides what beer is served on tap at your local bar, pub or club?   It might not be obvious from all the brands and style...

Kris Fade was told he wasn’t made for radio - now he’s one of the biggest media personalities in Dubai. The Lebanese-Australian presenter has become a household name in the Middle East and is gaining fans around the world after appearing in drama-packed reality show Dubai Bling. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Kris reveals why he’s stepping back in season three, how fame ha...

Gen Z has been dubbed the most 'unserious generation' - but is it true? Viral social media posts of young creators dancing in front of LA's fires and storm damage in Sydney have prompted the theory that the generation can't seem to take anything - CEO's being shot, natural disasters, a cost of living crisis - seriously. But what's behind the behaviour, and is it a fair generalisation? In this epis...

Headlines: Israel stalls on signing Gaza ceasefire deal, Trump could save TikTok, the AO has a new villain and new study shows older siblings and girls are their parent's favourites. Helen Smith's deep dive on TikTok is available now on  Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Deep Dive:  When you think of hot days, you might think of iced drinks, flicking on the AC or rushing to your nearest beach....

After 15 months of violence and bloodshed, a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has finally been reached. While there have been celebrations in the streets of both Gaza and Tel Aviv, the road to peace in the region will be long and is far from guaranteed. So, what happens now an initial deal has been struck and what hurdles stand in the way of a permanent end to the war? Professor Greg Barton...

Headlines: Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire deal, Bill Shorten to leave politics nine days early, Coles to ban the sale of knives after staff stabbed and Vukic and de Minaur through to round three of the AO, Kokkinakis and Tomljanović crash out. Deep Dive: Casinos are usually synonymous with high rollers and high stakes. But running a business of the size and scale of a casino comes with big risks...

The end is nigh for TikTok, which is set to be banned in the US on the 19th of January.  After US congress passed the laws that would effectively ban the app last year – unless someone buys it from its China-based parent company, ByteDance – American’s reacting with dismay and humour – with some users already jumping ship to a new Chinese social media platform ‘R...

Headlines: Australian man captured while fighting in Ukraine reportedly killed, Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal ‘on the brink,' Donald Trump would have been convicted in election case if he didn’t win, Sam Kerr appears in court over alleged racial harassment charge, Princess Kate says she’s in remission, Aus Open update. Deep Dive:  Are we ready to ‘build Australia&rsq...

Donald Trump spent the past week threatening to buy Greenland, annex Canada, re-name the Gulf of Mexico and take over the Panama Canal, potentially by force. Trump returns to the Oval Office as US President for the second time next week, and he talks a big game about expanding US territory - but are these empty threats, or could he actually do it? On this episode of the Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gat...

Headlines: Kyrgios hints at retirement, Federal MP calls for mandatory sentences for antisemitic vandals,  JD Vance walks back Trump’s promise to pardon Jan 6 rioters and Climate activists vandalise Charles Darwin’s grave. Deep Dive: How do you know if you’re really buying an organic product? Insiders have accused producers of falsely labelling products, prompting a new bill...

At least 24 people have been killed and more than 10,000 properties destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires.  Australia’s bushfire season puts the country on edge every year – especially across our regions - but could major cities here also be at risk?  In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to Craig Lapsley, Victoria’s former Fire Services Commissioner,...

Headlines: LA fires still not contained, Penny Wong and Kevin Rudd invited to Trump’s Inauguration, Peter Dutton launches election campaign and Australian Open kicks off.  Deep Dive: Should artificial intelligence be deciding who gets to be born? A group of Australian researchers is asking that question, amid revelations the technology is being used in fertility clinics in Australia. Ho...

Eddie Dilleen went from living on welfare with his mum to building a $90 million property portfolio, and he’s still in his 30s. He bought his first home when he was just 18 after from working at McDonalds and now he owns over 100 properties across Australia. So how did he do it? In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Eddie explains why he thinks young people aren’t priced out of the mar...

We love a debate down under, and every summer for the last few years, Aussies have been going head-to-head over one topic: CoolCabanas. The humble beach tent has been spotted on sands across the country since 2015, but it’s now sparked a furious debate about Australian beach etiquette. So, while it’s all just a bit of fun, it begs the question: why did something that’s designed t...

Headlines: The latest on the LA fires, new data shows Aussies wages up, Birkenstock sues copycats, and Bluey Lego will hit shelves by the end of this year! Deep dive: The new year often comes with a range of emotions - you might be feeling relaxed and revitalised or you might be feeling a little anxious and overwhelmed at the year that lies ahead.   But how can we balance the bad with genuine...

Five people have been killed and more than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to rage. More than 1000 buildings, including many on Sunset Boulevard, and the homes of celebrities, have been destroyed by the out-of-control fires. The wildfires in the middle of winter have shocked residents and prompted warnings amid the escalating climate crisis that ther...

Headlines: Rescued hiker in NSW survived a fortnight on berries and two muesli bars, wildfires have forced thousands to flee in Los Angeles, the pilot in Rottnest Island plane crash identified, and Brisbane (somehow) ranks worst city in Australia for traffic. Deep Dive: As artificial intelligence gets exponentially better at just about everything, it’s making people in all kinds of professio...

Facebook, and its parent company Meta, is saying goodbye to fact-checkers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an announcement posted to social media that fact checkers had become “too politically biased”, and have "destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the US". Meta will also change its algorithms to recommend more political content on its platforms.  Does the mov...

Headlines: Meta scraps independent fact-checkers, Aussie house prices dip, three missing after Rottnest Island plane crash and Donald Trump Junior arrives in Greenland amidst talk his dad wants to buy the country. Deep Dive: A new year often brings reflection, and for many, that means rethinking their job. Does it make you happy? Pay enough? Offer the growth you’re looking for? But changing...

A recent scroll of your social media feed might have made you feel like you were back in 2020. Footage of overwhelmed hospital emergency rooms in China have been doing the rounds online, with claims that a new and mysterious virus is sweeping the country and making people unwell. So, can we trust these reports? What is actually causing people to get sick in China right now? And are we at risk of i...

Headlines: Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau announces resignation, man faces court in Fiji over alleged rape of Virgin Airlines crew member, Donald Trump’s election win to be certified by Kamala Harris today, and the Aussies have been snubbed at the Golden Globes. Deep Dive: For a lot of us, consuming news in 2024 could have been best described by one word – fatigue.  Exhaustion f...

The Bop House is a multimillion-dollar mansion full of female OnlyFans creators living together and making viral online content. They claim to have made US$10 million just last month.  Content creator houses full of influencers are nothing new - we’ve had the Hype House on TikTok and Team 10 on YouTube - but The Bop House has the internet divided.   In this episode of The Briefing...