The Briefing

Did the TV show Succession predict it? The Murdoch's have fired Tucker Carlson and retreated from two giant legal fights with Dominion & Crikey. In this episode we speak with Paddy Manning, author of The Successor on just how rotten things are in the state of Fox News.   Headlines: Tucker Carlson speaks out after Fox sacking US talkshow icon Jerry Springer dies at 79 Credit cards to be banned...

Two Australian states have experienced a huge increase in the number of license suspensions. It’s a result of AI detection software that is now being rolled out across the country. We speak with Listnr's investigative journalist Joey Watson on whether this is just good policy? Or is there more at play?    Headlines: Annual inflation rate falls to 7% A new migration strategy to be outlined Zelensky...

The luxury goods industry is worth $5.3 billion, but it turns out despite the cost of living crisis, young people are driving demand with a third of luxury items purchased by Australians under the age of 30. We speak with IBISWorld report author Kayla Wheeler, and fashion lecturer Alison Izzo about the new obsession with quiet luxury among young people.   Headlines: - Biden announces re-election b...

With Australia’s megachurch in turmoil, Tom Tilley has been working on an documentary investigation that reveals how far the problems go back and the real reasons its founder Brian Houston lost control of his church. In this extended interview with Katrina Blowers, Tom explains how the investigation began and what he learned along the way. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast  Faceb...

A long-awaited review into the RBA has been handed down, with the government supporting the 51 recommendations in principle. Among them, the board that sets interest rates will be split off from the people who govern the overall running of the bank. We speak with Jonathan Kearns who spent three decades at the RBA and was one of the people consulted by the review panel.     Headlines: - Tributes po...

Jess Hill is an investigative journalist who has dedicated the last six years of her life to exploring, explaining and making sense of family violence, domestic abuse and sexual assault. This week she returns to SBS television with a documentary series called Asking For It featuring Grace Tame, Saxon Mullins and other survivors and experts who candidly share their experiences. In this chat with Ja...

We take six well known cosmetics to an independent laboratory for testing. The results show that two of the brands contain PFAS, which are dangerous synthetic ‘forever chemicals.’   Find out which brands and how they respond to the results in this special report from Clair Weaver, Investigations Editor at Listnr.  Complaints about PFAS in cosmetics should go to the ACCC ( Problem with a product or...

It’s been one year since Sydney artist Scott Marsh caused a storm on social media after posting controversial comments about vaccines. The Aussie artist is here to tell us about his experience of having pericarditis after getting the vaccine and how the fallout from that post affected his life. We’re also speaking to infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin for the facts on vaccine injury.   Headli...

An Australian-first study has been launched looking at the online hate directed at female athletes. At the Tokyo games, 87% of online abuse towards athletes was directed at females. Female athletes say it's not an option to not use social media, because they are paid less and rely on it for income. So, what is it like being on the receiving end of daily online abuse? We talk with Olympic swimmer C...

The controversial Bold Glamour filter on TikTok has now been used almost 40 million times. The AI filter gives users the perfect bone structure, full lips and flawless skin. It’s so realistic in fact, that some users say it should come with a warning as it’s setting unrealistic expectations of how we should look. On this episode of the Briefing we speak to cosmetic surgery consultant Dr Rand Youne...

In 2007, due to road fatalities among young drivers, the learner period more than doubled from 50 hours to 120 hours in NSW and Victoria, but new research suggests these changes have done nothing to change road tolls. For almost 25 years, teenagers in New South Wales have been logging their driving hours, but with little evidence on the benefits, until now. So should they be scrapped and what is n...

Kate Jenkins has changed Australian workplaces forever during her seven-year term as Sex Discrimination Commissioner. During her time in the role Kate delivered the landmark Respect@Work report, which made a series of recommendations that laws be changed around workplace sexual harassment.  In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Kate reflects the last seven years in the role as she reaches to the final w...

The LNP is divided on the First Nations Voice. The shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser has stepped down from the Shadow Cabinet over the issue, while Tasmania’s Bridget Archer has also made it clear she supports the Voice.  In this episode of The Briefing we speak with Jacqui Munro – member for the NSW legislative council, a Liberal who is for the Voice about how she came to that position, what...

From disrupting local council meetings, to denying the Holocaust - there’s a new movement of conspiracy theorists called My Place, who are taking some of the most dangerous beliefs on the internet and confronting councils around Australia. In this episode, we speak to ABC journalist, Emily Baker, about her recent interview with the group’s leader.   Headlines: - Prince Harry to attend coronation ...

Leadership author, columnist and company director Kirstin Ferguson says ”I truly believe we are all leaders; whether we lead our families, our business or our country.” In her new book, Head and Heart, she argues despite history handing privileged men more formal leadership positions, all of us – from a checkout operator at Woolies to the Prime Minister of a country – can effectively step up to th...

The latest World Obesity Federation Report found 51 per cent of the world, or more than 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight within the next 12 years, with rates rising fastest among children. In today’s Briefing, we explore what it means for the next generations of Australians; what the contributing factors are; and why crash dieting is one of the worst ways to tackle the crisis.   Headl...

Mid-last year, figures showed Tinder subscriptions dropped, and it was largely attributed to Gen Z making a switch. More recently, Bumble has taken a tumble late last year, and it was largely Gen Z users who were not renewing their subscriptions. We talk to Lisa Portolan is a dating expert about whether people are turning away from dating apps altogether or moving towards more niche ones?    Follo...

Kath Koschel is a former Australian Cricket player and founder of The Kindness Factory who has lived the highest of highs and lowest of lows, to a degree you’d never expect of someone who hasn’t yet reached her 40s. On track for a sensational cricketing career, debuting for NSW in 2011, Kath’s dream was abruptly cut short. In the space of five years she would break her back twice, and in that same...

Have you ever thought about where the chocolate in your Easter egg comes from and how it is made? In this episode, we speak to John Dumay, research lead on the chocolate scorecard which rates the ethics and sustainability of some of the world’s biggest chocolate brands.     Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast  Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/l...

Pop star Lewis Capaldi has announced he may have to quit his music career as the stress of making a second album has made his tourettes worse. The Scottish star is the latest to speak publicly about the condition, Billie Eilish has also opened up about her diagnosis. In this episode, we’re looking into what it’s like living with the condition and how it impacts daily life. Headlines: - Dutton conf...

AI technology jumped onto most people’s radar last year with the launch of Chat GPT. Now, one of the biggest tech leaders, Elon Musk, has signed a letter calling for a pause on the GPT technology. So, what are Elon Musk and the other high-profile signatories to this letter worried about? In this episode we explore what GPT actually is and find out if it’s realistic to pause it.    Headlines: - Tru...

Malcolm Turnbull originally rejected the idea of a Voice to parliament in 2017, but he's now come around. In this episode, we find out if the former Prime Minister takes responsibility for setting The Voice back and why he supports it now.  Malcolm Turnbull's brand new podcast is Defending Democracy and dives deep into his thoughts on the state of the world and our political system. Headlines: - T...

Malcolm Turnbull was Australia's 29th Prime Minister, holding office from 2015 - 2018. His brand new podcast Defending Democracy dives deep into his thoughts on the state of the world and our political system and asks the question - are we witnessing the decline of western/liberal democracy?  Headlines: - Liberals smashed in Aston by-election  - VIC: Daniel Andrews breaks silence over China trip ...

Susanne Legena is the CEO of child rights organisation Plan International Australia, a passionate feminist, and champion of young people.   In 2014, after spending a 15 year career working in corporate and government communications, Susanne decided to make a big career change. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi Susanne talks about how she became CEO of Plan and how her own story of fertility struggles...

The Victorian government is moving to ban the Nazi salute after neo-Nazis made the gesture on the steps of parliament. The issue has also spilled into federal parliament: Attorney General Mark Dreyfus tried to make a point the LNP had not called out the behaviour, but opposition leader Peter Dutton called his bluff saying he would support a federal ban of Nazi symbolism.  In this episode, we find...