The Briefing

It was almost 12 months in the making, but finally Anthony Albanese has met with Donald Trump for their long-awaited sit down. While there was a little distraction with US Ambassador Kevin Rudd, most experts say the meeting was a major success and the US Australia alliance is firmly back on track.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by International Affairs expert Bec Strating who unpacks the key takeaways and why this is the good news story Australia needs.  Headlines: China has hit back at Australia claiming it illegally entering its airspace, major arrests in a nationwide crackdown on illegal weapons, and Amazon Web Services has returned to normal after a massive internet outage.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines: Albanese and Trump sign critical minerals deal worth billions, Amazon struggling to fix an outage that’s affected millions of users, authorities working to trace source of rat poisonings in Queensland, Victoria’s set to ban masks and chains at protests, and the AFL’s warning to Bailey Smith over controversial social media posts.  Deep Dive: Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says he wants out of The Nationals and could soon be teaming up with Pauline Hanson.   So what’s driving the move, and could it signal a bigger shift on Australia’s political right?  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Dr Jill Sheppard from the Australian National University about the tensions inside the Coalition, the rise of One Nation, and what this all means for the future of the political right in Australia.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster like Oceans 11. Robbers breaking into the Louvre Museum in Paris and stealing priceless Royal jewels. Well, overnight, that happened in real life with experts investigating how these thieves carried out the daring heist in just four minutes.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Art crime expert Judge Arthur Tomkins, to explain why he believes it could have been an inside job and why so many art galleries and museums around the world have serious gaps in their security systems.  Headlines: Two people have been killed after a plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport, another major test for Gaza’s fragile ceasefire after Israeli forces launched a wave of deadly airstrikes, and British police are investigating allegations that Prince Andrew asked an officer to dig up damaging information on Virginia Giuffre.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines: Albo en route to Washington for face-to-face meeting with Trump, thousands attended March for Australia and counter protests over the weekend, hunt continues for thieves after seven-minute Louvre heist, witnesses of Melbourne rollercoaster accident file lawsuit and crocodile discovered in luxury Queensland resort pool.  Deep Dive: When someone like Kamala Harris or Hillary Clinton flies to Australia to give a speech, it looks like a polished, one-night event - but behind the scenes lies a multimillion-dollar industry where politics, celebrity, and big business collide.  So how much are these names really making, who’s footing the bill, and why are so many of the world’s biggest names choosing to cash in down under?  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with award-winning media professional and international keynote speaker Jaimie Abbott about the lucrative world of event speaking and what it says about power, influence, and opportunity.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go undercover and expose a booming, yet highly secretive global market?   In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we revisit LiSTNR investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco’s story, now nominated for a Walkley Award, as she travels to Colombia to uncover the dark side of international surrogacy.  Listen to Claudianna on Secrets We Keep: By Any Means.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cam Wilson has spent years deep in the corners of the internet most of us would rather avoid. As an investigative reporter covering technology and extremism, he’s seen firsthand how conspiracy theories spread and the real-world damage they can cause. In his new book, Conspiracy Nation, Cam unpacks how these ideas take hold, drawing on insights from psychologists, church leaders, journalists and the families of those pulled down the rabbit hole. Speaking with Antoinette Lattouf, Cam reveals what it’s like to step inside a world where reality has fundamentally shifted, and shares whether investigating conspiracy culture has changed the way he thinks. Weekend list with Chris Spyrou TO READ: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi TO WATCH: Gloria Estefan’s Tiny Desk Concert TO MAKE: Lebanese spicy potato recipe TO WATCH: Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She is one of Australia’s most loved and successful TV stars, but MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin was keeping a dark secret. This Mental Health Month, Julie is sharing her own personal struggles with depression, how two strangers saved her life and how she turned her life around.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Julie Goodwin with her important advice about mental health and the warning signs we all need to look out for.   This episode contains descriptions of suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Trump says he had ‘good and productive’ call with Putin, alleged offender of Melbourne daylight stabbing out on bail at the time, Indigenous leaders meet with King Charles to mark 40th anniversary of Uluru handover, Containers for Change has been accused of corruption, and the Aussie brands going viral overseas have been revealed.  Deep Dive: Gold fever is back and it’s not just investors cashing in.  With prices up more than 50% in the past year and hitting $6,400 an ounce, Australians are lining up at dealers and heading to old mining towns with pans in hand – hoping to strike it rich.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Jhob Drinkwater from Jhob’s Gold Panning Tours about what’s fuelling this modern-day rush, who’s showing up and whether there’s still gold in the ground.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sex and the City defined a generation - its fashion, friendships, and frank talk about love, sex, and ambition changed pop culture forever. But while Carrie and Samantha were inseparable on-screen, behind the scenes the dynamic between their real-life counterparts was anything but friendly. For years, rumours swirled about tension between the show's stars, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Then in 2017, Kim publicly broke her silence - confirming what fans had long suspected. There was officially beef between the pair. But what was it really about? And who was to blame? In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell unpacks how a show built on friendship became one of television’s most infamous fallouts - and whether peace between Carrie and Samantha will ever truly be possible. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest concerning escalation of the attack on freedom of speech in the US, a number of top journalists have been kicked out of the Pentagon. The correspondents from the major networks walked, after refusing to sign a new policy that restricted their reporting on information without government approval.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by International and Security Affairs expert Allan Behm, who explains why we all should be concerned about the growing lack of government accountability and the escalating attacks on democracy and freedom of speech.  Headlines: A member of the Australian Defence Force has died, new unemployment data has been released today, and new excerpts from Virginia Guiffre's tell-all memoir have been published.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.