The Briefing

Dr Nicola Powell, Head of Research and Economics at Domain, gives a concise data-led view of Australia’s housing squeeze. She discusses surging entry-level prices, longer deposit timelines and rising mortgage stress. She explains growing reliance on family support, debates supply-side fixes like density and stamp duty reform, and reviews policy tools aimed at easing access to the property ladder.

Suzanne Milthorpe, a World Animal Protection Australia representative and wildlife welfare campaigner, discusses a new report on SeaWorld’s polar bear and dolphin breeding programs. She covers research on lifelong captivity harms. She outlines global tourism shifts away from captive shows and calls for a Queensland breeding ban. She also shares public sentiment and wildlife-friendly travel tips.

Gary Stevenson, inequality economist and former Citibank trader turned YouTuber, shares his unusual path from East London to top trader and public commentator. He talks about how wealth really works, why inherited assets beat secret skill, the power of bond markets over governments, and why a wealth tax could reshape politics and living standards.

Professor Haiqing Yu, an RMIT academic in media and Chinese transnational politics, explains Shen Yun and its ties to Falun Gong. He outlines Shen Yun’s New York roots and hybrid cultural-political role. He discusses why Falun Gong was banned in China and how the state frames it. He places recent incidents in a wider US–China geopolitical context and flags future cultural flashpoints.

Daniel Bull, Australian mountaineer and Everest summiteer, gives a compact take on high-altitude climbing safety. He describes the death zone above 8,000m and the physiological risks climbers face. He discusses Nepal’s new rules to curb inexperienced climbers and the strain on Sherpas. He also explains why some people should opt for base camp rather than chasing the summit.

Andrew Lownie, biographer and royal historian known for unauthorised books on the monarchy, reacts to fresh revelations tied to the Epstein files. He outlines a vast network involving sexual exploitation, financial networks and national security concerns. He suggests deeper cover-ups, questions intelligence involvement and raises safety and legal fallout as more names and evidence may surface.

Angelica Duran-Martinez, an associate professor who studies criminal groups in Latin America. She discusses El Mencho and the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Short takes on how kingpin removal affects the drug trade. Analysis of cartel violence, retaliation tactics and links to local politics. Discussion of risks for Mexico ahead of the World Cup.

Corey Alpert, US political analyst and former Democrat campaign staffer, breaks down Trump’s record-long State of the Union. He dissects the “we’re winning” narrative. He explains the Supreme Court ruling limiting tariff powers. He weighs diplomacy versus military posturing toward Iran. He examines the use of medals and pageantry to appeal to patriotism.

Wednesday Headlines: PM evacuated from The Lodge for hours over bomb scare, more than half of Aussies say they’d consider voting for One Nation, more flu deaths recorded in 2025 than any other year this century, Guthrie family offers $1 million USD reward for info in mother’s disappearance and there are calls for Aussie kids to be banned from e-bikes and scooters. Deep DIve: For decades the Australian government has tried, but failed, to meaningfully crack down on Hizb ut-Tahrir.    The Islamist group was founded in Jerusalem in 1953, has been in Australia since the early 1990s and is on track to become the first group banned under the Federal Government’s new hate laws.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with counter-terrorism expert Josh Roose about what Hizb ut-Tahrir believes, how it recruits and operates in Australia and whether banning it will disrupt extremism, or simply push it further underground.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victorian Premier has announced she will refer serious allegations about surgical misconduct with endometriosis patients by leading gynecologist Dr Simon Gordon to police.   It follows a damning investigation by Four Corners on the ABC, which alleges that countless women had been misdiagnosed and had undergone unnecessary, expensive surgery. In a statement to Four Corners, Simon Gordon said, “across my entire career, I never performed surgery to treat endometriosis, or any other condition, unless I was absolutely convinced it was in the patient's best interests and to improve their overall quality of life,” and that throughout his career, he’d always “acted ethically and responsibly."  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Jodie Avery, a lead researcher in Chronic Reproductive Health Conditions, who unpacks what should happen when pelvic pain is investigated, why invasive surgery is no longer the first-line diagnostic tool, and what the latest evidence says about imaging, medical management and multidisciplinary care. She explains the current guidelines, the risks of repeated surgeries, and why women should never feel pressured into procedures without exploring alternatives. Disclaimer: This interview is for general information only; it does not constitute medical advice.  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists diagnosis guidelines state patients with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis should be offered a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound as the first-line investigation. A pelvic MRI can be offered if ultrasound is not available, or if deep endometriosis is suspected. If transvaginal ultrasound is not possible or not appropriate, and MRI is not available, a transabdominal ultrasound could be suggested. Surgery is not required as a first-line option to diagnose endometriosis.  Headlines: Human remains have been found in the search for missing grandfather Chris Bahgsarian, Lord Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and the theme for this year's Met Gala has been revealed.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.