Wednesday Headlines: New apps soar in popularity ahead of social media ban, internal Liberal Party review blames Trump for election defeat, coroner hears of pilot’s breakdown before deadly SeaWorld chopper crash, flagship gambling reform has done little to deter addicts, and the Matildas have ended their playing year on a high, beating New Zealand 2-0.

Deep Dive: The 2025 TikTok Awards made headlines last week for their celebrity guests, record-breaking votes and history-making Creator of the Year - but another story quickly took over online. 

Black creators publicly alleged they were blocked from the red carpet while white creators walked through freely, prompting accusations of racism and a response from TikTok Australia that many say fell short. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with independent journalist and Back Cover Media founder Mibenge Nsenduluka about what unfolded, why it escalated so quickly online, and how events like this can be handled better in the future. 

You can read TikTok Australia’s statement here. 

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