Newstalk Daily

A new Michael Jackson biopic has become the highest-grossing biopic of all time. 

 Fans are filling cinemas, his music is back at the top of charts, and younger audiences are discovering him again. 

 But critics have panned the film, calling it sanitised and accusing it of avoiding the allegations that have long surrounded Jackson’s legacy. 

 So why is it still such a huge hit? 

Ciara is joined by broadcaster Sarina Bellissimo and Professor Ellis Cashmore, author of the book The Destruction and Creation of Michael Jackson

The fallout from Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction is now spreading beyond the courtroom. 

 The former DUP leader has been found guilty of serious sexual offences against children. 

 Questions are being asked as to who knew what and when? 

 The DUP has announced an independent review, Edwin Poots says he has nothing to answer for, and others are asking whether warnings, concerns or rumours were ignored. 

Ciara is joined by Allison Morris, Crime Correspondent and columnist with the Belfast Telegraph.

Ireland takes over the EU presidency today. 

 For the next six months, Irish ministers and diplomats will help steer the Council of the European Union. 

 But this is not a quiet moment to take the chair, and the role itself might not be clear to a lot of us. 

 So what does it really mean for Ireland? 

Ciara is joined by Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief with Bloomberg News

Six months ago, Australia brought in the world’s first social media ban.

 It focused on people under-sixteen, and was a real test to see how an outright ban could work, in a similar way to alcohol and cigarettes. 

 But here we are six months later with the Australian government saying it is about to double the fines.

 So, has this ban been a failure? 

Ciara is joined by Newstalk's Jess Kelly & Clare O’Donoghue Velikić, Founder and Director of ODV Digital.

On a sweltering June day last year, The Dublin-based French Mancel family left their apartment in Leopardstown in south Dublin, headed to Dublin Airport.  

They flew to Reykjavik and checked into the luxury Edition hotel for what seemed like a holiday for Emeric Mancel, his wife Ming Ting and their daughter, Catherine. 

However, on the day they were due to fly home, Emeric and Catherine were found dead in the hotel.  

What happened? 

Ciara is joined by Karen McHugh, a freelance journalist based in Reykjavik

Dublin’s Pride celebrations have been well underway since the start of the month.  

 But as the Pride parade is set to take the streets on Saturday, it may be an opportunity to remember what Pride is really about and who Pride continues to exist for.  

Ciara is joined by Dr. Paraic Kerrigan, Assistant Professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin and author of ‘Reeling in The Queers: Tales of Ireland’s LGBTQ past’

On December 14, 2025, the world watched in horror as the worst terrorist attack in Australian history was carried out on its most famous beach.  

 A local man, later identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed confronted the attackers and managed to disarm one of them. 

 Mr. Al Ahmed was shot repeatedly during the attack and continues to recover from his wounds.  

 His commendable bravery was lauded by the highest levels of government with PM Anthony Albanese calling him "the best of our country." 

 However, a few months later, he started to fall out of the public’s good graces. Why? 

Ciara is joined by Journalist Jonathan De Burca Butler

New research from Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology has found a significant year-on-year increase in restorative justice referrals and victim participation in Ireland. 

The process allows those harmed by a crime and those responsible for that crime to communicate in a safe way. 

Janet O’Brien’s eldest son Luke was killed in a one-punch assault in Tallaght in 2017 on Halloween night.  

Ms. O’Brien met the perpetrator and has since been advocating for restorative justice to inmates in Irish prisons.  

Ciara is joined by Janet O'Brien.

The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of raping a woman while she was a primary school child.    

Mr Donaldson was also convicted on four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child and 13 counts of indecent assault on a female in relation to crimes that were committed between 1985 and 2008. 

His wife Eleanor was facing a trial of the facts, meaning she could not be found guilty. But in five charges, including four related to aiding and abetting, the jury found she had done the acts.

The verdict marks one of the most incredible political downfalls ever seen on this island.  

Ciara is joined by Newstalk reporter Jamie O Hara and Suzanne Breen, Political editor at the Belfast Telegraph.

Former British Health secretary Andy Burnham made headlines last week with his resounding win in the Makerfield byelection.  

Having swept aside the challenge of Nigel Farage’s Reform party candidate some are already speculating that Manchester’s outgoing Mayor might have views on Downing Street... 

So who will be the next British PM? Starmer, Farage or Burnham? 

Ciara is joined by Mark Paul, London Correspondent for the Irish Times and Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times.