Two of Australia’s richest people – Gina Rinehart and Anthony Pratt - were on the invites list to Donald Trump’s inauguration, as he was sworn in as US President for the second time today.

It was the latest example of Trump collecting some billionaires from around the world to be part of the new president’s inner circle. So what does this mean for Australia? Could these relationships help us avoid tariffs Trump is threatening? Could it help our economy? Or will this just be a group of very rich people hoping to make each other richer?

On this episode of the Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Guardian Australia journalist Ben Doherty about how close Trump has become with this country’s richest people, and what these relationships could mean for us. 

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Headlines: Donald Trump returns to the White House, new polling shows Aussies are more optimistic in 2025 and Alex de Minaur is through to the AO quarter-finals!

Deep dive: We have a lot to be thankful to Australia’s trade unions for; the five-day work week, annual leave entitlements and protections against unfair. Since the 1800s, the movement has been working hard to protect workers’ rights in this country and ensure those benefits are there for future generations once they get into the workforce.

But as time has progressed, and the number of unions has grown, many have become fixated on achieving monster pay rises for specific groups, all while carrying out hugely disruptive industrial action.

So, as Sydneysiders reel from days of mayhem on the rail network and questions are asked across the country about underworld criminal links to the CFMEU, we ask: is the Australian public being held hostage by unions and their demands? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with pro-unionist Wilhelmina Stracke to find out.

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Novak Djokovic has made global headlines for opting out of a customary on-court interview following comments made by broadcaster Tony Jones, who chanted “Novak, he’s overrated... Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.” 

Djokovic said Jones’ comments “made a mockery of Serbian fans” and that they were “insulting and offensive” with members of the Serbian community calling them racist.  

In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Dr Nina Marković, board member of the Serbian council of Australia and political academic, to explain why the community has put in a complaint with the Australian Human Rights commission.  

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Headlines:

• First hostages freed in Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal
• Peter Dutton promises tax-free lunches for small businesses
• TikTok back online for American users after Trump promises to save it
• Djokovic skips post-match AO interview awaiting apology from Nine

Deep Dive: Who decides what beer is served on tap at your local bar, pub or club?  

It might not be obvious from all the brands and styles of beer on offer, but something like 80% of the beer we drink in Australia is owned by two Japanese megacompanies Lion and Asahi - both of which have spent millions of dollars buying up craft breweries in Australia. 

And if you're a pub owner in need of renovations, or a new tap system, or you’re opening up a new venue, there's a good chance you'll be hearing from one of these companies, calling to make an offer that’s hard to refuse.

Mazen Hajjar is CEO of Hawkers Beer, one of the largest independent producers in Victoria. He argues there’s a market duopoly at play, and it’s strangling what might otherwise be a thriving craft beer industry in Australia. He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explain why. 

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Kris Fade was told he wasn’t made for radio - now he’s one of the biggest media personalities in Dubai.

The Lebanese-Australian presenter has become a household name in the Middle East and is gaining fans around the world after appearing in drama-packed reality show Dubai Bling.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Kris reveals why he’s stepping back in season three, how fame has changed his life from his beginnings in Sydney, and what it takes to be on the show.

Weekend List

• TO WATCH: Kunk on Earth on Netflix
• TO DO: Sauna and cold shower on the cheap
• TO DO: IKEA Breakfast

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Gen Z has been dubbed the most 'unserious generation' - but is it true?

Viral social media posts of young creators dancing in front of LA's fires and storm damage in Sydney have prompted the theory that the generation can't seem to take anything - CEO's being shot, natural disasters, a cost of living crisis - seriously. But what's behind the behaviour, and is it a fair generalisation?

In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt, is joined by Gen Z representatives Chris Spyrou and Helen Smith to discuss if and why Gen Z is so unserious.

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Headlines: Israel stalls on signing Gaza ceasefire deal, Trump could save TikTok, the AO has a new villain and new study shows older siblings and girls are their parent's favourites.

Helen Smith's deep dive on TikTok is available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Deep Dive: When you think of hot days, you might think of iced drinks, flicking on the AC or rushing to your nearest beach. But, what about more crime?

Science says the two are connected, with one Australian study suggesting by the end of the century – we'll experience over 1.5 million more crimes all thanks to a global rise in temperatures. Is there any truth to it and if so, what is it about the heat that encourages criminality?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Associate Professor Lindsie Arthur from the University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Science to unpack it all. 

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After 15 months of violence and bloodshed, a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has finally been reached.

While there have been celebrations in the streets of both Gaza and Tel Aviv, the road to peace in the region will be long and is far from guaranteed.

So, what happens now an initial deal has been struck and what hurdles stand in the way of a permanent end to the war?

Professor Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University joins Bension Siebert in today’s episode of The Briefing to discuss the ceasefire and what we can expect to happen next. 

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Headlines: Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire deal, Bill Shorten to leave politics nine days early, Coles to ban the sale of knives after staff stabbed and Vukic and de Minaur through to round three of the AO, Kokkinakis and Tomljanović crash out.

Deep Dive: Casinos are usually synonymous with high rollers and high stakes. But running a business of the size and scale of a casino comes with big risks and big expenses – despite having a possibly never-ending stream of clientele addicted to participating in what you’re selling. 

With that in mind – how did we end up in a situation where our largest publicly traded casino operator is in serious financial trouble?

The Star Entertainment Group – who operate casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast – could be broke within weeks.

Charles Livingstone is a gambling expert and associate professor at Monash University – he joins Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to explain how that’s possible and what we need to know about what might happen over the coming months.  

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The end is nigh for TikTok, which is set to be banned in the US on the 19th of January. 

After US congress passed the laws that would effectively ban the app last year – unless someone buys it from its China-based parent company, ByteDance – American’s reacting with dismay and humour – with some users already jumping ship to a new Chinese social media platform ‘Red Note’. But will it actually happen, or will Trump, Musk or Zuckerberg step in and stop it in the final hours? And if it goes ahead, what will using TikTok look like for the rest of us going forward?

In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Cam Wilson, writer of Australian daily tech newsletter The Sizzle, and Associate Editor of Crikey, to unpack how this ban would work and if it will change anything for Australian users.

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