Monday Headlines: Coalition polling at record low as government looks to pass enviro laws, Trump accuses Ukraine of being ungrateful as officials meet in Geneva for peace plan, BoM ordered to review whopping $96 million price tag for website revamp, Lando and Piastri disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Matcha and Acai dominating Australian Uber Eats orders.

Deep Dive: A major crackdown is unfolding on Australia's doorsteps as global authorities try to shut down a vast network of scam compounds built on human trafficking.  

With more than 120,000 people believed to be trapped inside these sites along the Myanmar-Thailand border, the question now is whether the international push to take them apart can work. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Andrew Wasuwongse from International Justice Mission Thailand about how these compounds operate and what it will take to stop them. 

Further listening from headlines: 
Albo's green gamble 
The Beefing: Oscar Piastri vs Lando Norris 

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Bonnie Blue has been making national headlines again over her return to schoolies. The controversial OnlyFans star's visa was cancelled last year, but she told media 'I’ve got good lawyers and I will be doing schoolies this year.'

In this Bonus episode of The Briefing from 2024, Helen Smith is joined by Bonnie to discuss her schoolies plan to invite “barley legal” young men attending the event on the Gold Coast to have sex and film it for content on her wildly popular OnlyFans account.

The second part of this episode is an interview with Harrison James, who was calling for Bonnie's visa to be cancelled at the time. He’s a survivor of sexual violence and now works as an activist speaking about consent, sexual violence and the safety of children and young people.

Content warning: This episode mentions sexual violence. If this episode has brought up any issues for you, help is available:
Lifeline 13 11 14 
1800Respect 

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Marcia Hines is a music icon - 22 albums, more than 2.6 million sales, and a career that made her a household name as a judge on Australian Idol.

She moved to Australia when she was 16 to star in Hair, the anti-Vietnam war musical, and ended up building her life here after discovering she was pregnant with her daughter, Deni.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Marica shares what stardom looks like in 2025 and how she feels being a 2026 Wall of Fame inductee at Parkes Elvis Festival.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO WATCH: Frankenstein on Netflix
• TO TRY: Vision facial serum by Lush
• TO LISTEN: Ausify on Insta
• TO WATCH: Rush Hour and old movies you love

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Half of what Australians eat is ultra processed and now a damning new international report has revealed how these everyday foods are putting us at greater risk of serious chronic disease and mental health issues. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Priscila Machado from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, who explains exactly what ultra processed foods are and why we need tougher regulations.  

Afternoon headlines: Coroner hands down findings on deadly Wieambilla attack, Kellie Sloane elected NSW Liberal leader unopposed, Virgin and Qantas ban use of portable power banks and Darwin Cyclone warning

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Friday Headlines: Third Coalition leader ousted from top job this week, neo-Nazi leader reportedly charged over alleged harassment of federal MP, coroner to hand down findings into Australia’s first Christian terror attack today, Anthony Albanese touches down in South Africa for G20 summit, and an Aussie surprise as the world’s coolest streets are named. 

Deep Dive: After 13 long years of schooling, thousands of kids across the country are packing their bags for destinations across Australia – and now the world – to celebrate Schoolies. 

While many will likely party too hard and head home with some regrets, or worse, there’s a growing trend among teenagers to swap getting wasted for wellness. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks to the founder of Red Frogs, Andy Gourley, about how kids are celebrating in 2025 and how much that’s changed since he started his work at leavers events more than 25 years ago. 

Further listening from headlines:
The Coalition killing season has arrived
Vote #1 neo-Nazis 

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It’s one of the oldest, pettiest, and most iconic sporting feuds on earth: Australia vs England, fighting over a tiny terracotta urn.

From England’s full-blown 1882 meltdown at The Oval, to the chaos of Bodyline, Bradman’s god-tier dominance, ball-tampering scandals, this rivalry isn’t just cricket -  it’s the biggest beef in sporting history.

In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell breaks down the century-long beef that’s shaped cricket history: the legends, the collapses, the controversies, the sledging, and the moments that turned two nations into lifelong frenemies.

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The CSIRO, Australia's peak science agency, has cut 350 researchers in their latest round of redundancies.  

But experts are warning this is just the tip of the iceberg, with various Federal Governments over the years not properly funding or supporting our world leading scientists and researchers. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by the CEO of Science & Technology Australia Ryan Winn to unpack why the Government isn’t choosing to invest in Australian science and the dangers of not keeping the research and development in our own backyard.  

 

Afternoon headlines: Donald  signs off on releasing the remaining Epstein files, Australia hands over COP31 to Türkiye and real estate agents in Victoria required to reveal a property’s reserve price. 

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Thursday Headlines: Australia accused of censoring US citizens, Tropical Cyclone Fina is heading toward the NT, calls for governments to step up action to fight chips and soft drinks, The Louvre announces 100 new security cameras, and Amyl and The Sniffers clean up at the ARIAs!

Deep Dive: AI anxiety is fuelled by warnings that artificial intelligence could replace jobs, upend industries, and even surpass human control within decades. So how seriously should we take these risks, and which human skills will matter most in a future shaped by rapidly advancing AI? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith chats with UNSW AI Institute chief scientist Toby Walsh to break down how worried we should be and what we can do to stay future-proof in an AI-driven world. 

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The ARIAs are on tonight... and we find out why the music industry’s night of nights is more important than ever. As local artists struggle to cut through in a content-overloaded world, we unpack why the ARIAs are a vital showcase for the superstars of the future. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by podcaster and music expert Alex Dyson. 

Headlines: The legislation to release the Epstein files now needs to be signed by the US President, new laws banning Nazi slogans and symbols have been introduced by the New South Wales Government, and the Cambridge Dictionary has revealed its word of the year for 2025. 

Matt & Alex All Day Breakfast Live. 

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Wednesday Headlines: Outage takes down popular apps and Aussie airport sites, US lawmakers to vote on Epstein files, skilled migrants and international students could be slashed under Libs, Roblox to roll out age-verification checks in Australia despite social media ban exemption, and Eminem sues Aussie swim company. 

Deep Dive: A new claim for native title rights has been filed with the Federal Court, which, if successful, will cover Melbourne and its surrounds. 

While corners of the community might react with concern and even anger at new native title claims, what exactly are they? And is the criticism justified? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Kieren Murray, a Wiradjuri man and lawyer at the First Nations Legal & Research Services to unpack it.  

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