The Briefing

PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) are forever chemicals that seem to be turning up in just about everything.

We now know they’re in platypuses, human testicles, and Sydney’s water supply. Last week, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe won support to hold a Senate inquiry into the health and environmental impacts of PFAS.

But for those of us without an expert understanding of this subject, all of this news is equal parts concerning and confusing. Should the government be acting now, and should we be concerned? Or is it too early to say?

Water researcher and associate professor at Western Sydney University's School of Science Ian Wright joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack how we, and state and federal governments, should feel about these ‘forever chemicals’.

Headlines:

Israel and Hezbollah exchange rocket fire

Labor's landslide loss in NT election 

New aviation ombudsman out today 

‘Right to Disconnect’ laws come into force

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Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye choose the name of their radio show using a $12 love calculator app and it looks like it was right.

The duo have formed back in 2015 and since then the Jimmy and Nath show has made it to the big time - brekkie radio.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Jimmy and Nath reveal what it’s like working with your best friend and go deep on their views on domestic violence and mental health.

Weekend List

• TO FOLLOW - Jack Schlossberg on insta @jackuno
• TO WATCH - Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats on Netflix
• TO DO - Christmas budgeting templates from She’s on the Money
• TO DO - Mini bands workout

Send us your weekend briefing recommendations!

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Appearing at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Kamala Harris has accepted the party's nomination for president in the most important speech of her career so far.

Taking the opportunity to outline her platform to millions of Americans set to cast her vote in November, she made passionate points for women’s and reproductive rights, freedom and stability, addressed Israel and Gaza and other global conflicts, that Donald Trump “wants to be an autocrat himself” and described the Republican party as, simply put, "out of their minds”.

It’s been a big week for the democratic party at the Democratic National Convention, with political pageantry at its finest on display. Dave Levinthal, Editor-in-Chief of Raw Story, joins Bension Siebert live from Chicago to unpack what was said, and the week that was in American politics.  

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Mid-west princess and pop megastar Chappell Roan says some fan behavior is ‘abusive’, bordering on ‘harassment’, and ‘weird’.

In a series of TikToks posted to her account, the singer has outlined her immense discomfort at the behaviors of fans approaching her on the street, demanding pictures and also physical contact like hugs.

The posts have started a firestorm of debate online, with some praising her for her vulnerability and honesty during the highest moment in her career so far, while others say this level of interest is the cost of fame – that part of the deal of huge success is fans following you on the street and asking for a photo.

Do celebrities experiencing worldwide fame, and earning massive wealth from their fans, owe those fans anything? And are these ‘parasocial’ relationships between fans and famous people getting worse? 

Dr Veronica Lamarche is a social psychologist and relationships researcher at the University of Essex. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explore what’s going on with the fans of Chappell Roan. 

Headlines:

Body of tech millionaire found after the sinking of his superyacht 

New charges for Andrew Tate 

NDIS passes new bill that changes support access 

Kamala Harris to headline final day of DNC 

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How many times a week are you ordering from Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Menulog? Is your dinner order putting delivery riders at risk?

A 27-year-old Door Dash delivery cyclist died in a hit and run accident in Melbourne this week. Victorian police say the driver allegedly fled the scene, but handed himself into officers later in the night.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says it’s the 18th death of a delivery rider on Australian roads since the explosion in home delivery services.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Michael Kaine, national secretary of the TWU, to find out if it's the delivery companies hustling their staff, motorists on the roads fed up with lawless riders, or the riders putting themselves in danger.

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Candace Owens once suggested the US invade Australia to save us from “tyrannical” COVID policies. Laura Loomer has described herself as a proud Islamophobe. Nick Fuentes is a white supremacist who’s praised Hitler.

All three have been big Donald Trump supporters, using huge social media platforms to advocate for the former president. But recently, all of them have turned on Trump’s campaign. What’s behind this dramatic turnaround? And are these far-right influencers right about their criticism of Trump’s strategy? 

Dr Emma Shortis is a Senior Researcher for the International & Security Affairs Program at independent thinktank the Australia Institute. She joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to provide some insight into what’s happening on the right side of the US political sphere.  

Headlines:

Bodies recovered in Sicily after superyacht sinking

Democratic National Convention day three wrap 

Aldi crowned Australia’s favourite supermarket

Hot girl summer just got more expensive  

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AI is coming for the Australian music industry.

Whether that’s a catastrophe or a creative revolution (or both) is yet to be seen. But this week music licensing lobby group APRA AMCOS released a report surveying thousands of musicians across Australia and New Zealand.

Economic modelling in the report found AI is likely to wipe more than half a billion dollars off the revenues of music creators by 2028 - but it also found more than half of the musicians and producers surveyed said AI technology can help with the human creative process. 

On this episode of The Briefing Australian singer songwriters Josh Pyke and Sophie Payten AKA Gordi join Bension Siebert to unpack on the promise, and threat, of AI for Australian music.

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Alex Dyson has been working in breakfast radio since 2010 and now he’s running for politics (again).

The radio presenter confirmed on his Matt & Alex - All Day Breakfast podcast with co-host Matt Okine that he’ll be running as an independent candidate for the Victorian seat of Wannon at the next federal election.

For the third time, he’ll go up against the Liberal Party’s Dan Tehan – former Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – who is the current sitting Member for the seat.

In this chat with Bension Siebert for The Briefing, Alex explains why he’s having another crack, and why he still thinks young people across the country should be engaged with federal politics.  

Headlines:

Tough new penalties for badly behaved politicians to be unveiled today 

Bodies of six Israeli hostages recovered from Gaza 

DNC Day Two: Obamas to headline 

World’s oldest person dies 

 

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Australia has more than 100,000 houses sitting empty. Is an obvious solution to our housing crisis staring us in the face?

This week, data analysis commissioned by the Greens showed those in every day jobs like aged or disability carer, retail manager or nurse would need to spend more than two-thirds of their income to pay off a mortgage on an average house in Australia.

But there's an elephant in the room. What about all those perfectly good houses just sitting empty across Australia? Could they be part of the solution? 

LiSTNR senior investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to dig into the data and unpack what she's found.

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Is mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) a runaway train?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern”, following a rise in the number of cases across the globe. 
The declaration triggers an international mobilisation of resources, including vaccination and testing, to try and slow down the spread of the disease.  

Rates in Australia are also continuing to rise, despite our best efforts to slow or stop them. Why can’t we get a grip on mpox rates in Australia – and does the growing rates of infection overseas mean numbers here will only continue to grow? 

Professor Andrew Grulich is the Head of the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute. He joined Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to answer if he thinks state health departments are doing enough, and how the growing transmission rate might impact the global community going forward. 

Headlines:

Tech entrepreneur missing after his luxury yacht sunk off Sicily

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago

The most common Aussies can’t afford a house

1 in 3 Aussies turn to socials for fin advice

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