Firefighters are currently battling two emergency-level blazes in central Victoria, where homes have already been destroyed and three people, including a child, remain missing.

These are the worst conditions the country has faced since the deadly Black Summer fires that tore through Victoria in 2019 and 2020. Experts warn that, without urgent action, our risk of more frequent and devastating fires will only increase.

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by climate criminologist and Director of the Future Emergency Resilience Network, Dr Paul Read. 

Headlines: Queenslanders have been told to prepare for the high chance of a tropical cyclone, US Federal Immigration agents have shot two people in Portland, and one of Australia’s deadliest spiders could soon be saving lives. 

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Friday Headlines: Firefighters bracing for ‘a very bad day’ as heat engulfs parts of Australia,  Jewish groups welcome PM’s announcement of a Royal Commission, Trump defends ICE agents who killed US Citizen Renee Nicole Macklin Good, authors boycott Adelaide Writers' Week after pro-Palestine advocate Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah removal and Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA potentially found on artwork.

Deep Dive: The rules of the music industry are shifting again, and in 2025, the balance of power seemed to tilt towards artists. 

Some experiments paid off and opened new ways for fans to connect - from Justin Bieber livestreaming online to Charli XCX building direct channels with fans. 
 
Others, however, exposed just how risky it can be to step outside industry norms. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with music journalist Sam Murphy about who’s really setting the rules and how that will shape the artists, sounds, and stories we hear in 2026. 

Further listening: Randa Abdel-Fattah had her name written on a bomb

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After weeks of mounting pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reversed his decision and announced a royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack that claimed 15 lives and left many injured. Former High Court justice Virginia Bell has been appointed to lead the inquiry, despite objections from prominent members of the Jewish community.

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Associate Professor of public policy Deirdre O'Neill, who explains the unique powers of royal commissions, who leads them, what makes them effective, and whether this is the strongest path to answers, accountability, and prevention. 

Headlines: A woman has been shot dead by a US ICE officer during an operation in Minneapolis, Australia is in the grip of its worst heatwave since Black Summer, with catastrophic fire conditions across parts of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, and NASA has been forced to postpone its first spacewalk of 2026. 

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Thursday Headlines: PM expected to announce Federal Royal Commission into the Bondi terrorism attack, US seizes Russian-flagged vessel linked to Venezuelan oil, thousands of Aussies hit with highly transmissible flu strain, Grok under investigation by Australia’s online safety watchdog over deepfakes, and Warner Bros rejects ‘inadequate’ $160bn Paramount bid.

Deep Dive: In 2025, the architects of artificial intelligence were named Time’s Person of the Year - making the question no longer whether AI will shape our future, but how fast and on whose terms. 
 
What started in our feeds is now reshaping classrooms, the economy and the physical world around us - with massive AI data centres now being built in Australia. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute, to break down what to expect from the tech in 2026. 

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Why does Donald Trump keep talking about Greenland, could the US really try to take it, and what does it all mean for Australia? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by defence and security expert, Jennifer Parker, who explains why Greenland has become such a fixation for the US president, and why this isn’t as unprecedented as it might sound. Jen explains the strategic value of the Arctic, the role of NATO and Denmark, and why Trump’s rhetoric is alarming key allies.  

Headlines: US President Donald Trump says Venezuela will turn over at least 30 million barrels of oil to the US, inflation has slowed to 3.4 per cent, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has attended a Bondi terror attack victims' funeral for the first time.

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Wednesday Headlines: Multiple states on high alert amid forecasts not seen since Black Summer bushfires, Venezuelan opposition leader vows to return as the country cracks down on Maduro critics, Swiss ski bar not inspected for five years before deadly fire, and Tomorrowland's inching a little closer to Australia.

Deep Dive: January is the rude awakening after the break - routines and alarms return, and exhaustion sets in fast. 

Sleep is often the missing link, with the way we treat it affecting our energy levels, mood, and ability to retain information.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with neuroscience expert and host of Do You F*cking Mind, Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa, about what actually happens in the brain during sleep, why falling asleep can feel so hard and how small changes can reset your energy in 2026. 

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Deposed Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have faced a New York court, pleading not guilty to multiple drug and weapons-related charges. Maduro’s lawyers are expected to argue his arrest was illegal, and he's immune from prosecution.

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Colombian-born legal scholar Juan Zahir Naranjo Cáceres to unpack the latest developments. 

Headlines: Senior Labor figures expect Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to back down on his opposition to a royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack, millions of Australians living on the outskirts of major cities could face bushfire risks similar to the deadly 2025 Los Angeles fires, and exciting news for Lego lovers. 

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Tuesday Headlines: Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in New York court, alleged Bondi shooter moved to supermax as parliament expected to return to Canberra early, Paris court finds 10 people guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, and the new campaign trying to get Australia back in the top 10 happiest countries list.

Deep Dive: From AI hype to lingering chatter around crypto and gold, 2026 is already shaping up as a year thick with financial noise - now layered with fresh global shocks. 

Predictions of stock crashes, bubbles about to burst, and market swings are everywhere - raising questions about what actually matters and how it can affect us. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Motley Fool Australia’s Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips about what we should realistically be paying attention to when it comes to the world of finance this year. 

Further listening:
What the headlines are missing on Venezuela

PART 1: The Macrons vs Candace Owens & PART 2: French president sues podcaster over claims first lady is a man

The ugly truth about your delicious bacon sandwich

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The US-led capture of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, has sparked a storm of debate. For many, removing a leader long labelled a dictator and accused of severe human rights abuses is a hopeful moment for Venezuela. Yet experts warn the operation raises serious questions under international law. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Venezuelan-born journalist Claudianna Blanco, who takes us inside Venezuela's decades-long fight for democracy, the devastating human toll of Maduro’s regime, and the uneasy questions about what comes next. 

Headlines: Tensions over Greenland are rising after US President Donald Trump said the United States “absolutely” needs the territory, hundreds of mourners have paid tribute to the 40 people who died in a New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland, and Aussie actors Sarah Snook and Jacob Elordi win Critics Choice awards.  

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Monday Headlines: Mixed reactions from Australia’s Venezuelan community after US arrests authoritarian leader, Australian sports stars call for a royal commission into Bondi terror attack, severe heatwave warnings for large parts of the country, and the Special Ks are back! 

Deep Dive: Dating is something many of us have a love-hate relationship with and as 2026 begins, new trends are already reshaping how people meet and connect. 

That shift is already showing up online, with January 4 the busiest day of the year for dating apps, dubbed “Dating Sunday,” with Australians logging on in search of the one. 
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by media consultant and mental health advocate Kriti Gupta to unpack the dating trends set to define the year and whether last year’s viral idea that “having a boyfriend is embarrassing” is here to stay. 

Further listening from the headlines: 
What's behind Trump's 'war on narco-terrorism'

Why more Australians are drowning than ever before

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