Netflix's Monsters series The Ed Gein Story is trending globally but despite it’s popularity the reviews are not in its favour, with critics pointing out it may be the most sensationalised instalment in the Monster anthology yet.

The series follows murderer Ed Gein is thought to have influenced Hollywood and the making of Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs, but how much of the story is true?

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Alyce McGovern, Associate Professor of Criminology from UNSW, who explains why we can’t look away and how we can consume it more responsibly. 

Afternoon headlines: Preparations to implement a ceasefire deal begin in Gaza, Senator David Pocock banned from Parliament House’s social sports club and Judge dismisses Drake's lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar diss track Not Like Us

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Headlines: Man who threatened PM prepared to ‘sacrifice self’, Abbie Chatfield ordered to pay $79k for defaming former friend, man who raped French woman Gisele Pelicot handed extra time on sentence, US authorities open investigation into Tesla’s self-driving cars after crashes, and Pauline Hanson hates paper shopping bags.

Deep Dive: Taylor Swift is the world’s richest female artist, has 14 Grammys and just smashed Adele’s record for the biggest album debut in history. 

But her 12th studio album Life of a Show Girl hasn’t been met with universal praise - so how did she still pull off a record-breaking week? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with LiSTNR’s resident Swiftie and fandom researcher at RMIT Kate Pattison to unpack the reactions, strategy and chaos behind Taylor’s latest era. 

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The Beckham family has long projected the image of a glamorous, tight-knit dynasty, with David and Victoria at the centre of a global brand. But behind the curated Instagram posts and luxury campaigns, tensions have been quietly simmering.

With the release of Victoria Beckham’s Netflix documentary, renewed attention has fallen on the family’s private dynamics. Most notably, Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz’s absence from the launch, which reignited speculation about a growing rift - with rumours suggesting tensions  between the couple and the wider Beckham clan.

In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell breaks down the timeline of events and the swirl of rumours, unpacking how one of the world’s most famous families went from picture-perfect to fractured. From public absences to whispered feuds, she explores whether the Beckham legacy can withstand the cracks now spilling into public view.

 

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Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity for the first time, with countries like Sri Lanka already running on about 50% renewables.

With just four major economies creating nearly two thirds of global electricity demand, the race to decarbonise is accelerating. But who’s leading the charge and how does Australia stack up?

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Dr Reihana Mohideen, an electrical engineer and principal advisor from the University of Melbourne, who explains why these renewable energy moves aren’t about climate change and what it means for our net zero targets.

Afternoon headlines: Israel and Hama sign off on first phase of US Gaza peace plan, Google blocks Gov STI awareness ads labelling them as ‘adult content’ and an Australian wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Further listening: Trump's Nobel Peace Prize race

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Headlines: Manhunt underway in Sydney after man shot dead in ‘brazen’ daylight attack, former William Tyrell investigator 'reading between the lines’ in missing Gus Lamont case, AFP to be allowed to share child abuse material to catch offenders, Qantas among global companies hit with ransom demand from hacker group, and Dolly Parton’s got a message for the world. 

Deep Dive: Some of the world’s biggest comedians like Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson and Jim Jefferies are cashing huge cheques to perform at what’s being billed as the largest comedy festival in the world. 
While the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia has drawn major star power, it's also sparked backlash, with human rights groups calling it a glossy distraction from the kingdom’s ongoing abuses.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Michael Page, a deputy director in the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch about how the festival fits in with Saudi Arabia’s cultural and political playbook. 

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The word fascist is one of the most politically charged, and controversial, labels being used to describe US President Donald trump. He's been called a fascist leader by human rights experts, political commenters and even celebrities like Rosie O’Donell, who in our interview with her earlier this week called Trump an ‘an active fascist in the White House.’ 

But what are the signs and makings of a fascist leader, and how can we tell it we’re seeing a resurgence of fascist tendencies worldwide.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Dr Marco Duranti, a senior lecturer in European and international history, who explains what fascism looks like and how a political leader can be a fascist.  

Afternoon headlines: Rental prices increase by almost 44% in five years, Optus sent alert about triple-zero outages to wrong government email and Sam Kerr expected to make Matildas return 

Further listening: Rosie O'Donell on Trump, Gaza & fame

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Wednesday Headlines: Australians detained by Israeli forces deported to Jordan, Government accused of ISIS brides cover-up and inaction over sexual assaults, new research finds women have greater genetic risk of depression, Aussie writers could be eligible for a cut of a $2.27bn AI settlement, and more than 50% of Aussie's think its ok to clock off early and hit the beach during summer.   

Deep Dive: The sovereign citizen movement is on the rise in Australia, leading to clogged up community and legal systems, and in some cases extreme violence.  

Accused cop killer and fugitive Dezi Freeman subscribes to the pseudolaw, a path experts say is taken by citizens in crisis.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks to UNSW sovereign citizen researcher Dr Harry Hobbs about what's behind the surge, and why it’s a problem we won’t arrest away.  

Further listening from the headlines:  
Return of the ISIS brides  
We're training AI to blackmail us 

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Activist Greta Thunberg is a pro at feuding with world leaders, from US president Donald Trump to former-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, she’s beefed with them all.  

The 22-year-old is back in the headlines after she, and around 170 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, were recently deported by Israel after being detained in international waters.  

In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks the first time Greta made international headlines for her viral ‘how dare you’ speech at the United Nations climate action summit and examines her ongoing feuds with prominent world leaders.

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Today marks the two-year anniversary of Oct 7 when Hamas militants killed 1200 people and took 250 Israeli hostages. Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health authorities in Gaza, and Israel's actions have been labelled by a UN independent commission of inquiry and other organisations as genocide. 

Talks have started between Israel and Hamas on the future of the Gaza war in Egypt, with Trumps Gaza peace plan on the table.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Dr Eyal Mayroz a senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney to explain if we’re close to reaching a permeant ceasefire.

Afternoon headlines: Anthony Albanese condemns pro-Hamas slogan, painted on a blank billboard in the inner-city of Melbourne, global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time and the daughter of actor and comedian Robin Williams speaks out against AI videos of her dad

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Tuesday Headlines: PM calls for calm after death threats, alleged Sydney shooter named and charged with over 20 offences, social media platforms ordered to take down Charlie Kirk murder videos, wage theft has more than doubled in the last five years, and the White House has responded to SNL's skit mocking President Trump’s 'war on late-night TV'. 

Deep Dive: She’s an Emmy Award-winning talk show host, actor, and comedian who’s never shied away from a political fight. 

Now living in Ireland, Rosie O’Donnell is in Australia for the first time - bringing her new stand-up show Common Knowledge down under. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Rosie opens up to Helen Smith about life after Hollywood, her long-running feud with Donald Trump, and why she’ll always speak truth to power - no matter who’s in office. 

Tickets for Common Knowledge at www.sydneyoperahouse.com and www.artscentremelbourne.com.au 

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