The Briefing

Headlines: 

• Trump announces 3-week Lebanon-Israel ceasefire
• Charges for soldier who gambled on Maduro capture
• Ben Roberts-Smith to attend ANZAC Day event
• More tech layoffs: Microsoft and Meta
• Spotify turns 20, releases top artists of all time 

Deep Dive: 

The nation’s biggest radio drama went to court today. Both Kyle and Jackie O are suing their former boss, ARN, and ARN is suing them right back. Kyle appeared in court, while Jackie O has said she never wants to be in the same room as Kyle again. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by workplace relations lawyer Michael Byrnes to explain the strengths and weaknesses of each legal suit.

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Friday Headlines:

• Trump claims the US is in control of the Strait of Hormuz even as Iran seizes ships
• Court documents have revealed Ben Roberts-Smith was allegedly attempting to move overseas before his arrest
• Albanese unlikely to increase tax on gas exports
• British actor Russell Brand has admitted to having sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30
• Tomorrow is ANZAC Day, with commemorations happening right across the country

Deep Dive: Burnout is often framed as a personal failure, but neuroscience tells a different story, one where chronic stress and cognitive overload are predictable biological responses to modern work and life. 

Basically, our brains aren’t equipped to deal with how we’re forced to work and live in 2026. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Neuro‑performance scientist Dr Kristy Goodwin explains how chronic stress rewires our heads, why the brain prioritises short‑term survival over long‑term health, and why “powering through” often leads to physical breakdown, not resilience. 

Further listening: Your guide to the budget’s tax reforms

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Headlines: 

• US turns back more Iranian ships
• National Cabinet: PM says fuel secure
• Royal Commission interim report coming next week
• Microsoft to invest $25 billion in Aussie data centres
• Vale to James Valentine

Deep Dive: 

The British Prime Minister is on the ropes as the scandal around Peter Mandelson continues. Mandelson was the UK’s ambassador to the United States, but was forced out due to his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by journalist Juliet Rieden to talk about “the dark prince” of British politics.

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Thursday Headlines: 

• Iran says reopening of the Strait of Hormoz is impossible if ceasefire continues to be breached
• NDIS cuts set to impact autistic Aussies the most 
• First home buyer scheme driving up house prices
• KIIS sues Kylie and Jackie O
• Netflix has revealed more details about Kylie Minogue’s long awaited doco

Deep Dive: The 2026 Federal Budget is shaping up to be one of the biggest in recent years when it comes to tax reform. 

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is promising sweeping changes, but how will they balance the needs of struggling Aussies with that of the budget bottom line? 

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by economist Matt Grudnoff to break down the five areas we could see reform on May 12 and how the changes could impact you. 

Further listening: 

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Headlines: 

• Further cutbacks to the NDIS
• Australia to get more fuel shipments
• Iran reacts to Trump’s extended ceasefire
• Britain will ban selling tobacco to next generation
• ChatGPT under criminal investigation in Florida shooting
• Scientists study salmon on cocaine 

Deep Dive: 

Uh oh – AI is now really, really good at hacking. Earlier this month, the leading AI company Anthropic declared it would hold back from releasing its latest model, named “Mythos”, because the model could find novel ways to hack computer systems. In one instance, Mythos found a bug that's been undetected for 27 years in a fundamental piece of software. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr. Suelette Dreyfus, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Information Systems at The University of Melbourne. 

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Donald Trump has announced the ceasefire between the US and Iran will be extended via Truth Social. 

This comes after peace talks between the two nations were put on hold earlier today. 

In this breaking episode of The Briefing, we unpack the US Presidents announcement as the blockage on the Strait of Hormuz continues. 

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Wednesday Headlines:

• The hopes of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran are fading
• Major changes to NDIS to be announced today
• The Australian government has been urged to protect Chinese international students
• Rebel Wilson called “f****ing nuts” by crisis PR team, court hears
• Victorian Premier slams YouTuber who filmed Dezi Freeman’s hideout

Deep Dive: The mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s sporting professionals has been thrust into the spotlight this week, after AFL player Elijah Hollands played during what the club has now called a “mental health episode”. 

While the AFL and Carlton launch separate reviews into last Thursday’s incident, serious questions are being asked about whose responsibility it was to pull Elijah from the field. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by sport media and branding expert Associate Professor Robert Gill to discuss what should happen next and whether anyone is to blame. 

A reminder, if you or someone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76 

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Headlines: 

• Uncertainty over Iran peace talks, ceasefire extension “unlikely”
• New Zealand’s PM survives his own leadership spill
• Keir Starmer, UK PM, under pressure
• Apple gets a new CEO 

Deep Dive:

Woolworths is in court, accused of misleading practices around its pricing of “discounted” goods. The case, brought by the ACCC, began in Sydney today. It follows a similar case against Coles. What are the supermarket giants accused of?

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by behavioural economist Dr. Meg Elkins of RMIT, to discuss what, if anything, can be done about alleged dodgy pricing. 

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Tuesday Headlines: 

• Hopes of a peace deal between Iran and the US fade
• ACCC is accusing Woolworths of deliberately misleading shoppers
• AFL player Elijah Hollands admitted to hospital following mental health episode
• Rebel Wilson has appeared in federal court for a major defamation trial 
• Robot beats human record in half-marathon

Deep Dive: Protest laws are under fresh scrutiny in Australia, after the arrest of 20 people in Brisbane over the weekend who used a phrase now banned by the state government. 

Peaceful protest remains a fundamental human right under international law, so with these tighter rules in the wake of pro-Palestinian rallies and climate change marches; are we eroding that right? 

In today's episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Sarah Schwartz, Legal Director at Human Rights Law Centre speaks, who explains Australia’s patchwork of protest laws, your rights when you march, and how far authorities can go in restricting them. 

If you or anyone needs help you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76

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Headlines: 

• Treasurer flags risks to inflation, unemployment
• U.S. attacks and boards an Iranian ship
• Mass shooting in Louisiana, 8 children killed
• Geelong oil refinery recovery better than expected
• South Korean wolf captured safely
• Robot runners blitz a Beijing half-marathon 

Deep Dive: 

Thousands more Australians will now be able to donate blood after outdated restrictions were lifted. All donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will be able to donate blood.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Jemma Falkenmire from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to explain the important changes and her message for Australians wanting to make a difference.

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YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.