The Briefing

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has no sympathy for the latest group of so-called ISIS brides wanting to return to Australia. The PM also refused to provide assistance or repatriation. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Peta Lowe, who is a Countering Violent Extremism expert. Peta explains what threat these women and children pose and why the government needs to change its approach to tackling extremism and radicalisation. 

Headlines: Investigations are underway after former NRL star Matt Utai was shot in a drive-by shooting, one person has been killed after a random stabbing attack in Western Sydney, and YouTube star Logan Paul has sold a Pokémon card for $US16.5 million.  

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Tuesday Headlines: Libs’ hardline immigration policy leaked, ‘ISIS brides’ turned back after leaving Syrian camp for Australia, grandparent of Gus Lamont arrested, intermittent fasting makes “no difference” to weight loss, and Barack Obama clarifies his stance on aliens.

Deep Dive: Allegations of mob-linked figures, intimidation and inflated costs on taxpayer-funded infrastructure have triggered a political firestorm in Australia.

At the centre of it is the construction arm of the CFMEU. 

A recent inquiry has floated a $15 billion figure, which the Victorian government says is untested, as it resists calls for another royal commission.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with award-winning journalist from The Age, Nick McKenzie about what is alleged, how it connects to one of Australia’s largest infrastructure pipelines, and what it reveals about public money, unions and accountability. 

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It’s been called the “Case of the Century”, and it could change supermarket pricing forever. 

The ACCC is taking Coles to the Federal Court, alleging it engaged in a planned campaign to mislead customers over price discounts. Coles is denying allegations, saying the prices were a result of global inflation.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha is joined by economist Dr Meg Elkins, who unpacks today’s historic case and its implications for both consumers and companies. 

Headlines: Accused Bondi Gunman, Naveed Akram, has appeared in court for the first time, South Australian Police have announced a new search for evidence related to the disappearance of 4-year-old Gus Lamont, police are appealing for information after an 85-year-old was kidnapped from his Sydney home, and former US President Barack Obama has admitted he believes in aliens. 

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Monday Headlines: New-look Libs get on the policy front foot following spill, Albanese shakes off AUKUS concerns with $3.9bn downpayment, Winter Olympics officially Australia’s best-ever, 52-year-old man to face court over Egyptian artefact theft, and millions of Aussies have scored an extra public holiday.

Deep Dive: Peptides are being hyped online as miracle fixes for everything from glowing skin and fat loss to muscle growth and anti-ageing, with influencers injecting compounds that sound more like science fiction than skincare. 
 
While peptides are legitimate biological building blocks used in medicine, the social media boom has blurred the line between evidence-based treatments and unregulated, risky products.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by leading dermatologist Dr Ryan De Cruz to break down what peptides actually are and the dangers of buying and injecting them without medical oversight.

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In a historic first, NSW police have used Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG, to identify and arrest a 77-year-old man over alleged sexual assaults dating back to 1991. It’s a watershed moment for Australian forensic science. But how exactly does it work?

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we're sharing the first part of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?. In the series, journalist Claire Aird unpacks the science behind FIGG -- where investigators compare crime scene DNA to profiles uploaded to public genealogy databases like Ancestry and 23andMe, then painstakingly build out family trees to narrow in on a suspect.

It sounds revolutionary...But it’s also deeply controversial.

From privacy concerns and consent issues to wrongful accusations, this episode explores the risks, the ethical grey zones, and the global debate over whether our most personal data - our DNA - is ever truly anonymous.

Listen to episode 2 of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?

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Ash London has interviewed Taylor Swift in Paris, hitched piggyback rides from Ed Sheeran and helped shape the sound of Australian radio for more than a decade - but in 2026, she’s entering a bold new era across the ditch.

The former national radio host is back on the airwaves in New Zealand with a brand new show - after helming Ash London LIVE for five years, co-hosting 2Day FM’s powerhouse breakfast show and becoming a familiar face on Have You Been Paying Attention?

In this chat with Chris Spyrou, Ash opens up about motherhood, life behind the mic, writing 90,000 words during nap time and why stepping away from radio made her a better broadcaster.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Rabia TO EAT: Figs and ricotta with honey on toast
• TO WATCH: Crime 101
• TO DO: Find Celine Dion’s TikTok
• TO WATCH: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance

And you can order Ash's novel 'Love on the Air' here! 

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Australia’s most dangerous killers...The new podcast series that investigates our country’s soaring rates of domestic violence and homicide.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling speaks with the host of “Kiss and Kill”, Alison Sandy, who explains the dangerous narcissistic traits these murderers display, the warning signs to look out for, and the urgent action authorities need to take.  

Listen to Kiss and Kill here. 

Headlines: Sussan Ley has announced she's leaving parliament after being defeated by Angus Taylor and the police watchdog has announced it will investigate the actions of officers at Sydney’s Town Hall rally on Monday night. 

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Friday Headlines: We’ve won our first gold at the Winter Olympics, Liberal leadership spill today, Israeli President's visit to Australia wraps, ICE agents to pull out of Minnesota, Katie Holmes pays tribute to Dawson's Creek co-star James Van Der Beek and Kylie Minogue's been honoured with her very own Barbie collector doll.

Deep Dive: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights has never been short on drama - but the latest big-screen adaptation is generating heat long before the final act. 

Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, “Wuthering Heights” leans hard into sex and spectacle, sparking backlash and fresh debate over casting, race and portrayals of abuse. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by LiSTNR Entertainment reporter Justin Hill to unpack the hype, and whether this gothic tragedy has been reborn for a new generation or rewritten beyond recognition. 

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After months of speculation, Angus Taylor will finally challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal Party leadership. So, who is Angus Taylor, and can he save a party heading into political oblivion? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by political reporter Katina Curtis to unpack how the spill will unfold and the race to save the Liberal Party. 

Headlines: Only 4 of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met ahead of the 2031 deadline, RBA Governor Michelle Bullock has fired back at Senator Matt Canavan, and NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to apologise to the Muslim community after a group of people praying were forcibly removed during a pro-Palestinian rally. 

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Thursday Headlines: Leadership spill imminent as Angus Taylor quits, Herzog cancels visit to firebombed Synagogue amid security concerns, just three Aussie millionaires have backed calls for more taxes on the super rich, police release audio of Austin Appelbee’s heroic 000 call, Jakara Anthony misses medal in moguls final, and Britney Spears sells rights to her music catalogue.

Deep Dive: Elon Musk has sparked fresh space-race chatter after revealing SpaceX is shifting its focus from Mars to the Moon, with ambitions to build a “self-growing” lunar city within the next decade.  

With multiple countries and private companies rolling out lunar missions, the push to develop Earth’s only natural satellite is heating up fast.  

In today’s episode of The Briefing, astrophysicist Brad Tucker from ANU joins us to break down who the major players are, what a self-growing city actually means, and why inflatable moon hotels might not be as sci-fi as they sound. 

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