The Briefing

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates built one of the fiercest rivalries in tech history - the battle between Apple and Microsoft. Their competition changed the modern world as we know it, giving us the Macintosh computer, the iPhone and revolutionised the personal computer.  

However, the pair share a lot of similarities. They were both college dropouts, both started their companies with a friend and both went on to become billionaires who defined the tech world. 

In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks how Jobs and Gates went from working together in the early days to feuding the decades-long debate over who really borrowed ideas from whom. 

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Skyrocketing specialist costs are forcing a growing number of Australians to delay or stop critical medical care and treatment. A new investigation by The Guardian has found a concerning lack of transparency regarding why specialists are charging so much. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by The Guardian Health reporter Natasha May, who explains what’s behind the increase in the costs and what your rights are as a patient.  

Headlines: The retiring RSL President has called for more Australian Defence Force support, Donald Trump has reportedly asked the Supreme Court to overturn a sexual assault verdict, and The Wiggles may have breached consumer law. 

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Tuesday Headline: Donald Trump threatening to sue BBC for $1 billion, more Libs reportedly threatening to quit frontbench over Net Zero, eight killed after explosion near major Indian landmark, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price backs out of anti-immigration rally, and Aussie researchers rubbish Tylenol autism claims.

Deep Dive: The group behind a recent far-right rally outside NSW Parliament and which infiltrated March for Australia protests is now attempting to move into mainstream politics.  
 
Members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) are rebranding and preparing to contest future elections.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with leading far-right researcher Kaz Ross about how the NSN is seeking political legitimacy and whether they could gain real electoral support in Australia. 

Further listening from headlines: 
The 'future PM' taking on Sussan Ley is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LiSTNR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Federal MP Zali Steggall is predicting the Liberal Party will be obliterated if it backs down on Net Zero. With a decision imminent this week from the embattled Opposition Leader over its policy stance. Zali says now is the time for Sussan Ley to stand up to the Nationals. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Zali Steggall, who says we are all paying the price for the lack of action on the climate crisis. 

Headlines: The United States Senate has voted to end a government shutdown, two senior BBC executives have resigned, and ANZ has recorded a 10% decline in yearly profits. 

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Monday Headlines: Coalition to meet this week to discuss Net Zero position, NSW police accused of ‘double standards’ as neo-Nazi rally outside Parliament House reviewed, more than 900,000 people evacuated as a super typhoon hits the Philippines, Princess Anne is in Melbourne today, and tributes flow for radio legend John Laws.

Deep Dive: More than 200,000 Year 12 students are sitting their final exams right now - but as they prepare to choose what’s next, are universities still worth it? With rising costs, leadership scandals and claims they’re being run more like businesses than places of learning, higher education is under pressure to prove its value.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Western Sydney University Vice Chancellor Professor George Williams about whether uni still offers the ladder of opportunity it once promised. 

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History was made this week. 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has become New York's first Muslim Mayor, winning around half the vote in the biggest election turnout in more than 50 years. So how did he pull it off? Why has his campaign sent shockwaves around the world? And what lessons could Australian politicians take from his stunning victory?

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling breaks it down with Simran Pasricha from Pedestrian TV.

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Mel Tracina turned her celebrity obsession into a full time job, becoming a cultural correspondent for The Cheap Seats and being crowned one of Australians ‘most likeable’ voices in radio.

Now, she’s stepping into one of the biggest hosting gigs in Aussie TV, Big Brother. It’s the show that revolutionised Australian reality television and this time around it’s live 24/7. Returning to its roots with live evictions and public voting; putting the power in the hands of the viewers.

In this chat with Helen Smith, Mel shares her biggest celebrity run-ins with Margot Robbie and Jamie Lee Curtis and why our fascination with fame is so addictive.

Weekend list with Chris Spyrou

• TO LISTEN: Oasis (first two albums)
• TO WATCH: Boots on Netflix
• TO DO: Join a social sport club
• TO DO: At home trivia on YouTube

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On the same day he had his Royal titles stripped, another major setback for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He’s now been summoned to appear before a US congressional panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein. So, what happens next, and could this be the beginning of the end for the embattled Royal formally known as Prince Andrew... 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by monarchy expert, Associate Professor Cindy McCreery, who explains if Andrew has to give evidence and what this latest development means for the survivors of Epstein’s abuse and for a monarchy in crisis.

Headlines: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has broken her silence over renewed leadership speculation, a new report has revealed the cost of organised crime in Australia, and Tesla shareholders have approved a staggering $1 trillion pay deal for CEO Elon Musk. 

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Friday Headlines: Crackdown on dodgy auction tactics, Queensland nurse charged with raping two elderly women, Qantas reviewing battery policy after man catches fire and causes business lounge evacuation, audit finds Louvre museum managers prioritised buying high-profile art over security upgrades and Nick Kyrgios teases possible return to the Australian Open. 

Deep Dive: The algorithm shapes more than just what we see on our social media; it also decides what we listen to. With local artists making up less than ten percent of Australia’s music streams, a new push is urging listeners to take back control.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Ben Lee about the ‘Ausify Your Algo’ campaign that’s hoping to help Aussie music cut through the noise. 

Follow Tara on Instagram and listen to her award-winning podcast series 'Killer Charm' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LiSTNR or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The short-lived marriage between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline was chaotic, messy and impossible to escape - dominating tabloids and defining mid-2000s celebrity culture. Their split becoming the catalyst of Britney’s infamous public breakdown, playing out under the glare of flashing cameras and relentless scrutiny.

Nearly twenty years later they’re back in the spotlight, with Kevin's new memoir You Thought You Knew hitting the shelves, just two years after Britney’s bestseller The Woman in Me. Both books tell wildly different versions of their shared past, each claiming to reveal what really happened behind the heartbreak and headlines.

In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell unpacks the long-running feud between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline - and how their dueling memoirs have reignited a cultural battle over fame, truth and who gets to profit from Britney’s story.

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