The Briefing

Friday Headlines: Trump says he had ‘good and productive’ call with Putin, alleged offender of Melbourne daylight stabbing out on bail at the time, Indigenous leaders meet with King Charles to mark 40th anniversary of Uluru handover, Containers for Change has been accused of corruption, and the Aussie brands going viral overseas have been revealed. 

Deep Dive: Gold fever is back and it’s not just investors cashing in. 

With prices up more than 50% in the past year and hitting $6,400 an ounce, Australians are lining up at dealers and heading to old mining towns with pans in hand – hoping to strike it rich. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Jhob Drinkwater from Jhob’s Gold Panning Tours about what’s fuelling this modern-day rush, who’s showing up and whether there’s still gold in the ground. 

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Sex and the City defined a generation - its fashion, friendships, and frank talk about love, sex, and ambition changed pop culture forever. But while Carrie and Samantha were inseparable on-screen, behind the scenes the dynamic between their real-life counterparts was anything but friendly.

For years, rumours swirled about tension between the show's stars, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Then in 2017, Kim publicly broke her silence - confirming what fans had long suspected. There was officially beef between the pair. But what was it really about? And who was to blame?

In this episode of The Beefing, Alexandria Funnell unpacks how a show built on friendship became one of television’s most infamous fallouts - and whether peace between Carrie and Samantha will ever truly be possible.

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In the latest concerning escalation of the attack on freedom of speech in the US, a number of top journalists have been kicked out of the Pentagon. The correspondents from the major networks walked, after refusing to sign a new policy that restricted their reporting on information without government approval.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by International and Security Affairs expert Allan Behm, who explains why we all should be concerned about the growing lack of government accountability and the escalating attacks on democracy and freedom of speech. 

Headlines: A member of the Australian Defence Force has died, new unemployment data has been released today, and new excerpts from Virginia Guiffre's tell-all memoir have been published. 

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Thursday Headlines: Israel says one of four bodies handed over by Hamas is not a hostage, three Australian men accused of Bali villa shooting could face the death penalty, the world’s carbon dioxide levels have reached record highs, NRL players now face 10-year ban for joining rival competition, and Virgin Australia’s pets on flights trial is underway! 

Deep Dive: New research has revealed the worst offenders for image-based sexual abuse in Australia, including those who create deepfakes and revenge porn, or take photos and videos without consent.  

The Australian Institute of Criminology says such crimes are disproportionately carried out by young men, while the type of offending differs across age groups and genders.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with AIC research manager Tom Sullivan about what's needed to address the growing problem, and how tech advancements are making it harder to stop. 

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NSW has now recorded its highest-ever yearly rate of Indigenous deaths in custody. The shocking statistic has sparked the State Coroner to call out the “profoundly distressing milestone”, saying these deaths demand respect and accountability. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by CEO of the Redfern Legal Centre, Camilla Pandolfini, who says these horrific statistics are a national shame, and after decades of neglect, we need urgent action from governments. 

Headlines: A house fire has killed three people in Central Queensland, Israel will restrict aid to Gaza, and Candace Owens has lost her appeal in the High Court over the decision to deny her entry into Australia. 

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Wednesday Headlines: AFP formally requests the PM’s number be taken down from US website, search for missing Gus expanded after advice from survival specialists, US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has Sandy Hook hoax appeal rejected, Instagram introduces PG-13 restrictions for teen accounts, and how the government’s about to make $70 million from unused public transport cards. 

Deep Dive: While Australians are spending more time and money at the GP, new research shows our health system is struggling to keep up - with rising costs, growing patient complexity, and doctors warning that Medicare hasn’t moved with the times. 
 
So what exactly is driving the pressure and are the government’s promises enough? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Dr Michael Wright, President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s to discuss. 

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Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell's feud is one of his earliest public beefs. Starting all the way back in 2006 when O'Donnell went after Trump on The View, their beef has been simmering for decades since.

What followed was a relentless back-and-forth of brutal - and sometimes hilarious - personal attacks in interviews, on social media, and even during presidential debates. Now, with Rosie on Australian soil for her comedy tour, all eyes have returned to a beef that appears to stand the test of time. 

In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks why this outrageous clash has endured for nearly two decades, exploring the explosive mismatch of personalities, the media's role in amplifying the conflict, and what it revealed about Trump's combative style long before he entered politics.

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It’s the Parliament Sports Club scandal that’s uncovered explosive allegations about the powerful forces that are really running Canberra. The Australian Parliament Sports Club was thrown into the spotlight last week when Independent Senator and former Wallaby David Pocock was kicked out of the club after raising concerns about its lobbying status during Senate Estimates. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Independent MP Allegra Spender, who says this latest controversy is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to powerful lobby groups and why she is now calling for greater transparency. 

Headlines: Melbourne’s CBD was shut down this morning, after a man allegedly went on a carjacking rampage across the city, the top bosses of the childcare chain at the centre of shock sex abuse allegations have resigned, and Linda Reynolds has launched new legal proceedings against Brittany Higgins. 

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Tuesday Headlines: Donald Trump signs Gaza ceasefire deal with world leaders in Egypt, AFP say its investigating Lydia Thorpe over ‘burn down Parliament House’ comment, Victoria’s become Australia’s car theft capital, alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections and an Aussie council has $1.9m stolen by crime gang using AI.

Deep Dive: AI-generated actors are no longer a future threat - they’re already here, reshaping the entertainment industry from the inside out. 

From invisible data scraping to disappearing jobs on set, these digital performers are changing how content is made and consumed. And while studios might save millions, not everyone is clapping. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with NSW Equity Vice-President of MEAA, Jacqui Duncan, about how Australia’s creatives are fighting back, what protections are (and aren’t) in place, and why this moment could define the future of the industry. 

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The US President has declared the war in Gaza is over, but as the world nervously waits for the hostage handover, many experts are concerned about what may lie ahead. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Middle East expert Dr Andrew Thomas, who warns there are many concerns over whether this latest breakthrough will actually lead to lasting peace. 

Headlines: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has backed down on major changes to superannuation, Victoria Police will undergo a complete restructure, and a father of four has chased down two teenagers who allegedly broke into his home. 

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