The Briefing

Tuesday Headlines: Australia, UK, France and other nations call for immediate ceasefire on Gaza, PM says he regrets ‘repulsive’ Mark Latham being elected leader, $14 million federal funding to assist SA to deal with algal bloom, big name uni's don't lead to a better pay packet, and an Aussie has joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Deep Dive: There’s an infectious disease that's taking lives and leaving others severely disabled in Australia, despite there being a readily available vaccine. 

Unlike other strains, Meningococcal B hasn’t always been part of the country's national immunisation program, but after a growing number of preventable injuries and deaths, various states have made it widely available and free. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with Stacey Chater, a mother who lost her son to Meningococcal B, and the RACGP Vice President on what’s led to the problem, and which state’s are still falling behind.

Further listening from headlines:

Our 'underwater Chernobyl' 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: Support for the Opposition is at a 40-year low, feared many dead after a ferry caught fire and sank in Indonesia and investigations underway after a reported crocodile sighting in Noosa

Deep Dive: It’s the conspiracy and alleged cover-up that’s rocking the Trump administration. 

As pressure grows on the US government to reveal all they know about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the support of Trump’s MAGA power base is starting to shift, with some experts saying the US President will survive this latest scandal.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by US political expert Cory Alpert, who claims there is a top-secret Epstein list with powerful people from both sides of politics allegedly implicated. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines: HECS in the spotlight as parliament returns on Tuesday, Senator Pauline Hanson demands Mark Latham give up his seat, Pope condemns ‘barbarity of war’ as 73 killed waiting for aid in Gaza, Mushroom lunch survivor’s first comments after Patterson verdict, and the Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ scandal just keeps on giving.

Deep Dive: A landmark voting reform in the UK’s sparked the question of whether 16-year-old's are old enough to vote, after the country announced it was dropping its legal age from 18 to 16. 

It's set to follow other countries like Austria and Brazil that already allow 16-year-old's to cast a vote at the ballot box, with some now calling on Australia to follow suit. 

On this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks to Build A Ballot’s Lizzie Hedding about whether Australia’s youth are politically educated, and how to get Aussies engaged in the system that impacts every facet of their lives. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus episode: It’s one of our most popular and enduring TV reality shows, with a new line-up of celebrity judges and fame-chasing contestants returning to our screens next month for a fourteenth season. 

Kate Miller-Heidke, Spice Girl Melanie C, Boyzone’s Ronan Keating, and 1980s hitmaker Richard Marx will take to the spinning chairs this year on the Channel Seven show. 

But have you ever wondered what REALLY goes on behind the scenes on The Voice Australia? And what’s the true cost for those young hopefuls who take part? 

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, you’ll hear the eye-opening truth from insiders including former winner Karise Eden and ex-contestant Matthew Hearne. 

For more, including extraordinary revelations from former Australia Idol judges, you can listen to all episodes of The Moment It Changed: Touchdown for free on Apple, Spotify, LiSTNR or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This episode contains descriptions of self-harm. If you or anyone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.  There's also references to family violence. If you or anyone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bec Judd first made headlines in ‘that’ red dress at the Brownlow Medals, a moment that catapulted her into the national spotlight and created a media frenzy.

The Perth girl went from working in trauma wards as a speech pathologist to presenting on national TV, becoming a businesswoman and one of Australia’s most famous WAGs.

In this chat with Helen Smith, Bec reveals why she’s why she’s choosing to be transparent about cosmetic work, the questions she's asked that her husband never is and and the beauty procedures she refuses to try - despite being shamelessly vain.

Weekend list with Antoinette Lattouf:

• TO READ: Tilda is Visible by Jane Tara
• TO READ: Come Together by Eliza Hull
• TO Watch: Chef's Table on Netflix
• TO LISTEN: Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fascinating new research has revealed why sport has become our new religion. 

An Australian sports expert has delved into how being part of team as a player or passionate fan can literally change your brain and gives us powerful connections and a sense of community. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Aaron Smith to unpack the latest research and the fascinate science behind why sport makes us tick. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

Picture credit: Carlo Allegri/Reuters 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Donald Trump demands answers after IDF strikes Gaza's only Catholic Church, Australia is in the midst of a vicious flu season with respiratory illnesses surging, Australian law firm launches action against Qantas over cyber attack, tributes flow for Australian killed in base jumping accident and it turns out y'all love a conspiracy theory! 

Deep Dive: Can Kyle Sandilands end racism?
Kyle Sandilands and Eddie McGuire are among the faces of a new national anti-racism campaign - but are they the right people for the job? 

Backed by major media outlets including Channels 7, 9 and 10, KIIS owner ARN and News Corp, the #StandUpToHate campaign is being billed as an “unprecedented show of solidarity” against racial hatred. Yet some are questioning whether these ambassadors undermine the message. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with journalist and founder of Back Cover Media, Mibengé Nsenduluka about the campaign, its choice of spokespeople, and whether it can drive real change. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: Bank exec charged with procuring under-age girls for sex found dead, Aussie dollar down as unemployment rate rises, Palestinian Ministry of Health reports over 58,000 killed in Gaza since October 7 and Tomorrowland mainstage engulfed by flames.

Deep Dive: Credit and debit surcharges are costing Australians billions of dollars every year. But who’s making the profit? The RBA announced this week that it wants to crack down on a major loophole and abolish the surcharges. 

In this episode, Natarsha Belling is joined by Brad Kelly, co-founder of Independent Payments Forum, who explains how the surcharges work and why the planned overhaul may actually be bad news for small businesses and consumers.  

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A little tracking tag in your bin might seem harmless - but what happens when that data is combined with all the other tech tracking your life? 
 
From profiling your household habits to being used in ways you’d never expect, the risk goes far beyond waste collection. 
 
In part two of this deep dive, Chris Spyrou speaks with former FBI and US intelligence officer turned cybersecurity expert Dr Dennis Desmond on how your everyday data can be harvested, weaponised – and how to protect yourself. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Donald Trump turns on his own supporters labelling them weaklings over the Epstein Files saga, Israel has struck the capital of Syria killing at least three, birthrate's in Aussie cap cities declined further this year, Australians are losing $110 million a week in unpaid super, and two footy legends have gone head to head, not on the field but in the ring! 

Deep Dive: Your bin is spying on you
Ever noticed a little green chip under your council bin? It's an RFID tag used by waste management services across Australia to boost efficiency, but could the data it collects be used for more than tracking collections?  
 
In part one of this two-part deep dive, Chris Spyrou speaks with the CEO of Veolia Australia and New Zealand to find out why our bins are being fitted with this tech and whether fears of “Bin Brother” are justified. 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom 
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.