The Briefing

Monday Headlines: Pope Leo joined by world leaders for inauguration mass, former police officer extradited to face child abuse charges, 21yo facing 53 hate-related charges, Mexican ship lost power before colliding with Brooklyn Bridge, and Verstappen takes out Italian GP in Imola.

Deed Dive: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared Israel will enter Gaza “with full force” - saying there will be “no situation where we stop the war”. 

This escalation comes as Israel’s blockade on aid entering the strip enters its third month with warnings of famine and as US President Donald Trump suggests developing Gaza into a “freedom zone”.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Dr Ayman Elattar and Claire Minera, from MSF who has just returned from the region, to unpack what this latest promise will mean for the 2.1 million Palestinians in the city. 

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Jefferson Fisher could be the male version of Mel Robbins. He is part of the billion-dollar self-help industry fuelled by podcasts, books, TED talks and TikTok therapy - all promising how to be the best version of yourself.

He’s the Texan lawyer teaching us how to communicate better, navigate conflict with class and tell if someone’s lying.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Jefferson unpacks society’s obsession with self-help, what’s driving our hunger for personal growth and why Australian’s are his biggest fans.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO LISTEN: The Moment it Changed: Touchdown
• TO DO: Visit your local state library
• TO LISTEN: Lamestream the podcast
• TO WATCH: Derry Girls on Netflix

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Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.

She’s pled not guilty to all charges.

In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day thirteen of the trial in under two minutes.

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Afternoon Headlines: Ben Roberts-Smith loses appeal bid to overturn defamation case vowing to head to the high court, Justin Bieber breaks silence over Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trail and lowest paid Australians promised a wage increase

Deep Dive: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to mental health disorders including autism, ADHD and schizophrenia, according to new research. 

One in five adults in Australia suffers from a lack of the vitamin D, with men having a higher risk of being deficient over women. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by one of the authors of the study, Professor John McGrath, to unpack what this data means for our mental health and how we can test for and treat vitamin D deficiency.  

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Friday Headlines:  Over a third of Australian homes now cost at least $1 million, new Greens leader Larissa Waters says she wants to bring the party back to its original roots, Donald Trump says he wants the US to take control of Gaza, polio outbreak in PNG threatens Australia, NSW has secured the Women's Origin series, and Australia opens Eurovision Semi Final 2! 

Deep Dive:  In the early 2000s and 2010s, reality music TV turned unknown Australians into household names. 
 
But in 2025, can you name the most recent Australian Idol winner?  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with former record label executive and host of the new LiSTNR podcast The Moment it Changed: Touchdown, Nic Kelly to unpack what really happens after the confetti falls.  
 
Why do so many winners disappear? And has Aussie music TV lost its magic, or just changed with the times? 

Further listening: 
Who is the 'Milkshake Man' representing Australia at Eurovision

The Moment it Changed: Touchdown

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.

She’s pled not guilty to all charges.

In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day twelve of the trial in under two minutes.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: New Leader of the Greens elected, The Prime Minister has kicked off his first overseas trip since being re-elected, Manhunt underway in Sydney after a boarder force officer stabbed and World number one tennis player meets new Pope Leo 

Deep Dive: New research has linked tracking apps and other social media to coercive control and cyberstalking. 

While for many of us they’re a useful tool to check in on family and friends, the eSafety Commissioner is warning the apps can used to isolate, micro-manage and monitor others. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Commissioner Julie Inman Grant who has launched a new campaign flagging the warning signs to look out for and why big tech companies need to be held to account.  

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Headlines: Greens to decide new leader, NSW abortion bill update, Bondi stabbings inquest continues today, a Queensland man is feared to have died in Ukraine, and Airbnb announces new services.

Deep Dive: A global study’s found 250 genes linked to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for the first time, and the parts of the brain the genes impact.

It’s hoped the breakthrough will lead to improvements in OCD’s treatment and diagnosis, and help improve the lives of around 500, 000 Australians who have it. 
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with an OCD advocate and author of 'The Joy Chief' Penny Moodie, as well as one of the researchers behind the worldwide study.

Further listening: 
Chris' chat with the Legalise Cannabis Party's NSW Senate Candidate

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.

She’s pled not guilty to all charges.

In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day eleven of the trial in under two minutes.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon headlines: Ex-Olympian won’t serve jail time after fatal crash killing his Olympian wife, AEC confirms missing ballots found at electoral worker’s home and Menendez brothers' now eligible for parole. 

Deep Dive: The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is underway with Singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend, taking the stand alleging she was forced to participate in ‘freak-offs’.

The music mogul is facing charges including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by criminal lawyer Jahan Kalantar to unpack what happened in court and what we know so far.  

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.