The Briefing

Thursday Headlines: Trump walks back tariffs, Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor's first debate, Australia removes video game featuring rape and Mr G is back.

Deep Dive: You may be identifiable to police through a DNA database without even realising it. Turbocharged by family tree, medical, paternity and crime testing, DNA databases are expanding rapidly.

Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?, a new podcast investigation into the DNA industry, explores the minefield of risks to our presumption of innocence and privacy.

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Melbourne-based criminal defense lawyer Felix Ralph, who says we should be concerned that we're marching towards total genetic surveillance. 

Further listening from the headlines: 
China vows to retaliate after Trump's 'bully' tariffs is available on LiSTNR or wherever you get your podcasts.

The full season of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit? is available on LiSTNR

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Afternoon Headlines: Donald Trump’s 'Liberation Day' Tariffs have come into effect, Virginia Giuffre failed to appear in a Perth Court and an Australian teenager breaks 57-year-old sprinting record.

Deep Dive: We’ve been promised plenty from our politicians, but how do we really stop our soaring power bills and create a safe and reliable energy future?   

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Chris O’Keefe from the Clean Energy Council who believes renewables are the answer and that it’s a tough reality our nation needs to face.

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Wednesday Headlines: Anthony Albanese wins first leaders debate, Jim Chalmers having high-level finance talks, Australia's median home value has increased, META is expanding its teen account protections, Sea World Helicopter crash findings to be delivered today, and a wolf that’s been extinct for over 13-thousand years has been brought back to life ... or has it?!

Deep Dive: Australia’s preparing for a new kind of war, one that doesn’t involve soldiers and weapons, but cyber criminals who could take whole cities offline with just the press of a button. 

One former hacker turned future crime researcher says he’s paid to prepare the country against modern warfare - a kind of war he says even our own military couldn’t protect us from.
In today’s episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by futurist Skeeve Stevens to find out all the ways we are being targeted, who our biggest threats are and what we’re doing about it.

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Afternoon Headlines: Prime Minister's not ruling out a recession as ongoing tariff war between the US and China continues

Deep Dive: As uncertainty continues to destabilize our world, leading experts say now is the time for brave, new politicians to revolutionize the way we run Australia. 

Rather than offering cash for grabs in this Federal election, there are growing calls for our leaders to offer long term solutions to our housing and affordability crises. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling, is joined by businessman and founder of Amplify Paul Bassat who says people power is the solution.  

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Tuesday Headlines: New mental health promises, Bondi Junction stabbing inquest, NSW public hospital doctors walk off jobs, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with President Trump, Matildas win and Minecraft becomes the most watched video game movie in first few days.

Deep Dive: Electric vehicles promise a cleaner, cheaper future - but what happens when the world’s biggest EV brand is in crisis. 

Tesla’s global sales are falling, competition is heating up, and CEO Elon Musk is facing growing backlash. So could this shake-up stall Australia’s EV transition - or pave the way for new players and more affordable options? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Sarah Aubrey from Electrify This to unpack what Tesla’s troubles mean for the future of electric cars in Australia. 

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Afternoon Headlines: Multiple rate cuts expected as ASX tumbles 

Deep Dive: The federal Treasurer says a number of interest rate cuts could be on the way this year as the fallout continues from Donald Trump’s tariffs. 

Global markets have seen a bloodbath on open this morning, with more than $160 billion wiped off the ASX 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling chats with Economist Nicki Hutley on the winners and losers from this financial rollercoaster. 

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In Part Two of The Briefing’s special on influencers in politics, we turn the spotlight on the media itself. 

As backlash grows over content creators stepping into the Australian political space, some say it’s less about bias—and more about blurred standards. 

Tara Cassidy is joined by Jenna Clarke, Associate Editor at The Australian, who argues there’s space for new voices in political coverage—but legacy media, regulation, and accountability still matter. So how do we strike the right balance in 2025? 

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Monday Headlines: Peter Dutton backflips on WFH promise, Liberal MP stood down after comments about women in combat, Jordanian man on Sydney-bound flight charged after allegedly trying to open plane door, US #Handsoff protest, Matildas take on South Korea again tonight and Bob Katter the star of a new beer.

Deep Dive: As we head into an election, some content creators are joining the campaign trail, partnering with politicians to engage young voters. But the lines between opinion, promotion, and political advertising are blurring. 

In part one of The Briefing’s two-part special, Tara Cassidy speaks with digital creator Hannah Ferguson, CEO of Cheek Media, who recently interviewed the PM, about the rise of online political voices in Australia and why she thinks traditional media needs to catch up. 

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Elouise Sofia Eftos, is 'Australia’s first attractive comedian', according to her Instagram bio.

She’s taking on the comedy world with her bold, beautiful and beguiling humour, whilst refusing to be self-deprecating for a laugh.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Elouise dives into the mystic world of the evil eye, where envy manifests as a curse, and reveals how she channels her inner goddess.

Find tickets to her next show here!

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO EAT: Women’s Weekly birthday cake
• TO DO: Post a good review of something!
• TO READ: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
• TO EAT: Harvest Snaps baked pea crisps

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Afternoon Headlines: Australians superfunds stolen in cyber attack and notorious gangland figure Tony Mokbel free after 18 years

Deep Dive: Season 3 of The White Lotus has taken the world by storm, including here in Australia, with everyone asking who gets murdered and why? 

The stars of the series were in Australia earlier this week, ahead of the much-anticipated finale dropping on Monday 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by entertainment reporter Richard Reid who reveals his theories on what happens next and explains why Season 4 could be filmed right here in Australia.

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