The Briefing

Wednesday Headlines:  Labor to pass contentious tax reforms  Angus Taylor grilled on multiculturalism Urgent testing underway but no new cases of bird flu yet 40 die in France amid record heat Legal win for Sydney nurses after viral video struck out Daryl Braithwaite announces retirement from live gigs Deep Dive: The Australian political narrative has been completely hijacked by the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation, as the party and its leader continue to surge ahead in the polls.   But after the Prime Minister publicly challenged her claim that she is the ultimate champion of the "Aussie battler" this week, a critical question remains: who does her party actually stand for?    In this episode of The Briefing, Big Small Talk host Hannah Ferguson joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the reality behind the rhetoric.  Further listening from headlines: Bird flu's hit Australia. What now? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  National Cabinet to meet today to lock in fuel excise cut extension JD Vance says ‘great progress’ made as Iran talks kicks off in Switzerland UK Prime Minister could resign in next 24 hours Auction clearance rates hit lowest levels since the pandemic Socceroos 90% likely to reach next stage of World Cup Deep Dive:Last month, Australian neo-Nazi group White Australia, also known as the National Socialist Network, became a prohibited hate group. That means it is now illegal: it’s a crime to join, fund, or support the group. The NSN is challenging the government’s declaration, with a showdown scheduled in the High Court for September.  In the meantime, it’s been revealed a $2.5m Victorian property the neo-Nazi group is currently using as their headquarters has been paid for by a millionaire backer. And it’s not just one millionaire, but a network of rich and influential sympathisers.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with journalist Sherryn Groch from The Age, who has followed the money to find the neo-Nazis' mansion and the millionaire-backers supporting them.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was meant to bring us all together, to cross the divides of land and sea and become a virtual town square. A place for people to connect and share their thoughts, ideas and dreams.  The vision was there, but the reality of social media has become something much different.  It’s a place driven by outrage, hate, and controversy. And it’s ruining public debate and possibly us as a society.  Ed Coper is one of the founding strategists behind GetUp! and he’s written a new book Angertainment about how social media has birthed an entire outrage industry that is harvesting and monetising our worst impulses.  In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Ed tells us how we got here and why understanding it is the first step to defeating it.  Ed Coper appears at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday 24 June. Angertainment is available now.  The Weekend List: To do: Get to a Jazz bar (recommended by listener Timmy)  To do: Get around the SBS  To Watch: John Safran’s new doco Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran (on SBS) To Watch: The Socceroos (beat?) the US at the World Cup  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Pauline Hanson criticised for press club address as AFP investigates banner incident US officials reveal Iran peace deal details Pakistani officials apologise for fatal shooting of Australian girl First non-stop flight to Europe from Australia’s east coast confirmed The Maroons thump the Blues in State of Origin 2 Deep Dive:Kyle Sandilands and ARN have settled their legal dispute, clearing the way for the radio shock jock to make his next move in the audio space.  But it turns out he’ll still be tied to his former employer, which will be taking a cut of the profits from his new show, and they’ll still have to host ads for him on the station he once called home.  In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined again by industry insider Craig Bruce to break down the deal and what it means for the future of audio in Australia.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines:  Skepticism surrounds US-Iran peace deal AFP confirms investigation into allegations of sexual assault by flotilla activists Sydney shark attack victim loses arm Economists back government’s CGT plan, but admit it’s not perfect Gina Rinehart buys ‘significant’ stake in SpaceX Deep Dive: A new cosmetic procedure is plumping faces – and raising eyebrows – in the US.   It involves using the fat from dead bodies as filler in patients seeking plumper lips, butts and faces, despite very limited clinical trials or proof it’s safe.   In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by QLD plastic surgeon Dr David Sparks to talk zombie filler and ask not only whether it’s safe, but also whether it’s ethical to use cadaver tissue for beauty.  Further listening from headlines:'I heard the screams': Inside Israeli detentionElon’s road to $1,000,000,000,000 Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  New poll has Pauline Hanson as preferred PM Trump tells all sides to ‘stand down’ amid peace talks Nine-year-old Australian girl killed in Pakistan Renewed calls for a Sydney shark cull after Coogee attack Socceroos stun in World Cup opener against Turkiye Deep Dive: A proposed $900 million waste-to-energy plant in Fiji sparked fierce criticism before it was ultimately rejected, with opponents warning the nation risked becoming the "Pacific's ashtray" and accusing Australia of engaging in "waste colonialism".  The project has reignited debate around waste-to-energy technology, which supporters say can reduce landfill and generate electricity, but critics argue risks creating a dependence on burning waste rather than reducing it.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with environmental researcher Professor Ray Wills about the Fiji proposal, the future of waste-to-energy in Australia, and whether burning rubbish is a necessary part of solving the country's growing waste problem.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As most states (sorry, WA and QLD) gear up to celebrate the King's Birthday public holiday tomorrow, some might be asking the question Aussies have been asking themselves for decades; Why are we still living life under the British monarchy? In this bonus episiode of The Briefing, we hear from a republican and a monarchist about their arguments to either leave or stay. This episode was first published in October 2024 as King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Australia for a royal tour. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.