Podcast
The Briefing
Hosted by LiSTNR · EN
A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.
Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.
Know more in minutes.
Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.
153episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The surprise groups voting One Nation + The secret to cleaner, greener AI
Yesterday00:25:35Tap to summarizeThursday Headlines: One Nation support surges among women, inner-city livers and the wealthy Netanyahu brushes off tensions as Trump confirms fiery phone call Australia among countries facing new US tariffs 80% of cigs and vapes smoked in Australia last year were illegal Lisa Jane Spencer faces backlash for skit mocking Aboriginal Australians NSW to allow medicinal cannabis users to drive Deep Dive: We already know that our increasing appetite for all things AI has the potential to harm the planet and our hip pockets, with energy-hungry data centres needed to power the demand. A new report by the Climate Council has highlighted this fact, with fears of a 25% increase in electricity prices by 2035 and 3x growth in water consumption and energy needs in less than four years if things keep going unchecked. But there are ways for data centres to be green, with the Climate Council’s CEO Amanda McKenzie explaining how on this episode of The Briefing. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Australia's economic growth slows + KPMG scandal deepens
Yesterday00:14:30Tap to summarizeHeadlines: GDP growth in March quarter was 0.3%, lower than expected Carlton dick pic case to be heard in public Protests in Britain over police actions during stabbing death Active fighting again between Iran and the US Bear attacks in Japan are on the rise Deep Dive: The accounting firm KPMG is in crisis, after a whistleblower revealed KPMG had used confidential client information to secure further work for itself. Accounting firms are meant to be the upstanding citizens of the corporate world – now, though, KPMG is at risk of losing customers who no longer trust their documents will be kept secret. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Tansy Harcourt, senior writer for The Australian. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Trump calls Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’ + The Tony Abbott revival tour
2d ago00:24:14Tap to summarizeWednesday Headlines: Israel strikes southern Lebanon despite Trump’s announcement Changes to the NDIS will cause ‘material harm’ to disabled Australians Barnaby Joyce joins anti-abortion rally in Sydney Charlie Pickering calls Grace Tame's ABC podcast 'problematic' The ‘franken-can’ named Australia’s worst packaging Deep Dive: Tony Abbott is back in frontline Liberal Party politics, after being appointed the party’s Federal President. But not everyone in the party is convinced it's a good idea. Supporters see Abbott as a powerful communicator who can help reconnect the Liberals with their base, while critics fear his return could overshadow leader Angus Taylor and deepen divisions between the party's conservative and moderate wings. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with AFR political editor Phillip Coorey about why Abbott is back, how much influence a party president really has, and whether his return can help reverse the Liberal Party's decline Further listening from the headlines:“Globalise the Intifada” explained Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Race on for Ebola vaccine + Wage rise for millions of Aussies
2d ago00:14:13Tap to summarizeHeadlines: Minimum wages rise across Australia by 4.75% New Australian sanctions against West Bank settlers AI company Anthropic, worth $900bn, is going public Tennis legend Serena Williams is returning to the game 1,037 Marilyn Monroes celebrate her 100th birthday Deep Dive: “Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” a Médecins Sans Frontières spokesman said about the current Ebola emergency in the Congo. Officially, at least 43 people have died with 263 cases confirmed. Doctors suspect the numbers are much higher. As the disease spreads the race for a vaccine is on. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Ebola expert and epidemiologist, Professor Paul Griffin. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Australia has 17 new billionaires + How Trump can rig the midterms
3d ago00:25:00Tap to summarizeTuesday Headlines: Iran reportedly halts peace talks with US over Israeli strikes on Lebanon Peter Garrett to head independent probe into Aukus Australia hits record number of billionaires UNSW ranked best Australian uni Jill Biden reveals her reaction to Joe Biden’s disastrous presidential debate against Donald Trump Deep Dive: They may be five months away, but chatter is already ramping up ahead of the US midterm elections. The vote – which helps decide who controls Congress – will be the first major verdict on Donald Trump’s second presidency, but factors other than his performance in the White House will be at play. In this deep dive, Planet America’s Chas Licciardello joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break it all down and explain how this election could signal be end of democracy. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Israel storms castle in Lebanon + Scrutiny on NSW Police brutality
3d ago00:15:48Tap to summarizeHeadlines: Jim Chalmers brushes off One Nation polling Israel expands ground offensive in Lebanon, seizes 900-year-old castle Police investigate Melbourne house fire that killed child Harvard speaker urges grads to “kill AI” Deep Dive: Complaints against NSW Police have risen by almost 70% in the last decade, and last year police paid $40 million in legal costs and settlements over alleged misconduct. Today the ABC’s Four Corners is airing an explosive report with videos of police bashing civilians, and calls for greater scrutiny. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Four Corners reporter Dylan Welch. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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One Nation outpolls Labor + Australia's $2bn PFAS lawsuit explained
4d ago00:25:09Tap to summarizeMonday Headlines: One Nation becomes most popular political party in Australia Defence Minister reveals changes to AUKUS pact Searches continue in flooded Laos cave for missing miners Australian house prices fall Socceroos lose friendly as countdown to the World Cup hits two weeks Deep Dive: The government last week launched its biggest lawsuit ever: Australia is suing the US corporate giant 3M for $2 billion, alleging that 3M concealed the fact that its firefighting foam was harmful. 3M's firefighting foam was made from PFAS chemicals, which scientists now say are environmental contaminants, and the government is seeking damages for the contamination of 28 military bases around Australia. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Ian Wright, Associate Professor in Water Science at Western Sydney University, to unpack what we know about PFAS and whether the Commonwealth's case goes far enough. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →BONUS: Life on the Moon is closer than you think
5d ago00:12:22Tap to summarizeElon Musk has sparked fresh space-race chatter after revealing SpaceX is shifting its focus from Mars to the Moon, with ambitions to build a “self-growing” lunar city within the next decade. With multiple countries and private companies rolling out lunar missions, the push to develop Earth’s only natural satellite is heating up fast. In this bonus episode of The Briefing, astrophysicist Brad Tucker from ANU joins us to break down who the major players are, what a self-growing city actually means, and why inflatable moon hotels might not be as sci-fi as they sound. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why John Safran is comfortable in the uncomfortable
6d ago00:41:01Tap to summarizeJohn Safran is a cult Australian documentarian and professional bear-poker whose career has included everything from trying to join the Ku Klux Klan to getting crucified in the Philippines - and he says he’d probably still do it all again. The filmmaker first gained fame in Race Around the World in 1997 and since then has always inserted himself into the centre of uncomfortable stories, including squatting inside Kanye West’s abandoned mansion while trying to understand the psychology behind Ye’s antisemitic spiral. In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, John shares his take on free speech in 2026, why censorship means something completely different in the internet age and how Australians are smarter than we give them credit for. Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Daniel TO READ: Griefdogg by Michael Winkler TO WATCH: Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) on Netflix TO TRY: Uber pool TO DO: Check out Broadsheet Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Amazon crackdown + Australia's first female NRL caller
6d ago00:21:13Tap to summarizeHeadlines: Aussie Rents could increase Opposition Leader withdraws his comments Amazon Backpack in trouble with ACCC Tribute show to John Farnham announced Deep Dive: Sports journalist Emma Lawrence made history this year as the first woman to call an NRL game, with her achievement being hailed as a win for all women in broadcasting and the industry. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Emma who reveals why she wanted to smash the glass ceiling and how her young daughter inspired her to take on one of the toughest jobs in a male dominated industry. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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