The Briefing

Monday Headlines:
Flotilla activists claims of sexual assault while detained
Trump says no rush for Iran deal despite it being ‘largely negotiated’
Second Australian killed in shark attack in as many weeks
Independents in 'advanced talks' to create a new political party
Animals thriving in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Deep Dive: One of Australia’s biggest cocaine stings almost collapsed because of a behind-the-scenes turf war between Australian police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At the centre of it was a $1 billion shipment linked to a Mexican cartel and a covert operation that exposed deep fractures inside the agencies meant to stop it.
A new season of Secrets We Keep, Behind the White Line, traces the journey of cocaine from narco to nostrils, uncovering the global syndicates, corruption and violence behind Australia’s appetite for the world’s glamour drug.
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with investigative journalist Richard Baker about the extraordinary operation, the infighting that threatened to derail it, and the human cost behind Australia’s cocaine obsession.

Listen to Rich’s latest season of Secrets We Keep: Behind the White Line here.
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What happens when the Australian dream turns into a family nightmare?
The new Australian film Birthright takes a darkly funny look at housing inequality, intergenerational wealth and the growing divide between baby boomers and younger Australians - as more adults find themselves moving back in with their parents.
As Australia’s housing crisis deepens, the idea that hard work alone can secure a home is feeling increasingly out of reach, fuelling resentment, financial pressure and shifting family dynamics.
In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Zoe Pepper, writer and director of Birthright, to unpack the reality behind the satire and ask whether the ‘great Australian dream’ has become more myth than reality.
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Lyse Doucet is a proud Acadian woman who was born in a small town in Canada and went on to become the BBC’s chief international correspondent - having just the other week returned from reporting in Iran.

She's spent her career on the ground in some of the most dangerous and infamous war zones - ranging from Damascus to Tehran and the Ivory Coast to Gaza, but she’ll be the first to tell you that there’s a lot more to these places than the conflicts they become known for.

In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Lyse unpacks her new book which takes place inside the walls of Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel, the importance of truth in journalism and how to make a home even in the midst of bombs and wars.
You can see Lyse at Sydney Writers Festival on May 24
Weekend list with Helen Smith
Listener Roxy TO WATCH: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Disney+

TO WATCH: Nakba video by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
TO DO: Skin check!

TO WATCH: At home with the Fury's on Netflix
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Headlines:
Australian man dies after fall on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Guzman y Gomez is closing its doors on US business
New Zealand’s Finance Minister invites Aussies over after latest budget changes
Stephen Colbert's Late Show finale begins
Deep Dive:
Kylie Minogue kept her second cancer diagnosis a secret – until this week. Australia’s pop princess has a tell-all Netflix documentary out now, which includes the stories of her 2021 diagnosis and her struggle to become a mum. Filled with home footage, the documentary gives an insider look at Kylie’s rise, her losses, her loves, and the music that helped her through.
In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by entertainment reporter Justin Hill.
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Friday Headlines:
Australian flotilla activists released
More ‘ISIS brides’ heading to Australia
Pauline Hanson announces Norway-inspired gas policy, staffer tells journalist to ‘shut up’
New documents reveal Queen’s hopes for Andrew
Legendary BBC international correspondent Lyse Doucet on the Weekend Briefing
Deep Dive: The sudden departure of Kyle and Jackie O has triggered a power struggle in Australian radio, leaving KIIS’s parent company ARN on the hunt for listeners.
In a surprising move, the network has gambled on television veterans Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire to headline a brand-new national show.
In this episode of The Briefing, industry expert Craig Bruce joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the strategy behind the move and whether this controversial pairing can help save the embattled network.
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