The Briefing

Friday Headlines:
Donald Trump calls off execution live stream
Greens senator on leave after allegations of inappropriate comments to women
Labor's digital duty of care bill introduced to Parliament
Zelenskyy says he is 'done' with US ceasefire on energy targets
Debate erupts over public bars on Brisbane ferries
Deep Dive: It took about 15 minutes for YouTube to take Marc Fennell’s kids from Minecraft videos to manosphere content. Nobody touched the remote. So he set up a phone as a young bloke, and within five weeks the algorithm had moved from gym tips and crypto to racist AI slop.
So why is it finding such a receptive audience in Australian men, and is the algorithm really to blame?
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Marc to talk about his new ABC docuseries The State of Man, what he learnt sitting down with manosphere influencers and the men who’ve left it, and what could work to change course.
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Thursday Headlines:
Greens and Coalition team up to block Labor's private health bill
Russel Brand a ‘ruthless, calculated and manipulative sexual predator’ court hears
Netflix to lay off 1000 staff
Vatican says Pope Leo recovering as expected
First Australian restaurants score Michelin stars – and they’re all in South Australia
Deep Dive: Australia’s falling fertility rate was recently laid bare in the government’s 2026 Intergenerational Report, which revealed just 1.34 babies per woman will be born by 2065.
It’s sparked a conversation around what could move the dial when it comes to encouraging Australians to have more kids.
One suggestion has been a national fertility plan.
In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Petra Wale from the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand to discuss the plan and whether we it’s time to bring back sweeteners like the Baby Bonus.
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Wednesday Headlines:
Anthony Albanese working to stop execution livestream being shown in Australia
Small business minister says she’s received 19 death threats in a week over surcharge changes
Convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith to be extradited to NSW
Sharp rise in family and sexual violence rates against Australian children
Cybersecurity experts warn French supermarket fridge hack could happen in Australia
Australia win's first test in South Africa
Deep Dive: The Cornell 7 case has sparked global headlines, condemnation and outrage; seven men accused of gang raping a woman inside a frat house at one of America’s most prestigious universities.
As police reopen the investigation into the 2024 incident, the spotlight has turned back on Greek life and whether fraternities and sororities still have a place on modern campuses.
In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by higher education expert Dr. Pietro Sasso to unpack the culture of American Greek life and examine its connection to cases like the Cornell 7.
This story discusses confronting details about sexual violence. If you need support, you can contact 1800 RESPECT or Full Stop Australia.
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Tuesday Headlines:
Australian government urged to ban livestream of US public execution
Simon Carman pleads guilty to one charge in Thai teen murder trial
Molly Ticehurst’s killer to appeal murder conviction
Petrol prices now back at levels seen at the start of the Iran war
WA to limit screen use for K-2 students in pilot program
Deep Dive: One AI went rogue and breached a Medicare portal. Another fired off a bogus murder tip to US police. And the tech giants behind them took months to notice.
Meanwhile in Canberra, federal MPs are questioning the people building systems that could one day cure cancer... but could also, by their own admission, wipe us out.
So can a country our size actually keep big tech in line? Or are we just along for the ride?
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Independent MP for Curtin Kate Chaney, who sits on parliament’s AI committee. They unpack what she’s heard in the hearings, why she wants $100 million a year spent on AI safety, and what rules data centres should have to follow.
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Monday Headlines:
Opt-out laws to pass Parliament after controversial ministerial power dropped
Zelensky surprised as Trump announces energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
Australians warned against travelling to Saudi capital after Houthi attacks on airports
Australian hiker found dead in Peru
Aussies issued important advice ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6 release
Deep Dive: This November, American voters will head to polls to decide whether the Republicans or the Democrats will control the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
The vote is largely being seen as a verdict on Donald Trump’s presidency, halfway through his second term.
So, with Trump’s agenda on the line, a shift of just a few seats in either direction could give Democrats the power to block his cabinet appointments, stall legislation, or completely flip control of Washington.
In today’s episode of The Briefing, Planet America’s Chas Licciardello joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the key battleground races, Trump's sway over voters, and what a predicted Democrat win will mean for the rest of his two years in the White House.
Further listening from the headlines:
The Houthis vs Saudi Arabia explained
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