The Briefing

One and a half billion sets of eyes will be on New Jersey come Monday morning, when Spain and Argentina face off to decide who takes home football's biggest prize.
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Ed Kavalee - co-host of SBS's nightly show Santo & Ed's Cup Fever - to get you across everything you need to know before kick-off.

They unpack Ed's theory on how both finalists made it this far, whether the World Cup is rigged, plus:
the Ronaldo-Messi era reaching its final chapter,
Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA's president, and
an honest post-mortem on the Socceroos' performance this year.
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Georgie Tunny has spent more than a decade working her way through Australian newsrooms, from an ABC cadetship to Network 10's flagship desk.
In this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Helen Smith asks Georgie what it took to carve out a place in sports journalism as a woman when the industry offered few seats at the table, the exhaustion of breakfast TV and the long road to trusting her own instincts.

She also reflects on turning 35, her time on The Project, taking on The Amazing Race Australia with her fiancé Rob Mills and her debut novel set inside the cutthroat world of television, inspired by the friendships and rivalries she's lived firsthand.
You can get your hands on Georgie’s debut novel ‘Over to You’ here.
THE WEEKEND LIST:
Listener Bec’s to-do: Phase 10 + guac for six hours with friends
To read: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
To do: Delete Pinterest
To do: Start a Spotify account and only listen to Powderfinger
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Friday Headlines:
Bianca Jones’ father calls on Albanese to intervene over inadequate methanol poisoning charges
Iran launches fresh attacks on Gulf states as US strikes ship attempting to breach blockade
Second case of bird flu detected in NSW
Smoking rates hit historic low across Australia
Pauline Hanson and Gina Rinehart spotted at White Lotus hotel
Deep Dive: Is Australia a world leader on AI? Anthony Albanese wants you to think so – he gave a speech last week in the Great Hall at The University of Sydney, where he implied that new Australian AI regulations could set a global benchmark – similar to superannuation and the social media ban.
Today we’re looking at Labor’s AI plan, and whether it really is a world-leading attempt to curb the harms of AI and harness its potential. What’s right with the plan, and what’s missing?
Joining The Briefing is AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of New South Wales.
Further listening from the headlines:
Why smoking is ‘cool’ again
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Thursday Headlines:
Albanese’s plan to protect water, energy, and content from AI
Brisbane teen granted bail after alleged school stabbing
Trump threatens to expand strikes on Iran
A network of Australian doctors’ clinics have been hit by a cyberattack
Argentina v England World Cup semifinal is underway
Deep Dive: From the demolition of the White House East Wing to his push for a towering, 250-foot Triumphal Arch, Donald Trump is physically rebuilding Washington D.C. to match his personal brand.
But aside from an obsession with the grandiose, what is motivating the president to push for these ego-driven federal megaprojects?
In this episode of The Briefing, former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explore why he believes this obsession with monarchical grandeur is a direct threat to democratic ideals.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:
Donald Trump walks back threat to charge toll on the Strait of Hormuz
Albanese to announce world-first AI office
Brisbane teen critical after school stabbing
Angus Taylor rules out a coalition with One Nation
First FIFA World Cup semi-final underway
Deep Dive: Beetlejuice has cancelled its national tour; Waitress is no longer coming to Sydney. The big musicals said that production costs were too high and sales were too low. The show could not go on.
This week, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance held an emergency meeting to discuss the future of Australia’s musical theatre industry and how to save it.
In this episode of The Briefing, the Federal President of the MEAA, Michael Balk, joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to reveal the union's plan to save the industry, and how fans and the government can help.
Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.