Violence is building in Lebanon as the war is Gaza spills over multiple fronts.

Over the weekend Israeli strikes killed several high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, while also injuring and killing many Lebanese civilians.

Governments around the world are calling for ceasefire, with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong warning citizens in Lebanon to come home before further escalation. With all this underway, how are Australians with ties to Lebanon feeling right now, watching from afar? And what do they want you to keep in mind?

Liz Deep-Jones is a journalist and human rights advocate of Lebanese descent. She joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to share her thoughts on the conflict right now.

Find out more about Liz’s latest documentary ‘We Bleed the Same’ here. 

Lucinda Price (AKA Froomes) turned her internet personality into a full time gig and her debut book All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot unpacks it all.

The debut author knows how much it takes to be ‘hot’ and has dipped her toe into all facets of the Australian media landscape.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lucinda reveals just how much her quest to be attractive cost her and how her eating disorder was misdiagnosed for years.

If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@butterfly.org.au

Weekend List
TO EAT: Generational cooking
TO WATCH: Kaos on Netflix
TO EAT: Frozen choc peanut butter dates
TO LISTEN: Geolier Italian rapper

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Lucinda 'Froomes' Price just wanted to be hot

Crumbl Cookies is the billion dollar US company that made global headlines this week after a group of Sydneysiders imported 800 of their cookies and sold them at an inflated price in Bondi.

The group had no affiliation to the company, and have since posted statements on their social media accounts claiming to be "fans" of the American product who wanted to introduce them to Australian audiences. Crumbl Cookies has also said publicly that there is no association between the two business operations. 

The whole ordeal has opened up major legal questions. On this episode of The Briefing, lawyer Jahan Kalanter joins Chris Spyrou to explain the legal lines that may have been crossed.

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The Crumbl cookie scandal exposing our trademark laws

Headlines: Pro-Palestine protests to go ahead, Melania Trump doubles down on abortion rights support, FOI documents reveal Gina Rinehart asked the national gallery to “permanently dispose” of portraits and daylight savings starts this weekend. 

Deep dive: Lobbyists speaking with the Federal Government, and giving MPs gifts, is nothing new.  

These groups have a range of interests, including the Australian Medical Association, KFC and even Kmart. It is all perfectly legal - and there is legislation in place to make sure lobbying is done in a responsible way.   

The Alliance for Gambling (AFG) reform this week revealed that 19 MPs accepted tickets to sporting events from gambling companies, ahead of the government discussing whether to ban gambling ads here in Australia. But is the Government consulting with both sides of any debate a bad idea?  

In this episode of the Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the AFG’s chief advocate Tim Costello to explain what is happening behind closed doors.  

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Sport, gambling, tobacco - how lobbyists influence government

Women are lifting heavy in 2024 than it’s ever been. 

There’s been a 20% increase in female participation in competitive lifting and bodybuilding events in the U.S, and here in Australia, there are now more women than men competing in a range national events. But, bodybuilding can come with a darkside – disordered eating, steroid use, and pushing yourself to the physical extreme.

So why are so many women joining the movement? Is it smart – is it safe – and what does life look like when you do?

On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by LiSTNR’s Ed Gooden to explore what he found out when he asked those in the sport why they do it.  

Today’s deep dive discusses disordered eating – If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call The Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673. 

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Why are more women lifting weights than ever before?

Headlines: Melbourne and Sydney pro-Palestine protestors push ahead with plans for protests over October 7 weekend, Labor plans to address shrinkflation, Australia’s rental prices might finally be coming down and we look at last night's Dally M awards.

Deep dive: When we think about the effects of war on children – the psychological trauma of witnessing violence and the loss of loved ones is well known.

But what is lesser known is exactly how these conflicts disproportionately affect young girls over boys – the brutal violations of their rights and the surprising ways they find escapism to cope with it all.

This insight is the focus of a new report published today by Plan International, which surveyed over 10,000 young people across 10 countries currently experiencing armed conflict. The report, which was first published in 2007 under the title the ‘State of the World’s Girls’, has this year been widened to include young boys for the first time.

On this episode of The Briefing, CEO of Plan International Australia Susanne Legena joins Antoinette Lattouf to unpack the results.

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The state of the world's girls in 2024

Tim Walz and JD Vance have gone head-to-head in what will be their only chance to
convince the American voting public to pick their leader in the upcoming election in
November.

Hosted by CBS News at the network's broadcast center in New York City, former high
school teacher and American football coach Tim Walz and Donald Trump's vice-
presidential nominee and author of Hillbilly Elegy JD Vance went high and low.

Policies on abortion, healthcare, guns, childcare, the economy and more were flying left,
right and center. Polls suggest the race is incredibly close. Has this debate swayed
anyone unsure of who to pitch their vote to, 35 days away from the election? Washington-based journalist David Levinthal joins Helen Smith on this episode of The Briefing to give his verdict on who came out on top.

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Are JD Vance and Tim Walz friends?

Headlines: Iran strikes Israel as IDF ground invasion of Lebanon continues, Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’, NDIS changes revealed, and a naked Donald Trump effigy.

Deep dive: From war, to surveillance, to delivering food to your front door, drone technology is quickly entering regular use in our daily lives.

A surprising new addition to that list is helping to save Australia’s unique Greater Glider from logging in its habitat in NSW. Those using the tech say, “if you can see them, you can save them”, and that enlisting the help of drones is essential in monitoring habitat.

But is it safe? And is it overstepping the fine balance between conservation and industry?

Leanne St George from Ripper Corporation Drones and Stuart Blanch from the World Wide Fund for Nature join Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to explain how they’re using the drones, and why they think the effort is worth it.

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How drones are exposing vulnerable animals at risk from logging

Experts have called Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s new Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, murder porn.

The series explores the real-life brutal murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez back in 1989 committed by their sons Lyle and Erik – who alleged their father sexually abused them since childhood, and that their mother knew and let it happen.

Experts and viewers have flagged multiple issues with the series including the accuracy around an incestuous homosexual relationship between the brothers.

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Dr Xanthé Mallett, a forensic criminologist from the University of Newcastle, to explain why this series is misleading.

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Why Netflix's Menendez brothers series is murder porn

Headlines: Israel prepares ground invasion of Lebanon, new code of conduct for dating apps in Australia, house prices slow nationally and New Zealand takes back haka world record.

Deep dive: SpaceX has just launched a five-month rescue mission to bring home Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station.

It's the next step in the long saga of a mission that hasn't gone according to plan, with the pair stuck in space since June after complications with their Boeing Starliner.

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Swinburne’s Co-Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute Dr Rebbeca Allen to talk through the next steps in the mission, and if she'd describe it as a failure.

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SpaceX's five-month rescue mission for stranded astronauts begins

How Lebanese Australians feel about the escalating violence

Headlines: Thousands gather for protests across Australia amid increased violence in the Middle East, Budget surplus, 8 in 10 Aussie CEOs think WFH will be over in three years and SNL launches season 50.

Deep dive: Ever thought about deleting yourself from the internet? It’s more complex than simply deactivating old accounts, especially when almost everything we do online leaves traces of our personal information behind. That data is banked and often extracted by brokers who use it to build and then sell detailed profiles of us to whoever is looking to buy.

While valuable to businesses, these profiles pose significant privacy risks that our current legal infrastructure is struggling to keep up with. But there is hope, with companies emerging to help individuals regain control, but many, like Melbourne-based podcast producer Lindsey Green, are taking on this daunting task themselves.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with LiSTNR’s Lindsey Green and DeleteMe CEO Rob Shavell to find out exactly what deleting yourself from the internet entails and what can be done to better protect our data.

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How to delete yourself from the internet

Dr Karl is Australia’s favourite science communicator, with a passion for colourful shirts with the energy of an exclamation mark!

He’s a former taxi driver, was a serial university student – studying for 16 years – and is now a much-loved medical personality on radio and TV who has just written a memoir – The Periodic Tale.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Dr Karl unpacks his family’s traumatic journey and Holocaust survival to how he thinks OnlyFans could help climate change.

Weekend List
TO READ: The Sunbird by Sara Haddad
TO WATCH: Dancing with the Stars US on YouTube
TO WATCH: Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Netflix
TO WATCH: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix

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Dr Karl says OnlyFans can save the planet

Black Myth: Wukong has become one of the fastest-selling games of all time, selling 10 million copies in just three days and changing the Chinese video game market forever.

But Wukong’s success didn’t come without controversy after the publishers, Hero games, asking reviewers not to discuss covid, the Chinese gaming industry and “feminist propaganda” whilst streaming.

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by writer and game reviewer for press start Harry Kalogirou to unpack what Wukong means for the future of the Chinese gaming industry.

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A Chinese video game is telling streamers what to say

Headlines: Supermarket prices have soared by 20% in the last five years, Palestinian President addresses the UN, if Trump wins the Australian economy will suffer and Katy Perry teases massive Australian name at tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final.

Deep Dive: The AFL Grand Final against the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions is set to have the highest ratings of all time.  

Both teams are two of the most supported in the league, but over the past week, NRL and AFL bosses have been clashing over ratings, codes and ‘delusional’ sporting state hype.  

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Triple M’s Liam Flanagan to unpack if AFL could ever take over an NRL state. 

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Is the AFL winning the code wars?

Housing, and the state of it in this country, has been on the minds of both Australian politicians and regular people alike.

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get real on exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.

This week The Briefing brought you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Liberals, and The Greens – and asked them to give you their key policy vision for how we fix the country’s housing crisis.

But do their proposals make economic sense? On this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by The Motley Fool's Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips to help us unpack what all three are proposing, and his verdict on what he thinks might fix it.

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The winners and losers of Australia's housing policies

Headlines: Labor reportedly considering a negative gearing policy, IDF prepares for ground assault in Lebanon, Choice reveals the cheapest supermarket and two Aussie suburbs make top 10 coolest in the world.

Deed Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis.  

From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.  

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get a real sense of exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Coalition, The Greens – to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Max Chandler-Mather from The Greens to unpack what they want you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.  



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Here’s how the Greens want to fix Australia’s housing crisis

The internet has become obsessed with two animals in recent weeks; Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo from Thailand, and Pesto the giant emperor penguin chick from Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium.

The interest has sparked hordes of visitors, thousands of memes, celebrity endorsements and even moves for a patent. What makes an animal go viral? And what are some of the unintended repercussions for the cute specimen in question?

On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Kyle Moore from Swinburne University to find out.

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What’s behind Moo Deng and Pesto’s viral moment?

Headlines: More strikes on Lebanon, the UN General Assembly meets, Australia's  Reserve Bank has held our cash rate steady for the seventh time in a row and the Federal Government has been slammed for approving coal mine expansions. Plus, the AFL Event office has been hacked just days out from the sold out Grand Final.



Deep Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis.  

From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.  

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get a real sense of exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Coalition, The Greens – to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Labor’s Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Clare O'Neil, to unpack what Labor wants you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.  



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Here’s how Labor wants to fix Australia’s housing crisis

Repression and media censorship in Venezuela are at an all-time high.

Reports of arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and torture of political dissidents have skyrocketed following claims that the country’s current president, Nicolas Maduro, stole the July 28 election.

But now, Venezuelan journalists are fighting back – reporting on events through two AI-generated avatars to avoid persecution. Both those avatars, as well as senior LiSTNR Investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco, join Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to unpack why this tech is necessary and the political state of Venezuela at the moment.

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Meet the AI journalists fighting censorship in Venezuela

Headlines: Fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 356 people, Albo blames supermarkets for adding to inflation, Reserve Bank tipped to leave interest rates on hold today and Patrick Cripps claims the Brownlow while the AFL settles with Katy Perry. 



Deep Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis. From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get real on exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Liberals, and The Greens – and asks them to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with the Coalition's Michael Sukkar, Federal Member for Deakin and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, to unpack what he wants you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.

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How will we fix our housing crisis? The Liberals’ plan for you

As the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, global attention has largely moved on - but the conflict remains, and continues to shape the future of Eastern Europe.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has made a third order to boost Russia's military presence since 2022 while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seemingly relying on ageing conscripts. Overall, it appears manpower on both sides is flailing.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Misha Zelinsky, a national security expert, journalist and author of ‘The Sun Will Rise,’ who has spent time on the ground in Ukraine to find out who, if anyone will be left to fight the war, and whether an end to the conflict is in sight.

Will anyone be left to fight the war in Ukraine?

Headlines: Australia living in its longest period of ‘economic misery’ in a decade, Israel – Lebanon update, Donald Trump says he won’t run in 2028 if he loses this election and Friends turns 30.

Deep Dive: Reports of online child exploitation have increased 45 per cent in the last financial year – which is an average of 160 a day.

Authorities say every one of these reports contains images and videos of real children being sexually abused or exploited. But how do you catch those responsible? And are social media platforms, where these images and videos can often be found, doing enough to fight it?

Jon Rouse is a retired Queensland Police Detective Inspector, who worked in Task Force Argos where he implemented Australia's first operation proactively targeting internet child sex offenders. He joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to explore where he thinks the increase is coming from.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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What social media platforms should be doing about child exploitation

Shaun Micallef is one of Australia’s most recognisable faces. He’s an actor, writer, television host and comedian.

Now he’s back with another show on the cards, Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey on SBS - where he takes six comics ‘back to where they came from’ for want of a better expression.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Shaun explains how he keeps getting the top gigs in television and what he actually thinks of his reviews.

Weekend List
TO WATCH: The Perfect Couple on Netflix
TO READ: A Periodic Tale by Dr Karl
TO LISTEN: Rex Orange County album The Alexander Technique
TO WATCH: Friends from College on Netflix

Shaun Micallef on why he's taking comics 'back to where they came from'

Big Brother Australia is returning to Australian TVs in 2025 for the 3rd time. Will it be the show's final, ever?

After traversing three networks, being revived and killed twice, and now needing to compete with the dominance of ad-free streaming and reality TV juggernauts like Love Island, is there a place for a show like Big Brother anymore?

Returning to its original home – Channel 10 – it plans to bring back some of its iconic live segments like Big Brother Uncut and Friday Night Live to lure audiences back to mainstream television – but with rates of free-to-air TV viewership dwindling, it might be too little, too late. Entertainment and gossip correspondent and reality TV show veteran Richard Reid joins Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the Big Brother launch plan and if he thinks it will sink or swim. 

Big Brother is back - but has our appetite for reality TV changed?

Dozens of people were killed this week in Lebanon in two separate attacks that were unlike anything the world has seen so far in warfare.

Pagers and walkie talkies belonging to militant group Hezbollah were set to detonate at the exact same time, injuring thousands of people.

It is yet to be explained who and how this attack came to be, but is it a sign of what wars will look like in the future? And what else can we expect from emerging technologies and strategies? On today’s episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Dr Keith Suter, Managing Director of Global Directions and an expert on global political risk to find out.

Headlines:

Hezbollah – Israel update 

Greens defend housing position 

Australia’s population has officially hit 27 million 

Kylie announces massive world tour, with Australia the first stop

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Witnessing the new face of cyber warfare in Lebanon + Headlines

This week Sean “Diddy” Combs, also known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in the United States.

The rapper has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. It’s not the first time the artist has had his reputation come under fire in public - since 2023 various allegations against him have been made, including physical and sexual abuse.

What do these latest charges mean for his future, and what does the reaction from both the hip-hop and wider music industry say about the influence and power an artist can hold? Helen Smith is joined by hip-hop journalist and author Simone Amelia Jordan, who has sat down with Diddy himself in the past, to explore her perspective on this latest development.

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All the allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Groups of children and young people are trying to force their governments to do something about climate change, not through political campaigns, but by taking them to court.

Most recently, young climate activists have asked the US supreme court to revive their case against the American government on climate – but using the legal system for this purpose has had very mixed results around the world, including here in Australia.

Anjali Sharma was 17 years old when she led a case arguing the environment minister has a duty to protect children from climate change. The federal court ruled against her, but as the climate crisis continues to grow, the question remains – can kids in court save us from climate change?

She joins Bension Siebert to explain what’s happened to the global movement of kids suing their governments over climate change, and her perspective on the way forward.

Headlines:

Walkie talkies explode across Lebanon killing 14 

Anthony Albanese threatens double dissolution over housing bill 

Tupperware goes bust 

Almost half of Aussies are unhappy at work 



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Kids around the world are suing governments over climate change + Headlines

With an advocate like Chanel Contos onboard, will learning about consent on Tinder actually work?

The dating app has launched a new Consent Course, created in partnership with sexual consent activist and founder of Teach Us Consent Chanel Contos, and women's domestic violence service WESNET. The course is only available on Tinder’s School of Swipe website - not via the app - though it will be promoted to users there from next week. 

But what is the point? Do the people using these platforms need this? Will it actually do anything to help reduce sexual assault, or is this a dating app doing a PR exercise while the spotlight is on them from community and government to do more?

Bension Siebert and Helen Smith join to discuss the motivation and possible results, and speak to Chanel Contos on why she chose to be involved. 

Should Tinder be teaching us about consent?

Should we be weighing children at school? 

Health experts have suggested we start weighing kids in schools to help tackle the obesity epidemic, but could this do more harm than good? 

In this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert is joined by obesity researcher and author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids Dr Nick Fuller to explain the pros and cons of weighing children at school.  

Headlines:

At least nine killed as pagers explode across Lebanon 

Diddy charged with sex trafficking 

Instagram launches ‘Teen Accounts’

Glasgow swoops in to take 2026 Commonwealth Games 

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The pros and cons of weighing kids in school + Headlines

Meet the woman who has helped spread claims that Haitian immigrants are eating people's pets in Ohio, Springfield.

Laura Loomer is a far-right activist and online personality who is feeding Republicans with extreme conspiracy theories and is seemingly influencing Donald Trump’s campaign.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with Planet America’s Chas Licciardello to find out who exactly Laura Loomer is, how close she is with Trump and whether she has any bearing on swinging the upcoming election.

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Meet the ‘proud Islamophobe’ advising Donald Trump

Improving mental health is one of the most important aspects of rehabilitating offenders in incarceration.

It’s been the focus of a recent program at Wellington Correctional Centre – which was formerly branded the toughest country jail in NSW. More than 200 inmates and 70 staff have participated in mental health first aid training led by the National Wellbeing Alliance. What impact are they hoping it will have?

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by the Centre’s Governor, Brad Peebles, to discuss the successes and findings of the program and what’s prevented its implementation in the past. 

Headlines:

Trump’s latest assassination attempt

Housing policy wrap

Murdoch trial kicks off

Aussie school officially adopts four day school week 

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What happens when you teach mental health first aid in prison? + Headlines

You could call 2024 the year of the Mormon influencer.

The internet has become fascinated with the lives of #tradwives, and now The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is dominating the small screen.

So, what's behind our fascination? And how is this latest show contributing to a conversation about modern Mormonism and feminism?

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with journalist and writer for Marie Claire, Ruby Feneley. Ruby recently published a piece recently about the show in Marie Claire, you can read it here.

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We're hooked on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

PrEP is a miracle drug that is currently in short supply.

Full name pre-exposure prophylaxis, it’s a little blue pill you take once a day – or before and after having sex – that stops 99 per cent of sexual HIV transmissions.

It makes having sex a lot safer, especially for men who have sex with men, and it’s helped the rate of HIV diagnoses in this country plummet by about a third, and has been widely available across Australia for almost a decade.

Now a member of the South Australian parliament, then-Senator for South Australia Robert Simms successfully pushed for PrEP to be placed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, or the PBS, meaning anyone can prevent themselves from getting HIV for about $30 a month.

But a supply shortage has hit – with multiple brands of the medication expected to be in low supply or unavailable until March next year. Rob Simms joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explain what might be causing the delay, and what he thinks the government should be doing about it. 

Headlines:

US election update

Houthi strike reaches Israel for first time

Madison de Rozario backs up Paralympics with win in Sydney marathon 

The Emmys are today

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What does a shortage of PrEP mean for HIV rates in Aus? + Headlines

We all feel in love with the Matilda's during the world cup last year and now besties, Matilda players Chloe Logarzo and Emily Gielnik are ready to win The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition.

After injury ruled out the duo in the most recent Olympics, the pair took their heartbreak and created a business together to inspire the next generation of Matildas.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Chloe and Emily share their new found love of reality TV and how they turned their FOMO into a positive.

Watch the The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition on 10 or 10 Play now 

Weekend List
TO WATCH: Louis Theroux interview with Chelsea Manning on ABC iView
TO WEAR: 7-Evelen sunglasses
TO TRY: To Save Face Sunscreen from Mecca
TO WEAR: Uniqlo basics

Send us your weekend briefing recommendations!

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Matildas stars on reality TV, FOMO and heartbreak

This week, the Country Music Award (CMA) nominations were announced and Beyoncé was left off the list - despite her single Texas Hold 'Em spending 10 weeks at the top of the country music Billboard charts.

The mega star’s rocky relationship with the CMA’s is nothing new, and dates back to 2016 when her performance with The Chicks was met with backlash and racism.

So are there racist undertones to the nominations and has Queen Bey been snubbed?

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Grammy Considered Recording Artist, corporate crisis fixer and podcast host of the Antoinettes, Azure Antoinette to unpack it all.

Beyoncé's been snubbed by the Country Music Awards. Are they racist?

Concerns and conspiracy theories about seed oils have been circulating on social media over the last few months – and the political-right have taken a surprising liking to them.

The most vocal of voices recently has been JFK’s nephew and former independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who says they are “the worst things you can eat,” linking them to chronic inflation, diabetes and cancer.

In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by Professor Lauren Ball, Chair of Community Health and Wellbeing at the University of Queensland to unpack where these theories are coming from, if there’s any evidence behind them, and if we should all be worried about seed oils.

Headlines:

The first-ever private spacewalk

Six UN workers killed in Gaza strike 

Dementia prescriptions jump 46% in Australia 

Taylor Swift has become most decorated solo artist of the VMAs

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The truth about seed oils + Headlines

Violence has erupted in Melbourne’s CBD.

Over 1,500 anti-war protestors yesterday descended on the Land Forces expo, the largest event of its kind in the country where businesses and start-ups spruik their products to defence forces and contractors.

Those rallying were there to protest not only the war in Gaza, but also the wider implications of war – from human rights violations to its impact on climate change.

Footage of the clashes showed aggression on both sides, with officers and protestors both needing medical attention after day one of the three-day event. Over 1,000 officers were involved in the response, with rubber bullets, tear gas and flash bangs used on protestors, and there have since been calls for an independent review of police actions towards those involved with the protesting.

Given high tensions since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, and wider conversations about war and the place it has in our modern world – these protests were almost guaranteed to be a tinder box of emotions. So, who is to blame for the violence we witnessed? And what exactly where these protestors hoping to achieve? For this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks to those attending the rally on day two of the event, to speak to protestors involved on what they think about the violence.

Live on the ground of the Melbourne anti-war protests

House prices are surging across the country.

It’s been particularly extreme in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, where prices have risen by closer to 60 per cent over the same period.

It’s making it nearly impossible for many young people to get into the property market and part of the reason comes down to how many homes we’re building in Australia compared to the number of people who need to live in them.

On this episode of the Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert explain why Australia is not building houses faster and what could be done to fix it.

Headlines:

Melbourne protests

Harris, Biden, Trump and Vance attend 9/11 memorial

New survey shines light on the gambling habits of young Aussies  

MTV VMAs are on today 

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Australia needs more houses - so why can't we build them + Headlines

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have faced off in what could be the final debate before the election in November.

The polls are neck and neck, both at the national level and in key swing states – and almost everyone likely to cast a vote in the US already has a strong opinion about Donald Trump.

But plenty of people were still making up their mind on Kamala Harris, so the pressure was on her to define herself and convince undecided voters.

The stakes were incredibly high - and meanwhile, outside the debate studio, pop superstar Taylor Swift made a surprise intervention.

On this special US presidential debate edition of the Briefing, Bension Siebert interviews Washington journalist Dave Levinthal about all the key moments, and his verdict on who won.

Harris v Trump + Taylor Swift: who won the presidential debate?

A two-week blockbuster trial with Rupert Murdoch is getting underway in Nevada today. It’s set to decide the fate of some of the world’s most famous news brands, and who gets to control them. 

The 93-year-old media mogul, wants to give his voting power in News Corporation and Fox Corp to his oldest son Lachlan, stripping that power from his three other children. 

In scenes reminiscent of the hit tv drama Succession, Elisabeth, Prudence and James are fighting this move in court. 

In this episode of The Briefing, we’re speaking with award winning journalist and author Paddy Manning to break down everything you need to know. 

Headlines:

Two boys found dead; mother arrested in NSW’s Blue Mountains  

US Debate is happening today

600,000 turn out in Timor Leste to see the Pope

Charles and Camilla Aussie itinerary revealed 

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The Murdoch family is in court for real life Succession showdown + Headlines

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming intertwined within our day-to-day lives.

But it’s not just simply helping us set our nightly alarms or adjust the tone of our emails anymore. For some, it’s offering intimacy and companionship in a way that’s challenging the conventional ways we understand love, relationship and sex.

In the (not too distant) future will we be cheating on partners with AI? Will non-monogamy be the new normal, and where will sex-bots fall into the mix?

In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert chats with futurist Dr Ben Hamer to explore what modern relationships might look like in 2045.

Will we be cheating on partners with AI in the future?

Pianist Jayson Gillham made international headlines last month after dedicating a performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) to journalists who have been killed in Gaza.

The backlash from MSO was swift, resulting in Jayson’s performance being pulled. The MSO later admitted it "made an error”, but maintains the concert was not an appropriate place to express personal views, and an external review into the MSO is now underway.

In this episode of The Briefing, Antoinette Lattouf sits down with the pianist at the center of the headlines, to discuss what’s happened since his performance and the legal battle he now faces as a result. 

Headlines:

Federal Government to ban social media for children

Princess Kate ‘cancer free’

Opposition at odds over whether to break up Qantas and Jetstar

Apple introduces AI iPhone 16  

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Jayson Gillham on war, art and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra + Headlines

After receiving thousands of submissions and holding hearings across the country over three years, the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide is releasing its final report today. 

It’s expected to outline shameful failures within Australia’s Defence Forces to support veterans’ mental and physical health, especially as they transition into civilian life after serving. 

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie knows this first-hand.  

She first called for this Royal Commission as she entered parliament more than a decade ago, she’s a military veteran herself, and she's been publicly open about her struggle with physical and mental health after she served. 

On this episode of the Briefing, Jacqui Lambie speaks to Bension Siebert, arguing that failures by the Australian Defence Force are not only harming veterans and their families, but undermining our national security. 



If this conversation has raised anything for you, you can seek help. Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families 1800 011 046 

And you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 

Australia will be defenceless unless we do better, says Jacqui Lambie

In 2020 and amid a global pandemic, over 4 million students across Australia were forced to transition to online learning. Almost every school became a “virtual school” and it came with unintended consequences, including school refusal - which became the subject of a Federal Senate Inquiry last year.

School refusal is an emotional-based avoidance of the traditional classroom. Among the solutions the government is investing in, and health practitioners are recommending, is enrolling affected students in the very thing that put the issue in the spotlight - virtual schools.

But how effective can they be and what other solutions are available to parents and students struggling through this?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by educator, author, award-winning speaker and founder of The Youth Excel Centre, Michelle Mitchell to find out more.

Headlines:

Paris Paralympics wrap up 

Mother of Georgia school shooter speaks out, says she warned school

Nearly 70% of Australia’s tourism sites are at risk from climate change

Elle Macpherson defends natural cancer treatment

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Are virtual schools the solution to school refusal? + Headlines

Stand up comedian Monty Franklin tries to make the content audiences need- instead of what they think they want.

Whether that’s explaining Aussie culture and slang to American audiences- or working on a film about the Great Emu War of 1932 with John Cleese, Jim Jefferies and Rob Schneider.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Monty talks about why the best comedy is authentic- and why he’s not worried his friendship with controversial podcaster Joe Rogan could lose him fans.

Weekend List
TO BUY: Olive ice cubes for martinis
TO WATCH: One Day
TO READ: All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot by Lucinda Price
TO TRY: Aspect Face Masks

Monty Franklin on making a movie with John Cleese and Jim Jefferies

Technology enables many athletes to compete in the Paralympics – whether it’s modified wheelchairs or carbon fibre running blades.

But is some of this tech giving competitors an unfair advantage over their rivals? If one athlete can spend the cash for the latest running blades, putting them a few seconds ahead of their competition, is fairness lost?

Professor John Cairney is the Head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland. He joins Antoinette Lattouf on this episode of The Briefing to explore what technical advancement means for Paralympic athletes, both in Paris and into the future.  

Has tech helped some Paralympians have an advantage over their rivals?

This week the Parliamentary Budget Office released costings for a Greens plan to add dental to Medicare.

On the face of it, the fact that a major branch of healthcare is just not a part of the public health system might be surprising to many. But adding it now, according to the costings, would mean billions of dollars in new government spending – and the Australian Dental Association says we just don’t have the number of dentists required to do it.

So how would it cope if we added a whole new category of medicine? Jordan Steele-John is the Greens Senator for Western Australia – he joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to make the case for dental to join Medicare. 

Headlines:

Paralympics update

Federal government to announce domestic violence package  

Donald Trump pleads not guilty to revised federal charges 

Maori queen anointed 

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The case for putting dental in Medicare + Headlines

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has this week credited natural therapies with curing her cancer.

Every day, 58 people in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer – one in seven Australian women will experience it in their lifetime. Diagnoses have increased by almost a quarter in the last 10 years – but the relative five-year survival rate is 92%. Despite most patients getting a positive prognosis, it is a disease that will impact every facet of a person’s life.

When the 60-year-old former supermodel says she rejecting chemotherapy for an all-natural approach to treating her breast cancer, she raised some serious eyebrows. Are her comments irresponsible? Dr David Robert Grimes is a cancer researcher and author. He joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to explain why he thinks her comments could cause serious harm. 

Elle Macpherson says she cured cancer naturally. Here's why she’s wrong

Yesterday Australia’s economy got its quarterly checkup, and the results are in.

Gross Domestic Product performance, or GDP, grew by 1.5% over a year. But what does that actually mean, and how does GDP growth affect our lives? Is this an economy at panic stations, or is there no real cause for concern?

Motley Fool’s chief investment officer Scott Phillips joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the jargon and clear the mist on what these latest figures reveal about the state of the Australian economy.

Headlines:

Paralympics Update - Aussies win nine medals. 

US School Shooting

Australian gambling report 

Rachel “Raygun” Gunn has broken her silence

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GDP, RBA, and what all the economy chatter means for you + Headlines

Good news! Your mobile phone isn’t giving you brain cancer!

Decades of worry about radio waves travelling out of our phones and into our skulls have apparently been put to rest with a massive World Health Organisation review published today, finding zero link between mobile phone use and brain, head or neck cancer.

However, different groups of scientists conducting different kinds of studies on mobile phone radiation and possible health effects have suggested the opposite previously – so how are most of us non-scientists meant to tell who’s right?

Assistant Director of Health Impact Assessment at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Ken Karipidis joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the findings, and what we should take from them. 

Your mobile phone isn't giving you brain cancer

The situation for women in Afghanistan right now is bleak.

After retaking control of the country in August of 2021, the Taliban has wasted no time reinstating a raft of rules stripping away the rights of females. A week ago, a decree made it illegal for women to speak outside their homes.

Alongside having to completely cover their bodies head-to-toe in thick fabric, they’re also banned from working and can’t look directly at men they aren’t related to by blood. Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are banned from attending school after completing the sixth grade.

For activists and advocates, what’s happened since the Taliban came back into power is not surprising - but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up hope. On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Shabnam Safa, a refugee advocate in Australia who here herself as an Afghani refugee, to hear what she thinks of the latest developments in the country.

Headlines:

Paralympics - Aussies have netted more gold

Australian ambassador to Iran recalled after post supporting LGBTQIA+ community

Two sailors have been rescued hundreds of kilometers offshore from Sydney

Queen Camilla gives rare King Charles cancer update

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More info on Afghanistan from Human Rights Watch:https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/afghanistan-0

International campaigns:
The End Gender Apartheid campaign is run by experts and advocates from Afghanistan and Iran. https://endgenderapartheid.today/  - https://www.instagram.com/endgenderapartheid.today/

Follow and support journalism in/from Afghanistan
Rukhshana Media - a women-led online news agency for women and children in Afghanistan - https://rukhshana.com/en/  - https://www.instagram.com/rukhshanamedia/
KabulNow - https://kabulnow.com/  - https://www.instagram.com/kabulnow.af/

In Australia:
Action for Afghanistan campaign by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network - https://www.actionforafghanistan.com.au/  - https://www.instagram.com/actionforafghanistan/
Australian Hazara Advocacy Network - https://www.hazaraadvocacynetwork.com.au/  - https://www.instagram.com/hazaraadvocacyau/?locale=kk-KZ&hl=af

Life is getting worse for women in Afghanistan. You can help + Headlines

Have you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through TikTok being bombarded with food reviews?

Sometimes they appear organic, with creators hopping on a trend or trying a viral product for their followers. Other times, these creators are being paid by restaurants and cafes to plug their businesses or products.

There are legal and ethical guidelines in place to stop this content from appearing organically in your feed – but why are they being so rarely followed, and even more rarely enforced?

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by TikTok lawyer Jahan Kalantar to find out exactly how online creators are sidestepping consumer laws and what more, if anything, can be done.  

Is TikTok blurring the line between a review and an ad?

Much of Israel’s economy ground to a halt overnight, during the country’s first major workers’ strike since the start of the war.

The strike shut down Israel’s international airport and disrupted banks, manufacturing facilities, healthcare facilities and businesses, as Israelis expressed their anger over six Israeli captives of Hamas found dead in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career has survived major demonstrations before, but could this strike finally force him to agree to a hostage swap deal and a ceasefire?

On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined Dr Eyal Mayroz, a Senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney to provide some insight into what impact it might have. 

Headlines:

Paralympics Update

Britain is suspending dozens of weapons sales to Israel

Wild weather wrap

Famous Beluga whale found dead 

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Could Israel's striking workers end the war in Gaza? + Headlines

Renting in Australia can really suck.

With winter over and the end of 2024 approaching, we’re heading towards peak moving season.

Moving house can be one of life’s most stressful events – made even more stressful by the process of trying to get your bond back.

In this two-part feature, The Briefing investigates the messy world of rental bonds. In Part Two, Bension Siebert speaks to Leanne Pilkington, President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, on what the experience is like on the landlord and agent side of the bond system, and what she thinks might make the system fairer overall. 

Are renters, not landlords, ever the bad guy?

Renting in Australia can really suck.

With winter over and the end of 2024 approaching, we’re heading towards peak moving season.

Moving house can be one of life’s most stressful events – made even more stressful by the process of trying to get your bond back. 

In this two-part feature, The Briefing looks into the messy world of rental bonds. In Part One, Bension Siebert speaks to CEO of the New South Wales Tenants’ Union Leo Patterson Ross on how to stop your landlord stealing your bond, and whether there’s a way to run this system that’s better for everyone.

Headlines:

Paralympics update

Israeli military recovers bodies of six hostages in Gaza

Australians advised to work from home due to wild weather 

New survey asks Aussie teens what they want to be when they grow up

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How to stop your landlord stealing your bond + Headlines

Senator Fatima Payman first won office in 2022 and dominated headlines this year when she crossed the floor over Labor’s refusal to recognise a Palestinian state. Her life since then has been a self-described “whirlwind.”

Fatima now sits as an independent, and in this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, she reveals the inner workings of the Albanese government that led to her resignation and whether she was prepared for the wave of bigotry and intense scrutiny she and her family experienced.

Her story begins in Afghanistan in the 1990s where she and her family fled the Taliban to Pakistan, before starting a new life in Australia. As a proud and determined independent voice for Western Australia, Fatima is committed to breaking stereotypes, saying she is “more than a Muslim senator.”

Weekend List
TO BUY: Sticky grippy phone stickers
TO DO: Bye-bye text messages and hello voice memos!
TO TRY: Korean skincare
TO WATCH: Fatima Payman on Australian Story

Fatima Payman on love, scandal and fleeing the Taliban

It's been a big week of debate over the 2026 census and a handful of questions that might – or might not – be added to it.

This episode, we speak to one of the Labor MPs who rebelled against the Government’s decision to exclude questions about LGBTIQA+ Australians from the Census – and get his take on a partial backflip from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this morning.  

Labor's Federal Member for the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, Josh Burns, joins Bension Siebert for this episode of The Briefing.

The PM's backflipped on asking if you’re gay in the Census. Will it backfire?

The AFLW 2024 season kicks off today – but not everyone’s happy with the fixtures. 

As the AFL works to manage the men’s finals being played alongside the start of the women’s game, fans and key stakeholders are asking why logistical confusion remains as the competition heads into its ninth season.

Georgia Rajic is a sports commentator and reporter – on this bonus episode of The Briefing, she joins Helen Smith to unpack the complex start to the AFLW this year, where the competition is at almost a decade into running, and who looks set to top the ladder in 2024.  

BONUS: The AFLW season kicks off - but has it already been overlooked?

Spring brings with it some pretty wonderful things; blooming flowers, warmer weather and longer days. But it also means another thing that can strike fear into the heart of nearly every Australian – magpie swooping season. 

From August to October, the black and white birds are nesting, which means they’re feeling extra protective and have been known to fly at humans as they pass by their babies. 

Today on The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt, self-confessed magpie lady, is joined by Sean Dooley, conservationist and birdwatcher with Birdlife Australia, to break down the facts and myths around these fabulous birds, and encourage you to think differently about them this swooping season.

Headlines:

All the action from day one of The Paralympics 

Israeli forces have carried out raids in the West bank for a second day in a row

Labor party under fire for census  

ABS Data shows more women than men in Australia

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How to make friends with a magpie this swooping season + Headlines

The Paralympics are on!

In the very early hours of this morning Australia time, a spectacular opening ceremony kicked off the 2024 summer games in Paris, with more than 4,000 athletes from around the world preparing to compete over two massive weeks. How different is their experience from that of able-bodies athletes, and how do they feel about the competition starting so long after the first round of the Olympics has wrapped up?

Carol Cooke is a Paralympic champion, competing on the world stage winning medals for Australia in London, Rio and Tokyo. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to reflect on what it’s like to compete at the most elite level in Paralympic sport, and how it compares to the experience of able-bodied Olympians.  

Paralympian Carol Cooke on why all eyes should be on Paris

Leonardo da Vinci + a Saudi Prince + one very old painting = a world of controversy.

Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting sold at auction. Dubbed the male Mona Lisa, Salvator Mundi is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci – but not all art experts agree that the work is by the famous artist.

The painting sold for $450 million to Saudi Arabian Prince Mohamed bin Salman in 2017. After several years hidden away in storage, the Prince reportedly has plans to make the painting the centerpiece of what some of called the ‘Saudi Louvre’, and in turn creating a tourist attraction for the West. Is this art washing live in action?

Professor Anne Dunlop is the Herald Chair in Fine Arts from the University of Melbourne. She joins Helen Smith on this episode of The Briefing to explain the backstory of the artwork, and what it might mean if it comes out of hiding and onto display. 

Headlines:

Paralympics opening ceremony 

Israel West Bank attack

Trump blames Biden and Harris for assassination attempt 

New study shows dogs can communicate with humans

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The world's most expensive painting might soon be on display + Headlines

A new study has found astrologers are no better at prediction than random guessing. Does that matter?

Many of those obsessed with their astrological chart when pressed might still admit it’s probably a little bit bullshit – but they like it, it’s fun, and it doesn’t do any harm. But for those who use astrology to help them make significant decisions in their life, it sort of does matter whether this stuff is true.

Enter Spencer Greenberg, the founder of ClearerThinking.org, a social enterprise in the US. He and his colleagues were so interested in the topic that they designed and conducted a study to hopefully settle the argument once and for all – on this episode of The Briefing, he joins Bension Siebert to help explain what they found. 

Researchers have proof astrology is bullshit. Does that matter?

Noel and Liam Gallagher, the two brothers behind the seminal British band Oasis, have announced they’re about to head out on a massive tour - the first time they’ve appeared together since 2009.

Noel quit the band just before they were due to take the stage in Paris after a massive backstage fight, and the brothers have waged war against each other ever since. But in a twist, they're now reportedly saying it’s now or never.

Once the biggest band in the world, this tour is expected to make in the vicinity of $1 billion.

Music feature writer Cameron Adams joins Bension Siebert to explain what might have led to the change of heart, and why the two 'Don’t look back in anger'.

Headlines:

Hostage freed from Gaza

Greens propose “Robin Hood” tax reform

Zuckerberg says White House censored Meta during COVID-19 

Trump agrees to debate Harris  



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Oasis is getting the band back together + Headlines

Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful - especially with the average wedding in Australia costing nearly $35,000. That’s a price tag that can cover everything from venue hire, catering, hair, make-up, photography and now a professional bridesmaid.

It’s like paying for a best friend (who's not actually your best friend) to support you every step of the way. Is this a logical development meeting the needs of busy lives, or commercialisation and a wedding industry gone insane? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Kerstyn Walsh, the director of Hire a Bridesmaid, to breakdown why more and more Aussies are turning to their services.

Meet the woman paid to be a bride’s fake friend

Should the 2026 Census ask you if you’re gay?

That’s one of the questions advocacy groups for queer Australians have been grappling with as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) prepares its next census. 

LGBTIQA+ advocacy groups have argued that the government does not collect enough fine-grain data on queer Australians to improve physical and mental health outcomes in the community that are poorer than the general population. On the other hand – could questions about people’s sexuality and gender identity risk the safety of people who aren’t out to their families? 

Seemingly out of nowhere, in recent days advocates have learned that the government will not allow the ABS to include questions about questions about sexuality, sex and gender, which the groups have been arguing for. 

On this episode of the Briefing, LGBTIQ+ Health CEO Nicky Bath chats to Bension Siebert about what should and should not be on the Census.

Headlines:

Ceasefire talks progress as Aussies have their say on Gazans getting visas

Italian authorities confirm investigation into captain of Bayesian for manslaughter

Winter temperature records smashed

Trump and Harris argue over muted mics

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Should the Census ask you if you’re gay?  + Headlines

Telegram is ranked as one of the world's major social media platforms, after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Wechat.

Just like Apple’s iMessage, Facebook messenger, Discord and WhatsApp, it lets you send end-to-end encrypted messages, meaning most of the time nobody – governments, law enforcement, private companies – can access those messages.

In the early hours of Sunday morning Australia time French police officers reportedly arrested boss and founder of the app Pavel Durov, over claims the platform enables criminal activity. In a post on the network, Telegram News says Durov has nothing to hide, and it’s “absurd” to hold an online platform or its owner responsible for abuse that might happen on it.

Is that right?

On this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert is joined by James Hennessy, ideas and features editor for Capital Brief and cohost of LiSTNR's Down Round to reflect on what the arrest might mean for free speech online.

Telegram’s CEO is under arrest. What does that say about free speech?

PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) are forever chemicals that seem to be turning up in just about everything.

We now know they’re in platypuses, human testicles, and Sydney’s water supply. Last week, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe won support to hold a Senate inquiry into the health and environmental impacts of PFAS.

But for those of us without an expert understanding of this subject, all of this news is equal parts concerning and confusing. Should the government be acting now, and should we be concerned? Or is it too early to say?

Water researcher and associate professor at Western Sydney University's School of Science Ian Wright joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack how we, and state and federal governments, should feel about these ‘forever chemicals’.

Headlines:

Israel and Hezbollah exchange rocket fire

Labor's landslide loss in NT election 

New aviation ombudsman out today 

‘Right to Disconnect’ laws come into force

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PFAS is in testicles, platypuses and drinking water. What now? + Headlines

Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye choose the name of their radio show using a $12 love calculator app and it looks like it was right.

The duo have formed back in 2015 and since then the Jimmy and Nath show has made it to the big time - brekkie radio.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Jimmy and Nath reveal what it’s like working with your best friend and go deep on their views on domestic violence and mental health.

Weekend List
TO FOLLOW - Jack Schlossberg on insta @jackuno
TO WATCH - Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats on Netflix
TO DO - Christmas budgeting templates from She’s on the Money
TO DO - Mini bands workout

Send us your weekend briefing recommendations!

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A love calculator started Jimmy & Nath’s 10 year radio career

Appearing at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Kamala Harris has accepted the party's nomination for president in the most important speech of her career so far.

Taking the opportunity to outline her platform to millions of Americans set to cast her vote in November, she made passionate points for women’s and reproductive rights, freedom and stability, addressed Israel and Gaza and other global conflicts, that Donald Trump “wants to be an autocrat himself” and described the Republican party as, simply put, "out of their minds”.

It’s been a big week for the democratic party at the Democratic National Convention, with political pageantry at its finest on display. Dave Levinthal, Editor-in-Chief of Raw Story, joins Bension Siebert live from Chicago to unpack what was said, and the week that was in American politics.  

Kamala Harris has delivered the most important speech of her career

Mid-west princess and pop megastar Chappell Roan says some fan behavior is ‘abusive’, bordering on ‘harassment’, and ‘weird’.

In a series of TikToks posted to her account, the singer has outlined her immense discomfort at the behaviors of fans approaching her on the street, demanding pictures and also physical contact like hugs.

The posts have started a firestorm of debate online, with some praising her for her vulnerability and honesty during the highest moment in her career so far, while others say this level of interest is the cost of fame – that part of the deal of huge success is fans following you on the street and asking for a photo.

Do celebrities experiencing worldwide fame, and earning massive wealth from their fans, owe those fans anything? And are these ‘parasocial’ relationships between fans and famous people getting worse? 

Dr Veronica Lamarche is a social psychologist and relationships researcher at the University of Essex. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explore what’s going on with the fans of Chappell Roan. 

Headlines:

Body of tech millionaire found after the sinking of his superyacht 

New charges for Andrew Tate 

NDIS passes new bill that changes support access 

Kamala Harris to headline final day of DNC 

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Chappell Roan, the cult of celebrity, and fans going too far + Headlines

How many times a week are you ordering from Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Menulog? Is your dinner order putting delivery riders at risk?

A 27-year-old Door Dash delivery cyclist died in a hit and run accident in Melbourne this week. Victorian police say the driver allegedly fled the scene, but handed himself into officers later in the night.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says it’s the 18th death of a delivery rider on Australian roads since the explosion in home delivery services.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Michael Kaine, national secretary of the TWU, to find out if it's the delivery companies hustling their staff, motorists on the roads fed up with lawless riders, or the riders putting themselves in danger.

Delivery death - riders dying for your dinner

Candace Owens once suggested the US invade Australia to save us from “tyrannical” COVID policies. Laura Loomer has described herself as a proud Islamophobe. Nick Fuentes is a white supremacist who’s praised Hitler.

All three have been big Donald Trump supporters, using huge social media platforms to advocate for the former president. But recently, all of them have turned on Trump’s campaign. What’s behind this dramatic turnaround? And are these far-right influencers right about their criticism of Trump’s strategy? 

Dr Emma Shortis is a Senior Researcher for the International & Security Affairs Program at independent thinktank the Australia Institute. She joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to provide some insight into what’s happening on the right side of the US political sphere.  

Headlines:

Bodies recovered in Sicily after superyacht sinking

Democratic National Convention day three wrap 

Aldi crowned Australia’s favourite supermarket

Hot girl summer just got more expensive  

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The far-right is turning on the Trump campaign + Headlines

AI is coming for the Australian music industry.

Whether that’s a catastrophe or a creative revolution (or both) is yet to be seen. But this week music licensing lobby group APRA AMCOS released a report surveying thousands of musicians across Australia and New Zealand.

Economic modelling in the report found AI is likely to wipe more than half a billion dollars off the revenues of music creators by 2028 - but it also found more than half of the musicians and producers surveyed said AI technology can help with the human creative process. 

On this episode of The Briefing Australian singer songwriters Josh Pyke and Sophie Payten AKA Gordi join Bension Siebert to unpack on the promise, and threat, of AI for Australian music.

Josh Pyke and Gordi on the threat, and promise, of AI in music

Alex Dyson has been working in breakfast radio since 2010 and now he’s running for politics (again).

The radio presenter confirmed on his Matt & Alex - All Day Breakfast podcast with co-host Matt Okine that he’ll be running as an independent candidate for the Victorian seat of Wannon at the next federal election.

For the third time, he’ll go up against the Liberal Party’s Dan Tehan – former Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – who is the current sitting Member for the seat.

In this chat with Bension Siebert for The Briefing, Alex explains why he’s having another crack, and why he still thinks young people across the country should be engaged with federal politics.  

Headlines:

Tough new penalties for badly behaved politicians to be unveiled today 

Bodies of six Israeli hostages recovered from Gaza 

DNC Day Two: Obamas to headline 

World’s oldest person dies 



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Why Alex Dyson is still trying to crack into politics + Headlines

Australia has more than 100,000 houses sitting empty. Is an obvious solution to our housing crisis staring us in the face?

This week, data analysis commissioned by the Greens showed those in every day jobs like aged or disability carer, retail manager or nurse would need to spend more than two-thirds of their income to pay off a mortgage on an average house in Australia.

But there's an elephant in the room. What about all those perfectly good houses just sitting empty across Australia? Could they be part of the solution? 

LiSTNR senior investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to dig into the data and unpack what she's found.

We're in a housing crisis. So why are 100,000 homes sitting empty?

Is mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) a runaway train?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern”, following a rise in the number of cases across the globe. 
The declaration triggers an international mobilisation of resources, including vaccination and testing, to try and slow down the spread of the disease.  

Rates in Australia are also continuing to rise, despite our best efforts to slow or stop them. Why can’t we get a grip on mpox rates in Australia – and does the growing rates of infection overseas mean numbers here will only continue to grow? 

Professor Andrew Grulich is the Head of the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute. He joined Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to answer if he thinks state health departments are doing enough, and how the growing transmission rate might impact the global community going forward. 

Headlines:

Tech entrepreneur missing after his luxury yacht sunk off Sicily

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago

The most common Aussies can’t afford a house

1 in 3 Aussies turn to socials for fin advice

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Why can’t we seem to stop the global mpox spread? + Headlines

One of the greatest racehorses of all time was euthanised after a short illness over the weekend.

Australian thoroughbred Black Caviar was considered the world’s best sprinter, clocking up 25 wins for 25 starts over a career spanning 2009 to 2013.

But the champion died over the weekend, a few days before her 18th birthday and reportedly just hours after giving birth to her ninth foal. The death has sparked a conversation questioning the ethics of forcing retired racehorses to pretty much constantly be pregnant and giving birth until they die.

Walkley-winning author and investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr met Black Caviar during her retirement. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to share what she thinks following Black Caviars death. 

Racehorse Black Caviar had nine foals before she died. Was it too many?

Cruise ships have doubled in size in the last two decades - and so has their impact on the environment.

A new report from European lobby group Transport and Environment is warning that by 2050, cruise ships will be eight times bigger than the Titanic and the industry’s emissions are getting “out of control”.

So, is the cruising industry doing enough to address these concerns? And how might travelling by ship look like in the future? 

Australian Traveller’s Quentin Long joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on The Briefing to explain. 

Headlines:

Antony Blinken arrives in Israel for Gaza ceasefire talks

20 scam websites being taken down a day by Asic

Logies wrap up

Man slapped in the face by a whale off NSW north coast



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Cruising might be causing a climate crisis + Headlines

We fell in love with Michael Theo on Love on the Spectrum and now he’s embarking on an exciting new career.

Since the show Michael has been busy hosting his podcast, doing Ted Talks and now is jumping into the world of acting, staring in ABC’s series Austin.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Michael explains the important of neurodiverse representation on screen and how his search for love is going.

Austin - Stream all episodes now on ABC iview: https://ab.co/Austin

Weekend List
TO WATCH - Scavengers Reign on Binge
TO TRY - Nimble Activewear In tempo range for running
TO EAT - Cashew Chicken from Recipe Tin Eats TO TRY - Epzen magnesium lotion and soak for running recovery
TO EAT - Logan’s cucumber salad

Michael Theo's seven non-negotiables for Love On The Spectrum

An alarming new study our this week has found no baby or toddler foods in Australian supermarkets meet World Health Organisation standards.

But how can this be possible, and what does this actually mean? And is there anything the Australian government should be doing about it?

Daisy Coyle is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Research Fellow at The George Institute and an author of the paper. She joined Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the findings, and to share her advice on what anyone with kids in their lives should consider following the results.

Baby food in Australia fails WHO standards. So what are they eating?

Brooke Schofield has been cancelled. But in 2024, does that matter to anyone anymore?

Since the term entered the zeitgeist, 'getting cancelled' was once the worst thing that could happen to a public figure – and for some it still is. But in 2024 how do we decide who gets cancelled, and does it even matter anymore?

Cancel culture looks different for different people depending on their race, ethnicity, sex, gender and privilege - and when old tweets or posts online get resurfaced the response is swift and sometimes career ending.

In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Helen Smith to unpack where cancelling is at in 2024, following a spate of recent influencers and public figures feeling the sting.

Headlines:

Australian b-girl Rachel “Raygun” Gunn has broken her silence

Gaza death toll passes 40,000

Five charged over Matthew Perry’s death

NRL inducts first ever female players into the hall of fame  



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Brooke Schofield has been cancelled - but does that matter anymore?

The federal government has advised Australians not to travel to Lebanon, and any Australians in Lebanon to return home due to a "volatile security situation and the risk of the security situation deteriorating further" in the region. 

There are currently 23 countries on Australia’s ‘do not travel’ list - places like North Korea, Russia, Mali, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says if you travel to those countries, you’re at a high risk of death, imprisonment, kidnapping or serious injury. But if you wanted to, could the government stop you going there?

In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by Dr David Bierman from the University of Technology in Sydney, who actually advises the government on travel warnings, to explain what happens if you ignore the government’s advice and visit a country on its ‘do not travel’ list. 

Here's what happens if you ignore the government's travel advice

An inquest into the December 2022 Wieambilla police massacre has heard evidence the trio responsible – Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train – would have been ruled morally insane and unfit to stand trial had they not been killed in a shootout.

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity is a legitimate legal defence in Australia and is thought to be used in as little as 1% of cases here. 

But what happens to those accused of some of the most serious crimes who escape jail time because of their mental fitness to stand trial? And can they ever be released back into society? 

On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro to learn more about what happens to the criminally insane in Australia. 

Headlines:

Majority of Palestinians fleeing Gaza have had visas refused to Australia 

Stabbing victim identified as 11-year-old Australian girl

NASA update on stuck astronauts

Tassie mum gives birth on the toilet not knowing she was pregnant 

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The Wieambilla police massacre and criminally insanity

Everyone’s talking about Australian breaker Dr Rachael Gunn – aka Raygun – and her performance at the Paris Olympics less than a week ago.

Some think she is a national treasure who should be celebrated for her representation of the Australian ‘give-it-a-go' attitude on the world stage. Others say she’s embarrassed the country with a lacklustre attempt at breaking, significantly hurting its chances of being included in future Olympics, as well as the perception of the sport in Australia.

In the firestorm, how is the Australian breaking community fairing, and what do they think of the controversy that has unfolded?

Michael Fox aka B-Boy Flyin Foxy is an Australian Allstar and breaking champion, teaches breaking at Melbourne Break Dance and has been involved in the community for over 20 years. He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to give us his verdict on the performance, and what he thinks of the global conversation it has sparked.

Raygun is breaking the internet. Is the criticism justified?

The algorithms that decide what we experience on social media, and on the internet in general, have a profound impact on the way we see the world.

Yet giant companies like Meta and Google keep the details of these algorithms and how exactly they influence each of us a closely guarded secret. 

Now, researchers across the country are working to change that. 

Daniel Angus is Professor of Digital Communication at the Queensland University of Technology and is part of a research partnership involving universities around the country called the Australian Internet Observatory. He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack how they're beginning to crack the social media code.

Headlines:

Pilot of Cairns helicopter crash identified

Calls to ban Aussies from southern Lebanon

Melbourne bans e-scooters 

B-girls speak out about Raygun 



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Algorithms dictate everything we see. It's time to crack them

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made a significant (and significantly delayed) return to social media platform X, formally known as Twitter, in a ‘live conversation’ with the platform's owner and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Well over 1 million people tuned in to listen to what unfolded.

The two weren't always such good friends – Musk has previously called Trump “another bullshit artist”, and Trump has been openly skeptical of electric vehicle tech including Tesla's, another one of Musk’s key personal projects. But the two have reunited in a blaze of glory – or has it been madness?  

On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert and Sacha Barbour Gatt bring you the what-you-need-to-know wrap of what was said, and how it might affect the 2024 US presidential race and the future of global democracy. 

Breaking down Trump and Elon’s 'biggest interview in history'

A new report on Australia’s Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws was handed down in federal parliament on Monday - and it's found euthanasia is more widely accepted than ever before.

Almost 2500 terminally ill patients have used VAD in Australia since 2019, with the average age of applicants between 70 and 79. As our parents and grandparents age, understanding what options are available and how to have the difficult discussion about when to choose to take your own life through VAD becomes more important than ever.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Linda Swan from Go Gentle Australia, who delivered the report, to talk us through what euthanasia looks like in Australia in 2024. 

Lifeline 13 11 14

Headlines:

Pressure to ban gambling ads

Ukraine claims to control 1000sqm of Russian territory 

Trump told to stop questioning Harris’ crowd sizes 

Miley Cyrus becomes youngest Disney legend 



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What choosing to die looks like in Australia in 2024

Selling your sperm or eggs is illegal in Australia, and has been for a long time.

Unlike other parts of the world, where you can make a considerable profit – in some cases up to $10,000 per egg cycle, and hundreds of dollars per sperm donation – in Australia we’re only able to participate in ‘altruistic donation’ of eggs and sperm, meaning donating with no personal profit and in a highly regulated system.

But amidst a cost-of-living crisis and a shortage of donors, should we be rethinking these laws?

In this two-part Briefing feature, Sacha Barbour Gatt explores the value that can be gained in selling a part of yourself for a profit.

In this episode, she’s joined by Clinic Director Lotus Health and Psychology and Fertility Reproductive Counsellor Narelle Dickinson to explore the risks of making it legal in Australia.

Can I sell my eggs and sperm for a profit? Part 2

Selling your sperm or eggs is illegal in Australia, and has been for a long time.

Unlike other parts of the world, where you can make a considerable profit – in some cases up to $10,000 per egg cycle, and hundreds of dollars per sperm donation – in Australia we’re only able to participate in ‘altruistic donation’ of eggs and sperm, meaning donating with no personal profit and in a highly regulated system.

But amidst a cost-of-living crisis and a shortage of donors, should we be rethinking these laws?

In this two-part Briefing feature, Sacha Barbour Gatt explores the value that can be gained in selling a part of yourself for a profit.

In this episode, she’s joined by Senior Research Fellow in Global and Women's Health at Monash University Karin Hammarberg, who has worked in IVF programs for 20 years, to explore what it might look like if we changed the laws in Australia.

Headlines:

2024 Paris Olympics wraps up

Ukrainian troops advance inside Russia 

Close to 100 people killed in Israeli air strike in southern Gaza

Joe Biden gives first interview since dropping out

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Can I sell my eggs and sperm for a profit? Part 1

Amy Shark is one of Australia’s biggest names in pop music.

When she changed her name to Amy Shark in 2013 her career took off, winning multiple ARIA Awards and working with Ed Sheeran to Keith Urban.

Shark's new album, Sunday Sadness, features a dream line up of producers and artists including Kid Harpoon, who has produced and co-written with Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus.

For this episode of The Weekend Briefing, Shark joins Helen Smith to break down how she thinks the live music scene has changed over the last decade, and who she ran into backstage at while preforming on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Weekend List
TO WATCH - Taskmaster New Zealand on Binge
TO DO - DIY Nail dip set
TO EAT - One pot Spinach and Ricotta Rotolo (Italian Lasagna Roll Ups) from Recipe Tin Eats
TO EAT - Latin American restaurant near you

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Amy Shark on songwriting for TikTok and keeping up with the Kardashians

There was a bit of a media frenzy at the Paris games recently when North Korean athletes posed for selfies with South Korean competitors at the gymnastics. Those same athletes were also spotted cheering for American rivals, hugging competitors and waving and smiling for tv cameras.

There has been cautious optimism that the usually hermit-like North is finally starting to open up to the world after a period of extreme isolation.

But how much of this display at the Olympics is diplomatic gymnastics, carefully planned and carried out as positive PR for the totalitarian state?

In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Roald Maliangkay, associate professor in Korean studies and director of the Korea Institute at the Australian National University to find out.

North Korea is playing diplomatic gymnastics at the Olympics

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been in the International Space Station (ISS) since early June – and they can’t get down.

The pair have been stranded in space for over 60 days due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft – and NASA now says they'll remain there for some time yet. The American space agency says the astronauts will remain orbiting the planet till September 24th at earliest, and potentially until February next year.

What went so wildly wrong as to extend an eight-day mission out to what could be eight months? And what’s it going be like to be stuck there with no solid return date.

Dr Rebecca Allen is co-director of the Swinburne Space Technology and Industry Institute and joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to explain what happens next.

Headlines:

Australia has added to its medal haul overnight in Paris

Man arrested over alleged terror attack plot at Taylor Swift concert 

AUKUS deal officially signed 

Donald Trump confirms he will debate Kamala Harris

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Two astronauts are still stuck in space. Can we get them down?

McDonald’s is an economic juggernaut.

Since its inception in the 1940s, the golden arches have dominated the fast food market globally, becoming a beacon of success. But is the seemingly never-ending fast food honeymoon with them, and other outlets around the globe, over? 

McDonalds has reported experiencing its first downturn in years, and it’s not the only one – recently US burger chain Carl’s Junior, which had ambitions to open hundreds of outlets across Australia, collapsed into voluntary administration.

So, what the hell is going on? What does this say about the immediate future of the global economy, and what does it say about us as consumers? 

Mitchell Taylor is a partner at Simon-Kucher, a global strategy consulting firm focusing on growth strategy, marketing, pricing, and sales. He joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to shed a light on what this might mean for our global economy.  

Macca's is McFlopping. Is the global economy in a pickle?

Artificial intelligence is colliding with elite sport and mega-events like the Olympics in ways that could soon affect our daily lives, in surprising ways.

AI is being used to identify talented future Olympians around the world, to help coaches identify minute flaws in athletic performance, and to improve training.

But it’s also seriously ramping up state surveillance of crowds, and for all its amazing uses AI also has some big fundamental problems, like reliability issues and bias.

So what should be the role of this kind of technology at a global mega-event like the Olympics? And what does its use there tell us about the future of AI in our own daily lives.

On this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks with Ari Waldman, an expert in the ethics of artificial intelligence and big data, to find out.

Headlines:

Another golden night in Paris

Childcare pay rise 

Harris and Walz tour as Trump reacts to running mate pick 

Dog perfume for $165 a bottle 

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What the Olympics and shoplifting have in common

Previously, dairy milk was viewed as an irreplaceable part of a balanced diet. But things are more complicated now, and Australians are drinking less of it.

So why the shift? Is it due to greater awareness of lactose intolerance, concerns over animal welfare, or environmental considerations? And how do dairy milk alternatives, such as soy, almond or oat milk compare for health and sustainability? 

In this episode, The Briefing’s Simon Beaton is joined by farmer and author of Milk, Matthew Evans, to find out more. 

Oat, full cream, soy: should you be drinking milk?

ASIO and the federal government announced on Monday that Australia’s terror threat level had increased from 'possible' to 'probable'. Part of the reasoning - an increase in young men being radicalised.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said “governments around the world are concerned about youth radicalisation, online radicalisation and the rise of new mixed ideologies”.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Levi West from the ANU’s Centre for Social Policy Research to find out how and why young men in particular get radicalised, and what’s being done to stop it.

Headlines:

The youngest Aussie medal winner ever

Kamala Harris picks running mate

Global markets show signs of recovery

Judge rules Google has a monopoly on internet searches

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Teenage terrorists - Australia's radicalisation problem

Are you in need of a go-to explainer on what the hell is going on with the stock market and how it could affect you?

This time last week, everything was coming up Milhouse for Australian investors.

The Australian Stock Exchange – or ASX – hit yet another record high after months of relatively consistent growth.

But since Friday markets across the globe have been tumbling, and $100 billion has been wiped off the value of Australian shares alone.

Dr Angela Jackson is Lead Economist at Impact Economics - she joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to break down what it all means for you.

Why the stock market is crashing and what it means for you

September 11, the Iraq War and John Howard’s prime ministership were among the most pivotal news events of the early 2000’s. 

But did you know that during that same period, Australia lived through its biggest corruption scandal – where Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was paid kickbacks for lucrative Australian wheat contracts?

Today, investigative reporter Richard Baker launches a major new LiSTNR podcast, Secrets We Keep: Baghdad Nights, diving deep into the scandal, offering new revelations and focusing on the humanity of the people caught up in it.

He joins Bension Siebert on The Briefing to reflect on how Australia’s politics and media can fail to capture the nuance of a major scandal, and the lessons he’s learned getting to know the real people involved.

Headlines:

Olympics Update 

Stock market plunge over US recession fears

The national terror threat level raised from ‘possible’ to ‘probable’

Bangladeshi PM flees the country

Kamala Harris set to unveil her running mate

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Baghdad Nights: How Australia funnelled $300 million to a dictator

Yesterday, Nine Newspapers reported the government was about to walk away from a near-total ban on gambling ads across the country, to instead focus on banning gambling ads from social media and other digital platforms. The new plan for TV would reportedly be caps on the number of gambling ads per hour and banning them an hour before and after live sport. 

The reported proposal – which goes against the plan originally designed and championed by Labor’s Peta Murphy, who died last year – has prompted outrage on both sides of the debate. 

Anti-gambling advocates say the new proposal doesn’t go nearly far enough, while the big players in this conversation, sporting bodies, say banning gambling ads threatens revenue that funds grassroots and free-to-air sport. Media companies, including NewsCorp and Nine, argue such a ban threatens jobs. 

David Pocock is in a unique position to deeply understand this issue—he's both a former Rugby Union star and an independent senator for the ACT. He joined Bension Siebert to explain why the news has made him angry and what he thinks the government should do about gambling ads going forward. 

This episode mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14.  

Why we're chickening out of a ban on gambling ads

Would you wear an ‘always-on’ AI chatbot buddy around your neck to keep you company?

Meet your newest ‘Friend’. Picture a small, white pendant – kind of like an Apple AirTag, about the size of a button large – enclosed in a necklace so it sits perfectly at your chest. It’s watching, listening, and ready to chat to you all day, every day.

A user wears their ‘Friend’, talks to it with the press of a button, and then the chatbot responds via text through the app.

The point of the ‘Friend’ is simply to keep people company, but what are the implications of technology you wear and talk to 24/7, and what does its creation say about who we are becoming as a society? 

On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the lead engineer of Friend, Jackson Mowatt Gok, to explain why it's been created, and what he hopes it will achieve.

Headlines:

Olympics wrap

Makarrata Commission scrapped by Albanese government

US recession fears spook stock market 

French pole vaulter talks after going viral for one ‘big’ reason 

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Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

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How Lebanese Australians feel about the escalating violence

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