The Briefing

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

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, bei...

Witnessing the new face of cyber warfare in Lebanon + Headlines

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

All the allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

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

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Should Tinder be teaching us about consent?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With an advocate like Chanel Contos onboard, will learning about consent on Tinder actually work? The dating app has launched a new Consent Course, cr...

The pros and cons of weighing kids in school + Headlines

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should we be weighing children at school?  Health experts have suggested we start weighing kids in schools to help tackle the obesity epidemic, but c...

Meet the ‘proud Islamophobe’ advising Donald Trump

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 activis...

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

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Improving mental health is one of the most important aspects of rehabilitating offenders in incarceration. It’s been the focus of a recent program a...

We're hooked on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Mo...

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

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 bef...

Matildas stars on reality TV, FOMO and heartbreak

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wi...

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

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The truth about seed oils + Headlines

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Live on the ground of the Melbourne anti-war protests

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

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

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 famo...

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

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming intertwined within our day-to-day lives. But it’s not just simply helping us set our nightly alarms...

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

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pianist Jayson Gillham made international headlines last month after dedicating a performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) to journalis...

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

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After receiving thousands of submissions and holding hearings across the country over three years, the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide is releas...

Are virtual schools the solution to school refusal? + Headlines

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020 and amid a global pandemic, over 4 million students across Australia were forced to transition to online learning. Almost every school became ...

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

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stand up comedian Monty Franklin tries to make the content audiences need- instead of what they think they want. Whether that’s explaining Aussie cu...

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

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

The case for putting dental in Medicare + Headlines

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 bran...

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

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has this week credited natural therapies with curing her cancer. Every day, 58 people in Australia are diagnosed...

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

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 yea...

Your mobile phone isn't giving you brain cancer

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 rei...

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

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through TikTok being bombarded with food reviews? Sometimes they appear organic, with creators hoppin...

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

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 shu...

Are renters, not landlords, ever the bad guy?

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

How to stop your landlord stealing your bond + Headlines

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

Fatima Payman on love, scandal and fleeing the Taliban

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Pale...

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

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 al...

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

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Spring brings with it some pretty wonderful things; blooming flowers, warmer weather and longer days. But it also means another thing that can strike ...

Paralympian Carol Cooke on why all eyes should be on Paris

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Par...

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

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leonardo da Vinci + a Saudi Prince + one very old painting = a world of controversy. Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting sold at auction. Du...

Researchers have proof astrology is bullshit. Does that matter?

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new study has found astrologers are no better at prediction than random guessing. Does that matter? Many of those obsessed with their astrological c...

Oasis is getting the band back together + Headlines

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fi...

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

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful - especially with the average wedding in Australia costing nearly $35,000. That’s a price tag that ca...

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

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Au...

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

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) are forever chemicals that seem to be turning up in just about everything. We now know they’re ...

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

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ba...

Kamala Harris has delivered the most important speech of her career

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Appearing at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Kamala Harris has accepted the party's nomination for president in the most importan...

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

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Delivery death - riders dying for your dinner

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Candace Owens once suggested the US invade Australia to save us from “tyrannical” COVID policies. Laura Loomer has described herself as a proud Is...

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

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 mus...

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

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 &...

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

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 co...

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

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) a runaway train? The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a “public health emergency of interna...

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

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the greatest racehorses of all time was euthanised after a short illness over the weekend. Australian thoroughbred Black Caviar was considered ...

Cruising might be causing a climate crisis + Headlines

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Transpo...

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

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 hos...

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

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Brooke Schofield has been cancelled. But in 2024, does that matter to anyone anymore? Since the term entered the zeitgeist, 'getting cancelled' was on...

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

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The federal government has advised Australians not to travel to Lebanon, and any Australians in Lebanon to return home due to a "volatile security sit...

The Wieambilla police massacre and criminally insanity

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An inquest into the December 2022 Wieambilla police massacre has heard evidence the trio responsible – Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train – would ...

Raygun is breaking the internet. Is the criticism justified?

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made a significant (and significantly delayed) return to social media pla...

What choosing to die looks like in Australia in 2024

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

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

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

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

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ARI...

North Korea is playing diplomatic gymnastics at the Olympics

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 gymnas...

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

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 bee...

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

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

McDonald’s is an economic juggernaut. Since its inception in the 1940s, the golden arches have dominated the fast food market globally, becoming a b...

What the Olympics and shoplifting have in common

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Teenage terrorists - Australia's radicalisation problem

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ASIO and the federal government announced on Monday that Australia’s terror threat level had increased from 'possible' to 'probable'. Part of the re...

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

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

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

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

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

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Your new AI 'Friend', or foe?

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Daizy Maan Kaur is a shameless brown comedian

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Daizy Maan Kaur is full of surprises and her name is one of them. She’s the founder of Brown Women Comedy and Soul house with a mission to create m...

Sex testing and the Olympics. How do we make sport fair?

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Overnight, Italy’s Angela Carini abruptly withdrew from her Paris Olympics boxing match against Algeria's Imane Khelif, saying she’s never felt a ...

Why hasn't netball had its Matildas moment?

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final is happening tomorrow, with the Adelaide Thunderbirds facing off against the Melbourne Vixens at the Adelaide En...

Kylie Moore-Gilbert on Israel, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has vowed “revenge” on Israel and negotiations to end the war in Gaza have been thrown into doubt after the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran...

Are 'tradwives' dangerous?

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is your social media serving you ‘tradwife’ – or traditional wife – content? These creators embrace a ‘traditional existence’, which inclu...

Will Rex's collapse make flying more expensive?

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rex Airlines has gone into voluntary administration. Has it been bullied out of the market by its competitors? The airline has grounded its fleet of 7...

Who will be Kamala’s VP?

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Usually, nominating a vice president doesn’t have a huge effect on an average US presidential race - but this is no average US presidential race. Do...

Why the world's uncontacted tribes don't want to know us

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are a lot of misunderstandings about the world’s uncontacted tribes - communities that are indigenous to the land they live on and reject any ...

They knew, 50 years ago: Australia's big climate cover-up revealed

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who betrayed Australia on climate change? In this episode of the Briefing, Bension sits down with journalist and author Royce Kurmelovs to discuss his...

Breaking into the Olympics (literally)

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking has, for the first time ever, danced its way into the Olympic Games. Spectators in Paris and around the world will watch as B-girls and B-boy...

The internet might be dying. Is shrimp Jesus to blame?

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could bad bots on social media be leading to the death of the internet? You might have come across a weird AI generated images of ‘shrimp Jesus’, ...

Tim Minchin wants you to stop policing opinions online

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Minchin thinks policing other people's opinions online is a waste of time. He’s a talented musician and author, who’s smart, has great teeth a...

Childless cat ladies are trending in US politics

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Polls released in the US overnight show the presidential election campaign is neck and neck. Kamala Harris, who has all but secured the Democratic nom...

The Olympics begin! Here’s what you need to know

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 2024 Paris Olympics begin tomorrow morning our time. The 33rd hosting of the summer games will feature 329 events in 32 sports. More than 10 and a...

Getting a puppy? How to know your breeder is a good one

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with around 70% of households owning one. While choosing to bring a puppy or kit...

Why the Government has cut off internet in Bangladesh

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine having no internet – well that’s exactly what's happening in Bangladesh right now for over 170 million people since the government has cuf...

Is 'dark oxygen' the secret to life?

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the dark depths, four kilometres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, scientists have found small clumps of rocks producing oxygen. Previously s...

Why are our pollies heading to the mines?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Politicians and jobs in the mining sector seem to go hand in hand - with former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet and former Western Australia...

Gen Z is a lonely generation. Is ' social prescribing' the cure?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Young Australians are living in a world more connected than ever before, thanks to social media. But an increasing number of 15- to 24-year-olds are e...

Katy Perry to Chappell Roan: What the new pop renaissance says about us

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Female made and focused pop music is having a revolution. Why is the happy and light 2000’s pop sound from the likes of Katy Perry out, and the comp...

Who is Kamala Harris - and can she beat Trump?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden has announced that he’s dropping out of the race for the 2024 US presidential election. In making the announcement he also endorsed his Vi...

Joe Biden has announced he won't run in November

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden has announced he won't run at this year's 2024 presidential election. It will set off a race for the Democratic nomination - with Biden form...

Frances Rings’ first language is dance

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For Frances Rings dance is her first language. Since childhood Frances has always know dance would be part of her identity and in 2023 she was appoint...