The Briefing

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A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained. Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise. Know more in minutes. Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.

2 HR AGO

Fire at major Aus oil refinery + How drones will defend our nation

Thursday Headlines: Iran threatens to stop all trade in the Gulf region Labor set to boost defence spending by $53bn over next decade Large fire broken out at one of Australia’s only two remaining oil refineries Second school shooting in Türkiye in two days A British tourist has paid a LOT of money for a kebab while on holiday in Brazil. Deep Dive: The government is unveiling its new defence strategy that places drones and autonomous systems at the forefront of how it prepares for future conflict. Shaped by lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, the plan signals a major shift away from traditional big-ticket military assets toward cheaper, scalable technologies designed for speed, surveillance, and agility. But as the government commits billions to this transformation, questions remain about whether Australia can move fast enough to keep up with the pace of modern warfare, close critical capability gaps, and balance ambitious spending with existing defence priorities. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen smith is joined by retired Major General Mick Ryan, a former Australian Army commander and respected military strategist who has closely studied the war in Ukraine and the future of industrial-age warfare to explain how drones and autonomous systems are changing the way we approach conflicts. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 min
16 HR AGO

Easier access to the pill + Gina Rinehart must pay millions

Headlines: Gina Rinehart to pay rival family millions Virgin also cutting flights due to fuel prices Albanese back in Asia; Chalmers flies to D.C. Israel and Lebanon agree to peace talks South Korean wolf still on the loose Deep Dive: It's about to get easier to access the pill. In NSW, pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe the contraceptive pill without a GP appointment. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined in the studio by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to talk about the change to pill access and the concerns raised by GPs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 min
1 DAY AGO

Historic Israel-Lebanon talks + Millions of Aussies see ‘shadow doctors'

Wednesday Headlines: Positive ceasefire talks between the US, Israel and Lebanon International Monetary Fund warn of global recession NSW city shaken by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake St Kilda VFL player handed 9 week ban for using homophobic slur Royal Ballet and Opera thank Timothee Chalamet for boosting ticket sales Deep Dive: Millions of Australians are turning to chatbots instead of doctors - using AI to interpret symptoms, scan results and diagnoses without clinical oversight. A recent YouGov poll found 40 per cent of Aussie adults have already done it, with many acting on that advice or using it to question their GP - raising concerns about accuracy, regulation and trust. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Poppy Reid about the rise of the “shadow doctor,” why and how people are relying on it, and what it could mean for the future of healthcare. Further listening: Will Asia fix our fuel crisis? and THE BEEFING: The AFL vs homophobia Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 min
1 DAY AGO

Christians turn on Trump + Qantas cuts flights and increases prices

Headlines: More face-to-face U.S.-Iran negotiations coming Australia in talks to safeguard Strait of Hormuz Qantas and Uber hike prices TGA warns against unregulated peptides Harry and Meghan visit children’s hospital Deep Dive: What happens when you offend a billion Catholics? Trump’s about to find out. After feuding with the Pope and posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, Donald Trump is facing criticism from some of his biggest supporters. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Corey Alpert, a researcher at the University of Melbourne and a former staffer in the Biden Administration, to talk about the role of religion in American politics and Trump’s religious boundary-pushing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 min
2 DAYS AGO

Social media checks on all visas + Will Asia fix our fuel crisis?

Tuesday Headlines: US blockage of the strait of Hormuz has officially begun The Opposition leader will unveil the details of the Coalition’s Immigration Policy Booking.com hit by data breach Two thirds of under 16s still have access to social media despite the ban. Harry and Megan will touch down in Australia today for a four day visit Deep Dive: Anthony Albanese is continuing his rapid diplomatic tour through Southeast Asia, visiting Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore as fuel security concerns grow amid escalating Middle East tensions. With petrol and diesel prices staying high and Australia’s supply under pressure, the government is trying to reassure the public but at the same time has launched a $20 million ad campaign asking us to use less fuel. So how secure is Australia’s fuel supply, and could the country actually run out? In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Saul Kavonic, Head of Energy Research at MST Financial, to find out. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 min
2 DAYS AGO

How the Hungary election will change the world + Trump slams Pope

Headlines: Reactions to Trump’s Hormuz threat Trump’s broadside against Pope Leo Albanese reveals new defence chief Three Victorian ministers resign Rory McIlroy wins the Masters, again Deep Dive: Hungary’s right-wing strongman, Viktor Orbán, suffered an election wipeout this morning, despite an endorsement from Donald Trump. How will this historic moment change Hungary? And what are the implications for the EU and the war in Ukraine? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Associate Professor Ben Wellings to talk about Hungary’s fading illiberal democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 min
3 DAYS AGO

US to blockade Strait of Hormuz + The women Trump fired

Monday Headlines: Trump says the US Navy would start a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Anthony Albanese continues Southeast Asia fuel blitz Convicted gang rapist arrested after five days on the run Bondi stabbing heroes honoured two years on Gout Gout’s win heralds new sprinting golden age Deep Dive: Donald Trump has fired two high-profile women this year; the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and now Pam Bondi, the Attorney-General. Why? Trump has put huge expectations on his lieutenants during the second term – but both women also made serious political fumbles which cast Trump in a bad light. For Noem it was a US$220 million dollar ad campaign, and for Bondi it was her mishandling of the Epstein investigation. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith and Chris Spyrou break down the stories of Bondi, Noem, and their very public downfalls. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 min
4 DAYS AGO

BONUS: Trump's family secrets exposed

Many of us are worried about Donald Trump. The US President has become increasingly aggressive, self-aggrandizing and erratic, making threats such as “a whole civilisation will die tonight.” So how did he get like this? In this bonus episode from The Briefing's archive, we're bringing you the extended version of Tom Tilley’s compelling interview with Donald Trump's niece Mary. You’ll hear Mary’s fascinating insights into her uncle, whom she describes as "the world's most dangerous man." With a PHD in psychology, Mary’s helps us understand more about the man, his mind, and what he might do next. Mary wrote the book Too Much and Never Enough - How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 min

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Chris Spyrou

Host
Helen Smith

Host
Sacha Barbour Gatt

Host
Mick Ryan

Guest
Ryan Parker

Guest
Poppy Reid

Guest
Corey Alpert

Guest
Saul Kavonic

Guest
Dr Ben Wellings

Guest
Joshua Fox

Guest

A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained. Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise. Know more in minutes. Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.

Channel

LiSTNR
Creator

LiSTNR
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

2k
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 LiSTNR - Text, image, music and sound comprising this podcast are owned by or licensed to SCA. By accessing, communicating or using this podcast, you agree to be bound by the terms available at https://www.listnr.com/terms
Show Website

The Briefing