The Briefing

Cheng Lei was detained by the Chinese Government back in 2020, accused of espionage and of leaking state secrets to foreign organisations. The Australian journalist, born in China, spent years in detention with no trial, no access to her children and no lawyer - including over six months in solitary confinement.  Lei was eventually forced to plead guilty to trumped-up charges, but in late 2023 she was released with the help of the Australian Government. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lei shares the brutal conditions she was held under, why she still holds love for China and takes us inside her new memoir, Cheng Lei.  Weekend list with Helen Smith TO LISTEN: Good Hang with Amy Poehler TO READ: The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience by Plestia Alaqad TO EAT: Sweet potato halloumi fritters TO EAT: Kreenuts (Helen also taste tested and approved)  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-eight of the trial in under two minutes.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: Jumping castle operator found not guilty over incident that left six children dead, Chris Dawson’s legal bid over a sexual abuse charge fails and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump in the G-7 summit next week Deep Dive: Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s fight has just escalated to dangerous new levels with the tech billionaire letting loose on social media. After leaving the White House, Musk has made some explosive allegations against the US President including claims he is on Jeffrey Epstein’s list. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by journalist Matt Bevan to unpack the implications this latest blow-up has for all of us.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Pheobe Bishop’s housemates charged with murder, NZ MPs who performed haka in Parliament given record suspensions, weight loss drug warning over pregnancies, major pet changes in family law disputes, and the Socceroos have all but qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Deep Dive: Chocolate prices have surged in the last year, with blocks now selling for $8 at major supermarkets - more than double what we were paid a decade ago.  Global cocoa prices have hit record highs, but climate change and inflation aren’t the only culprits - with a little-known international deal also at play.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with journalist and host of The Internet Reviewed on YouTube Kirsten Drysdale to unpack what’s really driving the rising cost of chocolate. Further listening from the headlines: What happened to Pheobe Bishop? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-seven of the trial in under two minutes.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: US President Donald Trump bans 12 countries from the US, Senior Coalition members hit back at former Liberal Party Leader Alan Stockdale over comments on assertive women and Perth banned the hiring of E-Scooters after man's death Deep Dive: This week the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or AHPRA announced sweeping new rules for the cosmetic industry, putting dodgy operators on notice.  The new regulations come into force in September and will apply to a number of cosmetic procedures including injectables, fillers and some dental work.  In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Jack Zoumaras, a Specialist Plastic Surgeon, on what these new changes mean and how to choose a safe and reputable operator.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: NSW gamblers now losing $24 million to pokies every day, future of Tasmanian Premier and AFL team hangs in the balance, Australia’s defence force chief issues new warning, Enhanced Games hits back at World Aquatics, and Hungry Jacks trials AI drive-thru in Sydney. Deep Dive: Australia now has the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer globally, with the number of people diagnosed under 50 growing each year.   A recent study found Aussie Gen Z’ers and Millennials are up to three times more likely to develop the disease compared to those born a few decades prior.    Experts are now trying to find out why.   In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks to one of the co-authors of the study, epidemiologist Professor Mark Jenkins, about what might be behind the rise, and one of the young Aussies who beat the disease. Further listening from the headlines: Like the Olympics, but on steroids. Meet the Enhanced GamesWe’re training AI to blackmail us Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-six of the trial in under two minutes.   You can access the Butterfly Foundation if this raises any issues for you on 1800 33 4673 or webchat. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon Headlines: GDP slow growth as economists predict further interest rate cuts, Oreo maker sues Aldi in US over 'copycat' packaging and $70 million Oz Lotto has finally been found Deep Dive: The powerful bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk seems to be over, after the tech billionaire left the White House and lashed out at the US Government on social media.   So, what went wrong and how did a powerful entrepreneur end up with a key job in The White House?  In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Political Expert Henry Maher who claims The US President played Elon Musk with dire consequences for US democracy.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: Samantha Murphy’s accused killer given trial date, Australia’s economic growth downgraded as the OECD singles out our housing crisis, calls for government intervention into e-scooters, the TGA's expanding the use of Mounjaro, and record Ashes ticket demand causes drama for fans. Deep Dive: Young Australians are among a growing group of critics calling on Australia's Environment Minister, Murray Watt, to walk back a 40-year extension granted to Woodside's controversial gas project in WA.  The decision sparked backlash from environmental advocates, Indigenous communities, and cohorts of Aussie youth who say it undermines Australia's climate commitments and threatens cultural heritage sites. The criticism saw Woodside’s own CEO further fuel the controversy, accusing young climate activists of being hypocrites for opposing fossil fuels but happily consuming fast fashion.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks to Jordan Rowand from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition about the contentious project, and why they want Murray Watt to back out of the deal.Further listening from the headlines: The Easey Street murders explained Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.