The Briefing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially dropped restrictions that prohibit gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The ban was implemented in 1983 for men who have sex with men due to the AIDS epidemic.   In today’s episode of the Briefing, we discover that since the early 80s, scientific advances and more testing has led to the ban on LGBT men and transwomen donating blood being lifted. We’re joined by Darian Aaron from GLAAD, a US LGBTQ advocacy organisations; and Thomas Buxereau from Australia's 'Let Us Give’ campaign.   So what’s happening in Australia, why hasn’t the ban been lifted here?     Headlines: Man charged with arson after deadly NZ blaze The G7 meets in Japan USA: TikTok banned in Montana Nadal announces retirement plan   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11,500 Hollywood television and screenwriters are on strike, they’re determined to get better pay and conditions and want safeguards in place against AI. The studios say they can’t hand out pay rises as investors are no longer gung-ho about streaming. We go inside the strike with writer Josh Gondelman who used to work on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to find out exactly what’s going on.   Headlines: Prince Harry and Meghan in “near catastrophic car chase” Melbourne truckdriver granted bail Quad meeting officially cancelled Falls Festival canned Sherpa climbs Everest for record 27th time   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snapchat has introduced an AI chatbot that users can ask any question and receive an answer in extreme detail. Users can customise the chatbot’s name, design a Bitmoji avatar for it and it sits alongside conversations with real friends. Snapchat’s chatbot may feel less transactional but AI ethics expert Julian Koplin says the new technology can be misleading.   Headlines: Search for bodies resumes at NZ hostel Biden could visit Australia next week 30 to 34-year-olds under worst cost of living pressure Support for Voice slips Gillard says she 'got it wrong' on same-sex marriage   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anti-crime groups have taken to the streets going door to door targeting suspected thieves in the Queensland town of Rockhampton. The vigilante groups formed on social media despite police warning them that vigilantism is not the answer to community crime. Indigenous leaders and police are worried, Dr. Terry Goldsworthy, an associate professor in criminal justice and criminology explains why.   Headlines: PFAS class action settles  A national anti-scam centre is set to open in July Thailand’s opposition challenges military rule  Turkiye election is too close to call Martha Stewart on the cover of Sports Illustrated   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Netflix show Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has hit the number one spot on the streaming service and gives the back story of the British Queen Charlotte. The show has been sparking conversation about whether or not she was the first black Queen. British historian Cindy McCreery joins Jan Fran to explain why.   Headlines: Two charged over neo-Nazi rally Road death toll climbs despite national strategy Education fees have almost tripled since 2023 Turkiye could have a new president Will Australia compete in Eurovision 2024?   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Harris is the newest host of The Project, filling the shoes of Carrie Bickmore who has been with the agenda-setting news show since its inception. Harris is no stranger to television. She previously hosted Studio 10 for nearly a decade, and before that was a reporter for Channel 9 and Channel 7.  In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Sarah explains how nothing could have prepared her for the invasive attention and outdated criticism from some parts of the media and how she’s balancing her new work and parenting. The Weekend list  Watch: Season 2 Ginny & Georgia on Netflix  Read: Inequality on Steroids | Between the Lines Watch: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix Listen: But are you happy? Flex Mami podcast epSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NRL player Jarryd Hayne is expected to be sentenced today. The 35-year-old was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on grand final night in 2018, following a third trial last month.  Host of This Arvo in Sydney Sacha Barbour Gatt takes us through the backstory of Jarryd Hayne, his massive fall from grace and why it’s taken so long to get this conviction.    Headlines: - Opposition leader Peter Dutton gives his budget reply - The trade minister is trying to repair relations with China - Biden might skip the quad meeting because of the debt ceiling - Google’s AI chatbot Bard has launched in Australia   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eurovision is back again, this year being played out in the UK. It’s a change from the norm after Ukraine won last year’s contest, but couldn’t host themselves.   We go behind the scenes with commentator Myf Warhurst to hear all the goss all the way from Liverpool.    Headlines: - Inquiry into the handling of the Brittany Higgins rape trial continues - The Opposition to deliver its budget reply today  - QLD Path to Treaty legislation passes parliament - AFL to find out if they can use Tasmanian Devils name     Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard artificial intelligence could take our jobs, now a new investigation shows how it could make inequalities worse.  We speak to Tracey Spicer about her new book Man Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future.    Headlines: Budget breakdown Donald Trump has been found liable for sexual abuse Jenny Craig Australia in voluntary administration   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

110 people have been confirmed dead in a Kenyan forest, believed to have starved themselves after following the teachings of a cult called The Good News International Church. The church taught that the end of the world was coming and its followers should starve themselves before that time and then they would go to heaven. Children were to die first, then the unmarried, then mothers and the elderly, and then lastly the church’s leaders.  The leader Paul Mackenzie now faces charges of terrorism, murder, kidnapping and cruelty towards children. We speak with Guardian reporter Caroline Kimeau on the ground about how this tragedy came about.    Headlines: - What to expect in the budget  - ACT prosecutor takes stand in Lehrmann-Higgins enquiry  - 'No' vote groups to merge -QLD Police Commissioner cautions against retaliating to youth crime   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.