The Briefing

Thursday Headlines: Almost 50,000 people isolated by one in 500 year flood, Donald Trump ambushes the President of South Africa, AFL great Joel Selwood has made his first public comments following the death of his brother Adam, groundbreaking new Alzheimer's treatment now available, and EV sales drop to lowest level in two years.  Deep Dive: Victoria’s construction industry has been rocked by a recent spate of violent attacks, from fire-bombed family homes to torched government-backed sites.   Allegations are now mounting that the CFMEU is trying to claw back control, just nine months after its construction arm was placed into administration.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with award-winning investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, who broke the story for The Age and 60 Minutes, to unpack what’s really going on inside one of Australia's most powerful and influential unions. 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 sixteen 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: Thousands isolated from recording breaking floods, NSW Premier urged hundreds of thousands of commuters to leave work early with Sydney’s train chaos and former AFL umpire on the run accused of $9 million fraud scheme Deep Dive: NRL superstar Reece Walsh has gone viral from a video he posted showing him punching a friend to the ground. The latest sporting controversy has sparked a bigger controversy about role models, normalizing violence and providing a safe space for all men to have honest conversations. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Zac Seidler the Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movemeber who says we need urgent action to better support these role models and stop normalising violence.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work, streamlining everyday tasks and enhancing productivity across industries. Platforms like Smartsheet are using AI to automate the repetitive parts of our jobs, giving us more time to focus on things like creativity and strategy. In this sponsored episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Helen Masters, Managing Director for Asia Pacific Japan at Smartsheet, to explore how Australians are working smarter with AI.Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: John Howard calls Coalition split a ‘stupid move’, Sydney trains still investigating cause of incident that shut down services last night, Ben Roberts Smith has been labelled “reckless and brazen” by judges, Sydney men sentenced over using Grindr to rob gay men, 1 in 2 Aussies needing help are skipping meals, and the world’s best chess player has finally met his match. Deep Dive: One of the states with the strongest police pursuit rules in the country is reviewing them this month, after a staggering spate of car related crimes, but the policy was first brought in to combat a growing number of deaths.   In 2024 there were at least ten fatalities from police pursuits in Australia, with deaths recorded in every state and territory.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by former police officer and Bond University's Associate Professor of Criminology, Terry Goldsworthy to discuss what needs to change.  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 fifteen 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: National Party to split from Liberals abandoning Coalition, Australia has joined 23 other countries condemning Israel’s plan to “take control” of Gaza blocking aid and Sesame Street saved by Netflix Deep Dive: The Reserve Bank of Australia has slashed the official cash rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 3.85 per cent. While it’s a big win for millions of mortgage holders, the RBA’s Governer has warned there is an uncertain and unpredictable road ahead. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Sally Tindall who unpacks what this latest cut means for means for our housing market, jobs and the economy.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Timothy Graham, a QUT digital media researcher, as he unpacks the world of online bots and social media manipulation. He reveals how these artificial accounts distort our perceptions, trumpet misinformation, and impact political discourse. The conversation dives into the ethics behind bots, exploring their duality as tools for good or harm. Graham emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating online content, especially in light of a recent case study involving the Great Barrier Reef. Prepare to rethink what you believe online!

A gripping trial unfolds as Erin Patterson faces serious charges for allegedly poisoning her relatives with death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington. Mobile data comes into play, linking her to crucial locations tied to the toxic fungi. Experts weigh in on the lethal properties of the mushrooms and the evidence that could sway the jury. The courtroom drama escalates as details of the case are unpacked in a concise two-minute recap.

In this discussion, Steve Moylan, Chair of Lifeline Australia and a professor, shares insights on mental health and suicide prevention. He highlights the urgent need for community connection, especially in the wake of recent tragedies in the AFL community. Moylan addresses the paradox of increased connectivity causing loneliness and advocates for an AFL mental health round to promote support. He emphasizes the role of organizations like Lifeline in providing crucial resources and encourages listeners to foster caring communities.