Melania Trump denies Epstein links + Why smoking is ‘cool’ again

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: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joshua Fox has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most relentless wedding crashers, better known as the ‘MAFS Guy’ for his viral ambushes on the set of Married at First Sight. But long before the online notoriety, he was Britain’s youngest paparazzo - landing an early win photographing Paris Hilton and earning more than he ever imagined. From those beginnings in Manchester to producing one of Australia’s biggest radio shows, The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Josh’s path has been anything but conventional. In this chat with Chris Syprou, Josh opens up about the reality behind his MAFS persona, his unexpected foray into OnlyFans, and the darker chapters he’s faced - from getting divorced before 30 to reinventing himself as one of the country’s most listened-to podcasters. Content warning: This chat does touch on themes of suicide and sexual assault Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Chris TO LISTEN:  TO WATCH: Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom on Netflix TO WATCH: The Moment TO READ: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Albanese's energy agreement with Singapore U.S.-Iran talks to begin over the weekend Queensland MP found dead Artemis II splashing down Saturday morning A wolf on the loose in South Korea  Deep Dive:  Is Australia ready for an electric car revolution? The war in Iran has sent petrol prices spiking and Aussies looking for other ways to drive. But is our infrastructure ready for a rapid transition? And what should you watch out for if you’re considering an EV purchase?  In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Paul Maric from carexpert.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Israel tells hundreds of thousands in Beirut to evacuate Melania Trump says rumours linking her to Epstein ‘need to end today’ Convicted gang rapist remains on the run after escaping police custody  Funding cuts force Grace Tame Foundation to close Traffic volumes take a dive across the country  Deep Dive: Smoking is making a comeback in pop culture, appearing in shows like The Bear and Euphoria, and in music videos from Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter. Even Australian band DMA’S opens their latest video My Baby’s Place with multiple people smoking within the first 30 seconds.  The trend isn’t limited to entertainment. Instagram ‘cigfluencers’ are glamorising the habit, while depictions of smoking have surged by 70%, despite it remaining a leading cause of death worldwide.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by public health professor Becky Freeman to discuss why smoking is resurfacing and whether vaping is playing a role in its resurgence.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: The world watches a shaky Iran ceasefire Albanese travels to Singapore to secure fuel supply A hammer attack in a Sydney hospital Bruce Lehrmann loses final chance to appeal defamation case Plus: the cop chase stopped by a cactus  Deep Dive:  When women began disappearing on Long Island in the 1990s, police didn’t know they were facing a new serial killer. Today, architect Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to the murders of eight women in what have become known as the Gilgo Beach murders. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Xanthe Weston, associate professor of criminology and host of the Motive & Method podcast, to talk about how the killer was caught.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Ceasefire in doubt as Israel pounds Lebanon and Iran halts oil tankers Fuel price drops unlikely to hit your tank in a hurry AI tool that spots heart failure risk five years before it develops Activist group infiltrates Coles You could own a Queensland town for $400K   Further listening from headlines: Your supermarket is spying on youThe controversial ICE tech at our door Deep Dive: Israel says its invasion of Lebanon is about security and pushing Hezbollah away from its northern border. But on the ground, more than a million people have been displaced, infrastructure is being torn apart, and tensions inside the country are rising fast.  With villages flattened, others cut off, and communities turning on each other, fears are growing of a prolonged Israeli occupation and the risk the conflict could tip Lebanon into something it hasn’t seen since the 1970s – a civil war.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Middle East and counter-terrorism expert Dr Mariam Farida from Macquarie University about Israel’s long-term strategy in Lebanon, whether it can ‘dismantle’ Hezbollah and why the risk of a broader crisis is rising.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  A two-week ceasefire in Iran Matt Canavan sets out his “Patriot Agenda” Ben Roberts-Smith doesn’t seek bail Australia’s sporting rich list revealed Deep Dive:  Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire against Iran, hours after making the threat to wipe out the “whole civilization” if a deal wasn’t reached.  But will the ceasefire last? And what does Trump have to show for his five-and-a-half weeks of war?  In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Jennifer Parker, an expert on national security and the principal and founder of Barrier Strategic Advisory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BREAKING: Donald Trump has announced he will suspend all bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks - but only if Iran agrees to the complete and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.  In a post to Truth Social, the US President says he's agreed to a request from Pakistan, which has been working as a mediator, to hold off on his threatened bombardment of Iran's power and civil infrastructure. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: Trump warns a 'whole civilisation will die' if Iran doesn't make deal Ben Roberts Smith to appear before court today Record number of scam websites taken down by Australia's financial regulator Kanye West blocked from entering the UK EV sales hit record highs in Australia Deep Dive: War used to be reported. Now it’s being packaged.  Footage shared by the White House showing strikes on Iran is being edited like gameplay - complete with stylised overlays, dramatic pacing and even ‘killstreak’-style visuals, pulling in millions of views.  But this isn’t a one-off. From ICE raid clips set to the Pokémon theme to military operations branded like blockbuster titles, conflict is being reframed through the language and aesthetics of entertainment.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Daniel Baldino from the University of Notre Dame Australia about how war is being gamified - and what that shift does to public perception, accountability, and reality itself.  Further listening: Will Elon unplug your EV dream? Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated soldier, has been arrested at Sydney Airport over allegations of war crimes. It comes after a joint operation by the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by lawyer Justin Quill to explain what this latest development means. Headlines:  Trump repeats threat to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran  PM Albanese will be travelling to Singapore to address the fuel shortage  One Nation surges in the latest Newspoll  The Artemis mission is heading home  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.