Why John Safran is comfortable in the uncomfortable

Monday Headlines:  One Nation becomes most popular political party in Australia Defence Minister reveals changes to AUKUS pact Searches continue in flooded Laos cave for missing miners Australian house prices fall Socceroos lose friendly as countdown to the World Cup hits two weeks Deep Dive: The government last week launched its biggest lawsuit ever: Australia is suing the US corporate giant 3M for $2 billion, alleging that 3M concealed the fact that its firefighting foam was harmful.  3M's firefighting foam was made from PFAS chemicals which scientists now say are environmental contaminants, and the government is seeking damages for the contamination of 28 military bases around Australia.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Ian Wright, Associate Professor in Water Science at Western Sydney University, to unpack what we know about PFAS and whether the Commonwealth's case goes far enough.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has sparked fresh space-race chatter after revealing SpaceX is shifting its focus from Mars to the Moon, with ambitions to build a “self-growing” lunar city within the next decade.   With multiple countries and private companies rolling out lunar missions, the push to develop Earth’s only natural satellite is heating up fast.   In this bonus episode of The Briefing, astrophysicist Brad Tucker from ANU joins us to break down who the major players are, what a self-growing city actually means, and why inflatable moon hotels might not be as sci-fi as they sound. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Safran is a cult Australian documentarian and professional bear-poker whose career has included everything from trying to join the Ku Klux Klan to getting crucified in the Philippines - and he says he’d probably still do it all again.  The filmmaker first gained fame in Race Around the World in 1997 and since then has always inserted himself into the centre of uncomfortable stories, including squatting inside Kanye West’s abandoned mansion while trying to understand the psychology behind Ye’s antisemitic spiral.   In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, John shares his take on free speech in 2026, why censorship means something completely different in the internet age and how Australians are smarter than we give them credit for.   Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Daniel TO READ: Griefdogg by Michael Winkler TO WATCH: Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) on Netflix TO TRY: Uber pool  TO DO: Check out Broadsheet Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Aussie Rents could increase Opposition Leader withdraws his comments Amazon Backpack in trouble with ACCC Tribute show to John Farnham announced Deep Dive:  Sports journalist Emma Lawrence made history this year as the first woman to call an NRL game, with her achievement being hailed as a win for all women in broadcasting and the industry.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Emma who reveals why she wanted to smash the glass ceiling and how her young daughter inspired her to take on one of the toughest jobs in a male dominated industry. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  90% of young Aussies will be better off under tax overhaul  US and Iran agree on 60-day ceasefire extension Australian joins rescue mission for Laos villagers trapped in a cave AFP commissioner defends Ben Roberts Smith airport arrest Blues women win clean sweep of Origin Deep Dive: The way Australians think about their money has shifted amid years of uncertainty and global impacts outside their control, according to a new report.  One of the big ways we’re seeing this is in Aussies focusing on the things they can control, from joining loyalty programs and rentvesting, to splurging on things that bring them joy and prioritising travel.  In this episode of The Briefing, ING’s CEO Melanie Evans sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to reveal why we’re seeing this, and whether the great ‘Australian dream’ has permanently shifted from full time work and houses to side hustles and investing. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Govt. launches $2bn lawsuits against 3M over “forever chemicals”  Fourth ‘ISIS bride’ arrested and charged with terrorism offences  Trump rape accuser targeted by criminal investigation  More US strikes in Iran, alongside peace negotiations  Germany’s “most wanted” woman, 67, found guilty of armed robbery  Deep Dive:  Teenagers are having worse sex and getting more STIs. New research shows that one in five teenagers (aged 14-18) have experienced unwanted sex, and that condom use is falling. What’s happening to Australia’s teenagers?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Jennifer Power, Deputy Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, and the lead researcher of the new study into teenage sexual health.  Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines:  Appeal date set for Erin Patterson Five people found alive after week trapped in Laos cave 240,000 people to be cut from NDIS over four years Labor’s controversial tax changes to be introduced to parliament today Blues win Origin 1 in stunning comeback  Deep Dive: Australia’s courts have long allowed judges to consider “good character” references during sentencing, even in child sexual abuse cases.  For many survivors, hearing offenders described in court as “good people” or “champions of young people” can be deeply retraumatising and after years of campaigning, one Australian state has now changed its laws.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with survivor advocate and co founder of Your Reference Ain’t Relevant, Harrison James, about the new laws and why advocates believe this should become a national standard. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Inflation drops to 4.2% in year to April  Biggest shake up in the employment system in decades  Westpac hit with 26-million-dollar penalty  Europe swelters in record summer heatwave  NASA reveals plans to settle on the Moon Deep Dive: What caused the top boss of the National Anti-Corruption Commission to resign? We unpack Paul Brereton’s controversial tenure at NAC and who may be next to take on the top job...  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by UNSW Law Faculty Prof. Gabrielle Appleby.  Read her article here: We need a new anti‑corruption commissioner. Here’s how to pick the right one Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: More ‘ISIS brides’ touch down in Sydney and Melbourne  More small businesses to be exempt from CGT changes amid backlash Australia records first diphtheria-related death in almost a decade Donald Trump to undergo third physical in 13 months Europe hit by unseasonal heatwave  Aussie wildcard downs former world number one at French Open Deep Dive: The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail for Gaza two weeks ago with the intention of delivering aid to the people of Gaza, as Israel continues its land, air, and sea blockade of the strip.  Instead, 428 activists on board 50 vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces and detained, with video footage of some of what they went through posted by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, drawing global outrage.  In this episode of The Briefing we speak with Neve O’Connor, one of the 11 Australians who were part of this group to hear her story of being captured and abused in Israeli detention.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Two men arrested in Victoria in connection to Dezi Freeman  Police renew search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont Energy prices to fall for most households in NSW and QLD, with bigger drops for businesses US military unleashes new ‘self-defense' strikes on Iran, amid tense peace talks  The Australian share market tumbles, following news of US strikes on Iran Vivid Sydney drone shows cancelled, following technical malfunction    Deep Dive: Following the death of former AFL great and charity campaigner Neale Daniher, many are asking what is Motor Neurone Disease (MND), what are the warning signs, and what can we do to help prevent it?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan. Follow The Briefing:   TikTok: @thebriefingpod  Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast   YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.