The latest on Iran + The surprise trend hurting first home buyers

Tuesday Headlines: Trump says war with Iran could run for five or more weeks Little progress made in closing Australia’s gender pay gap Pauline Hanson censured, questioned over taxpayer-funded travel High-profile lobbyists could be exposed under new parliament rules Jim Carrey responds to viral internet theory that he’s been cloned Deep Dive: The death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has triggered celebrations across Tehran and in diaspora communities worldwide - including here in Australia.  But it's also brought mourning processions, portraits carried through the streets, and mosques announcing days of grief.   For many Australians, that contrast is hard to make sense of.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by peace and conflict researcher Shadi Rouhshahbaz to unpack the difference in reactions, what the celebrations actually mean, and why calls for Iranians to "rise up" are anything but straightforward.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top international law experts are warning that the latest strikes by the US and Israel on Iran set a very dangerous precedent, especially for countries like Australia.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by international law expert Dr Tamer Morris, who explains why these latest attacks contravene international law and how it now opens the floodgates to further attacks from other nations.   Headlines: US President Donald Trump has warned there will be more casualties in Operation Epic Fury, The Israeli Military say senior members of Hezbollah have been struck in Beirut, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK will allow the US to use it's military bases, a top-secret report that investigated what went wrong with the Liberal party during last year’s federal election defeat has been leaked, and Delta Goodrem will represent Australia at Eurovision.  Further listening from the headlines: Iran’s deadly protests explained Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all recognise the green and gold kangaroo - it's one of the most trusted logos in the country.   But what does Australian Made actually mean? And with cost of living biting harder than ever, is choosing local still worth the extra dollars?  In this sponsored episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Ben Lazzaro, Chief Executive of Australian Made, to unpack the certification process behind the iconic label, why trust is its biggest commodity, and how buying local can pump billions back into the economy.  We look at the real impact on farmers, manufacturers and communities, the surprising research on what Australians are willing to pay, and the rise of  buy local campaigns that are shaping how we spend.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines:  Conflict escalates in the Middle East as Israel, Iran and the US engage in strikes Petrol prices and travel: how this latest Middle East conflict will impact Australia Parents of backpacker killed on K’gari call for inquest Penny Wong to move censure motion against Pauline Hanson The Matildas win their Asian Cup opener Further listening from the headlines: Jane Hume on migration, One Nation and laughing at Angus Taylor Deep Dive: Getting on the property ladder in Australia has never been easy, but new data from Domain shows just how steep the climb has become.    The 2026 First Home Buyers Report reveals entry-level property prices have risen in every capital city (except for units in Canberra), deposit saving timelines are stretching longer and mortgage stress now hitting lower-end buyers nationwide.    In this episode of The Briefing, Domain’s Dr Nicola Powell joins us to unpack why this crisis is structural, not cyclical, and what, if anything, can be done to fix it.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report is reigniting debate over the future of captive wildlife entertainment in Australia, with fresh scrutiny on breeding programs at Sea World on the Gold Coast. Advocates say global tourism is moving away from keeping animals in captivity… but here, polar bears and dolphins are still being bred for performance, in what many experts say are inhumane conditions.  So, is Australia falling behind the rest of the world? And should the practice be banned altogether?  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia to unpack the latest findings in the new report.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Gary Stevenson was 20 years old he won a card game that led him to landing a trading job at Citibank. Then in 2008, the middle of a global financial collapse, he was making millions. And by 2011, he was the bank’s most profitable trader in the world. Today, Gary is better known to 1.5 million subscribers as Garys Economics - the inequality economist who says while other economists make predictions, his actually come true. His career was built on the bet that rising inequality would permanently damage the American and British economies, and that living standards would fall for good. In this chat with Helen Smith, Gary shares how he went from working class to multi-millionaire, what he learned rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s richest people and why he believes there is still hope for those not born into extreme wealth. Gary's Australian tour tickets here Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Annabelle TO WATCH: Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette on Disney Plus TO DO: Greg Davies Aus tour TO WATCH: Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model on Netflix TO WATCH: Tick, Tick... Boom! on Netflix  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, what is Shen Yun? The Chinese dance group was thrown into the spotlight this week after it was linked to a bomb threat against the Prime Minister at the Lodge in Canberra.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Professor Haiqing Yu from the School of Media and Communication to explain what Shen Yun is, its controversial links to Falun Gong and why we all need to care about this new fragile geopolitical environment.   Headlines: The Liberal Party has confirmed it won’t release a report into its disastrous performance at last year’s federal election, the Commonwealth Bank is investigating a major fraud scandal, the federal government is warning child care centres are on notice if they don’t lift standards and meet new deadlines, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lashed out after being grilled over Jeffrey Epstein, and some good news from Magda Szubanski.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Hillary Clinton testifies in Epstein probe, calls for PM to hold Israel responsible for destruction of Australian war graves, Instagram to send alerts to parents over their kids' mental health, Jacinda Ardern is moving to Australia and Australia’s best beach named. Deep Dive: Trying to reach the summit of Mount Everest continues to gain popularity with hundreds of people attempting the climb each year.   But with the growth comes an increase in people who don’t have enough experience trying to achieve the brutal feat and with the new climbing season about to get underway, the Nepalese government is bringing in new rules to clamp down on so-called Everest “influencers” from attempting the climb.   In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Aussie Everest climber Daniel Bull to get his take on the new regulations and hear his tale of the Death Zone.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the scandal that refuses to die, and it’s climbing higher up the royal ladder. Revelations from the so-called “Epstein files” have already toppled a former prince and a senior British ambassador. Now, for the first time, King Charles is named in an email from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with claims he was blamed for stripping then Prince Andrew of his trade envoy role. In this episode of The Briefing with Natarsha Belling, royal historian Andrew Lownie reacts to the ongoing fallout from the Epstein files and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He claims what we’ve seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg, pointing to a vast network spanning sex trafficking allegations, financial dealings, intelligence agencies and even national security concerns. Andrew Lownie wrote the unauthorised biography, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which alleges a massive cover-up by key government agencies and the Monarchy over the former Prince Andrew.  Headlines: Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has rejected an apology from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he described her as “difficult", an alarm will sound from almost every mobile phone across the country on the 27th July, and Aussie rock legends INXS are in the running for one of music’s highest honours. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Families of Australian diplomats told to leave Israel and Lebanon, Sydney duo charged over 85-year-old grandfather's kidnapping and murder, RBA governor denies inflation is 'taking off', health and education records of kids to be tracked for social media ban research, ayahuasca flagged as potential therapy for depression and here's what you think about the proposed e-bike laws.  Deep Dive: He was one of the world’s most feared drug lords accused of flooding the US with fentanyl and expanding its grip across Mexico.  Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was killed in a US-backed military raid on Sunday, sparking cartel retaliation that saw several Mexican cities thrown into chaos.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with cartel expert Angelica Duran-Martinez about who El Mencho was, whether removing a kingpin changes the drug trade and what this chaos means for Mexico just months out from hosting the FIFA World Cup.  Further listening from the headlines: An Australian clinic is 'transforming' lives with MDMA-assisted therapy  How MDMA freed Kate from PTSD Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.