‘Prisoner of War’ Maduro enters plea + Will oil run the 2026 economy?

Thursday Headlines: PM expected to announce Federal Royal Commission into the Bondi terrorism attack, US seizes Russian-flagged vessel linked to Venezuelan oil, thousands of Aussies hit with highly transmissible flu strain, Grok under investigation by Australia’s online safety watchdog over deepfakes, and Warner Bros rejects ‘inadequate’ $160bn Paramount bid. Deep Dive: In 2025, the architects of artificial intelligence were named Time’s Person of the Year - making the question no longer whether AI will shape our future, but how fast and on whose terms.  What started in our feeds is now reshaping classrooms, the economy and the physical world around us - with massive AI data centres now being built in Australia.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute, to break down what to expect from the tech in 2026.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does Donald Trump keep talking about Greenland, could the US really try to take it, and what does it all mean for Australia?  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by defence and security expert, Jennifer Parker, who explains why Greenland has become such a fixation for the US president, and why this isn’t as unprecedented as it might sound. Jen explains the strategic value of the Arctic, the role of NATO and Denmark, and why Trump’s rhetoric is alarming key allies.   Headlines: US President Donald Trump says Venezuela will turn over at least 30 million barrels of oil to the US, inflation has slowed to 3.4 per cent, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has attended a Bondi terror attack victims' funeral for the first time. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: Multiple states on high alert amid forecasts not seen since Black Summer bushfires, Venezuelan opposition leader vows to return as the country cracks down on Maduro critics, Swiss ski bar not inspected for five years before deadly fire, and Tomorrowland's inching a little closer to Australia. Deep Dive: January is the rude awakening after the break - routines and alarms return, and exhaustion sets in fast.  Sleep is often the missing link, with the way we treat it affecting our energy levels, mood, and ability to retain information.   In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with neuroscience expert and host of Do You F*cking Mind, Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa, about what actually happens in the brain during sleep, why falling asleep can feel so hard and how small changes can reset your energy in 2026.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deposed Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have faced a New York court, pleading not guilty to multiple drug and weapons-related charges. Maduro’s lawyers are expected to argue his arrest was illegal, and he's immune from prosecution. In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Colombian-born legal scholar Juan Zahir Naranjo Cáceres to unpack the latest developments.  Headlines: Senior Labor figures expect Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to back down on his opposition to a royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack, millions of Australians living on the outskirts of major cities could face bushfire risks similar to the deadly 2025 Los Angeles fires, and exciting news for Lego lovers.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines: Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in New York court, alleged Bondi shooter moved to supermax as parliament expected to return to Canberra early, Paris court finds 10 people guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, and the new campaign trying to get Australia back in the top 10 happiest countries list. Deep Dive: From AI hype to lingering chatter around crypto and gold, 2026 is already shaping up as a year thick with financial noise - now layered with fresh global shocks.  Predictions of stock crashes, bubbles about to burst, and market swings are everywhere - raising questions about what actually matters and how it can affect us.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Motley Fool Australia’s Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips about what we should realistically be paying attention to when it comes to the world of finance this year.  Further listening:What the headlines are missing on Venezuela PART 1: The Macrons vs Candace Owens & PART 2: French president sues podcaster over claims first lady is a man The ugly truth about your delicious bacon sandwich Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US-led capture of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, has sparked a storm of debate. For many, removing a leader long labelled a dictator and accused of severe human rights abuses is a hopeful moment for Venezuela. Yet experts warn the operation raises serious questions under international law.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy is joined by Venezuelan-born journalist Claudianna Blanco, who takes us inside Venezuela's decades-long fight for democracy, the devastating human toll of Maduro’s regime, and the uneasy questions about what comes next.  Headlines: Tensions over Greenland are rising after US President Donald Trump said the United States “absolutely” needs the territory, hundreds of mourners have paid tribute to the 40 people who died in a New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland, and Aussie actors Sarah Snook and Jacob Elordi win Critics Choice awards.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines: Mixed reactions from Australia’s Venezuelan community after US arrests authoritarian leader, Australian sports stars call for a royal commission into Bondi terror attack, severe heatwave warnings for large parts of the country, and the Special Ks are back!  Deep Dive: Dating is something many of us have a love-hate relationship with and as 2026 begins, new trends are already reshaping how people meet and connect.  That shift is already showing up online, with January 4 the busiest day of the year for dating apps, dubbed “Dating Sunday,” with Australians logging on in search of the one.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by media consultant and mental health advocate Kriti Gupta to unpack the dating trends set to define the year and whether last year’s viral idea that “having a boyfriend is embarrassing” is here to stay. Further listening from the headlines: What's behind Trump's 'war on narco-terrorism' Why more Australians are drowning than ever before Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1990s, millions of dollars’ worth of gold vanished from the Sydney CBD office of Australia’s richest man - and police believed the thief didn’t act alone.  In part two, investigators zero in on a prime suspect known as Mr X, pursuing a theory that someone inside Kerry Packer’s inner circle tipped him off about the gold. As the net tightens, uncomfortable questions emerge about how much Packer himself may have known.  In this episode of The Briefing, we continue our break from the daily news cycle and bring you part two of this extraordinary story from LiSTNR’s Crime in Focus.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1990s, $5.5 million worth of gold bullion was stolen from the Sydney CBD office of Australia’s richest man, Kerry Packer.   It was a heist so precise it left even professional safecrackers impressed - and suspicious.  In this episode of The Briefing, we’re continuing to take a break from the daily news cycle and we bring you part one of this wild story from LiSTNR’s Crime in Focus.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: At least 40 dead after fire at Swiss ski resort bar, More than 100 business leaders call for Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism, House prices are set to jump more than 5% in 2026, and Usman Khawaja's Test future is up in the air leading into the Sydney test. Deep Dive: When you book in with a psychologist, how much do you really know about the kind of treatment you’ll receive? While cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most common approaches, new and emerging therapies are constantly being developed.  But how do these therapies move from theory into real-world practice and how long does that process take?  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Kelvin Wong, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, who unpacks new therapies for 2026 and when someone should consider seeking therapy in the first place.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.