Another crazy day in Australian politics... The National’s Leadership spill fell over, the Coalition is apparently getting back together and now Pauline Hanson is Australia’s most popular leader.

A growing number of Australians are fleeing the major parties as support continues to soar for One Nation.

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by 7News political editor Mark Riley who explains just what is going on and why this political circus is detrimental for all of us.

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Monday Headlines: Leadership spills and poor polling for the Coalition as parliament resumes, Clive Palmer responds to mention in Epstein files, Gaza’s Rafah crossing has reopened, Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, and The Grammys are on today.

Deep Dive: The Reserve Bank will hand down its first decision of 2026 on the official cash rate tomorrow.

While some economists had been predicting the RBA wouldn’t change the cash rate at all this year, a recent rise in inflation has poured cold water on that notion.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with economist and journalist Peter Martin about what we should expect in 2026, and why we should we care about interest rates.

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You might know him as the conviction politician who speaks out on issues like poker machines, euthanasia and war.

But independent MP Andrew Wilkie first made national headlines as a whistleblower who took a very big risk in the name of truth.

As Australia geared up to join the US in the Iraq War in 2003, he was working as an analyst for an intelligence agency that reported to the Prime Minister. Here he says he found himself at an extraordinary ethical crossroads on discovering our government’s claims to justify the war were untrue.

"The government was lying to the Australian people about why we should support to the US and join in the invasion of Iraq in 2003," Mr Wilkie says. "I felt ultimately I had a moral duty to alert people to this dishonesty."

In this interview with our colleague Joey Watson at Secrets We Keep: Uncovered, Mr Wilkie speaks candidly about whistleblowing against the official narrative, the personal cost of his actions and what it means to challenge power in the lead-up to war.

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Ilai Matangi was crowned Australia’s TikTok creator of the year in 2025, becoming the first man and first Pacific Islander to win the gong.

Under his username, Havea676, he’s been dubbed Australia’s favourite girl dad and creates hilarious relatable content for his 1.8 million followers on Insta and nearly 3 million on TikTok.

In this chat with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Ilai shares the importance of representation on stages like the TikTok Australia awards and why he’s not going back to stand-up comedy anytime soon.

Weekend list with Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou

• TO WATCH: Burlesque
• TO DO: Pickleball
• TO SCROLL: WeRateDogs
• TO EAT: Biscoff cheesecake

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Birdwatching isn’t just for dads anymore; it’s booming, addictive, and drawing a new generation into nature.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by wildlife vet and host of Death by Birding, Dr César Puechmarin. Cesar reveals how spotting birds can connect us to nature, spark curiosity, and even transform the way we see the world around us.

Headlines: The federal government will provide an extra $25 billion in public hospital funding, Sussan Ley has unveiled an interim liberal shadow ministry, there's been a double murder suicide in Perth, and screenings of the Melania documentary have been delayed in Australia.

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Friday Headlines: Health funding and gun reforms set to dominate today’s National Cabinet meeting, Albanese defends Israeli president’s visit, Australia spends more on tax breaks for investors than affordable housing, health authorities closely monitoring Nipah virus, and the women’s finalists are locked in at the AO!

Deep Dive: The Australian Open has long been the most entertainment-driven of the world’s four tennis Grand Slams.

But this year, as more influencers fill the stands and branded content fills our feeds – some fans are saying the spectacle has overtaken the sport.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Ben Clare, Creative Director at social media agency We Are Social Australia, about the role of influencers at the AO and how they might be benefiting the sport rather than taking away from it.

Further listening from the headlines:
Larissa Waters on Sussan Ley, One Nation, and the embarrassment of Aussie politics

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Australia’s political landscape feels bleak at the moment. From the coalition consumed by infighting to the brutal realities facing women in leadership, voters are frustrated. As trust erodes, support for protest parties like One Nation is rising, fuelled by cost-of-living pressure, culture-war politics and a growing sense that no one is actually listening.

In this episode, Natarsha Belling is joined by Greens Leader Larissa Waters. Larissa unpacks how economic anxiety is being weaponised, why climate change and household bills are inseparable, the controversial hate speech laws, and the failure of political leaders to offer unity or accountability.

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Thursday Headlines: Perth bomb scare investigated as a potential terrorist act, PM to push states on gun buyback scheme, Trump threatens Iran as US fleet arrives in the Gulf, Telstra phone update leaves some customers unable to access Triple 0, and Djokovic and Sinner set up semifinal clash at the Australian Open

Deep Dive: OpenAI is introducing advertising into ChatGPT.

The company says it won’t sell user conversations or allow ads to influence answers, but history suggests platforms rarely stay neutral once money enters the chat.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with senior lecturer in business information systems at the University of Sydney, Raffaele Ciriello about why these ads are more dangerous than others on socials and whether this is the beginning of the familiar slide from useful tool to profit-driven platform.

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