Higgins responds to Lehrmann appeal + The fight to ditch the algorithm

The real-life succession battle over the Murdoch media empire worth billions resulted in one of the biggest family feuds playing out in court and destroyed the relationship between Rupert Murdoch and his son James. Earlier this year James Murdoch gave a rare interview in the Atlantic sharing his side of the story, where he called his father a “misogynist” and described Fox News as a “menace” to US democracy. In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks why James spoke out against his family, how Donald Trump was involved and if their feud is anything like HBO’s hit series Succession. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Des 9min

A Federal MP is calling for a nationwide crackdown on dangerous e-bikes, claiming the government has been too slow to act. Hospitals are seeing hundreds of serious e-bike injuries, and experts warn the situation could become catastrophic if urgent measures aren’t introduced. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Federal Member for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, to discuss her Safer E-Bikes Bill, why tougher laws are needed, and what it could mean for riders across Australia. Headlines: Victoria Police have announced they have laid 83 new charges against alleged Melbourne childcare pedophile Joshua Dale Brown, the Victorian government will cut 1,000 public sector jobs, and Google has revealed the most searched terms in Australia this year. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Des 13min

The Victorian government is investigating mothers’ groups and a homeschooling network run by neo-Nazis. Experts say these groups can often end up as patriarchal cults with coercive control. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by far-right researcher Dr Kaz Ross, who explains what’s really fuelling this far-right extremism and why governments need to listen. Headlines: Bruce Lehrmann has lost his latest defamation appeal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if pushed, Russia is ready for war, and Anika Wells is under fire after revelations that taxpayers footed a massive bill for a New York event promoting Australia’s teen social media ban. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Des 16min

Wednesday Headlines: New apps soar in popularity ahead of social media ban, internal Liberal Party review blames Trump for election defeat, coroner hears of pilot’s breakdown before deadly SeaWorld chopper crash, flagship gambling reform has done little to deter addicts, and the Matildas have ended their playing year on a high, beating New Zealand 2-0. Deep Dive: The 2025 TikTok Awards made headlines last week for their celebrity guests, record-breaking votes and history-making Creator of the Year - but another story quickly took over online. Black creators publicly alleged they were blocked from the red carpet while white creators walked through freely, prompting accusations of racism and a response from TikTok Australia that many say fell short. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with independent journalist and Back Cover Media founder Mibenge Nsenduluka about what unfolded, why it escalated so quickly online, and how events like this can be handled better in the future. You can read TikTok Australia’s statement here. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Des 21min

In 1995 a history making interview inside Kensington Palace between the late Princess Diana and ex-BBC reporter Martin Bashir changed the trajectory of the monarchy forever. The Panorama TV interview watched by an estimated 200 million worldwide, became one of the most dissected moments in modern royal history but resulted in an inquiry into how the BBC 'covered up’ the controversial methods Bashir used to secure it. In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks fresh claims made in a new book, Dianarama, and explores why nearly three decades on many still blame Bashir for Diana’s death. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Des 10min

The WHO has released new guidelines recommending breakthrough weight loss drugs like Ozempic as long-term treatments for obesity. While the new measures are hoping to make the medications more accessible and cheaper, it comes as our TGA released new safety warnings for people taking the drugs. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by endocrinologist and obesity specialist Katherine Samaras, who explains the complexities of managing obesity and why, in many cases, the benefits of these game-changing drugs far outweigh any negatives. If this discussion raised any issues for you, contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. Headlines: A long-awaited review into government board appointments has blasted Australia’s “jobs for mates” culture, Environment Minister Murray Watt has admitted that greater oversight was needed on the controversial $96 million Bureau of Meteorology website redesign, and a new report has revealed Australia’s happiest workers. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Des 18min

Tuesday Headlines: Labor to launch its National AI Plan today, WHO recommends Ozempic-style meds for weight-loss as TGA issues fresh warning, landmark class action against ADF starts today, Donald Trump says he will release his MRI results, and Joey Watson joins us to chat about this week’s investigation on Secrets We Keep: Uncovered. Deep Dive: Millions of Aussies are being duped by sneaky subscription traps, drip pricing, and refund runarounds - and the government’s calling time. A proposed ban on unfair trading practices could soon make it illegal for businesses to deliberately trick or trap us into spending more and it’s not just consumers paying the price. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Erin Turner, CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, about what the ban would cover, how it could work, and whether it can actually stop the dodgy tactics. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Des 20min