Why would anyone become a politician...?

Tensions between Australia and China are at their worst in decades. Our global campaign to blame China for the Covid-19 pandemic pushed our relationship to the brink. The Australian Financial Review’s China correspondent Michael Smith was woken by China’s secret police on a September night last year. Days later he was on a plane back to Australia – forced to leave the country he’d called home for the last three years. There are now no Australian journalists working in China. What does Michael Smith’s journey tell us about China? His new book, The Last Correspondent: Dispatches from the frontline of Xi's new China, explores Canberra’s relationship with Beijing and if we’re heading for a new cold war. TODAY'S HEADLINES International aid for India amid growing Covid-19 crisis Indonesian submarine found on ocean floor WA lockdown decision expected today No plans to return to Afghanistan: government OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Apr 202121min

Jamila Rizvi sits down with Internet sensation and ultimate millennial “slashy” Lillian Ahenkan, otherwise known as Flex Mami. She’s a DJ, TV presenter, podcaster, author, entrepreneur and “Professional Opinion Haver” who you can find hosting panels at the Sydney Opera House, sharing her thoughts on Pedestrian.TV or hosting on MTV among much more. More importantly, she’s about to grace our screens as a contestant on Big Brother AU 2021, bringing her multi-dimensional personality to a reality format. Jamila and Flex talk Big Brother, her sense of empowerment, the concept of Big Enjoyment and cancel culture. THE WEEKEND LIST: Podcast: Bobo and Flex Podcast: The Imperfects Cook: Kmart Pie Maker – send in your pie recipes! Watch: Lupin on Netflix Send us your recommendations on Instagram @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Apr 202125min

PART TWO - The UK, Europe and the United States are forging ahead with mass vaccines. Australia is well behind in terms of progress. So, what is life like in London, Washington and Madrid now the vaccination numbers are climbing? Today’s briefing is part two of our transatlantic peek over the vaccination horizon. We’re joined by Adam Creighton in Washington... he’s the US correspondent for the Australian newspaper. What can we learn by taking a look over the horizon at the vaccine rollouts in Europe and the United States TODAY'S HEADLINES Biden promises to halve US emissions by 2030 Vaccines open to all over 50s PM promises to defy China threats over Belt and Road deal Search continues for missing Indonesian submarine OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Apr 202118min

The UK, Europe and the United States are forging ahead with mass vaccines. Australia is well behind in terms of progress. So, what is life like in London, Washington and Madrid now the vaccination numbers are climbing? Today’s briefing is part one of our two-part transatlantic peek over the vaccination horizon. We’re joined by Bevan Shields in London... he’s the European correspondent for the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. What can we learn by taking a look over the horizon at the vaccine rollouts in Europe and the United States? TODAY'S HEADLINES China anger as federal government tears up Victoria's Belt and Road deals US government to investigate Minneapolis policing Australia helps search for missing Indonesia submarine Second hotel quarantine breach in Sydney Queen breaks silence on Prince Philip’s death OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Apr 202119min

The Prime Minister has announced a Royal Commission into veterans’ suicide. Will it be enough to stem the number of returned servicemen and women taking their own lives? We’re joined by Heston Russell - a 16-year army veteran and former Special Air Service Regiment commander and founder of Voice of a Veteran. 41 people died serving in Afghanistan... but ten times that number have taken their own lives after they got home. Why? The greater story needs to be told. TODAY'S HEADLINES Gov announces half a billion funding for clean energy Travel bubble to remain intact despite NZ airport positive test Biden “praying for right verdict” as Chauvin jury deliberates Education groups welcome dumping of consent ad Byron residents protest new Netflix series OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Apr 202124min

The Briefing kicked off on April 20, 2020, amid a global pandemic. No one was sure what the future would look like. Many of us were working from home for the first time, our computers perched on boxes of toilet paper. On today’s Briefing we look back….and forward. It’s been a crazy year – and we can’t wait to celebrate with the people that matter. Our listeners!!! TODAY'S HEADLINES Shakeup for vaccine program Emotional reunions as AUS/NZ bubble opens Royal commission into veterans’ suicides Closing arguments begin in Derek Chauvin case First powered flight on another planet OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Apr 202124min

Did you know an Australian is leading one of the teams behind the Mars rover? Australian geologist Dr Abigail Allwood is the first woman and the first Australian to ever be a principal investigator on a Mars mission. Perseverance is the fifth NASA rover to explore the Red Planet and it’s being sent with the explicit goal of working out whether there is - or has ever been - life on Mars. We meet the Aussie geologist helping to find out if there’s life on Mars TODAY'S HEADLINES National Cabinet begins meeting twice a week The Australia/New Zealand travel bubble opens Sydney authorities investigate hotel breach Countries warn consequences for Navalny death UK national mourning ends, Harry considers staying OR watch Today's Headlines on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Apr 202120min

Jamila Rizvi sits down with Benjamin Law, a man of many talents in the Australian media industry. He is the creator and writer of SBS’s award-winning ‘The Family Law’ and the maker and subject of the ABC documentary ‘Waltzing the Dragon’. Ben is also a radio broadcaster, podcaster, author and speaker. Every Saturday for the Good Weekend magazine, Ben asks his famous subjects all sorts of things you’re not supposed to say publicly through the roll of the dice: sex, money, religion, bodies, death and politics. Jamila turns the microphone on his as Ben discusses his relationship with these dicey topics. THE WEEKEND LIST: Listen: McCartney III Imagined - Paul McCartney Do: The Roughin’ It Challenge Podcast: She Is Legend Tell us what you're loving by sending us a message on Instagram @the briefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Apr 202124min