Top secret war plans sent to journalist by mistake

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.

5 Jan 13min

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.

4 Jan 18min

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.

3 Jan 29min

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.

2 Jan 28min

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.

1 Jan 16min

It’s been almost a decade since Stranger Things first dropped us into the town of Hawkins - and today, the final episode of the series lands, closing out one of the most influential TV shows of the past ten years. But behind the monsters, secret labs and psychic experiments is a lesser-known origin story: a conspiracy theory tied to a place called Montauk in New York. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Christopher Garetano - researcher and filmmaker behind the 2014 documentary ‘Montauk Chronicles’ about how fact, fiction and conspiracy collided to create a global pop-culture phenomenon. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 Dec 202516min

Wednesday Headlines: Queensland flood fatality as WA cyclone makes landfall, Australians encouraged to "Celebrate not hide" this New Years eve, and good news with the PBS cap falling to $25 from New Years day. Deep Dive: Australians have spent billions of dollars on travel in 2025, and that’s not a trend that’s expected to change in the new year. 98% of people who took a holiday this year say they will again in 2026, while overseas and domestic trips continue to be popular. So, where will we all be going in 2026? Where should we be going? And most importantly, how can we snag a bargain? In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Quentin Long from Australian Traveller to talk 2026 travel. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Dec 202517min

Tuesday Headlines: Menorah to light up Sydney Harbour Bridge in tribute to Bondi terror attack victims, Australian Cruise ship runs aground in PNG, Tropical cyclone Hayley to make landfall in WA today, and the ICC has rated the Boxing day pitch as "unsatisfactory". Deep Dive: BookTok is a community on TikTok where people create and share content about books and in 2025, it truly entered the zeitgeist. The hashtag helped platform new authors, sparked controversy, and even reshaped book sales and the way the publishing industry operates. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Evelyn Araluen, a Goorie and Koori author and teacher, who explains how BookTok works, it’s cultural impact and how it’s influencing what we read. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Dec 202518min