The Briefing

Trump announces Russia-Ukraine ceasefire + The US midterms explained

The Briefing

Show Notes

Monday Headlines: Opt-out laws to pass Parliament after controversial ministerial power dropped Zelensky surprised as Trump announces energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine Australians warned against travelling to Saudi capital after Houthi attacks on airports Australian hiker found dead in Peru Aussies issued important advice ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6 release Deep Dive: This November, American voters will head to polls to decide whether the Republicans or the Democrats will control the US House of Representatives and the Senate. The vote is largely being seen as a verdict on Donald Trump’s presidency, halfway through his second term. So, with Trump’s agenda on the line, a shift of just a few seats in either direction could give Democrats the power to block his cabinet appointments, stall legislation, or completely flip control of Washington. In today’s episode of The Briefing, Planet America’s Chas Licciardello joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the key battleground races, Trump's sway over voters, and what a predicted Democrat win will mean for the rest of his two years in the White House. Further listening from the headlines: The Houthis vs Saudi Arabia explained Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Oct 23, 2026

We’re back with this weekend’s installment of Our Take, our looser, goosier look back at the week that was. We kick off this weekend with The Inbox, talking all about what we can and can't report in the media after one of our posts from the biggest news story this week caused a bit of a stir. Then we jump into The Debrief to unpack why the internet needs to leave Miley Cyrus alone after her Hollywood Bowl concerts. Plus, Curtis from Triple M NRL is back to try and take on the quiz AGAIN, while Chris kicks off his campaign to get Strawberry Kisses to the top of the Triple M 1000 countdown!

Oct 22, 2026

Friday Headlines: Global scramble to fix program flaw impacting 70% of the internet Man charged after allegedly threatening WA MP Ben Roberts Smith denies war crimes in 2GB interview Nationals leader Matt Canavan could be moving to the lower house Reporter saves driver from floodwaters in Brisbane Deep Dive: A Tesla sports car launched off a ramp in Texas last week, flipped mid-air and cleared a row of parked cars. Elon Musk calls it proof the future has flying cars. Back on the ground, Australians are only just warming to EVs, and driverless cars are still being road-tested. So are we really ready to take traffic into the sky... and who’s writing the rules if we do? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by futurist Steve Sammartino to unpack what Tesla actually built, who else is racing to make flying cars a reality, and whether Australia is anywhere near ready for them. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 21, 2026

Thursday Headlines: Helen Haines' husband reveals she has lost both legs Man arrested after allegedly taking nunchucks into a WA MP's electorate office US envoy meets with Putin for Russia-Ukraine talks Australian e-bike hospitalisations on the rise Glee reboot is coming Deep Dive: Microsoft Teams knows when you’re online, when you’re in a meeting and, with the right add-ons, how fast you’re typing. Workplace monitoring has quietly moved from CCTV cameras into the everyday software we use for our jobs. Now AI is turning that data into dashboards that rank staff on how “productive” they are. Most workers have no idea it’s happening, and a few lines buried in their employment contract may be the only warning they ever get. So how much is your boss allowed to know about you ... and what can they actually do with it? In this episode of The Briefing, Tessa Randello is joined by Professor Edward Santow, co-director of the Human Technology Institute at UTS, to unpack how everyday tech became a surveillance tool and what you can do if you think you’re being watched. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 20, 2026

Wednesday Headlines: Brendan Nugent to face court accused of intentionally targeting Helen Haines France to deploy troops ahead of further protests planned this weekend Pauline Hanson apologises for Jacqui Lambie cartoon Prince Harry admits he wants to reconcile with his family Moths that are wreaking havoc on weather radars across south east Australia. Deep Dive: Australia is reeling following the vehicle attack on Independent MP, Helen Haines, on Monday night. The violent incident has sparked nationwide conversations about political violence in this country and how we can turn the temperature down when it comes to how we speak about and interact with politics and our elected officials. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute, Amy Remeikis, to discuss the situation, what’s driving it, and how we move forward. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 2026

Tuesday Headlines: Independent MP Helen Haines critically injured in apparent vehicle attack Israeli police make arrests over settler attacks in West Bank French PM urges curfews after riots Hanson tells Lambie to 'lighten up sweetheart' over One Nation cartoon mocking her Plans to make Melbourne’s Yarra River swimmable by 2050 Deep Dive: The Greens have been powering ahead with a renewed strategy under new leader David Shoebridge to take up the fight to Labor in a more aggressive approach to policies. In the space of just a week, the party has blocked or delayed two crucial pieces of government legislation, with the help of the Coalition. But in the same time frame it’s also been forced to confront negative headlines surrounding allegations against WA senator Jordon Steele-John and claims of political point-scoring by factions within the party. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with co-host of the Serious Danger podcast, Tom Ballard, to take a closer look at the Greens’ new strategy, and how recent headlines might help or hinder the party’s future success. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpod Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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