Konrad Michalski, better known as Punter's Politics, is on a mission to cut through the political spin and convince everyday Aussies (or punters) that politics actually matters. With a mass online following, Konrad has become the go-to voice for satirical takes on Australia’s top stories. Now, with the election looming large, his insights have never been more vital. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Konrad explores how he challenges gas oligarchs to tackling housing inequality through social...
Mar 28, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 136
Afternoon headlines: New poll shows Peter Dutton is now in the lead with voters, no jail time for ex-cop who tasered 95 year old in age care and two school students hit by an out of control car that was allegedly stolen. Deep dive: There’s renewed concern over the health of King Charles, after the Monarch was hospitalized with side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Royal expert Angela Mollard to explain what’s really going on...
Mar 28, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 135
Friday Headlines: We have an election date, Peter Dutton’s budget reply, NSW court docs and Nine hit by data breach, search continues for missing Queensland police officer, US Yemen attack update and The Greens slam Albo for inviting Trump down under. Deep Dive: Anthony Albanese wants you to buy Aussie-made—but are your Tim Tams, Twisties, and Milo purchases really supporting Australian businesses? With some of our iconic brands owned by foreign companies, can the Prime Minister’s "Team Australi...
Mar 27, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 134
Deep dive: Speculation is rife the Federal election will be called tomorrow, after an embarrassing blunder. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet posted on social media that the government was in caretaker mode, which was then quickly deleted. It comes just hours before Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is set to give his budget reply speech tonight, with some experts wondering if it was a genuine mistake or a clever strategic move to steal Mr Dutton’s thunder. In this episode of The Briefin...
Mar 27, 2025•10 min•Season 6Ep. 133
Thursday Headlines: Labor’s surprise tax cut passes the senate, groceries are the most expensive at Woolies, Salmon laws, NSW court data breach, and Bluey stars react to show’s censorship in the US. Deep Dive: A virus that’s killed two people in recent months, and infected nine more, is back circulating the country. It comes after a series of back-to-back wet weather events, like Cyclone Alfred and various floods, have seen mozzie numbers surge and help spread Japanese Encephalitis Virus. In 202...
Mar 26, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 132
Afternoon Headlines: The PM blasts the opposition over tax cuts, Jeanswest goes into administration and AirPods Pro 2 can now act as hearing aids. Deep Dive: Cost of living relief or a cruel hoax? We break down what the federal budget really means for Australians and its effect on skyrocketing bills and interest rates. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Sally Tindall to find out if the government’s tax cuts go far enough and why many experts are saying the inflation c...
Mar 26, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 131
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down his fourth—and possibly final—Federal Budget. There are tax cuts, energy bill relief, and cheaper medicines on offer. The government's pitching it as a win for everyday Australians ... but is it really? And with back-to-back surpluses turning into a decade-long deficit, is this an election-friendly budget or a real plan for economic stability? In this special budget episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou and Tara Cassidy break down what you need to know and ...
Mar 25, 2025•23 min•Season 6Ep. 130
Afternoon Headlines: Trump and US Defence Secretary respond to leaked Yemen war plans and 2032 Olympic Games venue confirmed Deep Dive: Top secret US war plans have been leaked after a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat on encrypted messaging app Signal. President Donald Trump and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth both dismissed the story, even after National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed it ‘appears to be authentic’. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsh...
Mar 25, 2025•12 min•Season 6Ep. 129
Tuesday Headlines: Budget will be in deficit + more potential energy relief on the horizon, sixth day of protests in Turkey, Queensland told to brace for more severe flooding while WA braces for heatwave and possible cyclone and the 2032 Olympic Game venue to be announced today. Deep Dive: Adolescence is the Netflix series exposing the dark reality of how online influencers are hijacking the minds of young boys, hitting 24.3 million views in its first four days of premiering. The series has spar...
Mar 24, 2025•26 min•Season 6Ep. 128
Afternoon headlines: Teal MP Monique Ryan’s partner has apologised after stealing a Liberal campaign sign, Federal Government announces $1 billion in defence spending for budget and Tiger Woods confirms relationship with Donald’s Trump ex daughter in law Deep dive: The latest Newspoll survey reveals women are now abandoning both major parties at an alarming rate, as Labor’s female support base has dipped to 29% for the first time. While it’s perceived Mr Dutton has a problem with female voters, ...
Mar 24, 2025•12 min•Season 6Ep. 127
Monday Headlines: More bill relief announced as budget looms, Gaza death toll passes 50,000, Pope Francis makes first public appearance since hospitalisation, redemption for Oscar Piastri in Chinese Grand Prix and a new study shows humans are getting dumber. Deep Dive: Sports betting is surging among young men —should we be worried? New research shows the rates of sports betting among Aussie men aged 18-44 has skyrocketed by 65% since 2015, with spending also on the rise. Despite stricter regula...
Mar 23, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 126
David Pocock, the former rugby star turned independent senator, embraces the label of “weirdo” for his belief that sports and politics should go hand in hand. The former rugby star isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, famously refused to marry until same-sex couples had the same rights and being arrested for climate protests. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, David explains why rugby must lead on climate action, given its deep ties to Pacific Island nations with communities already bear...
Mar 21, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 125
Afternoon headlines: Treasurer Jim Chalmer stands by ACCC inquiry, flights to Bali cancelled after volcano eruption and Donald Trump shutting down the Department of Education Deep dive: Country music is having a moment, embraced by Millennial and Gen Z listeners with demand for the genre doubling over the last five years on Spotify. Artists like Beyoncé, Post Malone and Chappell Roan are moving back to their country roots as country music continues to top the Billboard Top 100 chart. In this epi...
Mar 21, 2025•10 min•Season 6Ep. 124
Friday Headlines: Coles and Woolies found among ‘most profitable’ supermarkets in world, US Tech giants call on Trump to target Australia, Socceroos inch closer to qualifying for next year’s World Cup, and the world’s happiest countries have been revealed. Deep Dive: Australians love their dogs. Almost half of all homes have a pet pooch according to the RSPCA’s latest figures. Dog owners are also increasingly treating their pups as part of the family, whether that’s letting them sleep in the bed...
Mar 20, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 123
Afternoon headlines: Peter Dutton’s speech interrupted by protesters, employment figures show despite thousands losing work unemployment rate holds steady and Australia’s rich list has been released Deep dive: A two-tier economy is emerging in Australia, with some splashing cash around while others struggle to pay their mortgage and bills. With cost of living set to be the number one issue as we approach our federal election, a growing number of people have given up on the Aussie dream of owning...
Mar 20, 2025•11 min•Season 6Ep. 122
Thursday Headlines: Labor promises to cap prescription medications at $25, Putin accused of breaking promise to not strike Ukrainian energy targets, new search green lit for missing flight MH370 and a Jury convicts two men in golden toilet heist. Deep Dive: If you tune into Parliament, you’d think Australia is drowning in crises—health, crime, climate, and, most notably, housing and immigration. And lately, those last two have become deeply intertwined in political debate. Conservative voices ar...
Mar 19, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 121
Afternoon headlines: Astronauts touch down to Earth after nine months in space, ex-nurses charged over an alleged video threatening Israeli patients fight to throw out evidence and secret documents released on the assassination of JKF Deep dive: A bombshell Australian link has been found in previously classified documents related to former President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Details of phone calls about an assassination plot made to the US embassy in Canberra emerged in new papers unlocke...
Mar 19, 2025•13 min•Season 6Ep. 120
Wednesday Headlines: Trump and Putin hold phone call about Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, More Israeli airstrikes in Gaza as death toll climbs, Treasurer promises substantial cost of living relief in the budget and NASA's stranded astronauts are finally on their way home. Deep Dive: AUKUS—the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the US—was sold as a game-changer for our national defence, promising a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and cutting-edge military tech. But years on, w...
Mar 18, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 119
Afternoon Headlines: Israel launches new airstrikes across Gaza, inquest into Lilie James’ murder finds it was a planned attack and scientists discover new species of fish more than 15 million years old. Deep Dive: Calls for a royal commission into the CFMEU are mounting after more damming allegations of violence and corruption. The Victorian government has met with the Police Commissioner to bolster investigations after accusations the state government failed to stop the criminal behaviour. In ...
Mar 18, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 118
Tuesday Headlines: Anthony Albanese receives highest approval rating in almost 18 months, Trump and Putin to discuss an end to the war tomorrow, 48% of year 6 Aussies can’t swim 50 metres and the RBA unveils new $5 banknote. Deep Dive: New analysis has revealed our grocery prices have surged by 30% over the last three years, with Coles, Woolworths and even Aldi hiking their costs. It’s unfortunately become an all too common problem for most of us, but do you know there are some easy ways to hack...
Mar 17, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 117
Afternoon Headlines: Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slams AUKUS deal as 'dumb' and 'unfair', Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the financial fallout from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and body believed to be of 6-year-old girl found in bushlands Deep Dive: STI cases are skyrocketing across all age demographics in Australia, with some rates doubling or tripling, and unprotected is sex a major contributing factor. Despite conversations around consent and safe sex starting to enter mainstream m...
Mar 17, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 116
Monday Headlines: Chalmers reveals cost of Cyclone Alfred ahead of earliest budget ever, dozens dead in North-Macedonian nightclub fire, heartbreak for Oscar Piastri as Lando Norris claims Australian Grand Prix, and the SpaceX replacement crew docks with the International Space Station. Deep Dive: After the 2022 election, many people thought Clive Palmer’s political party, and career, might be over. But after announcing a “new” party last month, Trumpet of Patriots, you might have noticed ads be...
Mar 16, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 115
Guenther Steiner isn’t just an F1 boss – he’s an American-Italian motorsport icon and a fan favourite on Netflix’s Drive to Survive. The former Team Principal of Haas is known for his signature wit, colourful language and unfiltered approach in the racing world. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Guenther explains how F1 is attracting a younger audience, life after leaving the sport and why it’s been 50 years since a woman last competed in Formula 1. Weekend list with Helen Smith TO WATCH: Su...
Mar 14, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 114
Afternoon headlines: Australia’s youngest convicted murderer set to be released, American Airlines Boeing 737 bursts into flames on tarmac and rare blood moon set to grace the skies tonight Deep dive: This weekend the world's best f1 drivers are on show for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, but one Aussie female driver is changing the face of motorsport. Molly Taylor is Australia's best female motorsport export and is not only breaking records but also the glass ceiling. In this episode of...
Mar 14, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 113
Headlines: Putin says he agrees 'in principle' to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, Kevin Rudd says he's 'thrown everything' at getting a tariff exemption and Albo slams the US influencer who snatched a baby wombat. Deep Dive: Australia has been rocked by a recent spate of shark bites this week, reminding us of the risks inherent in ocean swimming. So, with hot weather predicted around the country this weekend, what’s going on and what do we need to know before we head to the beach? In this episo...
Mar 13, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 112
Afternoon headlines: Former Australian cricketing great Stuart MacGill found guilty over facilitating a cocaine deal, power bills to increase again and an American influencer's visa under review after a disturbing online video Deep dive: Hear from the Australian professor who was part of the team behind a world first that is set to revolutionise how we treat heart failure and transplants. Professor Chris Hayward gives the inside story into how an Australian man became the first person in the wor...
Mar 13, 2025•12 min•Season 6Ep. 111
Thursday Headlines: Greens unveil new plan to legalise weed, Trump tariff chaos continues, Indigenous incarceration rates have jumped 20% since 2019, and Leonardo DiCaprio criticises Australian government for mine expansions. Deep Dive: Australians consume around 17 kilograms of processed meat annually with the 4 billion dollar industry offering quick-fix meals and pushing high protein diets. Over 300 new fast-food stores opened across the country last year, making processed meat more accessible...
Mar 12, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 110
Afternoon headlines: Anthony Albanese responds to Trump's tariffs on Australia Deep dive: Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull issues a stark warning about our future alliance with the US after Trump’s move to enforce trade tariffs on our steel and aluminium. Mr Turnbull predicts we can no longer depend on the US for trade or security. His comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed the tariffs as ‘entirely unjustified’. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joine...
Mar 12, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 109
Wednesday Headlines: Australia’s requests to be exempt from US tariffs has been rejected as ‘Trumpcession’ fears continue, Ukraine says its ready to accept a US-proposed immediate ceasefire, the Queensland Premier has declared the worst of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is over, and a boulder sitting at QLD school for 20 years found to have over 60 dinosaur prints. Deep Dive: The AFL, NRL, and Cricket Australia generate billions in revenue—but they don’t pay income tax. The reason? They’re classifie...
Mar 11, 2025•22 min•Season 6Ep. 108
Afternoon Headlines: ASX stocks plummet amid US recession fears Deep Dive: The US stock market has plunged this week prompting fears of a recession some economists are labelling a 'Trumpcession'. President Trump hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a recession, stating in a recent interview with Fox News that Americans need to brace for a “period of transition” after his approach to tariffs rattled global investors. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Scott Phillips, Th...
Mar 11, 2025•10 min•Season 6Ep. 107
