Monday Headlines: Thousands of Australians have protested across the country against the war on Gaza, Erin Patterson is back in court today, Queensland urged to use TikTok and ‘trusted influencers’ to combat misinformation during natural disasters, Trump preparing to send National Guard into Chicago, and Venus Williams is returning to the US Open aged 45.

Deep Dive: A first of its kind inquiry is looking into cults and fringe religious groups in Australia, and whether our laws are strong enough to protect members.

It's looking into recruitment and retention tactics, particularly any deemed coercive, dominating, and harmful.

While the inquiry isn’t focusing on the cults or groups beliefs, just behaviours, other mainstream religions are concerned some of their practices could get caught in the crosshairs.

In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with investigative journalist Richard Baker, about his evidence at the inquiry, and his message to any religions sounding the alarm.

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Kathleen Folbigg was once branded Australia’s worst female serial killer, convicted of murdering her four children and locked away for 20 years. But she was innocent. In 2023, a breakthrough in genetics and the work of 90 leading scientists finally cleared Kathleen’s name and set her free. But her fight for justice isn’t over. The NSW government has now offered just $2 million in compensation, a figure that’s outraged her supporters and the Australian public.

In this episode, we revisit the extraordinary case from the very beginning. Professor Stephen Cordner, one of the scientists who campaigned for Kathleen’s release, takes us inside the science, the battle against the legal system, and how one woman’s life was destroyed by a terrible miscarriage of justice.

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Natalie Kyriacou is the environmentalist saving the planet one snake clit and fish STD at a time.

Before she turned 30, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to wildlife conservation and education. Creating World of the Wild, a app that’s been dubbed the environmentalist’s Angry Birds.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Natalie explain how she went from stealing from family members to raise money for climate to publishing Nature’s Last Dance.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO WATCH: Real Housewives of London on Hayu
• TO TRY: Lay flat on the floor
• TO DO: Always get a second opinion
• TO WATCH: The Handmaid's Tale season 5 onwards

Follow The Briefing:
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.