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Good morning!
Here is today’s trivia question: Which planet is the hottest in our solar system?
Answer is in the titbit!
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “I've never made the suggestion that I'm any type of angel.” One Nation’s Victorian party leader Warren Pickering at a press conference on Tuesday admitting to having taken drugs in the past, though he ruled out having used ice, which had been alleged by a former partner to The Australian.
The stat: 1.7 million. The number of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized by the Border Force in an operation across Western Australia and the Northern Territory in the last week of August.
The big question:
When did you last see a live theatre show? (e.g. play, musical, opera etc)
Yesterday’s results: 15% of you have applied to withdraw money from your super, 79% haven’t, and 6% have thought about it but not applied. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2,471 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
A Victoria Police investigation into a former gynaecologist accused of performing unnecessary surgeries has been dropped. Dr Simon Gordon was the subject of a Four Corners investigation which aired on the ABC in February. Several former patients claimed they underwent surgery for severe endometriosis that was not supported by their pathology results. Gordon denies the claims and surrendered his medical registration last year. Police said on Tuesday they would not be proceeding with the investigation against him. “Based on the information provided, we are unable to take the matter further at this time. Any new information provided to police will be thoroughly assessed,” a statement read.
Thousands of protesters have gathered across Germany to demonstrate against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Organisers estimate at least 10,000 people turned out to demonstrations near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on Monday. Thousands more gathered in other cities and towns across Germany, carrying banners with slogans including "Fascism is not an alternative" and "Stop AfD Nazis!” The party won Sunday’s election in Saxony-Anhalt by a wide margin but fell short of an absolute majority.
Together with AAP.
I’ve got 1 minute
This week, three men are facing trial in Mexico for the alleged murders of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, and their American friend Carter Rhoad.
The men disappeared on a surfing trip in Mexico’s Baja California region in April 2024. Their bodies were found in a well in a remote part of the state.
Police charged three men with their murders, with prosecutors seeking 210-year jail sentences per alleged perpetrator.
The Robinsons’ parents have travelled to Mexico for the trial.
Trial
Three men were arrested in 2024 in connection to the alleged murders. Under Mexican law, only their given names can be published: Ángel Jesús, Irineo Francisco, and Jesús Gerardo, known as ‘El Kekas’.
At a 2025 hearing, prosecutors said they would seek prison sentences of 210 years for each alleged offender. An additional 168-year sentence is sought for El Kekas for forced disappearance.
Last year, El Kekas’ ex-girlfriend Ari Gisell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in instigating the robbery leading to the alleged murders.
The trial began on Monday (local time) in Ensenada, Baja California. On day one, journalists reporting from the court said the original judge for the case was replaced after he sustained an injury in an “accident”.
During the trial, two witnesses told the court they had been intimidated by people connected to the alleged offenders. As a result, the accused were moved out of the courtroom while the witnesses gave evidence.
Family
Callum and Jake’s parents Debra and Martin Robinson have travelled from Perth to Ensenada for the trial.
“We are going because we need to be there, not only for ourselves, but to represent the immense love, heartbreak and unimaginable loss felt by their families, friends and everyone who loved these three extraordinary young men,” the Robinsons said in a statement shared to the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation’s Instagram.
To learn more about this case, and what we have learned so far in the trial, listen to this morning’s podcast on Spotify here and Apple here.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, features editor Emma explains the murder trial underway in Mexico over the deaths of two Aussie brothers. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.
🎾 Want the latest on the U.S. Open? Sign up to TDA Sport here for a full rundown in your inbox at 4.30pm.
Good Finds
🥚 Introducing an underrated source of Vitamin D: Eggs! Our bones, muscles and immunity all rely on it, but almost half of Australians don't get enough, and another 25% is seriously lacking. The quick fix? Two eggs provide 82% of your daily needs, so adding them to your meals is a pretty easy win. You can thank Australian Eggs for that life hack, who've also got some ways to enjoy them.
Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.
I’ve got 2 minutes
The Government has released draft legislation to make social media algorithms opt-in only.
Currently, “recommendation-based” algorithms are the default on most social media platforms.
The proposed change follows years of pressure from advocacy groups, including youth-led charity Teach Us Consent, which argued the existing system exposes users to harmful content.
If passed, platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to $109.2 million.
Algorithms
Early social media algorithms showed content from people you follow, in chronological order.
Today, “recommendation” algorithms decide what shows up in your feed, ranking content based on your behaviour.
Companies track signals like watch time, likes, comments and shares to predict what will keep you scrolling.
A 2024 study by Dublin City University found it took as little as 23 minutes on TikTok and YouTube Shorts for algorithms to start recommending misogynistic content to accounts held by 16 to 18-year-old boys.
Background
Then-Communications Minister Michelle Rowland first flagged the idea of a legislated “digital duty of care” in November 2024.
It followed an independent review of the Online Safety Act, which recommended shifting responsibility onto tech companies to proactively prevent harm, rather than relying on users to report it after the fact.
The proposal was modelled on similar rules in the EU, where the world’s biggest platforms must offer a non-algorithmic feed option.
Australian users can currently change their Instagram feeds to be chronological.
Fix Our Feeds
In December 2025, Teach Us Consent launched the “Fix Our Feeds” campaign. It argued algorithms were systematically pushing extreme misogynistic content to boys and young men, which it linked to a rise in adolescent perpetration of sexual violence.
The campaign advocated for making social media algorithms opt-in, not the default, so users have to actively choose to turn them on.
Teach Us Consent argued its push for change was broadly popular, with its polling showing 71% of respondents supported a policy to make recommendation algorithms opt-in.
Bill
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the Government’s bill on Tuesday.
Under the reforms, platforms would have to “send a notification to new and existing users offering them a choice over their default feed.”
Users could opt in to a personalised, algorithm-recommended feed, or opt out and see only content from accounts they follow, in the order it’s posted.
As part of the duty of care, other platforms like online games, apps and AI chatbots would also have to protect under-18s from addictive design features or anything that can affect a young person’s self esteem.
This includes content that promotes or encourages eating disorders, promotes hostile ideas about women and gender equality, is pornographic, glorifies crime or dangerous stunts, or causes serious mental health distress, including abuse and bullying.
What’s next?
The bill is open for consultation, with the Government seeking feedback from digital platforms, industry bodies, civil society organisations and advocates.
After consultation, the Government expects to introduce it to Parliament this year.
The Government will need support for it to pass the Senate.
A deal with the Greens, which had advocated for these types of reforms, is the most likely path forward.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
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Might be time to dust off those hiking boots...
Give me some good news
Credit: DollarForDusty
A 12-year-old NSW boy is walking 540km to raise funds for better paediatric healthcare access in regional Australia.
Dusty was inspired to take action after seeing his mum drive over six hours to take his brother to a paediatrician appointment in Sydney. The Year 6 student set off from his home in central-western NSW on 30 August and has since walked over 300km and raised $300,000. The young advocate says he wants to “help raise a voice for country kids” in the hopes that “every child in regional Australia gets access to healthcare”.
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
Credit: Deel
Snoop Dogg’s ice cream brand is hiring an international taster.
The three‑month gig pays $US30,000 in total to travel the world, eat frozen desserts and report back to Snoop. The job is open globally.
You’ll just need a passport, English skills and elite ice cream taste (obviously).
Sounds like a sweet deal… literally.
Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.
Trivia answer: Venus.
TDA asks
