Episodes

  • Your Shortcut to... The West Australian election

    Your Shortcut to... The West Australian election
    Mar 6 2025
    Western Australia is about to go to the polls for the first time since the Labor government won an historic landslide victory in 2021. Since then, there’s been a lot of changes… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across the state of play, the main names to know, and what impact the WA poll might have on the upcoming federal election. Squiz Recommends: Reading: Even though Basil Zempilas isn’t in state parliament yet, there have been leadership tensions between him and current Liberal leader Libby Mettam. It was a big story late last year involving leaked polling, a party room vote, and a resignation, so we’re pointing you to an ABC article about it. Watching: This YouTube series from 9News that breaks down the issues and discussion points on the election, if you’d like to get into them.Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… This podcast was brought to you by Visit Canberra Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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    13 mins
  • More cyclone warnings, and a woolly small mouse

    More cyclone warnings, and a woolly small mouse
    Mar 5 2025
    Thursday, 6 March: Tropical Cyclone Alfred warnings; Another nurse arrest; Trump's big speech; And a woolly small mouse... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Find the Queensland Government's cyclone preparation tips here, more good information from The Guardian here, and the list of school closures here. You can listen to the Richard Scolyer Newsmakers episode here (NB: that's a Spotify link - you can also find his interview in the News Club feed on Apple Podcasts). Interested in what a woolly mouse looks like? We got you SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.au Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    12 mins
  • Cutting off support for Ukraine, and suede makes a comeback

    Cutting off support for Ukraine, and suede makes a comeback
    Mar 4 2025
    Wednesday, 5 March: Cutting off support for Ukraine; Preparing for a cyclone; The Aussies fall short in Dubai; And suede's comeback... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Find the Queensland Government's cyclone preparation tips here and the list of school closures here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    12 mins
  • Your Shortcut to... What's next for the Gaza ceasefire

    Your Shortcut to... What's next for the Gaza ceasefire
    Mar 4 2025
    The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has ended, but despite agreeing to a blueprint for phase 2 back in January, the 2 sides are now divided over what comes next… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take you through what happened in phase one, what was drafted for phase 2, and where negotiations are up to… Squiz Recommends: Reading: This ABC story on one of 5 Thai hostages released during the ceasefire. He’s spoken about his experience being taken hostage by Hamas and what it was like coming home to his young family. Reading: This Al-Jazeera piece profiling some of the Palestinian prisoners that have been freed by Israel. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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    12 mins
  • Keeping an eye on Alfred, and Anora wins big

    Keeping an eye on Alfred, and Anora wins big
    Mar 3 2025
    Tuesday, 4 March: Preparing for a cyclone; Zelensky is hoping for peace; Star Entertainment's problems grow; And Anora wins big... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Find the Queensland Government's cyclone preparation tips here and the list of school closures here. You can also watch Conan O'Brien's Oscar monologue here - and check out the red carpet gallery here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    12 mins
  • Zelensky runs into problems, and the fish doorbell rings

    Zelensky runs into problems, and the fish doorbell rings
    Mar 2 2025
    Monday, 3 March: Zelensky runs into problems; Defence spending in focus; Hanging up on Skype; And the fish doorbell rings... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    12 mins
  • A new partnership takes off, and a weekend salad

    A new partnership takes off, and a weekend salad
    Feb 27 2025
    Friday, 28 February: A new partnership takes off; Farewell to a Hollywood legend; The Matildas band together; And a weekend salad.. The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Here's the recipe for the summer salad A link to Kieran Culkin's Screen Actors Guild speech Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    13 mins
  • Your Shortcut to... Oscars campaigns

    Your Shortcut to... Oscars campaigns
    Feb 27 2025
    It’s Academy Awards time, honouring the best movies and performances from last year - and behind the scenes, the nominees and their teams have been working hard to curry favour with Oscar voters in what’s become known as Oscar campaigns. These have become a large, expensive and controversial part of the industry, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what goes on in an Oscar campaign, how it’s played into this year’s award season, and who might win as a result… Squiz Recommends: Listening: This Oscars episode of the NPR podcast Planet Money really goes into the nitty-gritty of how the campaigns work. Watching: And for something a bit lighter, the mockumentary For Your Consideration satirises the whole process from the point of view of people who have gone through it - and if you needed another reason, it stars the brilliant Catherine O’Hara. You can watch the Academy Awards Monday morning (11am AEDT) on Channel 7. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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    14 mins