
Squiz Today
A daily news podcast, getting you across the latest Australian and international news in under 10 minutes. Agenda-free, independent, and delivered by hosts that'll come to feel like mates. It's the news without the noise, cutting through with a touch of analysis and an eye on what's coming next. And there's always a quirky news story or two to give a touch of balance to the news of the day. News for busy people, out 6am weekday, perfect for your morning routine.The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed.Top tip - check out The Squiz Today newsletter. It's the daily news stories, in your inbox each weekday at 6am, with links and more info to all the stories covered in The Squiz Today podcast. Sign up at www.thesquiz.com.au - it's free.
Latest episodes

Mar 23, 2025 • 12min
The WFH debate flares up again, and a sharktopus strikes
Monday, 24 March: The WFH debate flares up again; Canada heads for an election; The US pulls uni funding; And a sharktopus strikes...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).Sign our petition for the fight against fake news - but please DO NOT make a donation (it does not go to Squiz Kids...).SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auOther 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 20, 2025 • 12min
Protecting the PBS, and what's the hottest hot cross bun?
Friday 21 March: The US takes aim at our PBS; Protests kick off in Turkey; The new kid on the track; And our hottest hot cross buns.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).SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auHere's our shortcut to the PBSHere's our shortcut to President Trump's tariffsHere's the Donna Hay Hot Cross Bun recipeAnd here's a link to the trailer for AdolescenceOther 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 20, 2025 • 13min
Your Shortcut to... What the PBS is all about
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides affordable access to necessary medicines for all Australians. It’s one of the cornerstones of our health system - but as with so many issues in the news at the moment, all roads lead to US President Donald Trump… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we get you across where the scheme fits, how it works, and the issues bubbling under the surface of the US-Australia alliance. Squiz Recommends: Reading: This article from the Sydney Morning Herald gives a good overview of the push by US big pharma companies for the Trump administration to put pressure on the Aussie government by imposing tariffs on our drug exports.Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…This podcast is brought to you by Visit CanberraWant the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Mar 19, 2025 • 12min
Stranded astronauts are home, and a fish of the year upset
Thursday, 20 March: Stranded astronauts make it back safely; An Aussie JFK connection; the mystery of the missing Netflix show, and an upset winner in fish of the year.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).SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auHere's our shortcut to the stranded astronauts from last yearThis is what a blobfish looks like... 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 18, 2025 • 11min
Fighting resumes in Gaza, and a rare move from the Oscars
Wednesday, 19 March: Fighting resumes in Gaza; Trump v the Supreme Court; An ancient fish fossil is found; And a rare move from the Academy...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).SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auYou can check out Hugh Jackman's Oscars opening number 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 18, 2025 • 12min
Your Shortcut to... Fentanyl and the opioid crisis
A powerful pain relief drug called fentanyl has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s frequently mentioned as being one of the reasons for the US imposing steep tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what the drug is, why it’s become a huge issue in the US and around the world, and what it’s got to do with tariffs.Squiz Recommends: Listening/Reading: Our Shortcut to Trump’s tariffs will get you across what the US President is trying to achieve with his ‘America first’ policyReading: This long read from the BBC follows the path of fentanyl from Mexico into the US via cartel smugglersSquiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…This podcast is brought to you by Visit CanberraWant the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Mar 17, 2025 • 11min
The CFMEU's in trouble again, and a good day for spuds
Tuesday, 18 March: The CFMEU's in trouble again; A power struggle in Israel; Headed for a deficit; And a good day for spuds...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).SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auOther 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 16, 2025 • 14min
Aussie troops might go to Ukraine, and surviving 95 days at sea
Monday, 17 March: A chance of Aussie peacekeepers in Ukraine; US airstrikes hit Yemen; Piastri spins out of the Formula 1; And surviving 95 days at sea...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).SPONSORED: Here is the link for the Hubspot survey. 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Mar 15, 2025 • 23min
The Squiz Quiz of February
Reckon you're full bottle on everything that happened in February? Well, time to test your mettle on the Squiz Quiz of the month! Quizmaster Andrew Williams is joined by returning January champ Claire Kimball and new challenger Larissa Huntington to test their memories. Can you beat our Squiz news experts in the studio?Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:The quiz has 10 questions.Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 10). The final round is worth a maximum of 5 points - Andrew will read 5 quotes about a news story - the faster you identify the story, the more points you get!The final score is out of a possible 15 points.

Mar 13, 2025 • 13min
More tariff trouble, and a twist on a Greek treat
The tariff fallout continues; Russia pushes back on a ceasefire; Pokemon Go is on the move; And a twist on a Greek treat...SPONSORED: Here is the link for the Hubspot survey. SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auYou can find a handy list of sites to help compare power prices in this article.If you plan to whip up some spanakorizo, you'll find the recipe here.And you can check out the 100 best sports moments of the century here.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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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