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May 20, 2025 • 12min

Your Shortcut to... Australia's civics crisis

Young Australians’ understanding of civics and how democracy works is at a 20-year low - and it’s got educators worried because we’re living in a time of mis and disinformation that our young people are consuming every day online. So in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll look at Aussies' working knowledge of democracy, what’s being done to fill the gaps, and how our Squiz Kids Newshounds program is helping… You can take part in our 2025 audience survey here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QJ93HRP Squiz Recommends:  Looking: Squiz Kids’ Newshounds program - share it with any educators in your life that you think would be interested...  Listening: And while we’re at it, Squiz Kids also has a podcast series about Civics that’s a great introduction to the topic for kids…  Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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May 19, 2025 • 11min

Trump and Putin plan for peace, and the loss of the semi-colon

Tuesday, 20 May: Trump and Putin plan for peace; Qantas is in court; A turnaround in Bradfield; And the loss of the semi-colon... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can take part in our 2025 audience survey here. Find out more about Squiz Kids' Newshounds program ⁠here⁠. Here's more info on Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis 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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May 18, 2025 • 12min

Trump and Putin schedule a call, and the Eurovision winner is crowned

Monday, 19 May: Trump and Putin schedule a call; The final votes are counted; Improving our kids' media literacy; And the Eurovision winner is crowned... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find out more about Squiz Kids' Newshounds program here. Take a look at the Eurovision gallery (sparkles guaranteed...) 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 topics Support The Squiz by sharing our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and podcasts with your friends.
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May 15, 2025 • 12min

Putin passes on peace talks, and a cake for world baking day

Friday, 16 May: Putin passes on peace talks; A juror is dismissed in Erin Patterson's trial; The Greens get a new leader; And a cake for world baking day... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. SPONSORED: For more information about Y Careers and its programs, visit https://ycareers.org.au/. Find the recipe for chocolate cake here. You can eat it as you check out ⁠Daði Freyr⁠’s ⁠2020 hit Think About Things⁠... 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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May 15, 2025 • 12min

Your Shortcut to... Australia at Eurovision

For the past 10 years, Australia has taken part in the extravaganza that is the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s an annual competition held, not surprisingly, in Europe, so it’s a long way from home - but we’ve somehow become right at home in it… So in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll look at what the contest is all about, how Australia came to be a part of it, and we’ll give you a run down of the acts to keep an ear out for this year… Squiz Recommends: Reading: This entertaining summary by the BBC of the songs and performers in this year’s contest. It’s called Witchcraft, innuendo and moody goth boys: Your guide to all 37 Eurovision songs, and if that title doesn’t grab you, we don’t know what will. Watching: The official video clip for Go-Jo’s Milkshake Man so you can support Australia’s tenth go-round at the competition… if you like it. 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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May 14, 2025 • 12min

The Menendez brothers are resentenced, and Eurovision kicks off

Thursday, 15 May: The Menendez brothers are resentenced; Albanese meets Subianto; McIlroy heads down under; And Eurovision kicks off... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. SPONSORED: For more tips on making your home energy efficient and saving money on your power bills, visit Origin Energy's podcast So Watt? here. You can read the interview with Go-Jo here and watch the Milkshake Man music video here. And here's a nice piece about locals in his hometown, WA's Manjimup, getting behind him. 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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May 13, 2025 • 12min

The UN makes a ruling on MH17, and Cannes cracks down

Wednesday, 14 May: The UN makes a ruling on MH17; Trump heads to the Middle East; The Aussie Test team shapes up; And Cannes cracks down... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can read up about Virat Kohli ⁠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 topics Support The Squiz by sharing our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and podcasts with your friends.
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May 13, 2025 • 13min

Your Shortcut to... the conflict over Kashmir

After decades of relative peace, India and Pakistan have resumed fighting over Kashmir - an area at the foothills of the Himalayas that’s at the centre of a dispute between the 2 countries. The region has a long and complicated history, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across how the conflict started, why Kashmir is back in the headlines, and why US President Bill Clinton once called it “perhaps the most dangerous place in the world”… Squiz Recommends:  Reading: This map along with this article about each side’s military capabilities will help you to understand the boundaries and what’s at stake in the conflict.  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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May 12, 2025 • 13min

The new Cabinet is revealed, and a mind-bending piece of art

Tuesday, 13 May: The PM settles his new Cabinet; The US and China hit pause on tariffs; ANZ has a new boss; and a mind-bending piece of art SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Here's a link to the Revivification exhibit details 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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May 11, 2025 • 12min

The political shuffling continues, and some no-go baby names

Monday, 12 May: The political shuffling continues; India and Pakistan's truce is on the rocks; A Soviet-era shock; And some no-go baby names... SPONSORED: You can find out more about the Breeze AI platform by visiting Hubspot ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 topics Support The Squiz by sharing our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and podcasts with your friends.

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