Squiz Today
Squiz Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 18, 2025 • 11min
Change in our state political parties, and new Australians of the Year
Delve into the latest upheaval in state political leadership, with shifts in the Victorian Liberals and NSW Nationals shaking up the landscape. Discover what a new UN plan for Gaza entails, emphasizing international stabilization. The podcast also covers unsettling news from the Hannah Maguire case, highlighting the severity of domestic violence. Finally, get inspired by the nominees for Australians of the Year, featuring remarkable individuals like Tasmania's Dr. Jorian Kippax, a hero in the health sector.
Nov 18, 2025 • 10min
Squiz Shortcuts: How does the Coalition work?
The Coalition between the Liberals and the Nationals is the longest political partnership in our country’s history. The alliance has worked in the past because they’ve traditionally been aligned in their values. But every alliance can be tested, and this year some differences in the positions of the Liberals and Nationals on key issues - particularly around energy - have taken some ironing out. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll dive into the history of the Coalition, how it works, and the possible challenges ahead…
Squiz Recommends:
Watching: This interview with Coalition Leader Sussan Ley by the ABC’s Sarah Ferguson on 7.30 this week covered the Coalition’s energy position and the speculation around Ley's leadership.
Reading: This piece by the ABC takes a look back through history at the Coalition and its breakups and makeups…
Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to hello@thesquiz.com.au.
Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…
Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
Prefer to watch this episode? Check it out on YouTube here
Nov 17, 2025 • 10min
Contaminated sand causes problems, and a tactless TikTok tactic
Tuesday, 18 November: Contaminated sand causes problems; Trump changes tack on the Epstein files; Vale Paige Greco; And a tactless TikTok tactic...
SPONSORED: Head here to find out more about how copper powers our world and BHP.
Here's more info on what to do to stay asbestos-safe and a link to some of the products that have been affected.
And here's Paige Greco winning gold in Tokyo.
You can 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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Nov 16, 2025 • 12min
The Coalition formalises its climate policy, and an Aussie take on War and Peace
Monday, 17 November: The Coalition formalises its climate policy; Trump lifts the beef tariff; The Vatican returns some relics; And an Aussie take on War and Peace...
SPONSORED: For one machine that does cafe-quality coffee, head to Ninja Luxe Cafe to check it out.
You can find the Shortcut to our COP31 bid here.
If the story about Molly Ticehurst has raised any issues for you, here's a list of support services.
And you can read up on our new Sport Hall of Fame Inductees here.
You can 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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Nov 14, 2025 • 13min
Weekly Wrap Preview: The Coalition scraps net zero targets
Each Saturday, we wrap up the news of the week with the (imaginatively named) Weekly Wrap podcast on our News Club show. We’re putting the main story here because we want to ensure Squizers are across what we’re talking about. This week, we’re back with the Coalition and climate policy, because it was announced this week that the Liberal Party were officially abandoning the net zero targets set by former PM Scott Morrison. We’ll take you through what that entails, and what’s yet to unfold.
Listen to the full episode on the News Club show feed.
Watch all our episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram: @TheSquiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about Squiz Today and News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Hosts: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Producer & Editor: Ryan Pemberton
Video editor: Charlie Devenport
Researcher: Nicoletta Hay
Nov 13, 2025 • 11min
The Liberals ditch net zero, and AC/DC sets off the sensors
Friday, 14 November: The Liberals ditch net zero; A Ukrainian corruption scandal makes waves; AC/DC sets off the sensors; And an easy dinner bake...
SPONSORED: For one machine that does cafe-quality coffee, head to Ninja Luxe Cafe to check it out.
Check out the recipe for sausage and risoni bake here.
And read up on the new show Pluribus (from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan) here.
You can 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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Nov 13, 2025 • 13min
Squiz Shortcuts: Thriving Kids and the NDIS reset
Some major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (the NDIS) have been announced by the Albanese Government, and they stand to affect tens of thousands of families. Under the reforms, children with mild autism will be shifted to a new early-intervention program called Thriving Kids. But it’s caught a lot of parents off guard, along with state and territory governments, who will need to help fund it... So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what’s changing, why it’s happening, and where things are up to…
SPONSORED: For one machine that does cafe-quality coffee, head to Ninja Luxe Cafe to check it out.
SPONSORED: Head here to find out more about how copper powers our world and BHP.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: Here’s the transcript of Mark Butler’s address to the NPC, so you can read it for yourself - and here are some fact sheets released by the government on Thriving Kids…
Watching: This video by Orion Kelly, who goes by That Autistic Guy on YouTube. He’s got 215,000 followers and he talks about why he’s worried Thriving Kids could take families back to the pre-NDIS days.
Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to hello@thesquiz.com.au.
Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…
Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
Nov 12, 2025 • 10min
A new defence deal with Indonesia, and something scarier than drop bears
Thursday, 13 November: A new defence deal with Indonesia; the Epstein files cause more trouble for Trump; Menulog logs off; And some tree-climbing crocs...
SPONSORED: For one machine that does cafe-quality coffee, head to Ninja Luxe Cafe to check it out.
SPONSORED: Head here to find out more about how copper powers our world and BHP.
Here's a link to our Shortcut on the Trump/Epstein story.
You can 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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Nov 11, 2025 • 10min
A visit from the Indonesian President, and the Booker Prize winner is named
Wednesday, 12 November: The Indonesian President is in Oz; The Alan Jones trial is set; A slap on the wrist for the Wiggles; And the Booker Prize winner is named...
SPONSORED: For one machine that does cafe-quality coffee, head to Ninja Luxe Cafe to check it out.
SPONSORED: Head here to find out more about how copper powers our world and BHP.
Read about all of the Booker Prize finalists - and Hungarian-British author David Szalay, the winner - here.
You can 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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Nov 11, 2025 • 11min
Squiz Shortcuts: Sudan's civil war explained
A brutal civil war has been raging in Sudan for more than 2 years between the government’s forces and the powerful paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces. In that time, there have been reports of genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes committed, but despite those horrors, the conflict has only recently gained widespread attention. Now a peace deal is on the table - but there’s a lot at stake… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across the background to the conflict, who’s involved, and what could be next…
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This piece from the BBC about the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is a good backgrounder about him and his business interests, including his family’s gold exporting company.
Listening: This episode of The Guardian’s podcast Full Story gives an insider’s viewpoint of what’s happening in the city of El Fasher.
Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to hello@thesquiz.com.au.
Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…
Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
