News Club
News Club is the place to go for conversations about the news. Agenda-free and hosted by friends - Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - we are here for you - making it easy to keep across the big issues and get ahead of what's coming up.
How scared should we be about AI? And the collapse of Cue
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Kate Watson and Eliza Harvey.
We're starting with the AI warnings that dominated the week. A researcher who worked at OpenAI and Anthropic quit, saying both companies are racing toward something they can't control. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei agreed, calling for tech leaders to 'pace the frontier'. There are differing perspectives to cover here though - others say the warnings are overblown or insincere.
Then to migration. The government has given it's policy announcement this week. We'll take you through what actually changes fo...
A wild week for One Nation, and a new world map
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Anna Pykett, stepping in from the Squiz Today team.
One Nation has had a bit of a wild week - questions over the party's finances, a state leader answering allegations about his past, and a controversial political cartoon about Andrew Hastie. Meanwhile the Prime Minister is under pressure over a community grant fund and a golf club membership. There’s a throughline to all this that Claire will pull together for you.
Then to Germany, where the far-right AfD has won...
The push to switch off the algorithm, and the Lindsay Clancy trial
We're starting with the algorithm. Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, used a National Press Club address this week to go after the way social media platforms funnel boys toward misogynistic content. She asked the government for something specific: the right to switch off the algorithm. We'll explain what she's proposing, and what the response has been from members of government.
Then to the Lindsay Clancy trial in the US. It's a difficult one, involving the deaths of three young children. So we've flagged it in the episode if you'd rather skip ahead.
The C...
The Nepal disaster, Meta’s big settlement, and Dolly Parton’s legacy
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
We're starting in Nepal, where an avalanche near the border with Tibet triggered a catastrophic flood down a valley popular with trekkers and pilgrims. Hundreds are dead and many more are missing, including Australians. We'll take you through how it happened, and why the early warning systems didn't do their job.
Then to Meta, which has settled a multi-billion dollar lawsuit over claims its platforms harmed young people.
Claire's retail corner returns - she’ll explain how O...
The Sydney Swans allegations, and a cancer vaccine breakthrough
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
We're starting with the Sydney Swans and sexual assault allegations. We’ll walk you through the chain of events, and the responses to that. Then, the week in Aussie politics, including the Israeli ambassador being summoned to parliament over the decision not to criminally investigate the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankom. We’ll cover Harry and Meghan moving back to the UK. And we’ve also got a genuinely hopeful story for you - an exciting medical breakthrough in cancer...
The housing downturn, Trump’s plane switch, melons and smelters
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Eliza Harvey.
We’re starting this week with the housing market, which, after all, is our national pastime. This week saw some heavyweights give us their take on where things are at and where it might be going.
Donald Trump has delivered an executive order on vaccinations, linking vaccines to rates of autism. He also confirmed a ruse to ensure he was removed from the risk of being shot down in Air Force One.
And, we’ll explain why melo...
Understanding the Russia-Ukraine drone strikes
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
We thought it was time to get you caught up on what’s going on with the Russia-Ukraine war, including the drone strikes making headlines this week. Bird flu (the bad strain) has unfortunately reached our shores, Jet Star has a new baggage policy that’s got chins wagging, and there’s some interesting threads to pull out of the latest NAPLAN results.
Links
Ukrainian vegetable seller targeted in 'human safari' drone attack - BBC
Ukrain...
Explaining the construction corruption scandal in Victoria
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Kate Watson and Eliza Harvey.
Victoria has a new Premier, and will hold a royal commission into the construction industry, so we’ll bring you up to date on all the political changes there. We’ll also get you across the bushfires in southern France and Spain. Plus, why you might want to check your offset account.
Links
A huge thank you to everyone who has filled out our survey - we really appreciate you! It’s here and still...
Who is Andy Burnham? The 'King of the North' now UK Prime Minister
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This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Andrew Williams and Kate Watson.
The UK has a new Prime Minister this week, we’ll help you get across who Andy Burnham is. There’s lots going around about the nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia that’s helpful to understand. Plus, an increase in the tariffs on exports from Australia to the US. And then we're gonna get into the debate about how to combat the problem of illegal tobacco, which has been...
Messi's World Cup reunion 19 years in the making, and Albanese's new AI rules for data centres
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This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
This week, we’re talking about the World Cup final, and the stories around the edges of it. We’ll spend a bit of time talking through the PM’s speech on AI this week, plus a brief look at what is happening in the Middle East. In what’s coming up, a new PM for the UK and the Commonwealth Games begin.
Links
Kate’s recommendati...
China’s missile test, what caused the Telstra outage, and Binface vs Farage
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Andrew Williams and Eliza Harvey.
This week, we’re talking about China’s ballistic missile test that was widely condemned by Pacific nation leaders, what caused the Telstra outage, the latest in the FIFA World Cup, and the surprising bin-faced candidate facing off against Nigel Farage in a UK by-election.
Links
Kate’s interview with Richard Scolyer
Eliza’s recommendation: The Times’ Posh George podcast - Spotify | Apple
Andrew’s recommendation: 007 First Light
Want more Ne...
What's up with home prices? An Empire climb, and a celebration of independence
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
This week, we’re talking house prices and what’s happening with them, new gambling advertising laws, a romantic climb up the Empire State building, The Super Netball grand final, 250 years of an independent United States, and Claire’s moment at the National Press Club
Links
Bill Shorten and Christopher Pyne dissect the monoculture debate - ABC’s 7.30
Tim Duggan (and Claire Kimball) at the National Press Club
Kate’s recommendation: Simply Wholesome Pan...
Who is Tommy Robinson? 'Act swiftly' warning on AI, and Taylor Swift’s alleged wedding
This week, the big meaty, chunky story we’ll get our teeth into is that of Karl Stefanovic’s departure from Nine, and his podcast with a guy called Tommy Robinson. If you haven't heard of Tommy Robinson, we’ll get you across that. We’ll also talk about the public national security threat assessment delivered by the boss of ASIO Mike Burgess, and the alleged wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
Links
Eliza’s recommendation: Famesick by Lena Dunham
Claire’s recommendation: NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Want more New...
22 hours in the air, the US-Iran deal, a political stunt and our Socceroos
This is the week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
Just a note to say that the podcast is now back on video, for those on Spotify, and YouTube. And we’re working on getting video on Apple soon!
This week, we’re talking about the 22 hour flight announced by Qantas, what happened between the US and Iran this week, the Pauline Hanson speech and stunt, the Socceroos, Parliament sitting next week, and a super easy and delicious recipe recommendation.
Links
ABC Verify article - Why...
Media literacy for SA, yay! One Nation’s popularity, SpaceX and Toy Story 5
It’s your week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson.
A big announcement out of South Australia for us. Quite a few strands to pull out on the rise of One Nation. We also give a few updates on stories we’ve been following - unrest in the UK, the SpaceX IPO, and the relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. And Kate’s counting the days until Toy Story 5.
Links
Part 2 of our AI Series with Minderoo - Apple | Spotify
Hardship, not ideology, driving...
AI and the stock market, second hand subs? And a personal story about MND
It’s your week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Eliza Harvey.
We’re starting this week with a couple of big market moves with Anthropic and SpaceX moving towards listing as public companies. Sounds complex, but we’ve sweated it to make it relevant for you. Also violence and more political turmoil in the UK, and we’ll get you up to speed on why AUKUS was a big deal in the news this week. Claire shares a little bit about her mum and motor neurone disease, with the Big Freeze on at the...
Where US-Iran negotiations are at, and what the Pope said about AI
It’s your week in news and what’s coming up with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson. This week, the Pope’s comments on artificial intelligence, what's up with US-Iran negotiations, and are the Teals plotting a new political party? Spencer Pratt is about to have his moment in American politics. If you don’t know what that’s about, you will by the end of this podcast. And we’re hiring! See below for details.
Links
We’re hiring - Video Producer
CommBank’s CEO Matt Comyn op-ed on AI and Australia
Kate’s rec...
Weekly Wrap: Unpacking the budget reactions (and 47% memes)
You may have seen those 47% memes going around, taking aim at Labor's tax changes - we’ll unpack what those are about, as well as the rest of the budget debate from this week. We’ve also got the story of the activists intercepted off the coast of Gaza and Israel, and the NRL player who revealed his motor neuron diagnosis this week. Plus, we have a recommendation for a shortcut in life.
Links
Eliza’s recommendation: Yalla chocolate mousse
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...Weekly Wrap: Understanding the budget tax reform debate
This week, we’ll help you understand the political debate around the budget tax reforms, plus a few tidbits you might not have heard about. Then, we feel obligated to get you across the significance of the result in the Farrer by-election last weekend. We’ll cover what came out of Trump’s China visit as well. Lots of politics this week, but never fear - Eurovision provides some relief, as does the American Country Music Awards, and a nostalgic recommendation from Claire.
Links
Kate’s recommendation: Choosin’ Texas by Ella Langley
Claire’s recommenda...
Weekly Wrap: Why the ‘ISIS brides’ case is being called legally unprecedented
A group of Australian women known as the 'ISIS brides' and their children have returned to Australia from Syria this week. We'll explain the background to that, and why legal experts are calling their legal case “completely unprecedented”. Australians will have access to more of our plentiful gas reserves from next year under the new government policy, so we’ll bring you up to date there. And there’s been an outbreak of a deadly virus on a cruise ship, which has had us absolutely gripped this week.
Links
(01:52) Check out our Squiz Shortcut with Fashion C...
Weekly Wrap: Grief and unrest in Alice Springs, and Queen Camilla's brooch diplomacy
This week, we’re starting with the abduction and death of the 5yo girl we now know as Kumanjayi Little Baby - it’s a tough one, but there are plenty of consequences to understand. We’ll also take you through some big announcements from the big tech companies this week, and we’ll talk about how AI is reshaping financial markets - investors are nervous is the headline there. We’ll also cover King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Washington, including the Queen’s brooch diplomacy.
Links
The Australian journalist Liam Mendes visits home of...
Weekly Wrap: The NDIS overhaul, and the gas tax debate
Today we explain the government changes to the NDIS - something that impacts a lot of Australians. Plus, why the debate about taxing gas companies was all over the news this week. And there’s been a couple of notable leadership movements at major companies - Apple CEO Tim Cook stepping down, and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings stepping down as chairman.
Links
Captain stranded in Strait of Hormuz tells of being trapped amid Iran war
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings book, ‘No Rules Rules’
Claire’s recommendation: Ms. Kimball’s ANZAC biscuit recipe
...Weekly Wrap: The Geelong oil refinery fire, and Trump vs the pope
One of our two oil refineries caught fire this week, because of course, we didn't have enough issues with fuel supply. We'll take you through that, plus the latest in the Iran war - Israel and Lebanon have a ceasefire deal and the feud between Trump and the Pope. We'll also talk about Meghan and Harry's royal (but not royal) Australia tour. And we'll cap things off with a nice, palette-cleansing recommendation.
Links
Meghan and Harry’s Australia tour photos
Eliza’s recommendation: The New Yorker’s investigation into Sam Altman (or if the le...
Weekly Wrap: The fragile US-Iran ceasefire, and the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith
This week, we're starting with the imminent return to Earth for the Artemis 2 crew. Then we're helping you make sense of the US-Iran negotiations — how Israel and Lebanon factor in, and where Australia sits in all of it. We'll look at the economic ripple effects, including what's happening with oil and how we're securing enough of it. And we’ll cover the arrest of former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been charged with five counts of war crime murder.
Links
Kate’s recommendation: How Donald Trump Took the US to War with Iran
Clai...
Our PM For a Day meets the real PM
This is a special episode of Squiz Kids that we wanted to share with you.
Throughout the month of March - The Squiz Kids team has been asking primary school aged listeners if you were Prime Minister for a day, what one thing would you do to make the country a better place to live.
Almost 500 kids from right across this magnificent nation of ours sent in a video entry - and the ideas were as incredible as the kids themselves.
From the bush to the city - from WA to Tassie, Queensland t...
Weekly Wrap: The fuel crisis, and are US-Iran ceasefire talks actually happening?
What’s happening with the fuel crisis is our focus for today. Lots of ideas being suggested about how our government is going to respond - working from home, fuel rationing. We’re all wondering when and how this war is going to end, so we’ll unpack where the US-Iran ceasefire talks are at (if they’re happening at all). And a huge event in Parliament House… what would you do if you were PM for a day?
Links
Offline with John Favreau's podcast interview with Anthropic's inhouse philosopher
Kate’s recommendation: Subscribe to t...
Weekly Wrap: How is the war in the Middle East impacting Australia?
For the past few weeks we’ve been helping you out with a global view on the war between the US, Israel and Iran. We’ll get into what’s taken place there in the past week, but we’re also zooming in to the impacts on Australia, as those effects are being increasingly felt here at home. Then, we’ll update you on what’s happened with the Iranian football team, we’ll run through the election happening today in South Australia, and cyclone Narelle is hitting the shores of north Queensland as we record.
Links
Iran's d...
Weekly Wrap: The big themes this week from the war in the Middle East
We’re getting you across some of the big themes from the war in the Middle East this week, including the Iranian women’s football team being granted asylum, and the surging price of oil. Also, the National Party has a new leader, which came as a surprise. And Timothée Chalamet’s got everyone talking about ballet and opera.
Links
Eliza’s recommendation: 'Heart the Lover' by Lily King
Claire’s recommendation: Robert Irwin interviewed on All There Is with Anderson Cooper
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Weekly Wrap: What’s going on in Iran?
This week, we help you make sense of what is happening in the Middle East, the Canadian Prime Minister’s visit to Australia, One Nation’s wild polling, and the Kyle and Jackie O split-up.
Links
If you’re wanting to have a conversation about what’s happening with the little ones in your life, but you’re not sure where to start, Squiz Kids has made a special episode to help - Iran Explained
Claire’s recommendation: The Rest is Entertainment - Dubai Influencers vs Iran
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The Squiz Quiz w/ Alex Williams and Brandon McClelland from They Might Become Giants
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz, we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened this week with Alex Williams and Brandon McClelland from the podcast, They Might Become Giants. Can you best our in-studio guests?
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 8 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 8).
Links:
Listen to They Might Become Giants
Follow They Might Become Giants on Instagram
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...
Weekly Wrap: What we’d do if we were PM and is AI coming for our jobs?
What would your kid do if they were Prime Minister for a day? Apply here: https://www.squizkids.com.au/pm-for-a-day/
Links
The Changes To UK Passports.
Claire’s recommendation: An excerpt from Bob Carr's upcoming book on the loss of his wife Helena, and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Kate's recommendation: A podcast interview with Anthropic's inhouse philosopher, who is teaching their AI, Claude, how to be good. Offline with Jon Favreau.
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<...The Squiz Quiz w/ Georgie Trickett from Sport-ish
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz, we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened this week with returning guest Georgie Trickett from Sportish
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 8 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 8).
SPONSORED: For more information on the disability transport and access trial, check out the full report here.
Links
Check out the Sportish podcast here
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...Weekly Wrap: Aliens, AI, Andrew and what did Pauline Hanson say?
Help us by filling out our survey here!
SPONSORED: For more information on the disability transport and access trial, check out the full report here.
Links
Kate’s recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfJTX1Y0ynM
Claire’s recommendation: Banana bread (and if you’re feeling wild, add half a cup of chopped walnuts) https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/banana-bread/10c8bf87-6c19-4ffd-b056-2b87ce915717
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Watch all our episo...
The Squiz Quiz w/ The Bookshelf Podcast
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz, we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened this week with Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh from The Bookshelf Podcast. Can you best our in-studio guests?
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 8 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 8).
SPONSORED: For more information on the disability transport and access trial, check out the full report here.
Links
Listen to The Bookshelf podcast on the ABC Listen app or wherever...
Weekly Wrap: Understanding Israeli President Herzog’s visit, and who is Nancy Guthrie?
Getting you across Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia is our priority this week. It’s been a challenging one for lots of people, so we’ve tried our best to make sense of it and get you across the facts and different perspectives. Then, we couldn’t look past the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of the NBC TV host who has been missing for over a week now. We’ve got you covered for the Libspill - Sussan Ley is out and Angus Taylor is the new Liberal leader. We’ll also get into our top 3 fa...
The Squiz Quiz w/ Fashion Critical and Lauren Sams
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz, we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened this week with Fashion Critical, self-described as ‘the internet’s most amusing and 100% correct fashion critic’, and Lauren Sams, fashion editor at the Australian Financial Review. Can you best our in-studio guests?
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 8 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 8).
Links
Follow Fashion Critical on Facebook and Instagram
Buy Fashion Critical’s excellent and very funny book
...Weekly Wrap: Unpacking the latest Epstein files, and a lifesaving swim
The US Department of Justice released over 3 million documents in the latest batch of Epstein files. Despite feeling a bit intimidated by digging into it all, we decided we couldn’t look past it, so we’ve done our best to pull out the key details for you. Then, we get into where we’re at with the Liberals and the Nationals - will they get back together, or no? We also wanted to get you across the biggest thing in AI at the moment, Claude Code. And our favourite story from the week had to be the 13-year-old who ma...
Squiz Shortcuts: Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein headache
This is a Shortcut we made in July 2025 about the backlash towards Trump over the Epstein files. Given the final documents were released this week, we thought it'd be good to resurface it for you here.
US President Donald Trump is dealing with backlash from his political base over the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile and former financier who died in jail before his case could go to trial. There’s a long history to this, and it’s arguably the most significant political issue Trump has had to deal with since he became President again in J...
The Squiz Quiz w/ Glen James and Rachelle Kroon from money money money
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz, we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened this week with Glen James and Rachelle Kroon from the money money money podcast. Can you best our in-studio guests?
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 8 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 8).
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you…
Sign up for our News Club newsletter
Watch all our episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram: @TheSquiz
PS: If you love what we do, t...
Weekly Wrap: Trump threatens Iran, and a Heated Rivalry
Kate Watson is back! This week, there's a lot going on in Trump's world - threats towards Iran, the release of the Melania documentary, and the administration's shifting position on ICE in Minnesota - we'll try to make sense of that for you. Back at home, parliament sits next week and we're still not sure who will be in charge of the opposition parties. Plus, we cover President Xi's Jinping’s moves to take greater control of the Chinese military, we have some updates on fugitives (and some aspersions cast by Kate), and Claire can't wait to talk to yo...
