Squiz Today
A daily news podcast presented by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett and Larissa Huntington, 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 some 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...
Trump and Xi get ready to meet
Wednesday 23 September: Xi and Trump are set to meet, petrol prices are on the rise, Vale to Aussie illustrator Terry Denton, and voting is underway in Fat Bear Week
Here's a link to some support services if any of these stories have affected you
Here's our Fat Bear Squiz Shortcut
And here's the Fat Bear quiz - which one are you?
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Shortcuts: The productivity problem
Treasury has just released a document that looks ahead to what Australia might be like in 2066. It’s created a bunch of different news stories - trying to work out what things will be like 40 years from now is an interesting project. But one key word that keeps coming up in the coverage, and in economic news more broadly, is productivity. So we thought we’d explore exactly what productivity is, how it affects our economy, and why everyone’s talking about it.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This explainer from the ABC on what pr...
The PM is talking us up at the UN
Tuesday 22 September: The PM talks up Australia at the UN, a high-profile murder case begins in Sydney, a record night at the Brownlow Medal, and an Aussie shearer sets a high bar...
Here are some resources if any of today's stories have affected you
Here's Kate's chat with cybersecurity expert Alistair MacGibbon
Here's a Brownlow Medal gallery for you
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
What Australia might be like in 40 years
Monday 21 September: What Australia might be like in 2066, the US and Greenland reach a deal, the AFL has a contender for its best game ever, and paying tribute to John Farnham
Here are some resources if any of today's stories have affected you
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids
What the US interest rate hike means for Oz, and a bickie hack...
Friday 18 September: The US hikes interest rates, the migration plan for Oz, a croc-infested river in the Olympics and get ready for Fat Bear Week...
SPONSORED: Click here for the CommBank survey.
Here's all the info about Fat Bear Week
Here's the recipe for Tilly's Burnt Butter Oat Bars
And here's the SNL skit
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Anna Pykett, Andrew Williams, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Shortcuts: The Snowtown murders
One of Australia's most notorious murder cases - known as the Snowtown murders, or the 'bodies in barrels' case - is back in the news with the release on parole of the youngest man involved. The case shocked the nation, and made a small South Australian town famous for all the wrong reasons. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what happened, and the concerns raised over releasing a convicted serial killer back into society.
Squiz Recommends:
Watching: There's a movie about the case and - much to the tow...
The Albanese Government plans a migration speech - again
Thursday 17 September: The Albanese Government plans a migration speech, again, more fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, a concert crisis for Ed Sheeran, and London Fashion Week kicks off...
SPONSORED: Click here for the CommBank survey.
Here's a guide to Melbourne Fashion Week
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz K
What role will Australia play in the AI race?
Wednesday 16 September: Working out Australia's approach to AI, the US confirms it has weapons in space, a legal battle over the Karl Stefanovic Show, and Widow's Bay wins big at the Emmys
SPONSORED: Click here for the CommBank survey.
Here's the Taylor Swift sketch and the red carpet gallery from the Emmys
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jono Liondis and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Shortcuts: Australia and the UN Security Council
In just over a week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be speaking at the United Nations General Assembly where he’s expected to continue the push for Australia to be a part of the UN Security Council in 2029 and 2030. If we get the nod, it will be the first time we’ve had that job since 2014 - so we thought we’d have a look at what the Security Council actually is, what it does, and what it would mean for us if we were part of it.
Squiz Recommends:
Listening: This podcast...
Another blow for a major Aussie steelworks
Tuesday 15 September: South Australia's Whyalla blast furnace is shutting down, Donald Trump dismisses AI concerns, a Sydney Sweeney ad causes a stir, and it's been 40 years of You're the Voice...
SPONSORED: Click here for the CommBank survey.
Here's the link to the Lend Your Voice campaign
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jono Liondis and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids
AI bosses are raising the alarm... over AI
Monday 14 September: AI bosses sound the alarm on their own tech, the Prime Minister and Pauline Hanson have exhanged words, our audience survey results are out, and the return of Queen Celine...
SPONSORED: Click here for the CommBank survey.
Here's our 2026 Audience Report
Here's an obituary for Mary Gaudron
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Here's the old map and the new map that the UN has...
What you told us in our 2026 audience survey
Every year we ask you to take part in our Squiz audience survey. 2026 was our biggest response ever, with 7,124 of you taking part.
We pore over your responses and use them to understand how to shape our content and which advertisers to work with. So, as a thank you, we wanted to share some of what we learned and what it means for what we do next.
So in this special episode of Squiz Today, Andrew Williams and Kate Watson share what you told us about who you are, what you value, and what you...
It's been 25 years since 9/11
Friday 11 September: 25 years since 9/11 , a sunscreen lab faces legal action, Swedish democracy meatballs, and a traybake chicken caesar salad...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the 9/11 Shortcut from the 20 year anniversary
Here's the traybake chicken caesar salad
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Andrew Williams, Jono...
Squiz Shortcuts: Behind the scenes of the Emmys
The Emmy Awards are television's biggest night - the one where the small screen gets dressed up and hands out the hardware. But in the midst of the red carpets and the awards races, it can be easy to forget why the industry actually does this - what the whole point of an expensive awards ceremony for TV actually is. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we'll take a look at how the Emmys became the biggest awards ceremony for television, why winning one is such a big deal, and who's in the running this year…
...
The PM's facing questions over pork
Thursday 10 September: The PM faces questions over pork, oil prices are on the rise again, Vale to Blanche D'Alpuget, and Apple launches its first foldable iPhone
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the link to that Conversation piece about R U OK Day
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Hunt...
How the government plans to fix your feed
Wednesday 9 September: The federal government wants to fix your feed, a murder trial begins in Mexico, King Charles lays down the law, and you might say it best when you say nothing at all...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get...
Squiz Shortcuts: What is the algorithm?
What you see on your social media feeds could be about to change, and it’s all to do with the algorithm - a tool used by social media companies to show us what they think we want to see. How it impacts our society has increasingly come under scrutiny, and now the government is drafting legislation that could give us the option to opt out of it. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll dive into what the algorithm is, how it got this way, and how it might change…
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This ar...
One Nation sparks a superannuation debate
Tuesday 8 September: The debate on super continues, a far right win in Germany, an NRL theme park is on the cards, and the kings and queens of the stone age...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Sophie Felice and Jono Liondis
Squiz Kids coverage o...
Your social media algorithm could be about to change
Monday 7 September: How your social media algorithms might change, a push for peace in Ukraine, the UN makes a map change, and what's making waves at the Venice Film Festival
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Here's the old map and the new map that the UN has voted...
The Pacific Island Forum wraps, and a country music earworm...
Friday, 4 September: The Pacific Island Forum wraps, a sentencing hearing for Molly Ticehurst's killer, vale Gloria Steinem, and a country music earworm...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's a link to some support resources
Here's the recipe for horseshoe bickies
And here's the Squiz Kids Father's Day Shortcut with amazing dads from the animal kingdom
Host...
Squiz Shortcuts: The rising concern over smart glasses
The idea of smart glasses - eyeglasses that have cameras and other kinds of tech built into them - is nothing new. They’ve been in development for years, and really came to prominence with the release of Google Glass over a decade ago. But this year, KMart released a pair for $89 in Australia which triggered a rush of buyers, followed by a rush of privacy concerns. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll unpick what smart glasses actually are, why they’re causing concern, and what might happen next.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading...
How the Telstra outage happened, and good news if you're allergic to dogs...
Thursday, 3 September: Getting to the bottom of the Telstra outage, more Aussies have been found alive in Nepal, our economy ticks up a bit, and good news if you're allergic to dogs...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get...
Tupac's killer is found guilty, and a Dolly Parton festival is in the works
Wednesday, 2 September: Tupac's killer is found guilty, Germany accuses Russia of an airport attack, a change at the top at Apple, and a Dolly Parton festival is in the works
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the info on DollyFest
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington a...
Squiz Shortcuts: Why is Australia $1 trillion in debt?
A few weeks ago Australia’s national debt reached $1 trillion for the first time - which sounds like a lot - but it happened at about the same time the US notched up US$40 trillion. So in this Squiz Shortcut - we’ll have a look at what’s going on with Aussie debt, how what’s happening in the US impacts us here, and what this all means for our economy.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This story in The Conversation explains how Australia’s debt piled up (with helpful graphs and charts).
Listen...
An Australian has been confirmed dead in Nepal, and a shock exit for Djokovic
Tuesday, 1 September: An Australian has been confirmed dead in Nepal, a look at our new privacy laws, a fast-fashion retailer goes public and a shock exit for Djokovic
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get...
One Nation makes waves in Secret Harbour, and the mating ritual that wasn't
Monday 31 August: One Nation makes waves in Secret Harbour, the search for survivors continues in Nepal, the cuttlefish mating ritual that wasn't and setting records at the Sydney Marathon...
SPONSORED: You can dive into the Deakin University research here.
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's that link to the Nepal Appeal
and if you're curious about cuttlefish, we've got...
The Nepal toll climbs, and a historic space telescope launch...
Friday 28 August: The Nepal flood toll climbs, an update on the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, a space telescope launch, and a favourite chocolate cake...
SPONSORED: You can dive into the Deakin University research here.
Here are the emergency numbers for information about Nepal: 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas)
Here's the recipe for the chocolate cake
And here's where you can watch the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope
Here are some resources if you need to talk to someone
Squiz Shortcuts: The US midterm elections explained
Coming into the end of year, you’ll start to hear more and more news stories - whether it’s the war with Iran, or trade wars and tariffs - referring to what they’ll mean for the upcoming midterm elections. They’re an important moment in US politics, so, in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at what the midterms are, how they work, and what it might mean for the rest of US President Donald Trump’s Presidency, looking ahead to the 2028 Presidential Election.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This conversation...
Coles and Woolies bag a profit, and remembering Dolly
Thursday 27 August: Coles and Woolies bag profits, a deadly flood in Nepal, Royal Commission hearings wrap, and remembering Dolly...
SPONSORED: You can dive into the Deakin University research here.
Here's a link to some of Dolly's best one-liners, a look at her life in pictures and the NYT obituary...
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
A year since the Porepunkah shooting, and Vale Dolly Parton
Wednesday 26 August: It's a year since the Porepunkah shooting, Vale Dolly Parton, National Cabinet is on today, and a special rule for Jai Arrow
SPONSORED: You can dive into the Deakin University research here.
Here's a link to Dolly's website, as well as some of her performances, including Jolene at Glastonbury and I Will Always Love You
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Shortcuts: Why do North and South Korea have beef?
In the last few weeks, South Korea has renewed its call for peace talks with North Korea. The 2 East Asian neighbours are technically still at war, neither side having signed a peace treaty after fighting stopped in the Korean War back in the 1950s - but that was more than 73 years ago. But there’s also a lot of interest in relations between the 2 because they have some of the most powerful allies in the world. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll have a look at the background to the conflict, what things are like between the neighbours toda...
Gendered violence in the headlines again, and a Barrier Reef time machine
Tuesday 25 August: A teenage sexual assault case in court, the US places fresh sanctions on Iran, rolling back the clock on the Barrier Reef and what not to do at Book Week
Here's a link to the article from Chanel Contos, and here's some resources if any of today's stories have affected you
Here's our KPMG Shortcut
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice
Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
An election rejection in Ukraine; and a marathon medal mix-up
Monday 24 August: An election rejection in Ukraine, the Royal Commission nears its end, emotional scenes at the Sydney Swans, and a marathon medal mix-up
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the link to the post-match events at the Sydney Swans men's and women's games
Here's the link to the Sydney Marathon medal
A tragic end to a search and some road trip burritos
Friday 21 August: A tragic end in the search for Lily Hooper, diplomatic tension with Israel, a move for Haz and Megs, and bbq chicken burritos...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the bbq chicken burrito recipe
and the banana bread recipe
Take our quick survey on AI here
Here are some res...
Squiz Shortcuts: The rise of Robert Irwin
At just 22yo, Robert Irwin is already one of the most famous names in Australia - and becoming increasingly famous worldwide as well. He’s had a long run-up - he’s been a well-known name here pretty much from birth - but he’s just added a well-received Logies hosting stint to his resume, and seems to be only going from strength to strength. So we thought we’d unpack exactly how this young conservationist grew to be one of Australia’s biggest personalities - and where he might go from here.
Squiz Recommends...
Five Sydney Swans players are suspended, and a surprise Christmas Island splashdown
Thursday 20 August: The Sydney Swans have suspended some players, a search for a missing woman continues, Nick Kyrgios tests positive for cocaine, and a surprise splashdown off Christmas Island
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Take the survey on AI here
Here are some resources if today's stories have raised any issues
H...
Appeals begin in the Erin Patterson case, and a Tassie tiger bidding war
Wednesday 19 August: Appeals begin in the Erin Patterson case, a day of deals in Federal Parliament, a warning on cannabis and young people, and a Tassie tiger bidding war
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Here's the link to the appeal hearing livestream in the Erin Patterson case
Here are some resources if today's st...
Squiz Shortcuts: The near-misses at Sydney Airport
In the past month, there have been 3 incidents at Sydney Airport, where planes came close to colliding on the ground. They followed days of mass delays and cancellations at our nation’s busiest airport, which authorities say were caused by air traffic control staff shortages. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what happened in the 3 close shaves, what the key players involved have had to say about it, and what’s being done to stop it from happening again.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This piece by the ABC’s 7.30 on concerns abou...
Some wheeling and dealing in Canberra, and Vale Hayden Panettiere
Tuesday, 18 August: Wheeling and dealing in federal parliament, Trump threatens Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, Vale Hayden Panettiere, and why otters might like you looking at them...
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
And here are some resources if you need assistance
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Anna Pykett
Researched by...
NSW signs up to the gun buyback, and Magda steals the show at the Logies
Monday, 17 August: NSW signs up to the gun buyback, a debate breaks out over super, an all-time upset at the cricket, and Magda steals the show at the Logies
SPONSORED - CommBank Next Chapter program offers free and confidential help, even if you don’t bank with them. To listen to the full Future Women’s There’s No Place Like Home series - made in partnership with CommBank Next Chapter.
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams, Larissa Huntington and Anna Pykett
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