- 12 minutes 46 secondsNew AI laws, allegations against David Walliams, and DC reboots the reboot
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Wednesday, 11 November: New AI laws are on the way, a Trump cabinet member is facing impeachment in the US, David Walliams is accused of sexual misconduct, and DC goes back to the drawing board
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Hosted by Andrew Williams and Jonathan Liondis
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan Liondis and Sophie Felice
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10 November 2026, 7:00 pm - 18 minutes 39 secondsSquiz Shortcuts: What happened in the US midterm elections?
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The US midterm elections were held last week, and the Democrats flipped both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The win has been described as a ‘blue tsunami’, and even a generational change. It could have major implications for the remaining 2 years of US President Donald Trump’s term and it could influence what happens in the 2028 US Presidential election. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what happened, why the results in some states really stood out and what it means for US President Donald Trump.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This piece from the Guardian about what the Democrats can actually do once they have control of Congress in January.
Reading: This piece from The Conversation about what the change could mean for the future of the Iran war.
Watching: This clip of POLITICO reporter Dasha Burns (successfully) cold-calling President Trump on election night and his thoughts on what happened and what’s next.
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Hosted and researched by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson
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10 November 2026, 5:30 am - 12 minutes 52 secondsNvidia's spying probe, Russell Brand is sentenced, and a story of survival
Tuesday, 10 November: Spying allegations at the tech company Nvidia, Russell Brand has been sentenced to prison, the Booker Prize is announced this morning, and a pianist's story of survival...
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Here's the shortlist for the Booker Prize
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Anna Pykett
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan 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).
Squiz Shortcuts - the backstory to the big news stories.
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.
9 November 2026, 6:53 pm - 14 minutes 6 secondsAustralia takes centre stage on climate, lots of elections, and NASA's hiring
Monday, 9 November: A major climate summit kicks off, election updates in NZ, Israel and the US, cricket's sandpaper scandal has raised its head again, and NASA's looking for new astronauts...
SPONSORED: Stockland, helping give you an understanding of the property market.
SPONSORED: Search 'Teachers Mutual Bank Help to Buy' to find out more. Scheme eligibility criteria apply. Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan 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).
Squiz Shortcuts - the backstory to the big news stories.
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.
8 November 2026, 6:51 pm - 13 minutes 29 secondsDavid Jones is on financial life support, Russell Brand found guilty, and party pies with a difference...
Friday 6 November: David Jones enters voluntary administration, Russell Brand is found guilty, a milestone for the Spice Girls, and party pies with a difference...
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You can find our Shortcut to the NZ election here
Here’s our Three Minute Squiz with Sophie Hansen
And here’s the recipe for Sophie’s ricotta and herb hand pies
If you want to hear Britney's 25th anniversary edition of her self-titled album Britney here it is
Hosted by Larissa Huntington and Anna PykettResearched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan 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).
Squiz Shortcuts - the backstory to the big news stories.
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.
5 November 2026, 7:01 pm - 13 minutes 32 secondsSquiz Shortcuts: Are EVs about to get more expensive?
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In late October, the government introduced a new bill into the parliament to wind back a tax break for electric vehicles. It comes at a time when Australians are buying up EVs in record numbers - and many of them have used exactly that tax break to do it. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what the EV tax break actually is, why it’s being cut back, and what might happen next.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This NRMA story will get you across the EV incentives available in Australia
Reading: This story in the Australian Financial Review (paywall) looks at the pressure building on Treasurer Jim Chalmers to cut the EV subsidy.
Stockland helping give you an understanding of the property market.Presented by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams
Got a suggestion for a Squiz Shortcut topic? We'd love to hear it - email us at [email protected]Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the free Shortcuts newsletter here.
5 November 2026, 5:30 am - 11 minutes 44 secondsThe Democrats win big, David Jones in strife, and great Aussie songs
Thursday 5 November: A sweeping win for Democrats in the US midterms, government spending's in focus, David Jones is in financial strife, and our new National Songbook...
SPONSORED: Stockland, helping give you an understanding of the property market.
Here's our Shortcut on the US midterm elections
Hosted by Larissa Huntington and Jonathan Liondis
Researched by Andrew Williams, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan 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).
Squiz Shortcuts - the backstory to the big news stories.
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.
4 November 2026, 6:59 pm - 2 minutes 50 secondsToday we’re launching something new…
After nearly 10 years, you can now become a supporter of The Squiz. Kate Watson explains why we’ve changed our tune, and why our content will always stay free. Back agenda-free, independent Australian news here.
3 November 2026, 10:00 pm - 13 minutes 59 secondsInterest rates in the spotlight, and you can now support The Squiz
Wednesday 4 November: Interest rates have gone up again, a NASA telescope is falling towards Earth, this year's Shonky Awards are out, and you can now support The Squiz
SPONSORED: Stockland, helping give you an understanding of the property market.
Here's our Shortcut on the US midterm elections
And here's that Melbourne Cup gallery we mentioned
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan 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).
Squiz Shortcuts - the backstory to the big news stories.
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.
3 November 2026, 6:55 pm - 14 minutes 9 secondsSquiz Shortcuts: How does human composting work?
Up until recently, people in Australia had 2 options for what could happen to their remains after they died - either burial or cremation. But now there’s a third choice, after NSW became the first Australian jurisdiction to pass human composting laws last month. It means people in the state may soon be able to have their remains transformed into compost-like material, so in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll look at how it works, why this is happening and whether it’s likely to become more common in other states and territories.
Squiz Recommends:
Perusing: This visual piece by Bevan Shields from the Sydney Morning Herald on how human composting works. It’s one of those cool interactive online pieces with some super helpful graphics.
Watching: A TED talk from Katrina Spade - she started the world’s first human composting company in the US.
Reading: A University of Melbourne piece that looks at some of the other alternatives to burial and cremation.
Sponsored: Stockland, helping give you an understanding of the property market.
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett
Got a suggestion for a Squiz Shortcut topic? We'd love to hear it - email us at [email protected]
Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Check it out here.
3 November 2026, 5:30 am - 12 minutes 36 secondsThe US midterms are on, Antonelli makes history and birds get jetlagged too
Tuesday, 3 November: We'll get you across the US midterm elections, bets are on for another RBA rate rise, Kimi Antonelli makes F1 history and the seabirds struggling with jetlag...
SPONSORED: Stockland, helping give you an understanding of the property market.
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).
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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
2 November 2026, 6:50 pm - More Episodes? Get the App