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They say the show must go on, but in recent weeks, there have been a series of high-profile closures in Australia’s theatre industry... It’s raising alarm about how the arts industry is going here, when high-profile shows with big budgets aren’t attracting enough people to keep them going… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll have a look at what shows have closed, why they’ve found themselves in trouble, and what could possibly be done about it.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This article in Aussie Theatre on this particular issue - it’s got some good insights from people in the industry.
Watching/Listening: This Tony Awards performance of She Used to Be Mine - the big song from Waitress, with the writer herself Sara Bareilles as one of the performers.
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Andrew Williams and Alice Dempster
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. -
Tuesday, 7 July: Defence in the Pacific is back in focus; Meta fronts the royal commission into antisemitism; Controversy at the World Cup; And Neil the seal needs some space...
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
SPONSORED: Click here to find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Andrew Williams
Researched by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Monday, 6 July: A funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader; The US celebrates 250 years; Our women's cricket team bring home another World Cup; And the Seine makes a splash...
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
SPONSORED: Click here to find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
You can find more information on NAIDOC Week and your local events here.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Andrew Williams
Researched by Alice Dempster and Andrew Williams
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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Friday, 3 July: The US turns 250; Fuel shortages hit Russia; A big weekend for the green and gold; And the giraffes have a party trick...
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
SPONSORED: Click here to find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
You can find the Squiz Kids brainteasers here.
And here are those (delicious!) chocolate chip cookies.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
America’s got a big anniversary coming up this year, its 250th - and if countries had birth certificates, the US Declaration of Independence would be theirs. It’s one of the most famous documents in the world and it’s incredibly important to the way the United States of America - arguably the most powerful nation in the world - acts and elects its leaders. So as the US gears up to celebrate its big day, in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take you through what’s planned, how the Declaration of Independence ties in, and why it’s so important…
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This article by NBC News that’s helpful for anyone wanting to read more about the 2 party planners: America250 v Freedom 250…
Watching: We mentioned the movie National Treasure - it’s a fun way to get a handle on some of the history/importance of the Declaration of Independence. It stars Nicolas Cage and Diane Kruger, and you can find it on Disney+
Reading: And this piece in the New York Times is from the paper’s writers about what they believe is worth celebrating…
SPONSORED - To find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Anna Pykett and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Andrew Williams and Larissa Huntington
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. -
Thursday, 2 July: The US eases restrictions on powerful AI; ARN drops Karl Stefanovic; A mega rugby league deal is incoming; And the case of the forgotten pugs...
SPONSORED: Click here to find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
You can see footage of that couple on the Empire State Building here and here.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Wednesday, 1 July: New financial year changes ahead; A birthright citizenship ruling in the US; Maya Joint takes on Serena Williams; And the most attractive jobs...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
SPONSORED: Click here to find out more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
There’s no doubt Britain’s most famous family is the Royals - but in terms of headlines and column space, the Beckhams give the Windsors a run for their money… A family feud between David and Victoria Beckham and their eldest son Brooklyn was made public in January - and the clan has been back in the news due to a controversial World Cup ad and an attempt at a reunion… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across brand Beckham, how the feud began and where things are at…
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: Here’s the text of the instagram story posted by Brooklyn Beckham if you want to read it in full
Watching: We can’t go past David’s and Victoria’s documentaries on Netflix - for the Islands in the Stream dancing scene alone…
Reading: This column by The Guardian’s Marina Hyde on the fallout from the DoorDash ad. It’s a funny but nuanced take on the whole feud and what’s feeding it…
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Larissa Huntington
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. -
Tuesday, 30 June: Antisemitism is back in the spotlight; The US and Iran meet again; Our property market slows down; And men's fashion gets more transparent...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
If news about the Royal Commission has brought up anything for you or anyone you know, support services are available here.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Monday, 29 June: Serena serves up a comeback; The search for survivors in Venezuela; A social media ban crackdown; And US passports get the Trump treatment...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
You can find access to some support services here.
Here's the reunion of a father and baby in Venezuela.
The Trump passport is here, and the Trump coin is here...
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Claire Kimball, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Friday, 26 June: A new political party takes shape; Deadly earthquakes hit Venezuela; The Socceroos face off against Paraguay; And guess who's back, back again...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
Here's our Shortcut to the Socceroos' squad.
You can read the Rolling Stone review of Olivia Rodrigo's interview here.
And here's that delicious Donna Hay sticky date pudding recipe.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
There’s been a story bubbling away in the news that’s set corporate tongues wagging about the goings on at one of the county’s biggest accounting/consultancy firms, KPMG. It’s to do with a former employee who blew the whistle on how the company was using the confidential data of its clients. Some of them are major corporations, and the fallout has led to a public inquiry and several execs being shown the door… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what it’s about, some context, and explain why it’s getting so much attention…
Squiz Recommends:
Perusing: This explainer from The Guardian which looks at the allegations against KPMG and some of the contracts it stands to lose.
Listening: This podcast from the Australian Financial Review takes a deeper look at the industry in light of the second big scandal in 3 years…
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Larissa Huntington
Researched by Larissa Huntington
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. -
Thursday, 25 June: Karl Stefanovic lands Nine in a bind; A third confirmed case of bird flu; Headline inflation eases slightly; And Supergirl flies into cinemas...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
You can watch the Supergirl trailer here.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Wednesday, 24 June: A Green light for Labor's tax reforms; Europe's heatwave turns deadly; Vale Clive Davis; And an impressive interstellar discovery...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
You can see photos of Clive Davis - and some of the massive stars he worked with - here.
And here's the Miles Franklin Literary Award Facebook page, and Instagram page.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Britain is about to get its seventh Prime Minister in 10 years after the resignation of Labour’s Keir Starmer. The man tipped to replace him is former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the country’s newest MP, who won a crucial by-election last week over his main competition from the far-right Reform UK party. So in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll look at what went wrong for Starmer, what Burnham’s promising, and how things stand in the UK a decade after Brexit.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This article in the New York Times about Andy Burnham - it’s a gift link so it’s a freebie…
Watching: The movie Brexit: The Uncivil War. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as prominent supporter of the Leave vote, Dominic Cummings, and it takes a look at the behind-the-scenes tactics of that campaign in the Brexit referendum. You can find it on Stan.
Watching: This YouTube video that Anna mentions.
SPONSORED - Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Larissa Huntington and 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? Sign up for the free Shortcuts newsletter here. -
Tuesday, 23 June: Sir Keir Starmer calls it quits; Canada makes a big Australian purchase; The Logie nominees are in; And the plight of Vegemite lite...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster 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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
Monday, 22 June: Fuel relief is extended for another month; Questions about Keir Starmer's future; A heatwave in Europe; And a famous tree meets its end...
SPONSORED: Try Claude at claude.ai.
You can check out some of those fancy dress costumes in the UK here.
And here's where you can read up on Andy Burnham.
Hosted by Alice Dempster and Anna Pykett
Researched by Anna Pykett, Claire Kimball and Alice Dempster
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 - 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.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. -
All three episodes of our special AI series, in partnership with Minderoo, are now out. It's all about how we're feeling about AI in Australia, our level of trust in it, protecting our data and legal rights in the age of AI, and also what role AI plays when it comes to our national security. We're here to help you get across it.
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Artificial intelligence is the topic of a lot of conversations at the moment - and recent research commissioned by Minderoo Foundation shows that us Aussies have a bunch of concerns. So thanks to Minderoo, we’ve been able to talk to some of those experts in a special Squiz Series of podcasts on AI.
First up is Professor Nicole Gillespie - she’s the Chair of Organisational Trust with KPMG and she’s involved in polling the public on their level of trust in AI. So she’s an expert in public sentiment towards it - and she talks about how we’re feeling now in Australia, why we rank particularly low when it comes to attitudes towards AI, and where you can go if you’re keen to upskill.
Resources:
The SafeAI report, commissioned by Minderoo Foundation
KPMG's Trust in AI report from 2025
The introduction to AI course Nicole mentions -
Artificial intelligence is the topic of a lot of conversations at the moment - and recent research commissioned by Minderoo Foundation shows that us Aussies have a bunch of concerns. So thanks to Minderoo, we’ve been able to talk to some of those experts in a special Squiz Series of podcasts on AI.
For part two, we’ve spoken to Peter Lee, who has been working at the centre of AI and the law for longer than most of us have probably known what it is. He’s a partner at the international law firm Simmons and Simmons, and he talks about how we can stay resilient in Australia when it comes to data, how we as workers can try and thrive in the age of AI rather than get left behind - and the ways in which AI can and can’t organise your haircut appointment.
Resources:
The SafeAI report, commissioned by Minderoo Foundation - Visa fler
