News Club

"It’s not easy growing old. We avoid thinking and talking about it." That's how the interim report from the Royal Commission into aged care starts. Since it was released in October 2019, we've been hearing a lot about the sector, especially as its been significantly affected by COVID-19. In this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we look at how the sector is set up, who's responsible for it, and the mass...

The 2020 US presidential election is happening in November, but with the country still in the grip of COVID-19, there's a lot of talk about how the vote will be carried out, and more specifically, the role of mail-in voting. In this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we take a look at how US elections work, what mail-in voting is, and the issues surrounding it. Squiz Shortcuts gives you the backstory to...

In this episode of Squiz Shortcuts we take a look at the role of the Vice President of America, and learn a bit more about the current veep, Mike Pence, and the potential veep, Kamala Harris. Squiz Shortcuts gives you the backstory to the big stories. Check out The Squiz Today email and podcast - published 6 am each weekday, it's your shortcut to the news: https://www.thesquiz.com.au/ Squiz Recomm...

A vaccine for the coronavirus is being held out as the thing that's going to get the world back on track. In this episode of Squiz Shortcuts we look at what a vaccine is, how it's developed, and the challenges public health officials are facing with finding one for COVID-19.   Squiz Recommends: Squiz Shortcuts - Infectious Diseases NYT The Daily - The Vaccine Trust Problem See /privacy for privacy...

It's one of the Arab world's poorest countries and in recent years has been devastated by a civil war. Millions of civilians are now starving and thousands have died. The conflict itself is complicated. In this episode we step through the origins of the conflict and what it has meant for the people of Yemen. Squiz Recommends: UNICEF - Yemen: https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis Secretar...

It comes up a bit in the news due to concerns about the health effects. In this episode we’ll take you through exactly what vaping is, the arguments for and against, as well as how it is regulated both here in Australia, and abroad. Squiz Recommends: BBC "The Inquiry - Vaping" - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-inquiry/id932499233?i=1000454551494 The New Yorker - A b=Beginner's Guide to V...

It's the biggest social media platform in the world so inevitably Facebook is in the news a lot. In this episode we take a look at how Facebook makes money, how it collects and uses our data and how at times that has the platform in a bit of strife. Squiz Shortcuts is the backstory to the big news stories. Squiz Recommends: The Social Network - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/ Facebook Activi...

Squiz recommends: Forbes profile on Zhang Yim- https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2019/11/04/meet-zhang-yiming-the-chinese-billionaire-behind-tiktok/#24f55b3475b3 Mallee Boy - https://www.tiktok.com/@malleeboy3490?source=h5_m See /privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is in essence a fight over territory. But it is so much more that with religion, nationalism, and a lot of history behind it. Consider this episode a starting points as we take a look at Israel and Palestine, what they are fighting over, and why America and others are involved in this immensely complicated conflict. Squiz recommends: BBC Israel profile - h...

Donald Trump is probably the most talked about person on the planet. The leader of the free world had a colourful path to becoming President of the United States - and a turbulent time in office so far. In this episode we take a look at a young Donald Trump, his family, his business and showbiz careers as well as his politics. Squiz Recommends: Barbara Walters interview with Donald and Melania Tru...

He's the Democratic candidate running against Donald Trump in November's presidential election. A former vice president, Biden's been around American politics a long time. This episode takes a look at his background, his family, his politics and how he came to be the man up against Trump come November. . Squiz Shortcuts gives you the backstory to the big stories. Check out The Squiz Today email an...

It's one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s most ambitious foreign policy initiatives - and it's contentious. Officially called One Belt, One Road it's all about China investing in big infrastructure projects across the world. In this episode we take a look at what China is setting out to do, which nations have signed up and why it’s causing concern, especially here in Australia. . Squiz Shortcuts...

In this Shortcut we'll look at what a Royal Commission is, the power and effectiveness of Royal Commissions, and take a quick look at the ones currently running. Squiz Shortcuts is your shortcut to more than the headlines. Squiz Recommends: Black Summer, the ABC - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-03/inside-the-australian-bushfires-crisis/11890458 . ABC's interview with Nicola Gobbo (Lawyer X):...

We take a look at the history of slavery in America, the fight for civil rights, and what's happening now. Squiz Shortcuts - The Back Story To The Big Stories . Sign up to The Squiz - a weekday email that's your shortcut to the news www.thesquiz.com.au . Squiz Recommends: The Smithsonian Museum – Talking About Race . Childish Gambino, This is America and the break down the video here. See /privacy...

Xi Jinping is the man in charge of China. So, let’s take a look at who he is, how he came to be the leader, his broad agenda and how he is using his increasing power. Squiz Shortcuts gives you the backstory to the big stories. Check out The Squiz Today email and podcast - published 6 am each weekday, it's your shortcut to the news: https://www.thesquiz.com.au/ . Squiz Recommends: The New Yorker –...

It's the big 'un of global politics... we're talking the South China Sea. By popular request we explain why it is so strategically important, the competing claims to it, and how the world is managing China's increasing presence in the region. . Squiz Recommends: Map Men - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMCK7NcbxU . The Squiz Today is a free weekday email and podcast that's your shortcut to the n...

With the coronavirus crisis requiring a coordinated response between the federal government and our states and territories we take a step back and look at how the federation operates. In this episode we focus on its formation, we talk you through how responsibilities are split, the structures that have been put in place to coordinate those responsibilities as well as how some of it has been rethou...

We don't need to tell you why the World Health Organisation is in the news a lot lately. That's why you might want to know a bit more about how it operates, the guy in charge, and some of the criticisms centred at it of late. Squiz Recommends: Inside Bill's Brain - https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80184771 Time Magazine "Dr Tedros" - https://time.com/5735544/world-health-organization-chief-tedros-...

They're some of the key people involved in our coronavirus response. So, who are they and what are we relying on them for? This week on Squiz Shortcuts we tell you a bit about each of these men and the role they're playing during this health and economic emergency. Squiz Recommends: AFR: https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/man-of-resource-nev-power-s-wild-ride-to-the-top-20140802-j6yr1 Insiders I...

Hand in hand with the measures being used to contain the spread of Covid-19 comes the economic consequences. While we are flattening the curve, businesses are shutting down and unemployment is rising. Talking about economics can be as exciting as watching paint dry, but once you get your head around some basic concepts, it is, shock horror, actually quite interesting. In this Squiz Shortcut we're...

Prime Minister Scott Morrison answers kids' questions about Coronavirus, in a kids-only Q&A. Squiz Kids is a news podcast just for kids. A short weekday podcast, created here in Australia, that gives kids (and their adults) the rundown on the big news stories, delivered without opinion, and with positivity and humour. ‘Kid-friendly news that keeps them up to date without all the nasties’ (A Squiz...

As the world braces for the impact of COVID-19, we're going to take a look back at some of the big infectious disease outbreaks of the past. Where they started, their devastating mortality rate, and how they were eventually contained. Squiz Shortcuts is your shortcut to more than the headlines. The Squiz Today is a free weekday email and podcast that's your shortcut to the news. Sign up at https:/...

Turns out there's a long history of people messing with time. In this episode we'll get you across the reasons it came about in the first place, the countries who use it and the great daylight savings debate here in Australia. Squiz recommends: John Oliver - Daylight Saving "Why is this still a thing?" Thrive Global - Sleep Tips Got a Squiz Shortcuts suggestion for us? hello@thesquiz.com.au Hear o...

This Squiz Shortcuts episode is a little different. It’s brought to you by Bryce Corbett, the host of our Squiz Kids podcast. In this 10 minute episode, Bryce and kids from around Australia ask well-known GP Dr Ginni Mansberg some frequently asked questions about the Coronavirus outbreak. It's great for kids, but we certainly learned a lot as well. We hope you enjoy it, and if you do, check out ou...

Dame Mary Gilmore, Mary Reibey, Edith Cowan, and Dame Nellie Melba are four notable Australian women whose significant achievements are honoured through their inclusion on our currency. So let's get to know them - who they were, what they achieved, and their legacies. Recommendations: The first publication of Mary Gilmore's 'No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest'. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti...