Squiz Shortcuts – Elon Musk
We take you through his fascinating life, what he gets up to in the business world and the quirky things about him that make him hard not to talk about
29 July 2021
Squiz Shortcuts
Interested in the news but sometimes find there is a whole lot of assumed knowledge which makes it confusing and time-consuming to get across? We hear you. Squiz Shortcuts is an Australian short-form podcast series on news topics, historical events, big personalities, and complex situations. It’s the backstory to the big news stories. If reading is more your thing, there’s a written explainer to accompany each topic.
Have a Squiz Shortcuts idea for us? [email protected]
Squiz Shortcuts – The Road To Tokyo
We give you the background on pulling off a delayed Olympics, how the Japanese public feel about it, what it will look like for the athletes and as a viewer, Australia’s medal hopes, and some athletes to watch.
22 July 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Afghanistan
We dive into Afghanistan’s history, why the US and other nations including Australia got involved, and what’s next.
15 July 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Superannuation
We take you through how super became a thing in Australia, how the system works, and what these new changes mean for you.
8 July 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Mouse Plague
We’ll get acquainted with the house mouse, the scale of the current plague, and just what can be done to stop it.
1 July 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Life and Times of Barnaby Joyce
We get you up to speed on the background to Barnaby, his rise to and fall from grace, and his resurrection.
24 June 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Cyberattacks
We take you through what is a cyberattack, who is behind them, and importantly, how you can avoid one…
17 June 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Concussion and Sport
We take a look at what the science says about head knocks and injuries, and what it means for athletes and sport.
10 June 2021
Squiz Shortcut – Belarus
We talk you through the politics of Belarus, why President Alexander Lukashenko is considered to be “Europe’s last dictator”, and why the public has been taking to the streets.
3 June 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is perhaps our most requested Shortcut to date. In this edition, we’ll help you get a sense of:
• how cryptocurrency became a thing,
• Bitcoin and its ups and downs,
• and the big names who are moving and shaking the market.
27 May 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Israel-Gaza Conflict
We rehash the history between Israel and Palestine, go through what’s happening now and why the international community is getting involved.
20 May 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The 2021 Federal Budget
The Federal Government handed down its 2021-22 budget this week, so we get you across what it all means.
13 May 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Modern-Day Space Race
We take you through what’s been happening since Neil and Buzz touched down, why everyone’s going to Mars, and the private companies joining the space race.
6 May 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Port Arthur Massacre
We take you through the background to that dark day, the gun law reforms that followed, and where that sits today.
28 April 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Australia’s Vaccine Rollout
We take you through Australia’s vaccine deals, what’s behind the issues that have arisen, and where things are at with the program to get Australians vaccinated.
22 April 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Life and Death of Prince Philip
We take you through his early years, the bumpy transition to the Queen’s consort, and the formalities around his funeral.
11 April 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – What’s Happening in Taiwan
We’ll take you through the background on how Taiwan came to be, it’s complicated history with China, and Beijing’s recent moves to take control over it.
8 April 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – What’s Going on with Property Prices
We go back to the days of 17% interest rates, look at how that period compares to now, and the external things that influence a person’s ability to buy a place to call home.
1 April 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Making the Tokyo Olympics Happen
We take you through why the Olympics are such a big deal anyway, the impact of postponing them, and how organisers are now planning to pull it off.
25 March 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – China’s Tightening Grip on Hong Kong
We step through the complicated history between China and Hong Kong, the territory’s historic protest movement, and where things are at now.
18 March 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Freeing Kylie Moore-Gilbert
We explain what hostage diplomacy is, why Moore-Gilbert found herself caught up in it, what happened to her, and how her case was handled by the Australian government.
11 March 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Royal Commission into Aged Care
We take a look at the system itself, why a Royal Commission was called and its findings, and where it goes from here.
4 March 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Why Facebook Removed the News
We cover the events leading up to Facebook’s decision, the push by the Australian government to protect Aussie media outlets, and where it’s all heading.
25 February 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Crown’s Casino Woes
We take a look at the company’s history, its major shareholder James Packer, what came out at that independent inquiry, and what it all means for Crown.
18 February 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Coup in Myanmar
We cover Myanmar’s chequered democratic history, the rise of its popular de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and what led to the coup on 1 February.
11 February 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – What’s Happening with the Economy
We’ll get acquainted with the commonly used economic terms, look at the state of play, and outline 3 things to look out for this year.
4 February 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Biden’s Agenda
We look at Biden’s top priorities, how he plans to tackle them, and why Trump still looms large.
28 January 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – The Disappearance of Alibaba’s Jack Ma
We take a look at Jack Ma himself, his rise and success, what it means to run a business venture in Communist China and the reasons a usually very public character is thought be laying low.
21 January 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Trump’s Social Media Ban
We take a look at why these decisions have been taken, the rise of alternative social media platforms, and what it all means in the ongoing free speech debate.
14 January 2021
Squiz Shortcuts – Changes to Australia’s National Anthem
We dig into the background of our national anthem, how it came to be the song for our nation, and what changes have been made to it over the years and why.
7 January 2021
Year in Review – Part 3 (Sep-Dec)
We revisit the big local and international stories that shaped September through to December.
31 December 2020
Year in Review – Part 2 (May-August)
We revisit the big local and international stories that shaped May through to August.
30 December 2020
Year in Review – Part 1 (Jan-April)
We revisit the big local and international stories that shaped January through to April.
29 December 2020
The Great Big Squiz Quiz
Take a lighter look at year that was 2020 by joining us for The Great Big Squiz Quiz.
18 December 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – 2020 Catch Up
We catch you up on where some of the big issues are at so you can impress your friends and family over the Christmas break.
17 December 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Paying for the News
We take a look at the problem news organisations have with Big Tech, the counterarguments from Facebook and Google and what Australia’s new media code will do to address each parties issues.
10 December 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Shark Attacks in Australia
We take a look at Australia’s history of shark attacks, why they seem to be becoming more prevalent, and what experts are suggesting we can do to prevent them.
3 December 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Who Owns the Music
We take a look at what master recordings are, the power relationship between a record label and an artist, and how this battle has played out before.
26 November 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan
We take a look at the events leading up to the release of the Brereton Report, as well as what we know about the report’s findings, and what happens next.
20 November 2020
Squiz Shortcuts: The US Elections: What Went Down
We take a look at how America voted, how the House and the Senate vote played out and what happens next.
11 November 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: Navigating Election Day
We arm you with handy information that’ll help as you tune into see the results.
2 November 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: The Policy Debate
We take a step back from the personality contest, and look at the what each candidate will bring to to the table on policy.
28 October 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: The Presidential Race
We tackle the Presidential Race – so we’re talking the electoral college system and how a the President actually wins the election…
22 October 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: The Congressional Races
In the first in our four-part series in the lead up to the US Election on 3 November, we take a look at the implications these elections have for governing in the US, and what’s happening in those races.
15 October 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Protests in Thailand
Thailand is one of the few places in the world with lese-majeste laws, which is tricky because their current king is quite a colourful character…
1 October 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Australia’s Border Restrictions
In this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we look at why our borders closed in the first place, how it has unfolded and the impact it has had.
24 September 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The Australia-China Relationship
In this episode, we take a look at how Australia’s ties with China were established, how we’ve thrived together – and how we’ve recently hit some very choppy waters.
17 September 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Aged Care in Australia
We look at how the aged care sector is set up, who’s responsible for it, and the massive challenges it faces during COVID-19.
3 September 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Mail-in Voting in the US Election
We take a look at how US elections work, what mail-in voting is, and the issues surrounding it.
27 August 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: The US Vice Presidential Race
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.
20 August 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Vaccines
We look at what a vaccine is, how it’s developed, and the challenges public health officials are facing with developing one for COVID-19.
13 August 2020
Squiz Shortcut – Yemen
We step through the origins of the conflict in Yemen, and what it means for its people.
6 August 2020
Squiz Shortcut – Vaping
Vaping comes up a bit in the news due to concerns about the health effects.
30 July 2020
Squiz Shortcut – Facebook
Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world, so inevitably, it’s 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 caused a bit of strife. How did Facebook come about? Facebook might […]
23 July 2020
Squiz Shortcut – TikTok
TikTok is the hugely popular, Chinese-founded social media app that is in the news of late for more than just it’s funny videos.
15 July 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Israel and Palestine
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is long and complex. At its core, it’s a fight over territory…
9 July 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Donald Trump
Donald Trump is probably the most talked about person on the planet…
2 July 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Joe Biden
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.
25 June 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Officially called One Belt, One Road it is one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s most ambitious foreign policy and economic initiatives…
17 June 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Royal Commissions
What a Royal Commission is, the power and effectiveness of Royal Commissions, and a quick look at the ones currently running.
11 June 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Civil Rights in America
We take a look at the history of slavery in America, the fight for civil rights, and what’s happening now.
4 June 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The Federation
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
13 May 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – World Health Organisation
The World Health Organisation really is in the spotlight at the moment. Get the backstory to how it operates, the guy in charge, and some of the criticisms centred at it.
7 May 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Coronavirus – Key People
Who are the people we’re paying attention to during this coronavirus crisis…
29 April 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Recession
We’ll take you through some fundamentals on what a recession looks like, and what governments can do.
21 April 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Infectious Diseases
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.
6 April 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Note-able Australian Women
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.
8 March 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The US Elections: Overview
Who can become US President , how the parties elect their candidates, the all-important numbers; and what to watch out for in the 2020 election.
3 March 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Education in Australia
How the Australian education system works, where Australia ranks relative to the rest of the world, and the debate about how to lift our game.
26 February 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – The Rohingya and the Uyghurs
The Rohingya and the Uyghur are two predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities. The UN considers them to be victims of human rights abuses. Here we explain who they are, as well as why and how they’re being persecuted.
18 February 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Scott Morrison & Anthony Albanese
The background to the bloke to our Prime Minister, and the bloke who wants to be.
10 February 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Coronavirus
What coronavirus actually is, where it came from, the broader implications, and how we stop the spread….
4 February 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Australia Day
What the date marks, how it evolved, the argument for and against moving it, and what our leaders think…
23 January 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Harry and Meghan’s ‘new arrangement’
What is a ‘senior royal’, how are the Royal Family funded and what it all means for Harry and Meghan…
22 January 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Huawei
It’s the Chinese tech company that’s been banned from rolling out 5G networks here in Australia…
13 January 2020
Squiz Shortcuts – Bushfires in Australia
It’s defined the Australia summer of 2019/2020…
9 January 2020
2019 Year In Review
We’ve wrapped up the biggest stories from each month in 2019, and pulled out the most clicked items in the Squiz Today email. You’re welcome…
31 December 2019
UPDATED: Squiz Shortcuts – Brexit (Part 2)
This is all things Brexit since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister….
13 December 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Online Mega Sales
How has online shopping changed the face of retailing? And what are the major shopping events that now landmarks on the shopping calendar?
28 November 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Islamic State
How Islamic State came to be, the power it had at its peak, and the push to defeat it.
18 November 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – World Leaders (Erdogan, Bolsonaro, Modi)
Who are these worlds leaders we hear about all the time…
12 November 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Climate Change
The background to one of the most commonly used phrases in news…
28 October 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – West Papua
West Papua is seeing an uprising that has led to deadly riots and mass arrests…
20 October 2019
Squiz Shortcut – US, Turkey and the Syrian Kurds
The context behind the fallout of the US withdrawal from northeastern Syria…
16 October 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Daylight Saving Time
Turns out there’s a history of people messing with time…
2 October 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – US and Iran
Understand why the relationship between the US and Iran is so significant for the world…
25 September 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Brexit (Part1)
It has more twists and turns than a good soapie, but far fewer good looking people…
4 September 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Ash Barty
We’ll get you across her life growing up, her break from tennis and how she made her way back and to the top of the sport.
1 September 2019
Squiz Shortcuts – Hong Kong
It’s been in the news every day for the past few months, here’s the context…
27 August 2019