11 May 2024 - Saturday Squiz

What better way to kick off the weekend than watching Hamish Blake make cake miracles happen - oh and the Saturday Squiz of course, wrapping up the week in news and throwing in a couple of recommendations for things to read/cook/watch. If you’re a fiend on the dance floor, have your Budget Bingo terms ready, or anything else you’d like to share with us, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 7 minutes

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🤷‍♀️ IDK: But the Met Gala isn’t the Met Gala without a fake photo surfacing…

This week's top stories

While the most searched story this week was the Met Gala, the top stories covered some pretty hefty topics.

1. Tragedy in Mexico - Questions are being asked about cartel activity in the area where Aussie brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American mate Carter Rhoad were surfing and camping before they were killed. Their parents have asked for people to “Live bigger, shine brighter and love harder in their memory.”

2. China accuses Australia of spying - Just when it seemed relations were getting a little warmer… Australian and Chinese officials are at odds over what exactly happened when a Chinese jet dropped flares in front of an Australian helicopter on a UN Mission in the Yellow Sea.

3. Talks of a Rafah invasion - Israel’s military took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing this week. And while US President Joe Biden has said US support for Israel is ‘ironclad’, the fear of mass civilian casualties in Rafah if a ground offensive goes ahead has led them to pause a shipment of weapons.

4. Federal Budget announcements - Ah, the pre-Budget drops… So far we’ve got the Stage 3 tax cuts, defence funding, relief for students and those with HELP debt, domestic violence packages, and the Future Made In Australia Fund. There’s also hints of help for those doing it tough, housing, and talks of a surplus…

5. Stormy Daniels took the stand - The adult film star testified in US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s 'hush money’ trial this week. At one point the judge had to tell the prosecution to rein in the nature of their questions…

It’s the Squiz Quiz…

Reckon you know which Aussie duo performed at Eurovision this year? Have a crack at the Squiz Quiz.

Picture of the week

If you love a fashion moment, then the Met Gala delivered in spades this week. Amid the best/worst-dressed lists and discussions of who nailed the theme, Katy Perry was trending without even attending. This pic of her on the infamous Met steps was generated by AI, and we’ve gotta say the interpretation of the ‘Garden of Time’ theme was pretty bang on. Even her mum was fooled…

Question of the week

Do you get up and dance to Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits?

We asked if you had any other dance floor favourites but it appears the Nutbush is the quintessential Aussie dance. Well, for most people at least…

Yeehaw - “I was part of the world record-breaking Nutbush City Limits at the Birdsville Big Red Bash in July 2022. Just over 4,000 people, it was one hell of a party!”

Committed to the cause - “Last year I was doing the Nutbush at a wedding and the lady next to me slipped and took me out when she fell. I ruptured my ACL and needed surgery. I still jump up to dance when the song comes on… but carefully.”

Snap - “The most boring, predictable, unsexy dance ever.”

In the Kitchen

These brownies from RecipeTinEats will have you voted MVP if you happen to bring a batch into the office (congrats Ellie, in our Growth team). The recipe is easy to follow, and gives you the guidelines on the baking times needed to get them just as gooey, fudgy or cakey as you like them. Winner.

What we Squized this week

Your Shortcut to… The nuclear power debate - Nuclear power is far from a new idea and while lots of countries have embraced it as a way to generate their power, it feels like the debate is just heating up here. This Shortcut takes a look at what nuclear power is, how it could work in Australia, and whether it could be a realistic solution for our energy needs. Have a read or a listen here. 

Squiz Kids interviews Treasurer Jim Chalmers - Over 500 questions came in from the kids of Australia for this special Squiz Kids Q&A, including a couple of curly ones on leadership ambitions and budget decisions. It’s a great listen if you’ve got kids aged 8-12yo who are interested in the world around them. Listen here.

News Club on making and reporting on the Federal Budget - Dive into how the Budget gets made and how the media reports on it with this chat between Claire and James Chessell, former Managing Director of Publishing at Nine Entertainment and a former staffer to boot. You’ll be all ready for your own game of Budget Bingo… Catch the full episode here.

Searching for the light?

When we asked our audience whether the news can make them feel anxious over 75% said 'yep’. And whilst they’re not tuning out (phew) they’re here for some of the lighter news The Squiz provides. So we’re launching the Good Squiz, a podcast that’ll leave you with a smile. So advertisers, listen up… if you’re keen to get around the good stuff, get in touch here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Fire up your gadgets, it’s National Technology Day. It’s also National Train Day and World Fair Trade Day 

Sunday - Happy Mother’s Day and happy International Nurses Day to our mothers and nurses - onya, legends. And if this is a tough day for you, we see you

Monday - World Cocktail Day and International Hummus Day is a pretty great pairing TBH. Australian Fashion Week kicks off

Tuesday - It’s Budget Day - Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the 2024-25 Budget at around 7.30pm… And it’s a 20th wedding anniversary for Queen Mary & King Frederik 

Wednesday - It’s International Day of Families. The Budget press tour continues at 12.30pm with Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivering his post Budget address at the National Press Club

Thursday - Crack your favourite brew, the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards are being held. Beer in hand, you’re all set to settle in for opposition leader Peter Dutton’s Budget reply speech at 7.30pm

Friday - We’ve been podcasting for 6 years today 🎉 , Billie Eilish is dropping a new album - Hit Me Hard and Soft, and the NRL Magic round kicks off in Brisbane 

*All times in AEST

Double-Tapping

We cover a lot of news at The Squiz, and each week on our insta we quiz the team on their fave/best news story of the week. And boy is there range… from the Met Gala to Beef2024, an ugly-but-lucky dog, and a dance that resonates with us all. Have a squiz and chuck us a follow while you’re there - @thesquiz.