25 April 2026 - Saturday Squiz

Let’s start by saying lest we forget… And as we get into the weekend, we have plans to munch away on Anzac biscuits like these koalas are with eucalyptus leaves. If you’re counting down the days until ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ hits theatres, planning a dinner party, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem.

1. Competing blockades - Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have far from died down… The US military is still blocking Iranian ports, and while US President Donald Trump says they’ve got the whole Strait under control, Iranian forces have seized 2 container ships. And if things weren’t complicated enough, shipowners are being targeted by scammers posing as the Iranian Government…

2. An (un)holy dispute continues… - Yes, the Trump v Pope story was big last week, but it kicked on through last weekend (and therefore got picked up again in this week’s monitoring) with Pope Leo’s very direct comment for the American President: “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel”.

3. The next round of changes to the NDIS - Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced the overhaul this week to reduce the number of participants by 160,000 by 2030 and pull back the scheme’s growth rate and expenditure. The changes have certainly garnered some criticism, but Team Albanese says spending simply can’t continue as it has… If you’re grappling with this on, here’s a good recce, and Claire and Kate unpack it on this weekend’s News Club ep.

4. What’s the deal with gas taxes? - Senate Committee hearings this week have unleashed that can of worms… The Greens and independent Senator David Pocock are calling for a flat 25% tax on gas export revenue, but PM Anthony Albanese says we won’t be doing that.

5. And what’s next for fuel in Oz? - Great question… We’re staying at stage 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan - petrol is still available, but the system is struggling (although we now have more fuel onshore than at the start of hostilities in the Middle East). You might remember that PM Anthony Albanese was in Asia last week, holding talks with the likes of Malaysia and Brunei to try to keep supply coming - the bargaining chip we hold there is all the gas we have to export. So swings and roundabouts…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which music legend joined Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella last weekend? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Aussie photographer Elle Leontiev won a major global photography prize this week for her portrait ‘barefoot volcanologist’. The image portrays Phillip Yamah, capturing him on the plains of Mount Yasur in Vanuatu. He’s a self-taught/self-described volcano scientist, which we think deserves a prize for craziest job title… You can check out more of the finalists here…

Making your points go further

The Reserve Bank is considering changes to credit card reward fees, but Velocity is pushing to keep things simple... While some points programs are cutting back, they’ve still got domestic reward seats on Virgin Australia starting from 5,900 points. Plus, with more than 450 partners - think Flybuys and 7-Eleven - it’s a handy way to keep those holiday dreams alive without having to change your spending habits. You can learn more about Velocity frequent flyer here.

In the Kitchen

This weekend, we’ll be whipping up a batch of Mrs K’s Anzac biscuits. As the name hints, they’re Claire’s mum’s recipe, they’re basically fail-proof, and they’ll be perfect with a cuppa over the weekend. Be warned, though, they’re pretty addictive…

What we Shortcut for you this week

What is the Taroom Trough? - With global fuel supplies still under pressure, there’s a heap of attention on sites like Queensland’s Taroom Trough. It’s a source of crude oil and natural gas that the Queensland Government wants to fast-track extraction approvals for. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what’s involved and where things are up to… Read that here or listen up.

What’s at stake in Farrer - In the lead-up to the Farrer by-election on 9 May (aka Sussan Ley’s former electorate), you’re bound to be hearing about it over the coming weeks. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll tell you who the leading contenders are and why all eyes will be on the outcome… Read here or listen to the pod here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s Anzac Day - Early birds will have already been to Dawn Services around the country to remember the sacrifice and service of Australian soldiers… And the footy codes each have a special game to commemorate the day. For the AFL, it’s Essendon v Collingwood at 3.20pm at the MCG, catch it on 7plus. For the NRL, from 3.30pm the Dragons will play the Roosters at Allianz Stadium in Sydney - watch it on 9now. And at 3.05pm the Super Rugby Pacific will hold a special game between the Brumbies v (Kiwi-based) Hurricanes in One NZ Stadium, Christchurch. Watch it on Stan Sport.

Sunday - The White House Correspondents' Dinner is in Washington DC this morning - US President Donald Trump will be in attendance for the first time in his capacity as the national leader. And it’s 40 years since the Chornobyl disaster…

Monday - New South Wales, Western Oz and the ACT have an Anzac Day public holiday. And King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the US for a 4-day visit…

Tuesday - It’s 30 years since the Port Arthur massacre - there will be a ceremony at 1pm at the Port Arthur Historic Site. We did a Shortcut on it to mark the 25th anniversary, if that’s of interest to you. And King Charles will address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress, making him the second monarch to do so - a time is TBC, but it’s likely late tonight/early tomorrow...

Wednesday - The APRA Music Awards are on in Sydney - INXS is receiving the Ted Albert Award, recognising outstanding service to Aussie music. And the Burea if Stats will release its March inflation numbers - so watch this space for some clues about interest rates (which the Reserve Bank will announce policy for 5 May).

Thursday - The interim report for the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is due today. At 7.45pm, it’s game one of the women’s rugby league State of Origin - that’s on at Newcastle International Sports Centre, watch it on 9now. And the highly anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits Aussie theatres (and her coat is spectacular..).

Friday - And if you can believe it, here comes May…

*Times in AEST