26 September 2026 - Saturday Squiz

No one likes to do homework on the weekend, but if you want to hang with us next week, the cool kids are doing the Fat Bear Week personality test. This weekend, if you need to pair your footy finals with sausages, go for a frolic in the field, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the News Club 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. What a week for AI issues… - An autonomous OpenAI agent breached Services Australia’s secure Medicare data portal. Yikes… PM Anthony Albanese confirmed that it bypassed security blocks, marking the world’s first known AI-led breach of a sovereign government system. Double yikes… International regulations and guardrails were a hot topic with world leaders and tech leaders, like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

2. State against state - But for this year’s AFL premiership decider, one of those states isn’t Victoria. The Brissie Lions (the 2024+2025 champs) will take on the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG at 2.30pm this arvo. Big in the news this week was whether Brisbane’s former co-captain Lachie Neale would take the field after he struck/collided with/body checked Jack Ginnivan last weekend - he was suspended, and that was overturned on appeal.

3. How much can a panda bear? - President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington late in the week for a high-stakes state visit. Initiated with a rare personal tarmac greeting, the leaders agreed to extend their crucial trade tariff truce. Despite the ceremonial pomp and China's goodwill gesture of sending 2 pandas to the US, deep underlying tensions remain over AI safety, tech export curbs, Taiwan, and China's continued economic support for Iran.

4. A tragic shooting - An 11yo boy died after a shooting inside an apartment in Sydney's northwest. Investigators believe the firearm may have accidentally discharged - an 18yo man has been charged with concealing a serious indictable offence over the incident. Police are also looking into his links to organised crime.

5. And tragedy in the Blue Mountains - A 42yo mother was charged with murder following a domestic violence stabbing. Passersby discovered her and 3 children with knife wounds inside a parked car on Sunday. A 5yo boy died at the scene, and a one-year-old later died in hospital. The woman has been refused bail.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which ‘goth of the bird world’ took out this year’s NZ Bird of the Year poll? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Colourful pic of the week

Spring has sprung, and if you’re lucky enough to live in a canola-growing part of Australia, this magnificent splash of yellow is BAU at this time of year. Thoughts/prayers if you also have hayfever issues (and this is our annual note-to-self: buy shares in an antihistamine company…).

In the Kitchen

The promise of a tasty tray bake ranks among the best things in the world as far as we’re concerned. Sure, maybe we need to think bigger about what we aspire to in life, but we’re ok with where we’ve landed, quite frankly. Without further ado, we present to you Elizabeth Hewson’s sausage extravaganza - the caramelised onion relish is genius with the cherry toms and spuds.

What we Shortcut for you this week

The productivity problem - Treasury released its Intergenerational Report this week, which looks ahead to what Australia might be like in 2066. One word keeps coming up in the coverage: productivity. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we explore exactly what productivity is, how it affects our economy, and why everyone’s talking about it. Have a read here or listen up.

Who was the Unabomber? - A new film about Ted Kaczynski, who went from a teenage maths genius to a serial bomber, has just dropped on Netflix. He was known as ‘the Unabomber’ and his campaign against modern technology killed 3 people and injured dozens more from 1978-1995. In this Squiz Shortcut, we get you through the case and why the movie has drawn criticism. Read it here or listen to the pod…

Squiz the Week

Saturday - We’ve already talked about the AFL Grand Final with the Brisbane Lions taking on the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG at 2.30pm (watch it on Channel 7). A happy birthday to tennis star Serena Williams, who’s turning 45yo.

Sunday - The second NRL preliminary final between the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights is on at Accor Stadium in Sydney from 4pm (catch it on Channel 9). And for rugby union fans, the Wallabies play South Africa in Perth at 7.45pm (watch on 9Now or Stan Sport).

Monday - It’s a public holiday in Western Oz for the King’s birthday (lucky ducks), the Melbourne Fringe Festival begins (until 18 October), and the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are on in Los Angeles from 9.30am (the red carpet galleries are always good fun…).

Tuesday - The Reserve Bank will announce its decision on interest rates at 2.30pm. It’s World Heart Day, and National Police Remembrance Day.

Wednesday - Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki will address the National Press Club on the state’s economy leading up to the 2032 Olympic Games. And the Dally M Awards for players of the year in the NRL and NRLW are on from 6pm in Sydney. And happy International Podcast Day 🎙️…

Thursday - Card surcharges on purchases in Oz are gonzo from today… It’s the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Tom Cruise’s new movie Digger is out in cinemas (and no, it’s not about Aussie soldiers…). And it’s International Coffee Day (which is kinda every day, right?) ☕

Friday - The Deni Ute Muster is on (with Tones and I headlining the entertainment lol…), crank up the speakers; it’s Audiophile Day, and musician Sting turns 75yo.

*Times in AEST