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Good morning!
In case you missed it, young people want the news to be more fun.
That was one of the key findings of the Reuters Institute’s recent ‘Digital News Report’, which presented us with a certified conundrum, considering the state of the world right now.
But alas. We decided to act.
Starting from this week, I made an executive decision to bring the TDA titbit to real life via the podcast. At the end of every episode, we’ll bring you a fun, quirky story, like we do with this newsletter!
Give it a listen on Spotify here, on Apple here, or on YouTube here. (And press follow or subscribe while you’re there!)
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy… Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
U.S. President Donald Trump criticising Pope Leo XIV in a Truth Social post. In response, Pope Leo told reporters yesterday: “Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed.”
The stat: 3. The number of Victorian Government ministers who resigned on Monday, ahead of the state's election in November.
The big question:
Does housing stress affect your ability to focus on other life goals?
Yesterday’s results: 73% of you said you wouldn’t be comfortable with your employer using AI to monitor your productivity even if it was transparent. 13% of you said you’d be fine with it but only with clear and ongoing transparency, while 2% of you feel fine about the concept. [3,328 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Evidence that could put a married couple accused of attempting military espionage on behalf of Russia on trial will remain secret for 15 years, a magistrate has ruled. Nearly 200 documents and a Department of Defence witness statement will be suppressed after the Queensland magistrate found national security outweighed the principle of open justice. It comes after a Russian couple, one of whom was in the ADF, were arrested in Brisbane in July 2024 and charged with espionage. The suppression orders do not prevent their defence lawyers from reviewing the evidence, and only cover part of it, which now totals more than a million pages of documents and several seized electronic devices.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has announced she has fired a party worker who was jailed for rape. Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Hanson said she had “shot” Sean Black “in front of his wife,” meaning that she had fired him from the party, following criticism by the Coalition. Black worked for One Nation before he was convicted of rape and violent assault and served jail time. The party rehired him once he was released, a decision publicly questioned by Coalition members last week. Hanson and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce have both questioned the necessity of firing Black, with Joyce saying: “I think it’s demeaning, and also it shows that… if a person goes to jail, they’re in jail forever. There’s no sense of redemption.” 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Together with AAP.
Recommendation of the day
Looney Tunes just crashed school holiday sport
The new Looney Tunes x Sport Star Academy Holiday Camps bring Bugs Bunny, Tweety and the crew to soccer and basketball programs for kids aged 4–12 across 390+ locations nationwide.
Think "Hop Like Bugs Bunny" agility drills and "Run Like Road Runner" speed challenges – plus every kid gets exclusive merch. Places are limited, so it's worth checking if there's a camp near you.
I’ve got 1 minute
The Federal Government has launched a $20 million campaign to raise awareness of Australia’s National Fuel Security Plan.
The campaign urges motorists to adopt “simple, practical behaviours” to reduce fuel use and help prioritise supply for essential services.
The Coalition has criticised the campaign, calling it “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money” that could have been used to secure additional diesel.
Fuel Plan
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes in February, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz – a key global oil and gas shipping route.
In response to fuel disruptions, the Government announced a four-level fuel security plan last month.
Australia is currently at Level 2, meaning international fuel shipments are still arriving, but domestic supply pressures are beginning to emerge.
The ad
The new campaign features the tagline “Every little bit helps”, encouraging motorists to cut fuel use and ensure supply remains available for essential services.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC News Breakfast that the ad was a “modest campaign” aimed at countering misinformation that has fuelled panic buying.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders program, Transport Minister Catherine King also said that amid the growing “anxiety”, the messaging is designed to help people feel informed and prepared “the longer this goes on.”
Opposition
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie has criticised the initiative, calling it “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.”
In a statement to TDA, she said the $20 million should have been “spent getting the diesel to where it needs to be,” rather than on “pointless and offensive advertising campaigns.”
“Suddenly we are being lectured to pump up the tyres and take the roof racks off to save every little bit of fuel… Australians are highly sensitive to sharply rising fuel prices and are responding accordingly,” she added.
Reporting by Achol Arok.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Billi and Zara talk about the Federal Government’s plan to ban several forms of gambling ads.
💶 Want to know about the $975m TikTok mystery? You can sign up to TDA Finance here to make sure the explainer is in your inbox on Wednesday morning.
I’ve got 2 minutes
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz following failed ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Over the weekend, representatives from the countries spoke for 21 hours in Islamabad, Pakistan in an effort to broker an agreement.
The U.S. has since announced that no ships en route to or from Iran will be allowed to enter or exit the Strait. This is now in effect.
Here’s what that means.
Context
Last week, the U.S, Israel, and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire.
Among the agreements was Iran’s reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key international oil passage.
Soon after, Iran accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire by continuing to strike Lebanon.
The U.S. and Israel disputed that Lebanon was included in the agreement.
In response, Iran declared it would keep the Strait closed.
Negotiations
On Saturday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were among those involved in ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad. Israel was not involved.
Araghchi said the countries had come close to an agreement called a memorandum of understanding (MoU), but had not signed anything.
“We have been at it now for 21 hours... the bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news more for Iran than for the United States of America,” said JD Vance speaking to press after unsuccessful ceasefire talks in Islamabad.
Blockade
On Sunday (local time), Trump announced the U.S. Navy would begin a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, applying to vessels attempting to leave or enter the waterway.
Hours later, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on X that its forces would begin the blockade at 10am on 13 April (12am 14 April AEST).
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” it said.
CENTCOM clarified that vessels transiting through the Strait to or from non-Iranian ports will not be impacted.
Iran response
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addressed the blockade in a post to X, telling the U.S. it will “be nostalgic” for current fuel prices.
International response
UK media reports the British Government will not assist the U.S. in the blockade.
Similarly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Australia has not been asked by the U.S. to help with the blockade.
“I want to... wake up in the morning and see that peace has broken out, on a permanent basis,” he said.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
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Give me some good news
U.S. scientists have made a breakthrough in the development of a safe, reversible male contraceptive.
Researchers at Cornell University said they have completed a successful trial of a medical contraceptive option in mice, which they said didn’t interfere with hormones – which they noted had “proven potentially dangerous in women”.
The testing process involved a chemical developed in cancer research, which the scientists used to stop the production of sperm. Testing in mice showed the chemical would stop production, but once it had left the system, sperm production went back to normal and the mice were able to produce babies. While the chemical they tested won’t work in humans by itself, it’s a big step forward in the development of a safe contraceptive for men.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA titbit
Golfer Xander Schauffele literally ‘had it in the bag’ during the Masters tournament in the U.S. state of Georgia.
The professional golfer was at the eighth hole when he hit his ball off the course and straight into a merch bag on the sidelines.
Unfortunately for the lucky spectator, officials took Schauffele’s ball back.
TDA asks
