Friday, 19 July - Another one bites the dust

Good morning, it’s Friday, 19 July. In your Squiz Today…

• JD Vance introduces himself

• The CFMEU is dealt another blow

• And the Emmy nominations are announced…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Wrote upmarket auction house Sotheby’s in a statement after the record-breaking sale of the skeleton known as ‘Apex’. It’s been 65 million years since dinosaurs last walked the Earth, and you’d need a dollar for each one of them to have bought this costly lot…

Trump’s campaign ad-Vance

The Squiz

JD Vance has delivered his first speech since confirmation he’s Donald Trump’s running mate in this year’s presidential election. The Ohio Senator said the former US president is “America’s last best hope” to restore the country, and called President Joe Biden a symbol of “corrupt Washington insiders”. The 39yo also highlighted his poor upbringing in a family struggling with addiction - as dramatised in his memoir Hillbilly Elegy and the movie based on it. It all went down a storm with the party faithful who frequently joined in with chants of “Joe must go”, but the main event is still to come when Trump makes his speech later today…

What about Biden?

He’s got COVID, and that’s seen a suspension in his campaign to get Democrats behind his candidacy. The White House says the 81yo’s symptoms are “mild” but that hasn’t stopped senior Democrats from joining the growing chorus calling for him to step aside, including California’s top dog Adam Schiff who says it’s “time for him to pass the torch". Senate leader Chuck Schumer also told Biden it “would be better for the country” if he dropped out. Biden’s been adamant nothing could make him quit, but reports say behind closed doors, he is “receptive” to those discussions. Even in public the President’s hardline is weakening, after he conceded this week that he would withdraw if a doctor told him to.

And Trump?

Trump’s speech to accept the Republican Party’s nomination to run as president is expected late morning/early arvo. The 78yo says he’s re-written his script after the assassination attempt because there’s “a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together”. As for the detail, insiders say he’ll reveal his “vulnerable” side, but there’s also speculation the key message will be “strength versus weakness”. Trump’s campaign so far hasn’t unveiled any policy surprises, so the expectation is his speech will be more of the same on America’s trade war with China, tackling the drugs crisis and immigration, and cutting taxes. Whatever the detail, it will be embraced by his most fervent supporters… Once the RNC wraps, Trump is off to Michigan for his next campaign rally on Saturday, so the political caravan moves on...

Squiz the Rest

The CFMEU is dealt another blow

Federal Labor has cut ties with the construction arm of the CFMEU - aka the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union - in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. It’s also stopped accepting donations from the union. It comes a day after the Albanese Government announced administrators would take over the union, and is the latest in a string of consequences for the embattled body after allegations of corruption in its top ranks were made public… Yesterday, ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson said the suspension will be in place “until further notice”. He said “the number one job of any union and its officials is to look after its members… The reported behaviour is the complete opposite”. 

The unemployment rate ticks up

The Bureau of Stats’ latest jobs numbers are in, showing unemployment rose in June to 4.1%, up from 4% in May - even though about 50,200 new jobs were created in the month. There were a lot of eyes on the data yesterday because it's one of the key figures important to the Reserve Bank ahead of its next interest rate decision on August 6. And you won’t be surprised to know there’s been plenty of commentary… Many economists say the higher-than-expected number of new jobs added - most of which are full-time gigs - offsets the higher unemployment rate, making the data “neutral” as far as the Reserve Bank will be concerned… Oxford Economics’ Ben Udy says “by far the more important thing will be the inflation data which will come up on the 31 July”. Dying to see that… 

From snow flurries to blizzards…

A heads up if you’re on the East Coast - the weekend isn’t looking like it’ll be much warmer than it has been in recent days… The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the NSW Alpine region featuring "vigorous winds and blizzards" as a northwesterly cold front moves across today. It'll also bring strong winds to parts of southern NSW before they gust over eastern NSW tomorrow. Meanwhile, those in the Sunshine State seem to have been cranking up their heaters - breaking a new record for electricity demand on Wednesday, up from Queensland’s previous winter record in July 2022. Victoria set its own record on Monday. Those in southern WA won’t be spared, with their own polar blast on the way - while Northern Territorians are enjoying mostly sunny days. Meanwhile, it’s been unusually warm in Tassie - but still only in the teens…

Facing the fallout

The NSW Blues and their fans are still celebrating after their huge State of Origin win on Wednesday night (as evidenced by Brian To’o, who held onto the moment by keeping his playing gear on overnight…) - but the brutal decider has taken its toll… At least 7 players from both the Blues and the Queensland Maroons have been ruled out of their NRL teams’ weekend games due to injuries and suspensions - and that number’s expected to rise. Most are due to various misconduct charges after the mass barney that broke out on the sidelines - it’s NSW's Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray who are facing 2-match suspensions. Meanwhile, in an entirely different code, Aussie expat/Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou is rumoured to be in the running to be the next English team manager… Are there no heights that bloke can’t rise to? 

Arigato to the Emmys

The awards season is already winding back up again as the nominees for the Emmys - aka America’s most prestigious TV awards - have been announced… We’re feeling quite smug as Japanese feudal drama Shōgunwas a Friday Lites recco when it first dropped and is leading the pack with 25 nods. That’s followed by a series of Squiz faves including Only Murders in the Building (21),The Crown(18), and The Bear(23) - a record for a comedy series - sparking a debate about whether the hectic drama is funny… Two of our biggest stars also got a look in - Naomi Watts is up for best lead actress for Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, and Elizabeth Debicki has been nominated for a second time for her uncanny portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown. The Emmys aren’t until 16 September, so you’ve got plenty of time to catch up…

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Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

We would never refer to someone as “ugly” but you can Ask Ugly - aka beauty journo Jessica DeFino - for advice in The Guardian column which is fast becoming a fave… Her short, sharp advice is balanced and perfect for when you just need a quick answer…

Our eyeballs have been trained on American politics this week, but we’ve found an intriguing new podcast for when we’re forced away from our screens… The $6 Billion Gold Scamtells the true story of the world’s biggest gold discovery that turned out to be a costly and deadly fake. 

And if you are keen to return to your screen and check out the shows behind the Emmy nominations, this fagioli on house sourdough recipe - aka fancy beans on toast - is perfect as an easy one to whip-up so you can get back to bingeing, stat. 

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Squiz the Day

Friday
9.00am (AEST) - The final session of the Republican National Convention begins, with Donald Trump expected to speak late morning - Milwaukee

9.30am (AEST) - Gregory Lynn, found guilty of murdering camper Carol Clay, is back in court for a pre-sentencing hearing - Melbourne

10.00am (AEST) - Africa Film Festival, showcasing African cinema (until 21 July) - Sydney

National Pyjama Day

Birthdays for Brian May (1947) and Benedict Cumberbatch (1976)

Anniversary of:

• the death of Matthew Flinders, the cat-loving leader of the first circumnavigation of Australia (1814)

• the first US women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls NY, organised by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott (1848)

• the first appearance of Tom and Jerry under their own names in the cartoon The Midnight Snack (1941)

• the premiere of Mad Men (2007)

• an archaeological dig in Kakadu National Park extending Indigenous Australians' time in Oz from 65,000 to 80,000 years ago (2017)

Saturday
10.00am (AEST) - Motorsport: Supercars Championship Sydney SuperNight (until 21 July) - Sydney

3.45pm (AEST) - Rugby Union: Men’s International, Australia v Georgia - Sydney

5.00pm (ACST) - Netball: Major semi final, Thunderbirds v Vixens - Adelaide

Colombia's Independence Day 

International Chess Day

International Moon Day

Birthdays for Terri Irwin (1964),  Sandra Oh (1971), and Ben Simmons (1996)

Anniversary of:

• Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first men to walk on the moon (1969)

• the CIA releasing documents under the Freedom of Information Act revealing it had engaged in mind control experiments (1977)

• death of Bruce Lee (1973)

Sunday
4.00am (AEST) - Athletics: London Diamond League Meet - London

9.00am (AEST) - Motorsport: F1, Hungarian Grand Prix - Mogyoród

9.00am (AEST) - World Heritage Committee Meeting begins (until 31 July) - New Delhi

2.00pm (AWST) - Netball: Minor semi final, Fever v Lightning - Perth 

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting begins (on until 31 July) - India 

Belgium's National Day

National Lamington Day

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Ernest Hemingway (1899) and Robin Williams (1951)

• the creation of Central Park in New York (1853)

• Sirimavo Bandaranaike becoming the world’s first non-hereditary female head of government in modern history as PM of Ceylon aka Sri Lanka (1960)

• the release of Guns N’ Roses’ debut album Appetite for Destruction. It became the bestselling debut album of all time (1987)