Friday, 8 November - I’ll be dancing with myself

November 08, 2024

Good morning, it’s Friday, 8 November. In your Squiz Today…

  • Trump kicks into action

  • A step closer to age restrictions on social media

  • And a salsa verde to pep up your weekend barbie…🌿

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“It’s like going from Windows10 to Windows98.”

Said one observer on X after AFL club the Adelaide Crows officially revealed their new logo to a range of reactions. It’s their first rebrand since 2010 and was 18 months in the making - you can judge for yourself if it’s a winner…

Team Trump sets sail

The Squiz

US President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican colleagues aren’t wasting any time in preparing for his return to the White House on 20 January next year… House majority leader Steve Scalise has shared the plan for Trump’s first 100 days in office while the team leading his transition says he’ll announce his Cabinet in the coming weeks. The focus, they say, is on selecting a team that will help Trump “make the life of Americans affordable, safe, and secure” - themes that he campaigned heavily on. And while the dust settles on his win, Democrats are working overtime to understand how they went from election night dance parties to defeat…

So what’s the verdict?

There will be plenty of analysis pieces rolling in on Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, but here’s a good starting point. The general consensus is that she failed to differentiate what her presidency would look like compared to the past 4 years under President Joe Biden. Harris also had swings against her in most demographics aside from Black female voters. And some of the biggest swings to the Republicans came from Latino and Hispanic voters, despite Trump’s prickly history with them… Those in the know say many were persuaded by his promise to improve the US economy and hardline approach to immigration. Whatever the reason, Harris congratulated Trump during her concession speech yesterday. And in his first address to the nation since the Democrats’ loss, Biden said there would be “a peaceful transfer of power”. 

And what are our officials saying about the result?

While our Ambassador to the US/former PM Kevin Rudd got busy online, PM Anthony Albanese was one of many world leaders to speak to Trump on the phone yesterday. He said the pair discussed "​​the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment" - all things Albanese wants to see maintained. And on that trade and investment piece, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock's already been asked what another Trump presidency will mean for Australia's economy - she reckons it’s too early to tell. But other experts have questioned what a potential trade war between the US and China prompted by Trump’s tariffs plan will do to our economy - what with China being our largest trading partner and all. It’s all ahead of us…

Your fresh market update…

At the Squiz, we’re all about giving you the useful stuff. So, we’ve teamed up with Woolies to share their top weekly fruit and veg picks. Here’s what to grab this week:

❤️ Raspberries - Get you berries on, baby... Spring = a good time to grab a punnet…

🥒 Continental cucumbers - Crunchy and fresh, these are a summer salad go-to

🍅 Truss tomatoes - Extra sweet ‘n’ juicy right now, add them to that salad you're putting together

🥔 Lower carb potatoes - All potatoes are good potatoes, but these ones have 25% lower carbs than the average

Squiz the Rest

Social media ban takes the next step

The push to ban social media access for kids is up for discussion at a National Cabinet meeting today. PM Anthony Albanese is taking the federal government’s proposed policy to the premiers/chief ministers to get agreement on the details, like the minimum age requirement of 16yo. If everyone’s on board, Australia would be the first country in the world to set 16yo as the threshold - it’s 15yo in France (but younger kids are granted access with parental supervision). Since the idea was first floated, critics have questioned how a ban would be enforced because most platforms already have a set minimum age of 13yo - but experts say that hasn’t stopped over a million kids under 12yo from jumping on. One possible solution is age-assurance tech but it’s yet to be tested in Australia.

The German government’s kuddelmuddel

It’s been a big week for ministerial sackings/government crises overseas… Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and now German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ditched his Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Making that call a bit awks is the issue that Lindner leads one of the 3 parties in Germany’s governing coalition, so the coalition is also no longer a thing… To move forward, Scholz will hold a confidence vote (where the parliament decides if the government is fit for office) in January, and if he doesn’t win that, the people of Europe’s largest economy will be heading to the polls soon after… Also still trying to find a solution for its government is Japan - parliament is sitting again on Monday to sort things out… 

It’s Ray-ning retirements 

Here are a couple from 2 very, very different careers… Talkback host Ray Hadley is quitting his show at Sydney station 2GB after 23 years. Hadley’s been #1 in the ratings since 2003 and is said to be the highest-paid talent at station owner Nine Entertainment on $3.5 million a year. It also hasn’t gone unnoticed that it came on the same day that Nine flagged a $50 million/year cost-cutting program... Hadley will set the early alarm for the last time on December 13. “At social events I’m always the first out the door - I don’t want to be first out the door anymore,” he said. But he’s not the only famous Ray hanging them up - Olympic breaker Raygun has announced she’s done as well. While she won’t be busting moves competitively after her notable Olympics appearance, she’s still going to dance at home, where it’s safe from the interwebs…

Great balls of grossness

There were plenty of theories floating around about the mysterious black balls that washed up on Sydney beaches in October, but the truth is more than a bit gross. In fact, maybe don’t Squiz this over brekkie… The prevailing thesis that they were tar balls has been pooh-poohed in more ways than one. Turns out they were made up of hair, motor oil and human faeces, among other stuff. “They are disgusting, and they smell revolting,” said Associate Professor Jon Beves from NSW Uni, who had the unenviable task of leading the testing. His slightly more scientific analysis mentioned the balls contained soap scum, methamphetamine, cooking oil, raindrops on roses, heart medication and bits of plastic - basically, a bunch of stuff you would find in a standard sewer.

No captain, why captain?

Talk about having words with the boss… A West Indies cricketer was openly shirty with his captain in one of the more unusual things you’ll see on a cricket field. The Windies were playing England in a one-dayer when bowler Alzarri Joseph started scowling and gesturing furiously - refusing to calm down even after he took a wicket. The nonplussed commentators at the ground soon worked out he was at odds with his skipper Shai Hope about a field placing (if you’re not a cricket person, field placings are usually the subject of polite debate at worst…). At the end of his over, he walked off the ground and out on his team entirely, leaving them one short for a few minutes. They managed to win despite the high levels of angst, so who knows, maybe the approach will catch on…

Wanna be in the Saturday Squiz?

Some pretty smart NSW high schoolers are sending algae into space in the name of science. They say it may even help Mars become livable, so we want to know…

If living on Mars was a viable option, would you give it a go?

Click to cast your vote and tell us one Earthly comfort you'd miss the most. We'll share 3 responses in Saturday's newsletter.

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Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

Saturday Night Live’s been in the news a lot after the Veep popped up on an ep this week - which got us thinking about one of our favourite sketches from last year, featuring comedian Nate Bargatze. It’s called ‘Washington’s Dream’, and it’s a great take on some of the peculiarities of American life…

Longtime Squizers will know we’re documentary nuts - we’re even suckers for those celebrity-produced shows a la Beckham and I Am: Celine Dion. But this is one for old-school doco fans… Made by some notable people, Endurance (Disney+) captures the discovery of Ernest Shackleton’s doomed ship a couple of years ago and his epic fight to save the lives of his men stranded in Antarctica more than 100 years ago. Really incredible stuff… 

It’s not a big lift this week on the recipe front. We made this salsa verde to zhuzh up some fish and salad earlier this week, and we’re lining up for it again this weekend - maybe as a condiment to have with some lamb on the barbie and potato salad. But you do you.

Squiz the Day

Friday
10.00am (AEDT) - A decision is due on a mental health special verdict in the case of a man charged with the murder of 29yo paramedic Steven Tougher outside Campbelltown McDonalds last year - Sydney 

11.30am (AEDT) - The Financial Services Institute of Australia hosts its annual 'The Regulators' lunch where APRA, ASIC, AUSTRAC and the RBA will share their priorities for 2025 - Sydney

2.00pm (ACDT) - Men's Cricket 2nd ODI: Aus v Pakistan - Adelaide, and watch on Kayo

7.15pm (AEDT) - AFLW: Qualifying final - North Melbourne v Adelaide - Melbourne, and watch here

PM Anthony Albanese will hold a National Cabinet Meeting online with state and territory leaders to discuss proposed laws limiting social media use to users over 16yo

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Final begins (until 10 November) - Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie Point, Sydney

2025 Grammy nominations announced

ABS data release - Life expectancy, 2021-2023; Jobs in Australia, 2021-22; Personal Income in Australia, 2021-22

🐸 Ribbit… It’s the start of FrogID Week (until 12 November) 

Birthdays for author Kazuo Ishiguro (1954) and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (1966)

Anniversary of:

  • the birthdays of Dracula inspirer Vlad the Impaler (1431), astronomer Edmond Halley (1656), and Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell (1900)

  • the first distillation of Bourbon Whiskey from corn by Elijah Craig in Bourbon, Kentucky (1789)

  • German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen producing and detecting X-rays for the first time (1895)

  • the premiere of soapie Days of Our Lives (1965)

  • Donald Trump’s election as US President (2016)... Déjà vu anyone?

Saturday
12.00pm (AEDT) - FAST5 Netball World Series - Aus v Uganda - Christchurch, and watch on 7plus 

4.00pm (AWST) - AFLW: Elimination final: Fremantle v Essendon - WA, and watch here 

Start of Australian Food Safety Week (on until 16 November)

Cambodia’s Independence Day

World Adoption Day

A birthday for Delta Goodrem (1984)

Anniversary of:

  • Napoleon Bonaparte becoming the dictator of France under the title of First Consul after staging a coup (1799) 

  • the opening of checkpoints allowing East Berliners to walk freely into West Berlin (1989)

  • the deaths of British PM Neville Chamberlain (1940), French president Charles de Gaulle (1970) and author Stieg Larsson (2004)

Sunday
1.05pm (AEDT) - AFLW: Qualifying final - Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions - Victoria, and watch here 

1.50pm (AEDT) - Women’s Rugby League: Pacific Championships final, Aus v New Zealand - Sydney, and watch on 9Now

11.30am (ASWT) - Men's Cricket 3rd ODI: Aus v Pakistan - Perth, and watch on Kayo

2.35pm (ACDT) - AFLW: Elimination final - Port Adelaide v Richmond - Adelaide, and watch here

3.30pm (AEDT) - The Final dive in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series - Sydney

4.05pm (AEDT) - Men’s Rugby League: Pacific Championships final, Aus v Tonga- Sydney, and watch on 9Now

Sesame Street Day, marking the anniversary of the premiere of children's TV show (1969) 

Anniversary of:

  • the birthdays of theologian Martin Luther (1483) and actor Brittany Murphy (1977)

  • the Dutch formally ceding New Netherlands (New York) to the English (1674)

  • German engineer Gottlieb Daimler unveiling the world's first motorcycle (1885)

  • 🦴 And it’s a birthday for The Squiz’s farter-in-chief, Tucker 

Monday
12.00am (AEDT) - Tennis: ATP Tour finals (until 18 November) - Turin, and watch here