Monday, 2 February - Let's give them something to talk about

Good morning, it’s Monday, 2 February. In your Squiz Today…

• Leadership challenges are in focus for the Liberals and the Nationals ahead of parliament’s return

• Carlos Alcaraz makes history at the Australian Open

• And vale Catherine O’Hara - aka our beloved Moira Rose…

🎧 Listen to the podcast

🤓 This email will take you 5 minutes to read

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said crochet extraordinaire Bernice Joy Luxford, who’s made more than 700 crocheted octopuses for premature babies in the NICUs of western Sydney hospitals, giving them something to hold onto rather than their nasal tubes. Spreading the tentacles of care…

Challenging times for the Libs and the Nats…

The Squiz

Our federal pollies are back in Canberra today ahead of parliament sitting tomorrow, and the focus will be on who’s in charge of the political partnership formerly known as the Coalition… After Western Oz backbencher Andrew Hastie ruled himself out of Liberal leadership contention on Friday, that party’s deputy leader Ted O’Brien was out yesterday, insisting there’s no challenge in the works against leader Sussan Ley. O’Brien also said it’s his “assumption” that frontbencher Angus Taylor isn’t planning any moves against Ley. 

You know what they say about assuming…

Exactly… Ley supporters say she still has majority support in the party, and that Taylor should back her or quit the frontbench. Unsurprisingly, Labor’s having a field day with this - Health Minister Mark Butler is one who reckons Taylor is “so obviously putting together a leadership challenge”, so it’s one to watch… As for the Nationals, after their recent split from the Libs, leader David Littleproud is facing his own challenge, with a spill motion brought by Queensland MP Colin Boyce when they meet as a partyroom this afternoon. If it goes ahead, some say Boyce will be lucky to get more than his own vote, but there is a conversation to be had about the decision to ditch the alliance with the Libs. So all up, it's just another manic Monday… 

What does it all mean?

The post-Coalition chaos means reconciliation looks a long way off, and there are even musings that they’ll never, ever (ever) get back together… Whatever way it goes, the drama over the last few weeks has opened the doors to a surge in the polls for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party - which is now in front of the Libs/Nats whatever research you look at. Labor is also benefiting from the Libs/Nats internal conflicts, so we can expect some wry smiles from Team Albanese this week. On Saturday, PM Anthony Albanese was asked about it - he said “you can’t fight for Australians if you are obsessed with fighting yourselves, and that is what the former Coalition has become”. There are also some practical matters as parliament returns - aka a new seating arrangement in the chambers. The OMG fact to know: the crossbench in the House of Reps is now as big as the opposition, with the Nats relegated to minor party status. Mind. Blown.

The skincare ingredient that sounds weird but works wonders

Summer does a number on the skin, and for many of us, regular moisturisers just don't cut it. Enter Bescher Beauty's Sea Cucumber Collagen Glow Toner: it's packed with marine collagen, native botanicals, and hyaluronic acid that work together to deliver results. The proof? It sold out in 6 days after building a 35,000-person waitlist. Now it's back in stock, and if winter skin is the bane of your existence, it might be worth trying something that thousands of people couldn't wait to get their hands on. You can check it out here. 

Squiz the Rest

The Epstein files hit home

ICYMI, another stack of documents relating to the billionaire sex offender were released by the US Justice Department on Saturday - and some powerful people are ducking for cover. A US inquiry is underway into Epstein's dealings prior to his 2019 death, and there have been calls for those named to answer questions. In the latest cache are billionaires Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Richard Branson, along with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - this time with photos (causing British PM Keir Starmer to weigh in). Prominent Australians are also named, including US ambassador/former PM Kevin Rudd, who Epstein wanted to meet (Rudd says it never happened). And Katherine Keating, daughter of former PM Paul Keating, has had to explain an email chain (paywall) with Epstein - she says he was helping her get media work and she had "absolutely no other reason to have anything to do with [him]".  

A shaky start to phase 2…

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is looking wobbly again after both sides have accused each other of violating the truce. Reports say the Israeli military carried out airstrikes in the strip on Saturday, killing at least 32 people. Israel says those targeted were "terrorists", but Hamas denies that. As for where things are at: the remains of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili - the last hostage from Gaza - were recovered by Israel last week. That means they’re up to phase 2 of the peace plan, which will see the Rafah crossing (aka Gaza’s border with Egypt) reopened - but only for pedestrians. As things progress, Netanyahu says the focus is now on the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, and it will happen “the easy way or the hard way”.

The times are a-changin’

As the dust settles on Nine Entertainment’s $56 million sale of its radio stations (including Sydney’s 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW and Perth’s 6PR) to billionaire pub tycoon Arthur Laundy, there have been questions about the sale price… If you’re thinking $56 million is nothing to sneeze at, keep in mind that Nine’s radio assets were valued at $275 million 7 years ago… Those in the know say the sale is a sign that AM radio isn’t quite the beast it used to be with audiences and advertisers. Speaking of signs - Nine’s also bought outdoor ad company QMS (think: digital billboards springing up around our cities…) for a cool $850 million. Boss Matt Stanton says they’re aiming for “a more efficient, higher-growth, and digitally-powered” company. Time will tell if it shakes out as planned…

A grand slam dunk

The Australian Open wrapped up last night with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz taking out his first title down under, defeating Novak Djokovic (who was going for his 25th major) in 4 sets. The 22yo became the youngest player in history to win a career grand slam - having already won Wimbledon, US and French Opens. It was the first time 38yo Djokovic had lost in a final in Melbourne, and in hinting of what might be ahead, he told the crowd “it has been a great ride”. In the women’s comp, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina also won her maiden Oz title, beating world #1 Aryna Sabalenka in a 3-set thriller. As for the Aussies: The Pol-Ler Express - Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans - ran out of juice in the final of the men’s doubles, but our mixed duo of Olivia Gadecki and John Peers had it covered at the net. They got up in straight sets to take back-to-back championships. Go, you good things…

Vale Catherine O’Hara

Oh Moira… Tributes have flowed for the Emmy-winning Canadian actress after her agent announced she had died from a sudden illness. The 71yo was best known for her iconic roles as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, Kate McCallister in Home Alone (who can forget “KEVIN!”) and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice. As this CNN article puts it: “no one could play a bizarre on-screen mom” quite like her. There are so many to choose from, but the cheese folding scene from Schitt’s Creek is one of our favourites… Tributes by O’Hara’s Hollywood peers were led by her long-time friend and collaborator of 50 years Eugene Levy who said “I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her”. From her fans, it’s a genuine and heartfelt best wishes/warmest regards…

Apropos of Nothing - Razzle dazzle edition

The Grammys are on today, and besides the names in the envelopes, it’s what’s in the goody bags that we really want to know. This year, they’ve all the essentials covered for celebs: free botox, nipple stickers, and a shower head (why not)...

We’ve been scrolling back to 2016 in our photos, but fashion is taking it back to the 80s, with the likes of Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner and Demi Moore sporting ‘boom boom’ looks. If you missed it the first time, we mean furs, clashing patterns and leopard print. Wild…

And, it might be being panned by critics, but Melania, the First Lady’s new doco, is heading for a record opening weekend. Reports say it’s on track to rake in more than $11.5 million - the best documentary opening in a decade. In it, she says “everybody wants to know” how she spends her time - seems she’s right…

Squiz the Day

7.30am (AEDT) - The Reserve Bank’s 2-day Monetary Policy Board meeting begins - Sydney

11.00am (AEDT): The 68th Annual Grammy Awards get underway (the red carpet’s first, followed by the ceremony from midday) - Los Angeles, broadcast on Stan in Australia

The Australian Electoral Commission is set to release details of annual financial disclosure returns from MPs and Senators

NSW, ACT and Western Australian students return to school for Term 1

🐶 It’s the first day of the Westminster Dog Show - New York, and you can watch the livestream 

World Wetlands Day

Groundhog Day in the US and Canada to get a prediction on whether their winter is wrapping up

Crêpe Day

Birthdays for singer Shakira (1977) and actors Paul Mescal (1996) and Julia Fox (1990)

Anniversary of:

• New Amsterdam (later known as New York) becoming incorporated as a city (1653)

• the Australian Premiers’ Conference deciding to locate Australia’s capital (Canberra) to the coldest place they could find between Sydney and Melbourne (1899)

• Explorer Charles Sturt discovering the Darling River (1829)