Tuesday, 10 June - It's hip to be square

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, 10 June. In your Squiz Today…

• Violent protests over immigration raids continue in LA

• Israel intercepts Greta Thunberg’s aid ship

• And a famously dull club…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said Father Liam Ryan, an already decorated hero who’s rescued a father and son from a rip on Western Australia's far north coast. We don’t want to go all Fleabag on the surfing/open water swimming priest, but that’s hot…

A fight over a fight

The Squiz

The big story since we last spoke is the violent protests breaking out over immigration raids in the US city of Los Angeles. You might remember that one of US President Donald Trump’s election promises was to deport everyone who was in the country illegally, and the raids are linked to that… Adding to the tension - Trump has sent in 2,000 National Guard troops against Californian leaders’ wishes. Democratic Party mover and shaker/Californian Governor Gavin Newsom wants the troops to leave - he says their deployment was “purposefully inflammatory” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty”. 

Back it up a bit… 

Things reached boiling point on Friday when federal immigration officers arrested around 120 immigrants in raids across the city. It saw protestors gather, and clashes broke out between crowds and police. There were reports of bottles and chunks of cement being thrown at officers and cars set on fire while police tried to disperse protestors with tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets - one of which hit Nine’s Lauren Tomasi (ouch…). Newsom enlisted extra police, but Trump intervened, sending National Guard troops to “restore order“- although reports say they’ve only been stationed in front of federal buildings. Trump has summoned the National Guard before, but it’s the first time a president has done it without a state’s consent or request since 1965 - when Lyndon Johnson was protecting Dr Martin Luther King during his visit to Alabama. 

Where is this going? 

Towards a political showdown between Newsom and Trump over his hardline immigration policies. Trump’s been on social media berating Newsom over LA being “invaded and occupied” by “violent insurrectionist mobs”, but Newsom says Trump’s intervention has only made things worse. He’s threatening legal action against the President, saying he put "fuel on the fire" and that the deployment of national troops without consent was "illegal, immoral and unconstitutional". In an effort to calm things down, Newsom has called on protestors to stay peaceful, saying "Trump wants chaos, and he's instigated violence", but urging them not to take the "bait". Something else to clock in this space: the travel ban on citizens from 12 countries and restrictions on those from 7 others, which started overnight. TBC…

For trips big, small and in between

Whether it’s a weekend away or a big international holiday, things don’t always run to schedule. That’s where nib Travel Insurance might be handy, with plans that may help if bags go missing, flights get delayed, or something medical unexpectedly crops up overseas. And if you’re a lucky duck who's heading away more than once this year, nib also offers an annual multi-trip plan. Head here and use the code SQUIZ15 for 15% off* until 17 July 2025. And bonus - your travel buddies can use it too.

Squiz the Rest

An aid ship is stopped…

On board was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others, who were all detained after the vessel, Madleen, was blocked by the Israeli military while en route to Gaza. Along with aid, it was carrying members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition - a pro-Palestinian group which has been campaigning against Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory. It’s accused Israel of “abducting” its civilian crew and confiscating its cargo, “including baby formula, food and medical supplies”. But Israel Katz, the Israeli Defence Minister who ordered the interception, called it a Hamas propaganda mission - and said the group had been warned ahead of time that the ship would be stopped. He says the activists will be sent home.

It’s D-Day for the Apple Isle

After a chaotic week in Tasmanian politics, the pressure hasn’t eased up on Premier Jeremy Rockliff - and Labor leader Dean Winter’s now feeling the heat, too… To recap: a no-confidence motion against Rockliff passed on Thursday, a week after a state budget blow-out was forecast. Now, both men face calls to avoid a second state election in 18 months. That could mean Rockliff stepping aside for a new Liberal leader, or Winter getting the numbers to form government with the Greens and support from independent MPs. Either way, they’re running low on time - emergency legislation to pay the state’s bills needs to be passed today. Ultimately, it might be up to the Governor to decide what’s best for Tasmanians - and Rockliff’s headed to see her today, so stay tuned…

It Ends with This

A judge has thrown out Hollywood actor/director Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against his It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. You might remember that after the movie came out last year, Lively filed a civil complaint claiming she was sexually harassed by Baldoni during filming, and also that he was behind a smear campaign to ruin her reputation. Baldoni denied this, and he filed his own defamation suit, alleging Lively and Reynolds were out to "destroy" him and that they'd hijacked the movie, and at one point, Taylor Swift's text messages were dragged into it… Lively’s claim against Baldoni is set down for a hearing next year, but overnight, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit, which Lively’s lawyers said was “a total victory and a complete vindication.”

*To get the background to the saga, check out our Squiz Shortcut here…

Winner winner chicken dinner 

The long weekend has brought glory for some lucky ducks, so we’ll quickly whip around some notable results. The French Open saw an epic comeback by Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz over Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the men’s final, delivering the tournament’s longest-ever finals match, while Coco Gauff took it out for the women. Moving from centre court to centre stage, Aussie actor Sarah Snook has won the Tony award for best actress in a play for her portrayal of all 26 (you read that right) roles in her one-woman show The Picture of Dorian Gray. She’s on her way to EGOT status… And fellow Aussie stars Baz Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin were named in the King’s Birthday honours - they were among 830 shining Aussies to be recognised for their work. Bravo…

Dull and duller

Getting cornered by someone with a passion for the more minute, tedious bits of life might not be your idea of a good time, but for members of The Dull Men's Club, it's all the rage… If this is the first you're hearing of it, there are millions of dullards - sorry, members - coming together in Facebook groups around the world, including an Aussie branch - and they’re growing. With a tagline of “celebrating the ordinary”, the rules are simple: bonding over the boring details of everyday life. And - as per the Oz branch’s very specific guidelines - “if you create a poll, it MUST have an option of Take on Me, by a-ha.” If you hit join, be prepared for flight tracker screenshots, over/under loo roll debates and windscreen wiper speed contests. Be still, your heart…

Apropos of Nothing

Residents returning to their homes after floods in the NSW Mid North Coast have another issue to contend with: wildlife that’s moved in. And we’re not talking the fluffy kind - Clybucca resident Julie Botfield says she returned home to find 30 snakes had slithered into her shed. Sssscary…

Japan once again has a sumo grand champion, or yokozuna, for the first time in nearly 8 years after 24yo Onosato (real name: Daiki Nakamura) brought home the title. It had been in Mongolian hands for years, but Onosato says he now won’t give it up without a fight… 

Dating app Tinder’s new height filter is ruffling feathers, with critics saying it could block shorter men on their path towards love. One expert says it’s “a well-known preference” that some women are after taller partners, but others say Tinder’s “declared war on short kings”. Talk about heightened drama…

Squiz the Day

7.15am (AEST) - NSW Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will speak at a NSW Economic Review event ahead of the state budget - Sydney

12.30pm (AEST) - PM Anthony Albanese will address the National Press Club - Canberra

5.45pm (AEST) - ASIC will be hosting a symposium on public and private markets - Sydney

6.00pm (AEST) - AFL: The Australian Football Hall of Fame induction dinner is on - Sydney

Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff is expected to visit Government House to seek a snap election, after a vote of no-confidence was lodged against him last week in parliament

ABS data release - Monthly Business Turnover Indicator, April 2025; Total Value of Dwellings, March Quarter 2025

The UN’s Ocean Conference is on (until 13 June) - Nice, France

International Day for Dialogue among civilisations

National Herbs and Spices Day

Anniversary of:

• the first victim of the Salem witch trials being hanged for witchcraft in Massachusetts (1692)

• the Myall Creek Massacre, which saw 28 Indigenous Australians murdered (1838)

• the birthdays of Prince Philip (1921) and actor Judy Garland (1922)

• the launch of the Spirit Rover, beginning NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover mission (2003)

• the death of musician Ray Charles (2004)

Wednesday
4.15am (AEST) - Soccer: Socceroos play Saudi Arabia at the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Asian Qualifiers R3 - Jeddah, watch on Paramount +