Squiz Today – Thursday, 18 July

THREE MINUTE SQUIZ

“The number of likes on any social media post.”

This week’s Three Minute Squizer is with Western Australian Rod Campbell, who nails his answer to the question: "What would you say is the most overrated virtue." We like your style, Rod. And not just in a Facebook 'like' kinda way...

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CONGRESS CENSURES TRUMP FOR RACIST TWEETS

THE SQUIZ
The US House of Reps took the extraordinary step yesterday of voting to censure President Donald Trump over remarks he made about a quartet of congresswomen with various ethnic backgrounds - aka The Squad - bringing to a close a political standoff that has dominated American politics all week.

WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?
The troubles began when Trump took to Twitter at the weekend to tell congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib to go back to their families' countries of origin "and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came". Congress yesterday voted 240-187 to condemn the President's remarks as racist saying they "legitimised and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of colour".

WHAT WAS TRUMP’S REACTION?
You’ll be knocked over with a feather to learn Trump took to Twitter (again) to give his mood status update.  Putting his best spin on it, he tweeted: “Look at the horrible things they [the Squad] said about our Country, Israel, and much more. They are now the top, most visible members of the House Democrats, who are now wedded to this bitterness and hate. Quite a day!” Pundits say the entire episode only further entrenches support for Trump among his base as he sets his sights on next year’s presidential election. Game on.

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SQUIZ THE REST

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EL CHAPO SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was sentenced to life in prison, plus 30 years, in a US courtroom overnight with prosecutors saying he will no longer be able "pour poison over our borders". As head of Mexico's sprawling Sinaloa Cartel, which officials say was the biggest supplier of drugs to the US, the 62yo was found guilty of multiple murder charges and running a criminal enterprise. Amidst other gruesome allegations, he famously tunnelled his way out of a Mexican prison in 2015. Guzman gave a statement in court before his sentencing in which he described being in jail as “physical, emotional and mental torture" and "the most inhumane situation I have lived in my entire life." His lawyers said they will appeal the sentence.

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RESCUED HIKER REVEALS INCREDIBLE SURVIVAL TALE

A Melbourne bushwalker who was missing in the snow-covered Tasmanian wilderness for nine days has told how he thought he was going to die when a search helicopter flew overhead without spotting him. With minimal food and no way of signalling for help, 57yo Michael Bowman said he had no choice but to bunker down and wait to be rescued. Blizzard conditions collapsed his tent at one point. "I just said I'm never going to give up. If I die in the tent I die in the tent, at least they'll find the body,” he told a press conference yesterday. The keen hiker emerged with no serious injuries. And has vowed to hike again.

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AGL FACES BACKLASH OVER RENEWABLES

Energy giant AGL is facing a shareholder backlash over the time it's taking to switch off its coal assets and transition to renewables. The company's AGM in September is set to be dominated by a shareholder activist group that has called into question AG L's commitment to the Paris climate accord, citing the company's determination to keep two of its largest coal-fired plants open up until 2048. The activist group wants both plants to be closed by 2030. AGL said it was engaging "openly and constructive" with the pressure group. The company is just one of many that are being lined up for a tough period of facing off with investors and shareholders during the upcoming annual general meeting season.

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SIMMONS WON’T BE A BOOMER

Australia’s newly-crowned richest sporting star Ben Simmons confirmed yesterday that he won't don the green-and-gold and play for Australia in the upcoming Basketball World Cup. Announcing his decision on social media, Simmons said he “decided it was best that I use the time in September to return to Philadelphia to acquaint myself with my new teammates and prepare for the upcoming NBA season.” Cue the rumblings about him getting too big for his already enormous boots...

And if that news upsets you, it's probably best to avoid the latest fad sweeping the interwebs. It’s called FaceApp and it purports to show you what you will look like when you get older. And it’s not pretty.

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DRAGONS AND NUKES LEAD EMMY NOMINATIONS

A wise-talking dwarf and his dragon friends have teamed up with a drama about the world's most famous nuclear meltdown to deliver HBO a record haul of Emmy nominations. The cable network leads the pack with 137 nominations, 51 of which belong to the all-conquering combo of Game of Thrones and Chernobyl. And in a sign of these streaming times, Netflix garnered the second-highest number of nominations with 117. The Aussie flag will be flown at the awards ceremony in September by director Daina Reid for her work on A Handmaid’s Tale, and Hannah Gadsby for her anti-stand-up stand-up show, Nanette.

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KIWI PENGUINS IN SUSHI HEIST

Police in New Zealand have foiled a daring heist by a couple of penguins who snuck their way into a sushi shop in Wellington. Described by police as “waddling vagrants”, the two enterprising birds were found hunkered under a fridge. They were released into the harbour but not before being "temporarily detained" and presumably frisked for contraband sashimi...

SQUIZ THE DAY

7.30pm (AEST) - World Cup Netball - Diamonds v New Zealand

The Daily Telegraph’s Drought Summit featuring PM Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese - Dubbo, NSW

ABS Data Release - Labour Force, June

Nelson Mandela International Day

Former Aussie cricket great Dennis Lillee‘s 70th birthday (1949)

Here's cheers to Phoebe Tully from QLD, who won the $100 Dan Murphy's voucher for reading the email everyday last week. Read The Squiz email every day this week and you’ll go into the draw for a fab pack of books from Allen and Unwin. That’s a lot of good reading you have ahead of you…