☕️ Are Trump and Musk fighting?

If you were forwarded this email (Hi! Welcome!), you can sign up to the newsletter here.

Good morning!

I have a small favour to ask…

TDA is trying to grow our YouTube channel at the moment. If you didn’t know, we actually post all of our podcasts as videos over there!

We’re hoping to get to 20,000 subscribers by the end of the month (who doesn’t love a good ol’ EOFY target!) and we’d love your help. All you have to do is click on this link and hit subscribe.

It’s free! And it will be your good deed of the day! Thank you in advance!

I’ve got 10 seconds

Quote of the day

“I was diagnosed with early breast cancer. I’m highlighting the word ‘early’. Cancer sucks in any form, but I’m holding onto the word ‘early’.”
Singer Jessie J in a video posted to Instagram announcing she has been diagnosed with early breast cancer. The 37-year-old said she will undergo surgery after the Summertime Ball, a music festival in the UK on 15 June.

Stat of the day

9
The number of hours of debate in Tasmania’s Parliament yesterday after a no-confidence motion was moved by Opposition leader Dean Winter against Premier Jeremy Rockliff. The debate is set to continue today. The motion was brought forward after Rockliff last week handed down the state’s budget, which the Opposition believes “will send [Tasmania] broke”.

TDA reader’s comment of the week

“I think they should be punished by being made to sit on the plane till the last person is off, that will be way more effective 😂” – A comment left on on our video about Turkish Airlines introducing a fine worth around $AU100 for people who unbuckle and stand up before the plane has come to a complete stop.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

The economy grew by 0.2% in the first three months of 2025, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures. Data for the year to March shows 1.3% economic growth. ABS head of national accounts Katherine Keenan called the results “soft”. She attributed a quarterly drop in government spending to “the largest detraction from growth” since 2017. Extreme weather events between January and March were also blamed for slow growth across tourism and trade. However, Aussies are saving more, according to the ABS’ “household saving to income ratio,” which increased from 3.9% in December to 5.2% in the March quarter. Disposable income before tax also rose by 2.4% in the quarter, outpacing a 1% increase to household spending.
Following months of political instability, South Korea’s new President has pledged to "unite the people" of his country. A snap election was held this week after Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally removed from office in April. Yoon was arrested for declaring a brief period of martial law in December, triggering a police investigation into alleged corruption and insurrection. South Korean voters rejected their former President’s party at the polls this week, to elect Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung from the country’s Democratic Party. Speaking after his win, Lee promised to "become a president who ends the politics of division" and to build a "flexible, pragmatic government".

Recommendation of the day

Transparency: This is a sponsored section of the newsletter. It's the best way we can keep this newsletter free for you

Sip, snack, dance, repeat - this weekend at Huge Moves

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Huge Moves (the cult-favourite tasting party from DRNKS) are bringing together 40+ wine makers, 150+ natural wines, and snacks from the folks at Attenzione! for their biggest party yet.

Where: The International, Martin Place, Sydney

When: Saturday 7 June

Keen? Same. Buy tickets here

I’ve got 1 minute

An independent has won the seat of Bradfield by 26 votes after more than a month of counting

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has finished its recount of the Sydney seat of Bradfield, declaring independent candidate Nicolette Boele the winner by 26 votes.

The result comes more than a month after the 3 May federal election.

Boele narrowly defeated Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian.

The AEC conducted the recount after the initial count fell within a margin of fewer than 100 votes.

The Liberal Party could challenge the result in the Court of Disputed Returns.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

I’ve got 2 minutes

Wait, what are Trump and Musk arguing about?

You may have seen that Elon Musk has criticised a bill brought forward by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Musk called Trump’s bill a “disgusting abomination”.

It comes days after Musk finished up at the White House as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Here’s the latest.

Musk’s role

First, let’s look at what Musk’s role actually was.

Musk was appointed as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government agency established when Trump was sworn in as President earlier this year.

His initial aim was to “reduce wasteful spending“ by the government by $US1 trillion ($AU1.54 trillion).

Last week, Musk said DOGE had found $US150 billion ($AU232 billion) in savings for the next financial year.

Musk departs

Musk’s last day in this role was last week.

He was serving as a “special government employee”, a specific category of temporary contractor who can only work for the federal government for 130 days each year.

On his final day last Friday, Trump and Musk held a joint press conference.

Musk said he looks forward to “continuing to be a friend and adviser to the President”.

In the days after...

In the days since he left the White House, Musk has criticised one of Trump’s proposed laws, called the “Big Beautiful Bill”.

In a post to X yesterday, Musk said: “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”

It’s not the first time Musk has criticised this bill (he also did so last week), but it’s his strongest criticism of a piece of Trump legislation yet.

The bill

The bill that Musk has criticised sets out key parts of Trump’s domestic policy agenda.

Some of it cuts spending, while some of it increases it. Here’s some of what it includes:

Extending tax cuts introduced during Trump’s first term, which were due to expire this year.
Adding extra tax cuts, with the biggest cuts reserved for the wealthiest Americans. This means the Government will be earning less in revenue from income tax.
Increasing funding at the U.S.-Mexico border to control illegal immigration.
Significantly limiting who is eligible for Medicaid, a program which helps cover medical expenses for those on lower incomes.
Bringing forward the expiry date of some renewable energy initiatives.
Increasing the national debt limit by $4 trillion. That’s the legal limit on government borrowing.

Musk’s criticism

Musk’s main concern is that this bill will add to the country’s deficit, which he was seeking to reduce through DOGE.

In another post today, he said: “Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America”.

The White House has disputed this claim. In May, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the bill “does not add to the deficit” and claimed it actually will save $1.6 trillion.

Trump’s response

Trump has not personally responded to Musk’s most recent comments.

However, Leavitt said in a press briefing yesterday: “The President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the President’s opinion.”

What now?

The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, but still needs to pass the Senate.

The Senate is narrowly controlled by Republicans, Trump’s party.

However, some Republicans have expressed concern about the bill, which could delay its passage.

If it passes the Senate, Trump will sign it into law.

Reporting by Billi FitzSimons.

A message from Stem Cell Donors Australia

Are you aged 18-35? Become a life-saving donor today

Every 27 minutes, someone in Australia is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many, a stem cell transplant is their only hope – and 70% will rely on a stranger to save them. That stranger could be you.

By joining the stem cell donor registry, you could be the match that gives someone a second chance at life. It’s easy to register with a simple cheek swab. If you’re a match, donating is a bit like a longer blood donation – safe, straightforward, and life-saving.

One small act. One big difference. You could save a life.

Learn more here

🍊 Aryna Sabalenka has called out the French Open’s scheduling. Read more.
🍊 World Aquatics distances itself from Enhanced Games. More details here.
🍊 Virat Kohli waited 18 years to win this title.
🗞️ Also in today’s Sport Newsletter: AFL, basketball, and more…

Give me some good news

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a nearly-3,000 year old Mayan city in Guatemala.

According to a statement from the country’s culture ministry, archeologists have unearthed pyramids and monuments in northern Guatemala, estimated to have been built in a period around 800 to 500BCE. Experts have called the discovery “one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres” of the Mayan civilization near the Mexican border. Government officials said the site, known as “Los Abuelos” (Spanish for “The Grandparents”) presents “remarkable architectural planning” including sculptings “with unique iconography from the region”.

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

TDA titbit

Even the best of drivers aren’t immune from feeling bit of frustration behind the wheel.

Just ask Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Max Verstappen.

Over the weekend Verstappen was competing in the Spanish Grand Prix, and in a moment of frustration veered and crashed into fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.

Mercedes team leader Toto Wolff had a few choice words for Verstappen, telling journalists: “This is road rage, like the taxi drivers in Rome or Naples.”

In response, the president of Rome’s largest taxi company, Loreno Bittarelli, said: “Maybe it would be better if Wolff focused on [the performance] of his own team”.

Who would you choose to navigate you through the tight and winding streets of Rome?

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!

You may have seen that Elon Musk has criticised a bill brought forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk called Trump’s bill a “disgusting abomination”.