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Our most-read article of 2023.

Originally published January 24, 2023.

Gentlemen,

Your opinions on the discography of the last fifty years interests me about as much as you think it does a middle-aged woman traveling coach to Boston with a L.L. Bean boat tote filled with crackers. I read mild. I read invisible. I read that probably all I listen to is “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead.

It’s easy to assume that I don’t know who Fugazi is. It’s okay, insult me—you can barely grow beards.

Here’s the thing, though: I know who Fugazi is. And you will never grow beards because of the xenoestrogens in your plastic water bottles. Don’t be fooled by my comfortable and supportive footwear, my tie-dye rainbow Crocs; I know a lot about music.

Is climate change a myth? To use a little old-fashioned English slang, not on your nelly. Every New Year, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology publishes on its website a measure of Australia’s climate change. Its formal name is “Annual mean temperature anomaly Australia (1910-2023)” but it is a simple blue and red graphic, with blue Continue reading »

Most of the human rights mavens in the liberal mainstream have said little about Israel’s savage actions in Gaza or the genocidal rhetoric of its leaders. Hopefully, they will explain their disturbing silence at some point. Regardless, history will not be kind to them. Specifically, I am referring to the 84-page “application” that South Africa Continue reading »

America is Australia’s “great and powerful friend” so it matters a great deal how reliable our firmest strategic partner is. Is the US heading for a degree of political dysfunction that could blow back into its steadfastness as a leading player and an Australian ally in a multipolar Indo-Pacific? In this series, Roger Beale explores Continue reading »

It points to automatic obedience rather than to good citizenship. The army is trashing an entire region along with its residents, and that doesn’t bother our forces’ consciences. Nobody stood up. So far, as far as is known, not even one case of disobedience has been registered in the IDF since the war broke out, Continue reading »

Controversial documentary, THE SEARCH FOR THE PALACE LETTERS to premiere on ABC TV + iview on Monday 8 January at 8:00pm AEDT Four years in the making, the documentary THE SEARCH FOR THE PALACE LETTERS follows Professor Jenny Hocking’s epic and successful legal battle against the Australian Government and HM Queen Elizabeth II to access Continue reading »

“In general, it’s hard to prove an intention of genocide because no public statements to that effect are made during the fighting,” said one expert. “But these irresponsible statements about erasing Gaza will require Israel to explain why they don’t reflect such an intention.” Top officials in the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli government have Continue reading »

Today, the modern world is convulsed by geopolitical tensions and faces problems from the growing divergence of the national interests of states. The growing trust deficit and the reemergence of the Cold War mentality mean that constructive dialogue is at a premium. Humanity has once again reached a crossroads in history. Inequality in the world Continue reading »

Will it be a story for more than a day? Yesterday I observed an exchange on CNN which perfectly illustrates our problem. While acknowledging that it’s important to report on it, Dana Bash said Trump did everything in plain sight “so how much of this is baked in and how much does that vs Joe Biden just cancel each other out. I’m not saying it’s not important I’m just looking at reality” I wanted to scream in frustration. But one of her panelists, Laura Baron Lopez of PBS had the right answer: That’s our job in the press to make clear the differences, not just “Republicans call Biden corrupt, Democrats call Trump corrupt and we don’t know what the truth is” when we do know there is no evidence right now at all that says that President Biden did anything wrong or benefited from his son’s business dealings whereas there is a paper trail and there IS evidence showing that former president Trump benefited from his business dealings while he was in office.” That’s correct. Sadly, it appears to have been a one day story and that’s the end of that.

Inmates at HMP Dartmoor are being moved to other prisons due to potentially dangerous levels of cancer-causing radon detected in some cells. The Duke of Cornwall is their landlord

There are no words Instigating an insurrection is not a deal breaker for Republicans. Nor is Donald Trump accepting untold millions from foreign governments during his presidency. (The reported $7.8 million reported comes from a mere handful of Trump properties.) Nor are felony indictments too many (91) to itemize here. Nor is screwing porn stars and Playboy models or sexually assaulting a journalist. Nor are threats by Trump to use the government to prosecute political enemies. Etc., etc. Nor is “bending the knee” to their abuser beneath Republicans. Nor is idolatry. What do Republicans offer prospective voters? Behold: Jess Piper is Executive Director of Blue Missouri and host of the “Dirt Road Democrat” podcast. Also, she’s one of those straight talkers Republicans claim to admire.

Almost two years after its full-scale invasion, Paul Niland examines what Russia claims is the purpose of waging war on Ukraine

A Freedom of Information request for the data by this newspaper was refused on cost grounds

Dr Mine Conkbayir reflects on her time working with the founder of Kids Company and the fight for justice that continues after the campaigner’s death

“History is watching” Weather has thwarted President Biden’s plans for a major reelection campaign speech. Biden originally meant to mark the third anniverary of the Jan. 6 MAGA insurrection with a speech using Philadelphia as a backdrop, as he did when he called out MAGA Republicans as “a threat to this country” at Independence Hall in September 2022. Biden’s speech will be framed to contrast Biden’s vision of America with that of his expected 2024 Republican opponent, Donald Trump. The White House has rescheduled the speech for Valley Forge today to get ahead of a winter storm. (I’m still trying to find a time for the speech. Update: It’s at 3 p.m. ET.) Politico: Biden aides had long considered holding an event near Valley Forge, famed as the headquarters of Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution. Advisers during the media call Thursday said that the site has historical resonance not just as a venue for a battle for liberty, but also for the decisions Washington then made.

Our 2nd most-read article of 2023.

Originally published January 24, 2023.

“Google announced plans to lay off 12,000 people from its workforce Friday, while Microsoft said Wednesday that it’s letting go of 10,000 employees. Amazon also began a fresh round of job cuts that are expected to eliminate more than 18,000 employees and become the largest workforce reduction in the e-retailer’s 28-year history.” — CNBC, 1/18/23

Team,

The real 'one per cent' are those voters who still trust the Prime Minister, reports Adam Bienkov