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The anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine war gives us pause to reflect on recent global shifts which affect our security. The first shift in unsurprising: the growth of strategic competition and accompanying tensions in the two main theatres, the North Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. The Ukraine war has broken what little trust existed Continue reading »

China is the victim of the largest and greatest propaganda campaign in human history. Whether this is a sign of things to come or an aberration based around a particular point in time remains to be seen but propaganda it is. Apparently, in 2017, China incarcerated between 1 and 5 million Xinjiang residents, except there’s Continue reading »

Anyone who has worked closely with media mogul Rupert Murdoch comes away with two abiding impressions. The first, is that Murdoch is one of the most impressive business leaders one will ever encounter. His boundless energy, intelligence and innate charm, his ability to look around corners and see opportunities where his rivals see none, a Continue reading »

The current review of Australia’s higher education sector, the Australian Universities Accord (the Accord), aims ‘to drive lasting and transformative reform in Australia’s higher education system’. We propose that this review be undertaken through an ethical lens. Beside the ethical responsibilities of academics for teaching and research, and the expectation that students will behave ethically, Continue reading »

Defence’s defeat on the French Submarine was an extraordinary victory for a small group of dedicated professionals. Defence’s counterattack with the nuclear submarines under the aegis of AUKUS reeks of the same old problems. It has been my privilege over the last five years to sit on the periphery of a small group of friends Continue reading »

Jon Stanford’s response to Brian Toohey’s criticism of his promotion of nuclear submarines for Australia deserves a response. Firstly, Stanford claims that Australian submarines must prowl off the coast of China. This begs the question: Why? Answer: To do the intelligence gathering bidding of the US. As Toohey rightly says this task could be done Continue reading »

A recent US Chamber of Commerce InSTEP program hosted three empire managers to talk about Washington’s top three enemies, with the US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns discussing the PRC, the odious Victoria Nuland discussing Russia, and the US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides talking about Iran. Toward the end of the hour-long discussion, Burns Continue reading »

Extracts from and comments on Godfree Roberts's "Here Comes China" newsletter.

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Shrinking CPAC wants what Trump wants Donald Trump’s fading star has not kept media outlets from covering him the way he wants to be covered. Almost any attention is good attention. The “deeply wounded narcissist” has a bottomless need for it. Almost as much as his followers’ need for retribution against the citified and nonwhite unworthies slowly eating into their political and cultural supremacy. “I believe former President Trump to be a deeply wounded narcissist, and he is often incapable of acting other than in his perceived self-interest or for revenge,” said Ty Cobb, a White House lawyer during Trump’s administration. “I think those are the two compelling instincts that guide his actions.” Trump said it himself at CPAC: “In 2016, I declared: I am your voice,” he said, speaking for just over 100 minutes from a bright blue and red stage in a cavernous ballroom at the closing speech of the CPAC event in Maryland. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution,” he said.

Every Sunday, I blog about the geek-friendly radio shows the BBC are putting out in the forthcoming week! All of the following can be either listened to live or downloaded afterwards for free on the BBC Sounds app, no matter where you are in the world. Please note: I don’t include later episodes of most ... Read More

Taking ‘national divorce’ seriously Here’s a chilling thought for a Sunday morning: What if Vice President Pence had done what Donald Trump demanded and supported his Jan. 6 coup? David French ponders the consequences in The New York Times: In that moment, American peace and unity depended on the force of will of one single person, a man who stood up to a president, to the lawmakers in his own party who challenged the election, and to the howling mob that was crying out for his head. Just that is enough to make you pull the covers over your head and go back to sleep. French critiques Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s proposed “national divorce” in light of the last attempt at one in the 19th century. Yes, it’s unworkable. And yes, it’s insane. But what’s sanity got to do with it?

In an unexpected twist, change could be coming for the country’s railroads.

Stereotypes around parenthood are having a lasting effect on the gender pay gap, which has not budged in 20 years, according to a new study by Pew.

The post We Live in a Society That Pays Men More When They Have Kids, But Women Less appeared first on scheerpost.com.

Europe is desperate for North African energy, and yet the West threatens to alienate countries there with its demands they cut ties with Russia.

Though the alleged abortion happened in 2021, police didn’t obtain the warrant for her arrest until after “Dobbs.”

The post Woman Arrested in South Carolina for Allegedly Taking Abortion Pills in 2021 appeared first on scheerpost.com.

On this week’s MVC, Rivka and Frank are joined by Pedro Ángel Rivera Muñoz (filmmaker, political writer, and activist) to discuss Charlie Chaplin’s anti-capitalist masterpiece Modern Times.

"I've had fear and now this just put the anxiety over the top," said one local resident.

Capital is beginning to flee Israel in the wake of the prime minister’s judicial overhaul.

The post In Bulldozing Israeli Democracy, Benjamin Netanyahu Could Become the BDS Movement’s Greatest Ally appeared first on The Intercept.

The first anniversary has passed. Is anyone asking: "what has Russia achieved?" read now...

How do I describe Mojo Nixon to the uninitiated? Psychobilly anarchist? Novelty act? Social satirist? Performance artist? Brain-damaged? Smarter than he looks? The correct answer is “all of the above.” “Mojo Nixon” is also, of course, a stage persona; an alter ego created by Neill Kirby McMillan Jr., as we learn in Matt Eskey’s The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon (available on digital platforms March 17th). My gateway to Nixon’s oeuvre was via “The Dr. Demento Show”, a weekly syndicated program we aired at the radio station I was working at back in the 1980s. The song was called “Elvis is Everywhere.” Elvis is everywhere, man!He’s in everything.He’s in everybody…Elvis is in your jeans.He’s in your cheeseburgersElvis is in Nutty Buddies!Elvis is in your mom! It wasn’t so much the hilariously absurd stream-of-consciousness lyrics, as it was the unbridled commitment to the vocal that hooked me right away. Who was this guy? Turns out I wasn’t the only person sitting up and paying attention.