June 2025
Trump has long speculated about using force against his own people. Now he has the pretext to do so
“You just [expletive] shot the reporter!” Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was in the middle of a live cross, covering the protests against the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy in Los Angeles, California. As Tomasi spoke to the camera, microphone in hand, an LAPD officer in the background appeared to target her directly, hitting her in
Australia must resist US bullying to increase military spending
The US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, may not be the sharpest tool in President Trump’s tool kit. But, in the great American tradition, he is a top hustler. In an arrogant display that would have won Trump’s approval, Hegseth blustered his way around the Shangri-La conference in Singapore’s clammy weather last week in what resembled an ugly American charm offensive. He omitted tariffs, though these were front of mind for everyone else.
The golden age
Trump promised a golden age for the US economy – and now a golden dome to protect the continent.
May 2025
Another Oval Office ambush
Trump’s confrontation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was about trying to show who’s in charge.
A new understanding of Chinese foreign policy
Information about China’s foreign policy – particularly on issues like the trade war with the US, Australia’s position on Taiwan and the war in Ukraine – is often misleading, with much of the meaning and nuance lost in translation.
War Crimes: Where do Responsibility and Accountability Start and End? Are Senior Military Commanders Liable and Culpable?
MUST-READ EXPERT ANALYSIS OF THE BEN ROBERTS-SMITH JUDGEMENT
The ‘better America’ bias
Donald Trump isn’t an aberration – he’s as much a product of American history as JFK or Barack Obama.
Australia has power, why don’t we act like it? | Allan Behm
In a world of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Australia to stop dismissing ourselves as a ‘middle power’ and start exerting our influence on the global stage.
Why Labor’s re-election is “no moment to celebrate” for Pacific family
Australia’s Pacific neighbors say the re-election of the Albanese government is “not a moment to celebrate”.
Knee-jerk anti-Chinese redbaiting in Australian elections
In the final days of the campaign, independent MP Monique Ryan and Labor’s housing minister Clare O’Neil faced questions about the support of the Hubei Association for their respective campaigns.
April 2025
Could the polls be wrong?
The polls are pointing to a likely Labor victory on Saturday, but could Dutton’s suburban strategy still bear fruit?
Defence: too much is never enough
For all the talk of defence spending in the election campaign, much of what Australians hold dear is being left behind.
Trump and the Australian election
The United States is disappearing down an authoritarian rabbit hole and Australian leaders are struggling to respond.
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs As Australia’s federal election campaign has finally begun, opposition leader Peter Dutton’s proposal to spend hundreds of billions in public money to build seven nuclear power plants across the country has been carefully scrutinized. The technological unfeasibility, staggering cost, and scant detail of the Coalition’s nuclear proposal have
Golfing while Rome burns
However well the 47th president hit ‘em in Florida, he cannot find a green with his tariffs.
Actually though, what the hell is going on in the economy?
It’s chaos out there.
Bully’s gonna bully
The Australian defence and foreign policy establishment is trying to continue with alliance-as-usual with America, but Trump will always put Australia’s interests second.
Trump’s tariffs won’t wreck Australia’s economy. But America’s could be cooked.
Americans are going to bear the brunt of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.
Australia does not need an increase in spending on the military
Right now, the government and the opposition are moving to increase the amount the government spends on its military aka its defence budget, and this is happening without the public having any say – nor any great choice in the upcoming election.
No joke
The Trump administration’s approach to the world can be summed up in three emojis: fist, American flag, fire. The president, meanwhile, is busy “not joking” about staying in office for an unconstitutional third term.
March 2025
We don’t need no Education
Trump has signed an Executive Order that seeks to dismantle the Federal Department of Education – but can he actually do it?
Dog acts
The will-he-or-won’t-he game over Trump’s steel and alumnium tariffs is over. Turns out he will – despite the apparent offerings of the Australian Government.
AUSFTA: A bad deal then. Even worse now.
Australian consumers paid a high price for John Howard’s determination to sign a ‘Free Trade Agreement’ with the US.
Why Russia’s aggression cannot be rewarded with Vasyl Myroshnychenko
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia joins us to discuss why defending Ukraine’s sovereignty is critical for Australia, America and other democracies around the world.
Insecurity guarantee
After a week when America’s reliability as an ally was called into question, new research shows that more Australians think Donald Trump is the greatest threat to world peace than either Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin.
Poll: Trump a greater threat to world peace than Putin or Xi
More Australians consider US President Donald Trump a greater threat to world peace than Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping.
February 2025
DOGE days: Trump’s war on the civil service
By laying off tens of thousands of federal employees, challenging the authority of judges and throwing erstwhile allies under the bus, the Trump administration is radically reshaping America and its role in the world.
Thrown under the bus: Ukraine abandoned by the Trump administration
Trump appears to want a quick and dirty end to Russia’s invasion, but at what cost to Ukraine and to America’s reputation?
It shouldn’t be this difficult to condemn plans to commit a crime against humanity
Australians, by and large, have seen America as an ally critical to our national security. But in just a few short weeks, Donald Trump has shown his administration is a threat to Australia and the world’s security. Australia may not be able to stop Trump from creating chaos, but we will undermine our own security if we don’t stand up for ourselves and for our values.
You get a tariff. YOU get a tariff!
And some of you get annexed (maybe).
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