Hugh Riminton

2025 Walkleys long list for the Best Book award.

Aping Trump, or Trumpism, will spell disaster for the Coalition The US alliance with Australia is fraying because of Donald Trump. The Coalition now needs to decide whether it stands for Australian values or whether it’s an accessory to autocracy.

www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation is the latest sign we’re witnessing the end of US democracy Under the Trump administration, the widespread, coordinated suppression of dissent is ripping apart the fabric of American political life.

For those arguing Kimmel’s cancellation was purely a function of ratings, this reminds us that it came after the FCC Chair warned of the potential revocation of the network’s broadcast licence.
t.co/px3uQVwqQt?s...

Threats with menaces. Where are the heroic defenders of free speech on this?

“I was punished for my political opinion” - broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf after winning her unfair dismissal case against the ABC. The judge found the public broadcaster bowed to “an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists.”

Freely available from Dementia Australia: easy to understand, practical and thoughtful advice if you need it. 🙏🏻

US Government assessment of growing risks to “US interests” over the next 15 years from a warming planet.

The future: St Vincent’s heart surgeons Chris Hayward and Paul Jansz, and inventor Daniel Timms carried out Australia’s first successful artificial heart transplant - on a NSW man in his 40s. Another four Australian transplants are expected this year.

One for the incorrigible optimists: whatever Donald Trump is doing, it’s not the worst thing.

A Viral Video of a Chained Woman in China and the Secret Campaign to Save Her The accidental discovery of the woman led to a video that went viral, spurring public outrage. The Communist Party quashed the discussion, but the anger never went away.

A trafficked woman chained by the neck: what the suppression of outrage tells us about Xi’s China.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Zelenskyy advisor tells BI what he's worried about after Trump cut Ukraine aid: 'critical' US-made Patriots Ukraine is said to be running low on Patriot interceptor missiles. Halting further supply could prove detrimental to the country's defenses.

Ukraine is said to be running low on Patriot interceptor missiles. Halting further supply could prove detrimental to the country's defenses.

“America is being diminished before our eyes” - Paul Kelly in the Murdoch broadsheet on Donald Trump as “Putin’s agent.” www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/t...

Social Security and Sex Robots: Musk Veers Off Script With Joe Rogan Elon Musk’s three-hour interview with “The Joe Rogan Experience” offered a window into his worldview that was by turns crude and contradictory.

On Joe Rogan’s podcast, Elon Musk speculates there’s a 20% chance A.I. will lead to human “annihilation.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/u...

All the cool kids are doin’ it

Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows Children in Australia are able to easily bypass the minimum age limit imposed by social media platforms, a report by the country's online safety regulator showed on Thursday, ahead of a landmark ban by the government on access for those under 16.

Children in Australia are able to easily bypass the minimum age limit imposed by social media platforms, a report by the country's online safety regulator showed, ahead of a landmark ban by the government on access for those under 16 reut.rs/3XafxAF

Trump Defence outfit pulls Julianne Moore’s picture book embracing freckles The Oscar-winning actress says her book is semi-autobiographical and has been banned from more than 160 schools run by the Department of Defence Education Activity for military families.

A kids’ book about having freckles has been pulled in Trump’s America because it makes the point that “different” is “okay.” 🤷‍♂️
www.smh.com.au/culture/book...

This Lattouf saga is the worst ABC whodunnit ever The national broadcaster is always under attack, but in this episode, the ABC’s management did its enemies’ work for them.

The Lattouf/ABC case as seen by Malcolm Knox:

“The ABC is always under attack, but in this episode the ABC’s management did its enemies’ work for them.”

www.smh.com.au/national/thi...

Me too

From the Oval Office, President Trump again referred to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau.” There was laughter, but it’s not clear from whom.

Thank you, Jill

Shucks, Robbie

46 years to the day after starting work as a radio cadet in Christchurch, NZ, someone still pays me everyday to tell stories. What a privilege it has been.

Fine show…

The Lattouf trial reveals an ABC so paralysed by process even its managers can’t keep up After week one of the unlawful dismissal claim, we know this: the ABC appears to have departed from its own standards in the defence of its standards

The Lattouf/ABC trial reveals that the ABC broke its own standards in the name of upholding its standards. My piece for @australia.theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

ChatGPT:

Donald Trump announces that white Afrikaners, the architects and chief beneficiaries of South Africa’s racist apartheid regime 1948-1994, will be offered urgent refugee resettlement in the US. On X, Elon Musk says “l love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man.”

State Department Travel Safety Website Changes "LGBTQI+ Travelers" to "LGB Travelers" The change is an attempt to insert a divide in the LGBTQIA+ community by the Trump administration, and to erase transgender people from any consideration or recognition.

ErinInTheMorning [Feb 5] -- The US State Dept has begun scrubbing mentions of trans people from its website, changing "LGBTQQIA+" to "LGB" in what appears to be a clear attempt to drive a wedge between gay and trans people.

[by @rikiwilchins.bsky.social‬]

“Dob them in” - NSW Premier appeals to people to report anyone they know who might be involved in potential antisemitic or other extremist behaviour.

“We are angry (at) this witches’ brew of extremism,” - Australian Jewish leader Peter Wertheim says Australia’s leadership seems powerless, as authorities continue to investigate the discovery of a caravan loaded with explosives in suburban Sydney.

Australian inflation figure comes in at 2.4%. Goods inflation is now at its lowest level since 2016, raising hopes of an interest rate cut next month.