John Quiggin

The five-day ~40 hour week seems eternal, but only dates back to about 1950. And until 1980s, everyone assumed working hours would keep on declining. @pluralistic
pluralistic.net/2026...

Russia has made repeated attempts to kill Zelensky, & claimed attempts on Putin. So, not much weight on sovereign immunity these days.
Suggestion of arresting Herzog is not made with thought that it will happen, merely that he deserves it, along with all senior figures in Israeli state (and Hamas)

Sovereign immunity pretty much a dead duck now

✍️SIGN: Detain and investigate Herzog As Israel’s President visits Australia, genocide continues in Gaza and serious legal concerns remain unanswered. We’re calling on the government to uphold Australian and international law: Detain and ...

As Israel’s President visits Australia, genocide continues in Gaza and serious legal concerns remain unanswered. We’re calling on the government to uphold Australian and international law: Detain and investigate Isaac Herzog. ✍️ Add your name getup.to/YmaMqWFlCKVEC4

Typo here - Howard introduced Work Choices and Rudd killed it. Hope you are right on Herzog. Photo of him blessing a bomb is pretty damning.

Brad Karp Resigns as Paul Weiss Chairman Amid Epstein Fallout

I've been proven wrong almost instantly. Head of Paul Weiss law firm, one of the first to capitulate to Trump, is gone. Will there be more?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...

Labour MPs say Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson MPs say release of papers on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador could trigger leadership challenge

The Epstein files are wreaking havoc for the UK ruling elite, while no one in the US has paid a significant price (Even Maxwell is a Brit). Given that Americans voted for a (civilly) convicted rapist and Epstein pal as president, that's no surprise, I guess #uspol

They might think that, but Russian experience with the same strategy not encouraging.

I didn't rule out something crazy, just observed that there is nothing to suggest it right now.

False Alarm Nine's Red Alert on China was never credible

False Alarm: Nine's Red Alert on China was never credible

Liberals polling in single digits As the right splinters, it's a real possibility

Liberals polling in single digits: As the right splinters, it's a real possibility #auspol

From Powerlessness to Power We will not achieve any of our ultimate goals without exercising state power, and the most effective way to take state power is through nonviolent but confrontational resistance.

From Powerlessness to Power

I'm struck by the OTT reactions to the recent inflation statistics and the RBA rate increase. We are talking about fractions of a percentage point change in numbers that are historically very low. 0.25 per cent matters if you have a $m mortgage debt, but still, Australia has much bigger problems.

While the Coalition tears itself apart, Labor prepares for a big 2026 If Labor is to step up its ambitions, this is the most likely time. And the opposition’s self-destruction clears the decks for reform.

Apparently, #Labor will do some big important "intergenerational" stuff this year, but they are not telling us what. Let me make a wild guess: it won't include changes to capital gains tax. What we really need is an inheritance tax, but you can tell me I'm dreamin' #auspol

The DHS crisis is squeezing Susan Collins The Maine Republican is under immense pressure as a huge funding package hangs by a thread and federal agents swarm her state.

Susan Collins has always been "concerned" about having to vote for bad things. But if you'd told me 10 years ago that she would soon be expressing those concerns about public executions of political dissidents, I wouldn't have believed you.

Anything could happen. One Nation and Nats could merge, for example.

Four-day week: is change on the way? - Government News If, later this month, City of Launceston’s 600-or-so staff vote in favour of a four-day week, it will be the first government in Australia to adopt the model.

Four-day week: is change on the way? - Government News

The big differences won't be in rents but in things like getting repairs done. Some individual landlords very good on this, others not so much.

Conversely, Nats may run against them in regional and outer metro seats they currently hold under no-compete agreements.

On average, better to rent from a big corporation than from an individual landlord, IMO.

Who is it this time?

That's very helpful, thanks, and I was pretty close to the mark. Libs barely in double digits and the rest below.

Presumably national opinion polls will soon have to start asking voters about Liberals, Nationals and Queensland LNP, rather than the now-defunct federal LNP. Potentially all three in single digits. #auspol

Can't resist!

Washington Post Raid Is a Frightening Reminder: Turn Off Your Phone’s Biometrics Now The search warrant to raid a Washington Post reporter’s home shows how authorities can open your phone without your consent.

Using someone's fingerprint or face to forcibly bypass biometric controls used to be the stuff of thrillers and horror movies. Not any more #uspol

Exactly right. However you design shelves, some are going to be too low and some too high. A robot with an adjustable height hand/camera combination is going to do much better.

Best gas masks “How did these people go out and get gas masks?” AG Bondi asked.

Not that long ago, a consumer guide to gas masks for protection against secret police in US streets would have been an Onion article #uspol

Elon's last grift Optimus sub-prime

In reality, humanoid robots will never do useful work. In any possible application, either a purpose-designed robot or an actual human will do better

Musk admits no Optimus robots are doing 'useful work' at Tesla — after claiming otherwise Elon Musk admitted on Tesla’s Q4 2025 earnings call today that the company doesn’t have any Optimus robots doing useful...

Musk admits no Optimus robots are doing 'useful work' at Tesla — after claiming otherwise

The Falklands War was a big reveal. If the Argentines had made any serious preparation for a fight (buying a couple of dozen Exocets, checking that their bombs were in working order) they could easily have won. Missiles have improved a lot since then (+drones). Ships, not so much.