New Australia Institute polling reveals only 8% of Australians are genuinely convinced Australia “shares values” with Trump’s America. “It is past time Australia rethinks national security – and focuses on fairness and climate action, not blind fealty to America.’ @emmashortis.bsky.social #auspol

Ben Saul and Chris Sidoti on the unavoidable need to recognise Palestine. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

A leader of courage, integrity and distinction. "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide" is the frank report by Francesca Albanese that really upset Trump and Netanyahu. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

Unacceptable. Netanyahu would be arrested on arrival in Australia because he is an indicted war criminal and delivered for trial to The Hague. So, Israeli President Herzog is invited as a substitute. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

Sydney Knitting Nannas are empowered activists making a difference. knittingnannas.org/2026/01/08/s...

Uncomfortable facts. "On December 15, 2023, an Israeli sniper operating in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City opened fire on three shirtless, unarmed men in their twenties, one of whom was waving a white flag." www.thedriftmag.com/the-masada-o...

Force this to happen. Better to re-think things: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1saF...

David Lindenmayer, Bruce Chapman and John Mitchell: A rare win-win for climate, farming and biodiversity – if policymakers act https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/a-rare-win-win-for-climate-farming-and-biodiversity-if-policymakers-act #auspol

Reading women? womensagenda.com.au/life/books/t...

Using the courts to overcome political weakness and force responsible climate action. www.newscientist.com/article/2508...

FIVE YEARS & he has not been held accountable for one of the most disgraceful events in this nation's history. Trying to overturn a fair election in an attempted coup against his own government is the very definition of TREASON. We can never move forward until this is fully adjudicated. #ShameOnUS🇺🇸

What Epstein files?

Why is the gas industry notorious for paying so little tax, despite making billions in revenue? Listen to the full episode of Dollars & Sense here, or wherever you listen to podcasts ⤵️ https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/housing-affordability-to-get-worse-as-big-corporates-do-annual-tax-magic/

Just as Albo looks like caving to pressure, it now appear his reluctance was wise. The existing legal processes may offer greater accountability without inflaming division. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

If I'm buying new books, I buy from my local bookshops. If I'm buying second-hand books online, Book Grocer has so many great titles. And then they suggest other excellent titles! You can find them here: bookgrocer.com #BookGrocer #books #BookSky 📚

Jan 6th

Learning from across the ditch. After four ideologically driven attacks in six years, Australia is again asking how to respond. The Christchurch Royal Commission in NZ offers a good example. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

"When one in four people have to flee your repressive regime to survive, it is obvious your socialist workers paradise is not working." But that failure did not spark the invasion.

Careful what you wish for. Royal Commissions take a very long time, cost a lot of money, and their recommendations are very often ignored. www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/914551...

Newcastle Herald

The role of international law is being challenged more than ever before. We need to insist our governments defend it. johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

Has truth in media gone forever? www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/914471...

It’s a new day in New York City, and Zohran Mamdani is asking a fundamental question that everyone else across the country should also be asking: Who should our government work for?

Reminder: The US has a long history of overthrowing leaders in Latin America only to install even worse ones (all while stealing natural resources and ignoring their new shell leader's human rights violations)...

🙃

So, what is the climate denialist explanation for this? Hello Trumpists. www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Exactly 36 years to the day.

To be clear: the American president doesn’t declare war, Congress does, and the fact that the administration left Congress completely out of the decision to invade Venezuela is a real problem. youtu.be/vxFTKlah9uE

Is there a problem with the US version of "democracy"?

Rep. Seth Moulton: "This is insane. What the hell are we doing? ... this is illegal."

A story in three parts: 1. Big Oil, give me $1B and I will make it worth your while. 2. Rubes, vote for me & no regime change wars. 3. LOL, thanks for the money and the job, now it’s time for a military takeover of the country that has the largest untapped oil reserves.

It has more to do with the 'type' of oil that Venezuela produces. In short, the U.S. needs Venezuela’s 'heavy sour crude' because it's ideal for the refining method used by existing US oil refineries. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgwn...

Might be relevant Trump promised oil execs anything they want if they gave his campaign a billion dollars One of the things they want is Venezuela www.theguardian.com/us-news/arti...

Short answer: No. Interesting times. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Trump's latest, desperate and murderous attempt to stop the media talking about those Epstein files. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Australians are the biggest suckers on earth, for not insisting political action on gambling inquiries. 0.5% - Population of the world 32% - Number of poker machines in the world $32 billion - Lost per year unsw.press/books/hooked/

Trump Admits Defeat In California and JD Vance Gets Brutal Homecoming

High impact for US but not in mainstream news.

Between Identity and Politics: Unpacking the Systematic Conflation of “Antisemitism” and Criticism of Israel. "Israel,...has committed genocide in Gaza, presents itself as the State of the Jews and the global guardian of Judaism. This claim does not protect Jews." johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...

Nanna Anne joined 200 enthusiastic citizen scientists at the Bob Brown Foundation’s (BBF) BioBlitz in November 2025. a long weekend of data collection, learning and community building in the Tarkine. This was the 11th BioBlitz so the data set is growing. knittingnannas.org/2025/12/29/s...

Flooding the zone with BS still works for some. edition.cnn.com/2025/12/27/p...

2025 highlights from the Australia Institute. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ZI...

Soft plastics recycling is back in Australia. How does it work and where does it go? www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

Feeling burnt out? A bush blessing for the end of the year Now is the time to think of new beginnings Jess Harwood www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Incredibly moving interview with Sydney philosophy professor Peter Slezak, son of Holocaust survivors. “Recognising Palestine was the right thing to do - in fact it was long overdue. How on earth can that be connected to two mass murders who commit an atrocity?”