ICYMI: The Supreme Court finally handed Trump a major loss yesterday. Here's what you need to know. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/finally-the-supreme-court-stops-trump

In Icelandic folklore Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat, comes to eat those who do not wear their new clothes for Christmas. In this image, you can see somebody did not put on their new Christmas sweater. Or perhaps even more unfortunately, no one got them one! More ... 👇

For me, the real lesson of Frank Capra’s delightful holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life” was never as powerful as it is this year. Some thoughts. ⬇️ https://robertreich.substack.com/p/its-a-wonderful-life-f9b

The overwhelming majority of jobs at the two biggest companies in America pay less than $20/hr. Meanwhile, the heads of those companies are some of the richest people on the planet. See the problem?

'a distinction would be drawn between static rallies and marches through the city' Oh, I see: it's fine if you stand still, but if a protest starts moving it might provoke another terror incident. Makes perfect sense (if the intent is to stop particular protests on racial grounds).

youtu.be/qbzv6jsP6E4?... Chris Minns brings violent images to Sydney. Another Trump import.

'Lees said on Friday he did not recall the group ever chanting “globalise the intifada” Exactly. This has come from RW social media in the US. Minns is importing Trump. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Are we supposed to ‘Unser’ Gaza? www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

Are we supposed to ‘Unser’ Gaza? www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

Cannot believe how concussed the discussion is in Australia. We have a major security problem - two extremists training with (?) ISIS overseas and had easy access to guns – and Sussan Ley is releasing an Action Plan that is like "We will amend the Australian Research Council Act"

Hate speech directed against ethnic and religious groups should be restricted by law. But it's important to note that any law strong enough to restrict anti-semitic hate speech will affect lots of people, mostly on the political right. That's why they have opposed such laws until now.

Segal: “it began on 9 October 2023 at the Sydney Opera House. then a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge waving terrorist flags and glorifying extremist leaders. Now death has reached Bondi beach.” There we have it: protests by half a million Sydneysiders against genocide = terrorism in Bondi.

This is all about housing www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Note that under this dual income tax system there’s NO negative gearing. When the Swedes introduce it in the early 90s, revenue ROSE as a result (tho they did have deductibility for home loans beforehand, unlike us) www.afr.com/wealth/tax/w...

No wonder Michele Bullock’s dramatic departure from the interest rate script left markets swinging wildly | Greg Jericho www.theguardian.com/business/gro...

As Indonesia prepares a new official history, an Australian historian is challenging the long-silenced truth of the 1965–66 mass killings, Duncan Graham writes. #Indonesia #History #HumanRights #ColdWar #AsiaPacific

“[Australia is] taking workers out of a system already at breaking point, giving them jobs which are below their skill level and failing to protect them," says Fiona Macdonald, Director of the Centre for Future Work at The Australia Institute. Read more: australiainstitute.org.au/post/austral...

Oliver’s Insights - review of 2025 and outlook for 2026 in terms of investment markets www.amp.com.au/resources/in...

Bullock: ‘I don’t think there are interest rate cuts on the horizon for the foreseeable future. The question is, is it just an extended hold from here or is it the possibility of a rate rise?’ The RBA decision was (sensibly) finely balanced, but this statement sounds a bit like forward guidance.

‘Let’s take the example of an employee earning $300,000. Is it surprising this person feels overtaxed and tries to reduce their tax bill?’ Well, no actually. These poor petals have an army of advisers pressing them to do just that. Regardless of their tax rate. www.afr.com/policy/tax-a...

Except the transformational child poverty pledge to lift family payments. Sadly, that was shredded by the Rudd Govt.

Indeed. In this case young people are being offered properly paid work or training. Demonising young people will hardly encourage employers to employ them.

‘We are in a world of pain with low productivity and high inflation … this is like the ’70s again.” Seriously? In the 70s inflation was >10%. Let’s not fight yesterday’s war. Unemployment is already rising. www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/polit...

Just watched the @abcnewsbot.bsky.social Police News. Is there nothing happening in the world beyond crime?

". . . without government policy also reducing the ability of property speculators to outbid homeowners . . . the problem will take much longer to solve," writes Australia Institute Chief Economist Greg Jericho in The Point. Read here: thepoint.com.au/news/251203-...

And the apology letter sent by Deloitte to the DEWR Secretary www.aph.gov.au/-/media/Esti...

A public sector marketiser changes his mind. Insightful piece from Sturgess IMO many of today’s inefficiencies were caused by the new public management fad of the 1990s (blind faith that competition in pseudo markets will deliver) PC please note! www.afr.com/politics/fed...

‘Every decent measure of sentiment and confidence is on a clear improving trend, and in the most recent results, these surveys are depicting optimism.’ Oh dear, we’d better smother that with rate hikes! Apply the chloroform! www.afr.com/policy/econo...

‘The higher wages bill supports RBA governor Michele Bullock’s view that the labour market remains tight, which could dash further chances of interest rate cuts.’ Seriously? This ‘wage bill’ accounts for growth in hours worked. More workers = lower inflation. www.afr.com/policy/econo...

Aust credit growth accelerated further to 0.7%m/7.3%y with a pick up in biz lending, slower personal lending and a further slight acceleration in housing lending. The latter was driven by yet another surge in investor lending which explains APRAs move & it may have to do more.

One in 20 Australian Indigenous adult men are in jail. (original source: www.abs.gov.au/statistics/p...)

Disgraceful

Lawrence Eppard thinks he was wrong about poverty. I think he was right in the first place. Discussion on The Temple of Sociology substack. templeofsociology.substack.com/p/absolute-v...

..regarding the APRA move to limit hi DTI loans to 20% of each bank’s lending from 1 Feb…the aggregate ratio at present is well below that suggesting it may be a while before it has much impact. It’s really a shot across the bows of the lenders not to let things heat up too much

Isn't it great that because our gas market is open to the world, our electricity prices have gone up because Russia invaded Ukraine and sent gas prices soaring?? www.theguardian.com/business/gro...

That is, economists who want a rate hike.

Be afraid! Hawk’s are flapping their wings, sharpening their talons. www.afr.com/policy/econo...

Hard-line monetary policy has contributed to NZs woes. Too quick to sacrifice employment to curb inflation. It's been thus since they came up with the hard 2% target in the 90s. Monetary policy in Oz is sensible by comparison. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Rather typical of The Economist these days.

Anarchy and anarchists have a price.

Next day we couldn’t find an ATM that worked.

We came just in time for the after party. A tuba cut through the drizzle in the small square beside a police station. People danced joyfully, swore in French at the gendarmarie, had a jolly good time.

@squigglyrick.bsky.social We were in Lyon on May Day. I asked at tourist office about joining the march, she said ‘You are very brave Monsieur’. We came late, missing the bricks thru shop windows, destruction of ATMs, arrests and beatings.

a long list of examples here www.dropbox.com/scl/...

Good

Flagrant failure of our leaders to represent the people's interest. Exactly whom do they represent then?

Acoss research found the cost of fully indexing tax thresholds to inflation is $38B by 2031, with half going to the highest 20% by income. So that's not the solution. Closing tax shelters is. www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/u...

#taxreform No, workers won't pay $300B more in income tax in a decade. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed... Other E61 research shows tax cuts have offset much of bracket creep & tax is *more* progressive as a result. e61.in/who-pays-fro...

As we wrap up another Trans Awareness Week filled with celebration and pride, let’s take a moment to observe a more solemn occasion - Trans Day of Remembrance. Today we honour & remember those who have tragically lost their lives to transphobic violence, discrimination and hate.