Tonight on Spin Cycle, @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I are thrilled to be chatting to @wakeinfright.bsky.social about the omnishables roiling the BBC. Plus, the media's role in the dismissal, Coalition climate nonsense and a, let's say, inconsistent approaches to law and order. From 7 on RRR!

Scoop: Meta's (formerly Facebook) Messenger app is set to be in the teen social media ban, accidentally! Despite the government saying messaging apps will be excluded, the app won't be able to have <16 users because of the law's drafting and the way the platform works. www.crikey.com.au/20...

The horror films screening at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival are part of a history that stretches back to the monster movies of the 1930s, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Very clever use of FOI by @cameronwilson.bsky.social means we can read a rundown of the national security’s chiefs AI prompts.

It was so wonderful to talk to some of the creatives involved in this year's Melbourne Queer Film Festival, about a subject close to my heart -- the complicated and thrilling history of queerness in horror cinema: www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/12/t...

Today is a good day (as would be any day, tbh) to catch up on @crystaljane.bsky.social conversation with Professor Jenny Hocking on the Dismissal: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwSE...

In fundamental ways, culture is still locked into the groove Oasis carved out, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Chuck Schumer wouldn't even say if he voted for Zohran Mamdani. It does not bode well for the Democrats' future.

New ep of Cut Through 🎙️ @theshufflediary.bsky.social and I discuss what Zohran Mamdani's win means for a) the fight against Trump, and b) #auspol. I spoke to a bunch of people across the Australian left and share their takes in this ep. Watch on YouTube. Listen on Apple, Spotify or in browser.

Hey guys apropos of nothing do you remember how Malcolm Turnbull kept conceding policies to the hard right of his party and then after years of doing that they knifed him anyway? Guys? Remember that?

Absolutely unerring aim from @daanysaeed.bsky.social -- I'd call the piece merciless if the subject didn't put that word into proper context: "Dick Cheney shaped our world for the worse, and profited immensely from it". www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/05/d...

Hey guys apropos of nothing do you remember how Malcolm Turnbull kept conceding policies to the hard right of his party and then after years of doing that they knifed him anyway? Guys? Remember that? www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/05/s...

In fundamental ways, culture is still locked into the groove Oasis carved out, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Oasis' reunion shows have been joyous, and a reminder that guitar music never quite recovered from their influence, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Could've written maybe five different pieces on Oasis -- some groups just mean a lot to you, in a lot of different directions -- but went with what I see as their cultural legacy www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/04/o...

Crikey looks at how film and literature has used various interpretations of AI to interrogate love, art and what it is to be human.

New from me: News Corp successfuly lobbied for the teen social media ban on the grounds of "protecting kids mental health". Yet it has been bullying an 11-year-old child, exposing her to an audience of 400,000+ for ridicule and abuse. It does this often. Other mainstream media outlets do too.

www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/31/w... We're very lucky to get some time with Professor Jenny Hocking (and very lucky to have an interviewer as good as @crystaljane.bsky.social to make the most of that time)

Tonight on Spin Cycle, we're playing a convo we recorded with Chris Hedges when he was in town. A fascinating chat about journalism in the time of genocide. And, of course, the National Press Club. @3rrrfm.bsky.social 7pm. With @theshufflediary.bsky.social and the voice of @rachelwithers.bsky.social

More culture writing from me today: Been working away at this piece on AI in Art for a while now, and I'm delighted to have it out in the world: www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/30/a...

This ROCKS i love it when Charlie gets to Charlie @theshufflediary.bsky.social

Sussan Ley once said she loved the "theatrics" of punk. She seems strangely unaware of what those theatrics were, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

Excellent piece by @theshufflediary.bsky.social www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/29/a...

Got into the one bit of the faux outrage over Albanese’s Joy Division shirt that I do find interesting -- the ideas behind early Punk's flirtation with the symbols of extreme right politics, and the battles over racism in rock at the time: www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/29/a...

Exclusive from my colleague Anton Nilsson: Ecuador's armed forces are using rocket launchers to attack illegal miners operating at a site licensed to a subsidiary of Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting www.crikey.com.au/20...

Incredible story here from @antonnilssonn.bsky.social www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/28/g...

Malcolm Fraser wanted a new party that's basically 'the progressive Libs' – you could say we now have that in community indies. But can a structured party do things an indie coalition can't? BK & I discuss on the pod. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXfQ... Listen on Apple, Spotify, etc #auspol

The devastating, lyrical "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This" is as good a book about our current moment as I've read, and @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I are so lucky to have Omar El Akkad on Spin Cycle tonight. Join us from 7pm on @3rrrfm.bsky.social

Tonight on Spin Cycle on @3rrrfm.bsky.social we are talking to Omar El Akkad about his incredible book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Tune in 7pm with @rachelwithers.bsky.social and @theshufflediary.bsky.social - on air, on the app, online or on catch up rrr.org.au

Something comparatively fun from me today -- what do you do after you've very publicly nicked something extremely valuable and recognisable? www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/23/t...

A lot of people have animus towards Kevin Rudd. But none are as committed or unsubtle as News Corp, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

“King” Trump’s response to countrywide protests is entirely normal and sane, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writs.

www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/17/v... American legislators have been trying to take the vote off Black people for essentially as long as Black people have had the right to vote:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-z8... @cameronwilson.bsky.social is going to set the record for the most Freedom of Information applications in a single day, with your help. Join the party:

We smuggled* @theshufflediary.bsky.social into the very heart of Tony country, former PM Abbott’s Mosman book launch… *bought a ticket

“It should be in schools!“: Tony Abbott’s cult appeal was in full effect at his book launch, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

"I wish I had told you, before our dinners grew cold, that one day I would speak loudly. Not to wound, but because not speaking would betray everything I was taught to honour. Because for me, love is not blind loyalty – to an ideology, a state or even a community" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Where Donald Trump learned his idea of war

Trump draws his political program from the movies of Chuck Norris and Sly Stallone, @theshufflediary.bsky.social reports.

The Hack was a brisk and pacy bit of journalist flattery -- but when it lost me, it *really* lost me.

Opinion | While the eyes of the world have understandably been focused on Gaza, Israel has continued to carry out deadly strikes in southern Lebanon, in direct violation of the November 2024 ceasefire.

At about the halfway point, The Hack prioritises smug proximity to power over interrogation of journalism. It never recovers, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

The comedians helping whitewash the Saudi regime could be forgiven for the thinking they might get away with it: it’s been a long time since anyone cared about being labelled a sellout. www.crikey.com.au/2025/10/03/s...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FFx... This is fascinating and horrifying from @crystaljane.bsky.social and @antonnilssonn.bsky.social

Really nice of @emmashortis.bsky.social to have me on to talk about Trump and history and the effects on Australia politics.

As Trump takes a sledgehammer to US democracy, Australia’s leader snagged a selfie & a 1-on-1 meeting. @theshufflediary.bsky.social joins @emmashortis.bsky.social to discuss the PM's selfie diplomacy & how Australia’s political landscape is being influenced by MAGA. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/4mGdePE

The spectre of Abbott’s pathetic threat to “shirt-front” Putin has reminded me of this not entirely successful hybrid of journalism & politics fanfic I wrote for Crikey at the time, whose tonal strangeness makes me think “2014 was a different time” archive.md/m5ZXH

Targeting of pro-Palestine, climate activists & other left-wing voices in Aus for the past few years has felt like McCarthysim to me. Even moreso after the Kirk murder last week. @theshufflediary.bsky.social & I hashed it out on the pod today – watch on YouTube. Listen on Spotify, Apple or web.

Turns out we missed a few: www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/26/a...