The Lovely War A Note on the Instrument. Martin Amis understood that certain horrors cannot be approached frontally. You do not walk up to the monstrous and describe it. You circle it, you find its vanity and its [....

“The infant-king has always understood, at some sub-rational level beneath the gold fixtures and the cable-news worship, that the threat of harm is more useful than harm itself, and that cruelty, deployed with showmanship, is the most reliable currency he possesses.”

theaimn.net/the-lovely-w...

The Expanding Presidency of Donald J. Trump There was a time – not so long ago – when the office of President of the United States seemed a sufficiently demanding role. Nuclear codes, global alliances, the occasional domestic crisis. A full pla...

So according to Trump: Venezuela wants him to be their president (after he learns to speak Spanish); Iran wants him as their Supreme Leader; and Europe also wants him to be their president. This is peak delusion. (Someone please tell him Europe isn’t a country).

theaimn.net/the-expandin...

Why Do Australians Pay for the NBN After Funding It? By Denis Hay   Description Why do Australians pay for the NBN if it was publicly funded? Discover where your money goes and why the internet still costs so much. Introduction: The Question Millions Ar...

“Australians funded the NBN with over $50 billion in public money, yet most households still pay between $80 and $100 a month for internet access.

For many, this raises a simple but powerful question: Why are we paying for something we already paid for?”

theaimn.net/why-do-austr...

The Deconstruction of Control How a 400-Year-Old Corporate Blueprint Became the Architecture of Modern Power – and Why We Can Choose to Make It Irrelevant Dedicated to my wife, who sees the pattern before the pieces fall. I. Intro...

The birth of the ‘robber baron’ and the “system that thrives on us feeling small, powerless, and isolated.”

theaimn.net/the-deconstr...

Australian Political Futures: Is Balancing Optimum Defence Self-Reliance with National Sovereignty Really Possible within US Global Hegemony? Diplomatic sorties by Prime Minister Albanese to maintain supplies of petroleum from refineries in South East Asia coincided with the release of the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS). The fire in U...

“The erosion of our national sovereignty through economic diplomacy by Britain and the USA has had a long history. Australians rarely have a say on matters relating to strategic security and economic diplomacy.”

theaimn.net/australian-p...

The Moon That Never Rose By James Moore “America’s greatest promise is that something is going to happen, and after awhile you get tired of waiting because nothing happens to people except that they grow old and nothing happe...

The United States has long projected itself as the gold standard of democratic governance, economic freedom, and human dignity. In truth, it is neither.

theaimn.net/the-moon-tha...

The new nuclear weapons are so much better and cheaper - they're the enemy's nuclear sites! Yes, ain’t it grand! We, the God-fearing, God-loving, West and Israel don’t really need any longer to put our $billions of tax-payer money into those horribly expensive nuclear missiles, bombs, submar...

Cheap nukes, anybody?

theaimn.net/the-new-nucl...

The Holy War on the Holy See A NOTE ON CLARKE AND DAWE John Clarke and Bryan Dawe were, for thirty years, the sharpest double act in Australian public life. Every Thursday night on the ABC, Clarke played the politician, the burea...

John Clarke and Bryan Dawe were, for thirty years, the sharpest double act in Australian public life. This great piece would do them proud.

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Confused Closures and Opaque Openings: Continuing Dramas in the Hormuz Strait Reading messages from President Donald J. Trump is an exercise in taunting masochism. It is one inflicted on commentators and the press corps the world over, and they are not better for it. The latest...

“Reading messages from President Trump is an exercise in taunting masochism.”

theaimn.net/confused-clo...

Iran aside, don’t ignore Trump’s war crimes in the Caribbean, Venezuela and Somalia By Walt Zlotow   As Trump was cooling his massive, murderous bombing of Iran, he was ramping up his murderous bombing of small civilian boats in the Caribbean. In the last 5 days he obliterated 5 [......

While all eyes are on Iran, Trump goes quietly about bombing Somalia and blowing up more so-called “narco terrorist” boats in the Caribbean.

theaimn.net/iran-aside-d...

The Merchants of Death in Our Midst How Palantir Profits from Genocide – and Why Australia Must Walk Away Dedicated to my wife, who knows evil by the way it behaves. I. The Company That Kills Enemies Alex Karp, the CEO of [...]

“Palantir’s technology has been used to compile kill lists in Gaza, to track migrants for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and to select targets for drone strikes in Iran.” Why are we still dealing with them?

theaimn.net/the-merchant...

Two men found dead on the Moon I’ve recently started watching For All Mankind, the alternate-history series where the Soviets reach the Moon first and the space race never ends. It’s gripping stuff – but it also sent me back to the...

A little known fact: There was a Plan B if things went wrong.

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Caps Off: How Mark Hammond’s Appointment Completes Labor’s Capture by Uncle Sam and the AUKUS Boondoggle Look at the photo. Anthony Albanese, grinning in his USS Vermont baseball cap like a kid who just won a free submarine from the Pentagon’s lucky dip. Beside him, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, now our [.....

“Look at Albo grinning in his USS Vermont baseball cap like a kid who just won a free submarine from the Pentagon’s lucky dip.”

theaimn.net/caps-off-how...

The Normalisation of Contradiction There are moments in politics when language is no longer used to describe reality, but to overwrite it. This week, Donald Trump declared that the United States has a “very good relationship” with Iran...

Most of what Trump says clashes with reality, yet it easily passes without serious challenge.

The media bears significant responsibility for the normalisation of this warped reality

theaimn.net/the-normalis...

Beyond the screen: Beijing’s film festival becomes a citywide experience By Chen Ziqi   I’ve always loved that strange, slightly magical moment after a film ends. You step out of a cinema, the final scene still lingering in your mind. For a moment, the world [...]

“Film tourism is hardly new. Audiences have long traveled to New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings or to Dubrovnik for Game of Thrones.”

theaimn.net/beyond-the-s...

Every day is important - until there are no more On 26 February 2027, I will turn 86 – well beyond the average lifespan of an Australian male. This realisation shapes my perspective. My core message: every day matters, and openly facing mortality mo...

As we reach our twilight years, do we think more about our eventual passing or more about our life?

theaimn.net/every-day-is...

Putting the Calamity Makers in Charge: Anthropic and Claude Mythos Preview Be wary of a company – any company – who exerts moral muscle as they create software and digital platforms that are injurious and simultaneously lauded for curing that injury. Be especially wary of An...

The AI rogues are on the march.

theaimn.net/putting-the-...

Pacific nations launch landmark declaration for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and urgent phase-out Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Media Release 17 April 2026, Port Vila, Vanuatu – Amidst a deepening fossil fuel-driven energy crisis that has triggered the declaration of a state of emergency in...

Pacific nations launch landmark declaration for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and urgent phase-out.

theaimn.net/pacific-nati...

Richard “Deadwood” Marles: The Liberal in Drag A profile of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, and Geelong’s enduring gift to Australian satirists Meet Richard Donald Marles. Deputy Prime Minister. Minister for Defence. Membe...

“Meet Richard Donald Marles. Deputy Prime Minister. Minister for Defence. Member for Corio.”

He is, in the most precise political sense available, a Liberal in drag.”

theaimn.net/richard-dead...

Trump prefers collapsing world economy to admitting defeat in his criminal Iran war By Walt Zlotow That was some phony two-week ceasefire President Trump agreed to with Iran. When Iran refused Trump’s impossible demands presented by amateur US diplomats Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, Tr...

“That was some phony 2-week ceasefire Trump agreed to with Iran. When Iran refused Trump’s impossible demands presented by amateur US diplomats Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, Trump essentially resumed the war with his imaginary blockade of all Iranian shipping.”

theaimn.net/trump-prefer...

The Apocalypse Salesman: How Richard Marles Sold Australia’s Future to the Permanent War Economy Dedicated to my wife, who sees a future and is not buying the tickets. The Great Distraction On April 16, 2026, Defence Minister Richard Marles stood before the National Press Club and announced the b...

“Richard Marles did not deliver a defence strategy. He delivered a sales pitch.

The target is China. The enemy is abstract. The threat is manufactured.

The real purpose is the wealth transfer. The winners are the defence contractors. The losers are the Aus taxpayers.”

theaimn.net/the-apocalyp...

The Biggest Peace Time Release in our Nation’s History A Note from the Editor Readers should be warned that this piece pays deliberate homage to Evelyn Waugh’s exquisitely appropriate fondness for long, winding sentences and his unrivalled capacity to rep...

“Defence Minister Richard Marles took to the podium at the National Press Club in Canberra and announced the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia’s history.”

I doubt that’ll be popular.

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Trump is not The Messiah, just a very Naughty Boy This piece is written in homage to the late, great Martin Amis. It borrows, in spirit and sharpness, from his satiric wit and his razor‑sharp edge; a style that skewered the powerful, the pretentious,...

“He does not threaten like a politician. He threatens like a child denied an ice cream, only with the power to erase civilisations.”

theaimn.net/trump-is-not...

US-Iran War Threatens Australia’s Food Supply: Delivery Crisis Looms As escalating US-Iran conflict disrupts global shipping routes, Australia faces a looming food delivery crisis. Empty supermarket shelves and rising prices could soon hit households nationwide.

There are many abhorrent aspects to the illegal US-Iran war.

One, closer to home, is on the horizon

theaimn.net/us-iran-war-...

Constitutional challenge to Minns’ anti-protest laws verdict to be handed down 3pm today Palestine Action Group Sydney media alert: Constitutional challenge to Minns’ anti-protest laws verdict to be handed down 3pm today Press conference outside NSW Supreme Court after the verdict. What: ...

Constitutional challenge to Minns’ anti-protest laws verdict to be handed down 3pm today.

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Sovereignty for some There are moments in politics when irony is so perfectly formed, that it scarcely needs commentary. It simply waits – patiently – for someone to point at it. This week provided one such moment. Fresh ...

For hypocrisy JD Vance scores 10/10.

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The big human brain The whole proposition of a massive hunk of brain-flesh that is capable of introspective reflection, inside a body, inside a culture, doing the washing up, while shouting at the kids, is ludicrous. But...

“Have a squiz at a picture of a monkey or a chimp. Then look at your cat or dog or goldfish. Then look in a mirror. You should be very self-conscious. Like all of our species, you have a big head, which houses an inordinately large brain. But why?”

theaimn.net/the-big-huma...

Person-making Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is where Australia quietly makes, or unmakes, its future. It happens in rooms that smell of sunscreen and toast, and in the small early moments when a child l...

“Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is where Australia quietly makes, or unmakes, its future.”

theaimn.net/person-making/

When “exterminate the world” isn’t a headline A sitting president speaks of world extermination – and the world barely looks up. There was a time – not so long ago – when a statement from a sitting president that another nation wants [...]

A sitting president speaks of world extermination – and the world barely looks up.

Shock has stopped working.

theaimn.net/when-extermi...

Sweet lifeline for wildlife after bushfires ravage their habitat Adelaide University Media Release Adelaide University and Kangaroo Island Research Station researchers have developed a simple, low-cost way to help wildlife survive in the critical days and weeks aft...

“Adelaide University and Kangaroo Island Research Station researchers have developed a simple, low-cost way to help wildlife survive in the critical days and weeks after bushfires, by delivering artificial nectar to animals struggling to find food.”

theaimn.net/sweet-lifeli...