Here's what we have for you this week:
- Killer Grabs: Anthony Albanese forced to flee from a mosque and Donald Trump... you just need to read this one.
- Australia is facing a pandemic-level crisis. Ending the US alliance could actually help — By Osman Faruqi
- The Good Ones: An big-budget animated feature film that's actually about... Palestine? A low-stakes comedy that's actually kind of delightful? Are we back!?
You might have noticed a shift in the national conversation this week. Instead of the US and Israel's war on Iran being discussed passively, as though it's something far-removed from our actual lives, our politicians are now describing it in far more dramatic terms, warning us of severe economic pain to come.
It's undeniable that the world is on the cusp of something incredibly significant. As governments warn of the worst economic crisis in nearly 20 years, the entire global political order is being be rewritten. But there's still a lack of urgency, or an unwillingness to countenance the solutions we desperately need to respond to this crisis, in most of the media reporting.
In today's newsletter, Os breaks down what the warnings really mean, how we got here, and why this moment could present an opportunity to break from how things have been done.
Osman Faruqi
Killer Grabs
"An honour join thousands for Eid al-Fitr at Lakemba Mosque this morning." – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on X.com
What the PM conveniently left out is that he was forced to evacuate the mosque after being heckled by members of the Muslim community, who accused him and Tony Burke of supporting Israel’s genocide.
You can check out the footage here.
"Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbour?" – US President Donald Trump, in response to a Japanese reporter asking why he didn’t notify his allies of his intention to bomb Iran.
I mean… what do you say about this one. Glad that our government is backing him to the hilt?
"We’re over here just grinding away on banger memes, dude.” – A senior White House official tells Politico.
This is what they actually said, when asked about their communications strategy for the war on Iran.
Australia is facing a pandemic-level crisis. Ending the US alliance could actually help
By Osman Faruqi
Make no mistake, Australia is about to enter a profound economic crisis that is likely to reshape our society and our politics.
You don’t have to take my word for it. This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese likened the coming shock to the Covid-19 pandemic, which fundamentally altered the way we all live and work.
On Thursday, the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, compared the looming economic earthquake to both the pandemic and the global financial crisis, the two most consequential global events of the past 20 years
