The world’s richest man lent his considerable weight to Donald Trump’s campaign. Elon Musk is now even richer – and he has all-areas access to the president-elect.
A president given to simplistic plans and impulses must now deal with a whole new level of nuclear complexity for which neither he nor the US system is yet equipped.
The US election is concluding,and ours is just getting started. What lessons will our MPs take? Will our “grand gift” of compulsory voting prevent a lurch to the far right?
Democracies have a fatal flaw:majorities can elect leaders who do not believe in democracy or the rule of law or the necessity of strong independent civil institutions such as universities and a free press.
The president’s hubris in staying on too long made it hard for Kamala Harris and easy for Donald Trump.
We must now fathom the unfathomable:all the misogynistic,racist,crude and undemocratic things Trump has said and done don’t negate his appeal.
Peter Dutton’s handling of the party’s stance on abortion shows how he plans to run the Coalition.
If Richardson wishes to campaign against tax breaks for those on higher incomes,he could choose to start with superannuation,family trusts,negative gearing,capital gains discounts and franking credits.
It says a lot about the health of US democracy that while voting is technically free,women’s votes are being canvassed on secret Post-it notes.
The only upside of watching US elections and electoral processes is,as Peter Hartcher says,to develop or renew one’s own appreciation of Australia’s electoral system
The transformation of attitudes towards the presidential hopeful has been rapid and profound. Was she underestimated – or has she changed?