Multiple Western press outlets have suddenly pivoted hard against Israel
Caitlin Johnstone

Multiple Western press outlets have suddenly pivoted hard against Israel

israel-palestine media politics world

After a year and a half of genocidal atrocities, the editorial boards of numerous British press outlets have suddenly come out hard against Israel’s genocidal onslaught in Gaza.

It was supposed to be the cost-of-living election. But then Dutton showed up
Ross Gittins

It was supposed to be the cost-of-living election. But then Dutton showed up

Talk about the dog that didn’t bark. Cast your mind back to the distant days of the election campaign, and you’ll dimly remember how often we were told that polling revealed the only subject hard-pressed voters were interested in discussing was the cost of living.

From nuclear to nature laws, here’s where Ley stands on four energy and environment flashpoints
Justine Bell-James,  Samantha Hepburn

From nuclear to nature laws, here’s where Ley stands on four energy and environment flashpoints

Sussan Ley has been elected Liberal leader after defeating rival Angus Taylor in a party room vote on 13 May. Now the hard work of rebuilding the party can begin.


John Menadue's book on Israel's war against Gaza

Israel's war against Gaza

Media coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023 has spread a series of lies propagated by Israel and the United States. This publication presents information, analysis, clarification, views and perspectives largely unavailable in mainstream media in Australia and elsewhere.

Download the PDF

'A brazen, unprecedented power grab': Trump fires copyright office head
Eloise Goldsmith

'A brazen, unprecedented power grab': Trump fires copyright office head

The reported firing of Register of Copyrights and director of the US Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter comes on the heels of Trump's dismissal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

The first-ever historic agreement between the US and Hamas – with Netanyahu in a secondary role
Refaat Ibrahim

The first-ever historic agreement between the US and Hamas – with Netanyahu in a secondary role

The direct talks between the United States and Hamas took Israel by surprise and led to an agreement that resulted in the release of the Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander.

An open letter to the Australian PM from a child of Holocaust survivors
John-Janusz Ebel

An open letter to the Australian PM from a child of Holocaust survivors

Dear Anthony Albanese, I am a child of Holocaust survivors. More than 95% of my extended family perished during World War II in Nazi extermination camps while others were killed by mobile death squads or through starvation in a number of ghettoes.

Is government a good 'parent' to foster kids?
Paul McDonald

Is government a good 'parent' to foster kids?

Australian Governments have an opportunity to make a huge positive difference in the lives of the young people who grow up in its care. All that is needed is one simple change.

Australia’s misunderstanding of the Asian Century
Allan Patience

Australia in Our Region

Australia’s misunderstanding of the Asian Century

In October 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard released a white paper titled Australia in the Asian Century.

Bowen confirmed as climate and energy minister, Watt gets environment
Giles Parkinson

Bowen confirmed as climate and energy minister, Watt gets environment

Chris Bowen has been confirmed as climate and energy minister in the new Albanese Government, while Murray Watt has been appointed minister for the environment and water as part of a reshuffle announced on Monday.

After the 2025 election: Energy transition and restoration of Australian growth
Ross Garnaut

After the 2025 election: Energy transition and restoration of Australian growth

An historic election Australia has had insecure governments looking over their shoulders at political threat for one and a half decades. None of the Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison and first term Albanese Governments had substantial majorities in the House of Representatives. None ever stood so high in electoral standing that it felt able to take the risk of implementing policy reform in the public interest that could be distorted for their opposition’s political benefit. None had a chance to develop policies in the national interest that take years to mature and to win broadly based electoral support.

The US war on science
Noel Turnbull

The US war on science

Sadly, largely due to the media’s lack of interest in science and the drop in the number of journalists able to cover such a round, one of the most important stories about science — the Trump destruction of science — is largely being neglected.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

Multiple Western press outlets have suddenly pivoted hard against Israel
Caitlin Johnstone

Multiple Western press outlets have suddenly pivoted hard against Israel

After a year and a half of genocidal atrocities, the editorial boards of numerous British press outlets have suddenly come out hard against Israel’s genocidal onslaught in Gaza.

The first-ever historic agreement between the US and Hamas – with Netanyahu in a secondary role
Refaat Ibrahim

The first-ever historic agreement between the US and Hamas – with Netanyahu in a secondary role

The direct talks between the United States and Hamas took Israel by surprise and led to an agreement that resulted in the release of the Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander.

An open letter to the Australian PM from a child of Holocaust survivors
John-Janusz Ebel

An open letter to the Australian PM from a child of Holocaust survivors

Dear Anthony Albanese, I am a child of Holocaust survivors. More than 95% of my extended family perished during World War II in Nazi extermination camps while others were killed by mobile death squads or through starvation in a number of ghettoes.

Samah Sabawi – Cactus Pear for My Beloved
Tony Smith.

Samah Sabawi – Cactus Pear for My Beloved

This 2024 Penguin publication is a highly personal account of the history of Palestinian dispossession.

Mark Leibler on his lobbying power
Pearls and Irritations

Mark Leibler on his lobbying power

In a speech he delivered back in 2018, Mark Leibler lays out how he exerts influence, from trying to block Bob Carr's efforts on recognition of a Palestinian State to watching ABC correspondent Sophie McNeill in order to change her coverage of the Middle East.

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza
Marjorie Cohn

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza

Thirty-seven states, the UN and international NGOs all condemned Israel’s denial of aid to the starving people of Gaza at the International Court of Justice in the first week of May.

'This isn't me': Israeli war and healthcare collapse leave Gaza child unrecognisable
Maha Hussaini

'This isn't me': Israeli war and healthcare collapse leave Gaza child unrecognisable

Under a tightening Israeli siege, Palestinian girl Rahaf Ayyad struggles with physical and emotional changes, as her mother fights for answers.

Aid to Gaza: Moral and political dilemmas for Australia
Bob Bowker

Aid to Gaza: Moral and political dilemmas for Australia

Amidst preparations for a renewed assault intended to allow permanent Israeli occupation of Gaza, Israel and the United States are also about to establish a mechanism through which humanitarian aid will henceforth be distributed exclusively by private firms protected by the Israeli military.


John Menadue

Support our independent media with your donation

Pearls and Irritations leads the way in raising and analysing vital issues often neglected in mainstream media. Your contribution supports our independence and quality commentary on matters importance to Australia and our region.

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Latest on China

Trump’s USAID cuts only accelerate the West’s miserly convergence with China
Shahar Hameiri,  Lee Jones

Trump’s USAID cuts only accelerate the West’s miserly convergence with China

china economy politics usa

Critics of the Trump administration’s assault on foreign aid warn that it will undermine the United States’ capacity to compete with China.

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption
Alex Lo

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption

Rather than left- or right-leaning political parties, citizens in Singapore, Australia and Canada chose steady hands to navigate geopolitical turbulence.

China touts new law as foundation for private sector growth
Sylvia Ma,  Ji Siqi

China touts new law as foundation for private sector growth

A week after the passage of a law on China’s private economy, officials said the bill would unleash the potential of the non-state sector.


More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

The light has finally dawned on the mainstream press

Geoff Taylor — Perth

Caitlin Johnstone reports today that certain key newspapers have now swung on Gaza. Great credit to Pearls and Irritations, Caitlin Johnstone and the authors of some other Substacks for the courageous role they have played over the 19 months since it became clear there was a disproportionate Israeli response to the sad event of 7 October. And our thoughts are with those held hostage on both sides of the conflict, as well as those facing massive odds in Gaza.
Reading Trump

Bob Pearce — Adelaide SA

The first thing Labor should do is scrap AUKUS. The very fact that Donald Trump played dumb when questioned about the deal at an early press conference should have rung alarm bells. He knows a dumb deal (dumb for us) when he sees one. He also knows a “nice“ deal (read sucker) when he sees one. That he didn’t scrap AUKUS at the beginning of his term should ring alarm bells for many Labor voters. Keeping Richard Marles as defence minister, and dumping two others to appease the factions, indicates it’s going to be another long do-nothing...
Sawsan Madina nearly said it all

Jenny Goldie — Cooma NSW

As a member of the Greens, I wholeheartedly support Sawsan Madina's article in which she grieves over their losses in the House but applauds their excellent policies, not least on the environment and in trying to end inequality. Yes, may the Greens come back stronger next election and, in the meantime, hold the Labor Government to account in the Senate in which they will alone hold the balance of power. If there is one criticism to be made of them, however, it is their blinkered approach to mass immigration. They failed to acknowledge that the blowout (over half...
What democracy?

Bob Pearce — Adelaide SA

I questioned if the US was a democracy during Donald Trump's first term. I’ve seen nothing in this term to indicate the great defender of democracy, the land of the free and the home of the brave, the US, even vaguely resembles a democracy.



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