Trump’s risky American economy
Michael Keating

Trump’s risky American economy

Trump’s tariffs, migration and fiscal policies are endangering the American economy, and risk destroying American claims to global leadership.

Whitlam dismissal secrets unearthed from the archives of the Canadian governor-general
Jenny Hocking

Whitlam dismissal secrets unearthed from the archives of the Canadian governor-general

This newly uncovered material, exclusively published by Crikey, is the first indication from Sir John Kerr himself that Queen Elizabeth II approved of the position he had taken during his dismissal of Gough Whitlam.

As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices
Alistair Sisson,  Ben Spies-Butcher,  Kristian Ruming,  Shaun Wilson,  Adam Stebbing

As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices

One of the most basic axioms in Australian politics is that voters support rising house prices. John Howard expressed this axiom when he infamously remarked that no one had ever told him “I'm angry with you for letting the value of my house increase”.


Donate

Support our  independent media

Pearls and Irritations is funded by our readers through flexible payment options. Choose to make a monthly or one off payment to support our informed commentary

Donate

How UN betrayal of West Papua led to genocide, step by step
Julie Wark

How UN betrayal of West Papua led to genocide, step by step

The United Nations has recently come under attack from the Trump Administration and, much as it goes against the grain, it’s difficult to argue with real-estate-developer-cum-ambassador-representative for UN Management and Reform [sic], Jeff Bartos:

Why the Coalition can’t win without losing itself
Kos Samaras

Why the Coalition can’t win without losing itself

The Coalition faces not a messaging challenge but a structural impossibility. Voters abandoning them won’t be satisfied by marginally tougher rhetoric.

The unvanquished will: Gaza’s triumph of spirit against the architecture of genocide
Ramzy Baroud

The unvanquished will: Gaza’s triumph of spirit against the architecture of genocide

For the last two years, my social media algorithm has been relentlessly dominated by Gaza, particularly by the voices of ordinary Gazans, displaying a blend of emotions that centres on two core principles: grief and defiance.

From illusion to real peace: Trump’s test in Gaza and Ukraine
Jeffrey D. Sachs,  Sybil Fares

From illusion to real peace: Trump’s test in Gaza and Ukraine

Real peace demands Palestinian statehood, Ukrainian neutrality and the courage to defy the war lobby.

Is the Great Barrier Reef collapsing?
Robert Hunziker

Is the Great Barrier Reef collapsing?

It’s the largest living structure on Earth, 3000 individual reefs, 900 islands, 1430 miles, and it may be collapsing.

Is Gen-Z the transformative generation?
Allan Patience

Is Gen-Z the transformative generation?

There is an epochal divide opening up between Gen-Z voters (born between 1997 and 2012) and previous generations that are beginning to struggle for relevance.

Five charts that show how young Australians are getting screwed
Intifar Chowdhury

Five charts that show how young Australians are getting screwed

Australia is becoming increasingly unequal. The story is unmissably generational: young Australians today face a tougher reality than their parents and grandparents.

The three core myths driving Israel’s war on Palestine
Raghid Nahhas

The three core myths driving Israel’s war on Palestine

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, one of the most outspoken moral critics within Israel itself, once summarised what he called the “three core values of Israeli society”: the belief that Jews are the chosen people; that they are the world’s ultimate victims; and that Palestinians are not equal human beings.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

The unvanquished will: Gaza’s triumph of spirit against the architecture of genocide
Ramzy Baroud

The unvanquished will: Gaza’s triumph of spirit against the architecture of genocide

For the last two years, my social media algorithm has been relentlessly dominated by Gaza, particularly by the voices of ordinary Gazans, displaying a blend of emotions that centres on two core principles: grief and defiance.

From illusion to real peace: Trump’s test in Gaza and Ukraine
Jeffrey D. Sachs,  Sybil Fares

From illusion to real peace: Trump’s test in Gaza and Ukraine

Real peace demands Palestinian statehood, Ukrainian neutrality and the courage to defy the war lobby.

The three core myths driving Israel’s war on Palestine
Raghid Nahhas

The three core myths driving Israel’s war on Palestine

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, one of the most outspoken moral critics within Israel itself, once summarised what he called the “three core values of Israeli society”: the belief that Jews are the chosen people; that they are the world’s ultimate victims; and that Palestinians are not equal human beings.

It's no longer possible to be a Palestinian in the West Bank
Gideon Levy

It's no longer possible to be a Palestinian in the West Bank

In the West Bank, no one has heard about the ceasefire in Gaza: not the army, not the settlers, not the Civil Administration and, of course, not the three million Palestinians who live under their tyranny. They do not feel the end of the war in the slightest.

The future of Palestine: What Australia must do
Stuart Rees

The future of Palestine: What Australia must do

Responding to continuing slaughter in Gaza is a test of Australian politicians and the government’s courage.

Australia’s role in the F-35 supply chain – what a tangled web we weave!
Jessica Morrison

Australia’s role in the F-35 supply chain – what a tangled web we weave!

The government’s ducking and weaving about military exports to Israel went up a whole new notch this month, arguing in Senate estimates that just because something was shipped from Australia, doesn’t mean it was exported from Australia.

If you write, you must also act: Reflections on the limitations of writing
Jaron Sutton

If you write, you must also act: Reflections on the limitations of writing

I've been thinking about failure a lot recently in the shadow of Gaza. About the failure of humans to prevent — yet again — the most serious of crimes. About the failure of politics. About the failure of international law. And about the failure of writing.

Chris Sidoti on the International Court of Justice Gaza ruling
Chris Sidoti,  Sally Sara

Chris Sidoti on the International Court of Justice Gaza ruling

Yuji Iwasawa, president of the UN's highest court, says international law prohibits the use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare.


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

Latest on China

Trump's rare earths deal to counter China was a badly needed 'Sputnik moment'
Alan Kohler

Trump's rare earths deal to counter China was a badly needed 'Sputnik moment'

The other day US President Donald Trump said: With a communist in charge? Look, you just go back a thousand years, it's been done many times, a thousand years, it's never worked once.

As Nobel laureates show, the US can’t take tech lead over China for granted
Alex Lo

As Nobel laureates show, the US can’t take tech lead over China for granted

It’s hard to tell who will ultimately win the tech race, but this year’s Nobel economics prize gives us some clues.

Trump, Xi and the ‘green paradox’: How China is building a climate-proof future
Holly Chik

Trump, Xi and the ‘green paradox’: How China is building a climate-proof future

Ambitious transformation of the country’s energy consumption and urban planning makes economic sense too, analysts say.


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.

Donate

More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

Premature expostulation

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

Trump may just be half-witted enough to believe that by doing a few deals with countries, that have deposits or rare earths that are capable of being mined in an economic manner, he will help the US, but if so he has simply confirmed the worldwide belief that he is a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Mining ain't the hard part when it comes to rare earths. Refining and processing are the hard bits and China has those wrapped up, for at least the next five to ten years. These are incredibly complex processes that can be...
The Enlightenment betrayed

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

The return of the Dark Ages of religious bigotry, superstition and unreason could not be better illustrated by the fact that supposedly intelligent people can take seriously the idea that a god, whose very existence is contested, has decided that the Jewish people are the chosen ones. What is even more extraordinary is that other supposedly sentient human beings from outside that self-interested group are prepared to give a moment's credibility to such a rationally and factually outrageous claim. What is never mentioned when this claim to being chosen is made is that the Torah is filled with...
Moral blindness

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

Whilst Justin Glyn may be physically blind, he displays a moral clarity that is admirable and which our political leaders in Australia demonstrate a total incapacity to mirror. Their reflexive moral cowardice demonstrates the duplicity at the heart of a West that emptily lectures the rest of humanity about our moral superiority, while every day demonstrating its mendacity and fraudulence in our actions. It also clearly reflects our continued disgraceful racism as we fawn over European Zionist mass murderers and colonialists whilst ignoring an occupied and abused other. This is a superbly written J'Accuse that reveals the...
The importance of transparency in public discourse

Brenda Tait — Northcote, Victoria

John Anderson’s contribution to the Boyer Lecture series largely focused on diminished trust in government, lack of civility in public discourse and the threat to democracy. However, Anderson’s account has significant omissions. He fails to acknowledge widespread public policy failures, the corrosive impact of concentrated media ownership and the lack of transparency in decision-making at all levels of government. He laboured over the housing crisis and home ownership, but other policy failures were ignored. Perhaps this explains Anderson’s two most egregious omissions and which pose the biggest threats to democracy and social cohesion. Firstly, the rise in inequality...



Latest from Al Jazeera

Lebanon’s Aoun calls for end to Israeli attacks in meeting with US envoy
Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, violating a November 2024 ceasefire agreement to end conflict with Hezbollah.
US kills 14 people in three strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats
The string of strikes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean brings the total known death toll from the US bombing campaign to 57.
OpenAI restructures into public-benefit firm, Microsoft takes 27% stake
The deal removes a major constraint on raising capital for OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and values firm at $500bn.
Palestinian grandparents care for 36 children orphaned by Israel in Gaza
More than 39,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both of their parents since Israel's war on Gaza began two years ago.
Israel claims Gaza deal breach over captive body, explosions heard in south
Gunfire, shelling and explosions have been reported in Rafah and the eastern part of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Israel orders new Gaza strikes after claiming Hamas breach over captives
Gunfire, shelling and explosions have been reported in Rafah and the eastern part of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.