Sometimes we run a piece that is much longer than our usual 1000 word upper limit because it is worth it.

You may recall we ran Al Gore’s mighty San Francisco climate speech, in full, in May. He said: “… remember, the antidote to climate despair is climate action. It was in this city in the 1960s that Joan Baez first said that the antidote to despair is action. And we need to remember that now.” It rings as true now as it did six months ago.

Part of our job, the job our robust and informed P&I community have charged us with, is to identify true leadership – leadership that cuts through the cant and confusion, and inspires intelligent, evidence-based action.

This week the long essay, Ceding the future to China,  (((LINK PLS))) comes from Chas Freeman. It is one of the best essays on China and the US I have read. Freeman takes an unflinching look at his country, the “fear of eclipse”, and “lapse into xenophobia and authoritarianism”, and the deeply counterproductive results. We have also supplied a link to the video in case you prefer to watch or listen to Chas. I attempted to work while I listened and failed.

More all-consuming listening will arrive soon, as we tape the final Pearlcast for the year this week. I will be joined by political journalist, author and Monthly columnist, Karen Middleton; barrister and former national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, and regular P&I author, Greg Barns; and P&I founder and editor-in-chief, John Menadue. We will reflect on the high- and low-lights of 2025, and what it all means for 2026 and beyond. The episode will be out before Christmas, ready for long car drives, or as an antidote to the clatter of Christmas.

Also this week we start a series of articles looking ahead to the New Year. We start with a terrific piece (((LINK PLS))) from Aruna Sathanpally. She argues that the May Federal Budget must include a rebalanced income tax system and some big changes to the status quo. Further forecast pieces will come from writers you know and trust.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock you will know there are just seven days left for our critical end of year fundraiser. We are still well shy of the target and your need to help to get there. We can’t continue the work without you. Please give what you can here, and a reminder, because the appeal is running through the Australian Cultural Fund, the donation is tax deductible.

Sincere thanks to all who have already donated and also, importantly, to those who have taken the time to write and tell us about the part P&I plays in their lives. We love hearing your stories.

Until next week.