Rich James

Latest on Iran, Middle East, Mark Carney, Australian economy + the Coalition benches not knowing where to look when Tim Wilson burst into song in parliament:

What is Trump actually hoping to achieve with Iran war? Not even he knows... US President Donald Trump has failed to settle on a consistent justification for striking Iran, with critics saying he is simply 'throwing spaghetti at the wall'.

US President Donald Trump has failed to settle on a consistent justification for striking Iran, with critics saying he is simply ‘throwing spaghetti at the wall’.

As Crikey turns 26, human-made, independent journalism is more important than ever Crikey's attempt to circumvent traditional journalism in early 2000 was bold. But time has proved the cosy, safe world of legacy media is over.

Opinion | “Quality civic journalism in the post-news era is a niche endeavour. The days of mass media are over,” writes Private Media chair Eric Beecher. www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/02/i...

It's lonely being a SEND parent - my daughter shouldn't be treated with suspicion ​No one wants to be in our shoes, but perhaps those looking to reform the system should give it a go

New piece in @theipaper.com on my sadness at SEND children and families just being seen as a column in a spreadsheet that's got too big.
(and some very sweet remarks from our eldest that made me emotional):
inews.co.uk/opinion/lone...

PM labels Grace Tame 'difficult' at News Corp-hosted summit Anthony Albanese has raised ire by calling Grace Tame, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, 'difficult' at the Future Victoria Summit. Meanwhile, the Australian government is offering to evacuat...

Anthony Albanese has raised ire by calling Grace Tame, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, ‘difficult’ at the Future Victoria Summit. Meanwhile, the Australian government is offering to evacuate Australians from Iran.

PM labels Grace Tame 'difficult' at News Corp-hosted summit Anthony Albanese has raised ire by calling Grace Tame, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, 'difficult' at the Future Victoria Summit. Meanwhile, the Australian government is offering to evacuat...

PM Anthony Albanese labels Grace Tame ‘difficult’ at News Corp-hosted summit:
www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/26/g...
@crikey.com.au

Scoop: Australian company Appen is hiring gig workers to unknowingly train AI for US spy planes.

In some cases, workers are providing data to a military carrying out air strikes in their home countries.

with the UK's Bureau of Investigative Journalism

www.crikey.com.au/20...

Opinion | "​No one wants to be in our shoes, but perhaps those looking to reform the system should give it a go"

trib.al/gnnYQcc

It's lonely being a SEND parent - my daughter shouldn't be treated with suspicion ​No one wants to be in our shoes, but perhaps those looking to reform the system should give it a go

New piece in @theipaper.com on my sadness at SEND children and families just being seen as a column in a spreadsheet that's got too big.
(and some very sweet remarks from our eldest that made me emotional):
inews.co.uk/opinion/lone...

Angus, Tim and Predictable Switches
Angus, Tim and Predictable Sniping
Angus, Tim and Portfolio Switching
take your pick of my terrible attempts at a pun

Cam Wilson has done some really important journalism on the Palantir deals signed by the Australian government

Coalition support slumps as Liberals and Nationals reunite... again The Coalition's primary vote has dropped to 18% in the latest Newspoll following Ley and Littleproud's unconvincing truce, and Israel's prime minister will be greeted with hostility when he lands in A...

The Coalition’s primary vote has dropped to 18% in the latest Newspoll following Ley and Littleproud’s unconvincing truce, and Israel’s prime minister will be greeted with hostility when he lands in Australia today.

Could be all over by 9am this morning but let's see how they go.

John Howard enters the fray, urging Coalition to reunite The former Liberal prime minister says Sussan Ley should offer 'concessions' to the Nationals if necessary to keep the Coalition together, and The Washington Post has gutted its newsroom, firing nearly a third of its employees.

John Howard says Sussan Ley should offer "concessions" to the Nationals if necessary to keep the Coalition together, and The Washington Post has gutted its newsroom, firing nearly a third of its employees.

Trump, ICE set to be handed access to Australians' biometric data, ID documents

Exclusive | The Trump administration wants access Australia’s databases of biometric information and personal ID documents. Labor’s giving it to them, writes Bernard Keane.

Littleproud survives spill, but talks with Ley come to nothing The Coalition parties remain in stasis with both incumbent leaders clinging to their jobs, and former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has joined One Nation.

The Coalition parties remain in stasis with both incumbent leaders clinging to their jobs, and former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has joined One Nation.

Going to be a "fun" week in Canberra.
All the latest this morning:

Liberal 'cabal' looking to usurp Ley conspire on the day of colleague's funeral... and agree on nothing Six right-wing Liberal men were yesterday unable to decide who should challenge the party's first female leader. Meanwhile, the federal government is battling it out with the states and territories over hospital funding.

Six right-wing Liberal men were yesterday unable to decide who should challenge the party's first female leader. Meanwhile, the federal government is battling it out with the states and territories over hospital funding.

Revealed: Australia's $100 million investment in controversial surveillance giant Palantir Australia's Future Fund drastically increased its stake in Palantir in the year since Donald Trump took office, according to its latest figures.

NEW: Australia’s sovereign wealth fund now owns more than $100 million worth of shares in Palantir, a controversial tech company that’s powering the Trump administration’s anti-immigration efforts.

'It continues to blow my mind that people can feel uncomfortable in the presence of someone disabled'

Richard James with his daughter Holly, now two, says they have lost friends after people learn she has a rare genetic disorder

➡️Read more: trib.al/oETa4px

Thank you Joel, very kind. Hope you're well!

This is a very moving, brave piece whch starkly puts the wretched state of support for families with disabled children into vital focus

'One awful statistic that stands out is that in 2016/17 almost 97 per cent of new DLA claims were processed within 40 days. In 2023/24 it was just 3.5 per cent'

Millions of teens off social media following ban, government claims The Albanese government has said almost five million social media accounts believed to have belonged to children under 16 were deactivated within two days of the ban coming into force. Meanwhile the Coalition remains divided over proposed hate speech laws.

The Albanese government has said almost five million social media accounts believed to have belonged to children under 16 were deactivated within two days of the ban coming into force.

My daughter has a disability - the lack of empathy in Britain is mind-blowing In the year since Holly's diagnosis, we have experienced incredible kindness, frustrating delays and awful indifference

Starting the year reflecting on what I've learnt so far being a parent carer to our youngest daughter and the staggering lack of empathy and unfairness we (and so many other families) have experienced:
inews.co.uk/inews-lifest... - @theipaper.com

My daughter has a disability - the lack of empathy in Britain is mind-blowing In the year since Holly's diagnosis, we have experienced incredible kindness, frustrating delays and awful indifference

Starting the year reflecting on what I've learnt so far being a parent carer to our youngest daughter and the staggering lack of empathy and unfairness we (and so many other families) have experienced:
inews.co.uk/inews-lifest... - @theipaper.com

Chalmers tells Australians to brace for reduced spending in budget update The treasurer is warning Australians that the upcoming budget update will need to 'make room for unavoidable pressures', and the PM is resisting calls to change MPs' travel rules — or sack Anika Wells.

The treasurer is warning Australians that the upcoming budget update will need to "make room for unavoidable pressures", and the PM is resisting calls to change MPs' travel rules — or sack Anika Wells.

It begins: The teen social media ban starts now. Will it work? After months of endless discussion, Australia's world-first teen social media ban begins today. But will it succeed in keeping under-16s off the apps?

After months of endless discussion, Australia's world-first teen social media ban begins today. But will it succeed in keeping under-16s off the apps?

The Prime Minister credited 36 Months for convincing him to ban teens from social media.

This group accused experts who opposed the ban of being 'bought' by big tech. Meanwhile, it was lining up brand deals, eyeing global expansion & developing an AI tool to track students

www.crikey.com.au/20...

Wells travel scandal reaches fever pitch as more pollies dragged into expenses furore No politician is safe as the media's focus on parliamentary expenses entitlements intensifies, and the RBA will not cut rates in its final decision of the year.

No politician is safe as the media's focus on parliamentary expenses entitlements intensifies, and the RBA will not cut rates in its final decision of the year.

In two days, hundreds of thousands of teens will be cut off from the friends, groups and communities on social media.

From homeschooling meetups to buying used bikes, here's what teens say they're going to lose, in their own words.

www.crikey.com.au/20...