Australia’s culture wars, Trump’s mayhem, and a fragile ceasefire

In this first New Politics podcast episode of 2025, we examine conservative calls to celebrate Australia Day (Invasion Day) despite widespread ambivalence, Sussan Ley’s bizarre comparison of the First Fleet to an Elon Musk Mars mission, and highlight Grace Tame’s “Fuck Murdoch” T-shirt controversy. We also look at the start of Donald Trump’s second term – marked by grandiose threats to seize the Panama Canal, claim Greenland, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico – as well as the Albanese government’s cautious response to Trump-like tactics from the Liberal and National parties. Finally, we discuss the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, questioning whether a sustainable peace is achievable amidst ongoing political strife, global struggles over narrative control, and human rights concerns.

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Song listing:

1. ‘Good Stuff’, The B-52s.
2. ‘Let Me Entertain You’, Robbie Williams.
3. ‘Off The Grid’, The Beastie Boys.
4. ‘Humiliation’, The National.