Highlights
“If the courts can’t stop a government acting outside the law, what safeguard is left?”
As the United States slides further towards autocracy under Donald Trump, I was asked to explain why his assault on the courts was especially dangerous — if the systems set up to protect democracy fail this test, frankly all bets are off.
“Part of trying to entertain people is surprising them..”
In September 2005, as the Pet Shop Boys released their soundtrack for the classic silent film “Battleship Potemkin”, I interviewed Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe for Classic FM about the project, and their (at the time) 20 years in pop.
“In Donald Trump’s White House, you can never been too sure what’s going to happen next..”
Keir Starmer flattered Donald Trump’s vanity during his trip to Washington, brandishing a letter from the King — and for a while it seemed he might have got through to Trump. 24 hours later, of course, Ukraine’s president was ambushed in the Oval Office.
“It’s the mood music - why is Australia snubbing the King?”
King Charles heads to Australia for his first Commonwealth visit since becoming monarch, but as he arrives a row continues over a controversial republican campaign video, and not a single one of the country’s state premiers will attend a reception for him. Is he being snubbed? A question I was asked on ABC Radio.
“We’re not anarchists, we’re satirists…”
A potted history of Count Binface, and Britain’s glorious tradition of “joke” election candidates, pricking the pomposity of normal politics.
“The Queen was sacrosanct… but the fascination with the royals won’t end..”
In the days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, I spoke to ABC Radio about the reaction in the UK, and my 10-plus years planning coverage of the death, as well as the wider relationship between the royals and the media. I’ve written about the media’s struggles to get the right tone at times like this here.
“Politicians are very keen not to say anything that could be seen as disrespectful”
Could Australia abandon the British monarchy, and become a republic with its own head of state? The debate’s been reignited after Queen Elizabeth’s death. The day after her funeral, I talked through current attitudes in an interview with Times Radio.
“It’s on a knife-edge…”
Australians must decide whether to change the country’s constitution, and set up an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It’s already caused huge debate across the country. But why is it happening? From a conversation on Monocle Radio.