Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 23h

Sure, but it’s not like this is in any way disqualifying for leadership in Australian politics

7

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 1d

I hope Waleed reads this

Daniel James @mrdtjames.bsky.social · 2d

How centrist politics is letting us down at time when democracy itself is under attack from the extremes. www.thespencerstreetend.com.au/p/in-the-mid...

In the Middle of Nowhere

How centrism lost its purpose and opened the door to the extremes.

www.thespencerstreetend.com.au

1 3

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 2d

You just know they're 100% gunna sanewash his weirdo christian nationalist stuff and rebrand it as common sense family values
#Auspol

2 1 22

Reposted by Michael Bell

Jessie L @jessielilley.bsky.social · 2d

The ageing fellas at the news desk have such a boner for a strong, young white man in politics they are going to will Hastie to the top of the pile whether we like it or not.

Opinion piece in the 9Papers:

Hastie's got the right stuff but one obsession may fast-track or derail his ambitions
By Peter Hartcher
October 11, 2025 - 5.00am
"The train coming down the tracks isn't the one that you expected. It's not the one advertised on the board," says actor Benedict Cumberbatch playing the role of a pro-Brexit strategist.
"Well, tough," he says. "It isn't even the one that I imagined. But I accept it. And you can't stop it," he says in the 2019 movie Brexit: The Uncivil War in the persona of the notorious Dominic Cummings, adviser to Boris Johnson.
"There is a new politics in town. One that you cannot control."

Article extract:

As he read his charter letter from his leader, Sussan Ley, setting out his duties as opposition home affairs spokesman, he realised he would have no part in immigration policy - opposition immigration spokesman Paul Scarr, not Hastie, would "lead" and "develop" the policy. Hastie practised his personal policy of a
48-hour cooling off before making any major decision.
At this point, a more typical politician would accept the ruling, but then begin a quiet campaign of leaking and undermining against the leader. Hastie did not.
He was careful to take counsel with a handful of trusted allies, including only two Liberal MPs, so that he couldn't be accused of "doing the
numbers" as a prelude to a leadership challenge.
He told the most trusted of his trusted circle, his wife, Ruth, that he'd have to take a 25 per cent pay cut if he went ahead with the resignation. She rejoined that the family budget would simply have to adjust.

18 27 110

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 2d

We need more class traitors like Pocock.

And fewer like Albanese.

#Auspol

2 16

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 2d

Did Chip buy them all?

1 4

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 3d

On a slightly unrelated note…
How’s the state of this guy’s head?
Classic 2GB bonce

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 3d

3. The Trinity Session
2. Temple of Low Men
1. Lovetown

Based this one on the condition of the CDs in our collection at home.
(also made it easier that they were all filed under “C”)

2

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 3d

Your classic win-win situation

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

4

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 4d

Consultants rejoice!

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 4d

Imagine thinking: “You know what, I’ll just get Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan’s considered and even handed opinion on this environmental legislation we’re drafting…”
#Auspol

Watt nears deal with Coalition to finally overhaul environment laws

Environment Minister Murray Watt will sit down with his Liberal counterpart Angie Bell today, with quiet optimism in both parties that a deal might soon be struck to finally rewrite Australia's "broke...

www.abc.net.au

3 5 19

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 4d

This is like proudly saying: “My grandfather fought against communism in 1944”

2

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 4d

Consider it a companion piece to that fluffing article on Hastie.

Kind of a two-for-one deal on religious weirdos.

1

Reposted by Michael Bell

Nathan Wind @nwind.bsky.social · 4d

What is wrong with the Age.

Not sure this would even get a run in The Catholic Weekly.

The Age (unofficial) @theage.nzcow.com · 4d

📢 The third title in journalist and author Greg Sheridan’s trilogy about Christianity explores its evolution and influence on Western civilisation.

The lessons we can learn from Jesus’ early radical era

www.theage.com.au

3 1 13

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 5d

Bill Pullman and Zoe Kravitz

1 2

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks Alex. So glad you enjoyed the film 👍🏼

1

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 5d

I remember the lazy and/or compliant political media breathlessly jumping on board with it immediately.

1 1 7

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 5d

How good is class solidarity?

1

Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 5d

The good news is that class solidarity is alive and well in Australia

The bad news is that it only works in this way 🤬

Michael West @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social · 5d

ASIC doesn't prosecute bankers, or NACC the perpetrators of Robodebt.

@yelgeb.bsky.social on the blistering double standard in prosecuting white collars v blue, and protecting corporate reputations
#auspol #ANZ #austrac
michaelwest.com.au/asic-nacc-ex...