Nuclear, Dutton, Albrechtsen, Trump.
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Saturday Mar 9
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This week we mapped out what Meta's withdrawal from news in Australia actually means, wondered why Peter Dutton is spending so much time with Gina Rinehart, and took stock after Labor's victory in the Dunkley by-election.

Elsewhere, what's next for Donald Trump, why the Matildas’ buzz hasn't transformed the women's A-league yet, and News Corp can't get enough of nuclear.

Plus can you guess which former prime ministers were Freemasons?
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
Editor
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This International Women’s Day, pink frosted cupcakes won’t empower the women in Gaza 
HANNAH FERGUSON

The day should not be cancelled — it should be fixed.

A displaced Palestinian woman holds her son outside a medical tent in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Feb 11, 2024 (Image: AAP/Reuters/Saleh Salem)
 
Post-Dunkley, an early federal election must look tempting to Labor
GUY RUNDLE

What Peter Dutton and the right were looking for in Dunkley — an inversion of support — simply didn’t happen. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Image: Image/Lukas Coch)
 
In (partial) defence of Janet Albrechtsen
BERNARD KEANE

Don't criticise Janet Albrechtsen for her role in the Sofronoff inquiry — target powerful people and institutions that allow and enable the tumour that is News Corp.

Bruce Lehrmann, Janet Albrechtsen and Walter Sofronoff (Images: AAP)
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How I got turned by China — at least according to the mainstream media
BERNARD KEANE

Bernard Keane went to China, and apparently is now an example of the 'coercive powers and surveillance capabilities' of China's intelligence services. Aw shucks, Keane writes.

The national flags of Australia and China (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
Zuckerberg’s abandonment of Australian media leaves journalists fighting for scraps
JAMES HENNESSY

The expiration of Meta's funding will certainly be felt by the Australian media giants — but it's the journalists who'll be most affected.

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Image: AAP/Reuters/Nathan Howard)
 
What’s going on between Peter Dutton and Gina Rinehart?
BERNARD KEANE

Peter Dutton doesn't just like to attend Gina Rinehart's parties — he seems to like taking policy advice from her too.

Gina Rinehart and Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
We now know the Reserve Bank has trashed the economy — and for what?
BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER

The Reserve Bank was reckless and incompetent when it lifted interest rates back in November, the latest economic data shows.

RBA governor Michele Bullock (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
 
Goodbye Super Tuesday: Donald Trump to wrap up nomination
CHARLIE LEWIS

Super Tuesday used to be an event. In 2024 it's simply a procession.

Former US president Donald Trump (Image: AAP/Rebecca Blackwell)
 
Dutton’s nuclear dream promises delays, cost blowouts and government debt
BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER

So long, small modular reactors — you've been ditched by the Coalition in favour of old-fashioned nukes and their staggeringly expensive electricity.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
‘Mr Dutton is right’: News Corp papers grant nuclear power glowing coverage
DAANYAL SAEED

News Corp has done a climate turnaround, spruiking the Coalition's new nuclear policy at every opportunity. But how much Kool-Aid have its reporters drunk?

Headlines from The Australian about nuclear power (Image: Private Media/Zennie)
 
Dutton’s nuclear push a ‘dumb idea’ and decades too late
ANTON NILSSON

'It doesn't make economic sense. It doesn't make energy sense. It doesn't make political sense.'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
The Matildas are off to Paris, but at home we’re failing our A-League women
KATELYN CAMERON

At a recent A-League fixture, there was no mention of the women's game to occur before the men's. Fans weren't even let into the stadium on time.

Sam Kerr (Image: AAP/Rick Rycroft)
 
Welcome to the farce of Super Tuesday, a dumbshow of Western democratic failure
GUY RUNDLE

The trouble is, Republicans really want Trump. They really, really want him.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump (Image: AP)
 
Matthew Guy, Menzies and Barton: A history of Freemasonry in Australian politics
CHARLIE LEWIS

The Freemasons, a secretive men-only club, enjoyed the patronage of conservative PMs of old... and Matthew Guy.

Former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy, a Freemason (Image: Zennie/Private Media)