International Reading:
- ‘The American People Deserve It’: Democrats Reveal Their 3 Demands to Avoid a Shutdown. – Time
- Scott Bessent said Americans should skip toys for kids’ birthdays and instead invest in Trump’s accounts – Independent
- Melania Trump to earn at least $28M from Amazon for documentary deal: report – NY Post
- Partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely as Democrats demand major changes to ICE – AP News
- Homebuyers are backing out of deals at the fastest pace in nearly a decade – CNBC
- Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email – BBC
- US dollar sinks to its lowest level in four years – The Guardian
- Trump Says He’s Not Concerned With Decline of US Dollar – Bloomberg
- Census Bureau announces ‘negative net-migration,’ as DHS cites 3 million illegal immigrants deported. – Fox News
- Sam Altman Says OpenAI Is Slashing Its Hiring Pace as Financial Crunch Tightens – Futurism
- Ottawa, South Korea in auto manufacturing talks: sources – CTV News
- S&P 500 Hits 7,000 For First Time—Boosted By Tech Stocks – Forbes
- Fed holds interest rates steady as its independence comes under threat – CNN
Local Reading:
- Concerns domestic tenants required to share excessive personal data to secure leases – ABC
- ‘Not radical, it’s fair’: Australian households would receive compensation in proposed ‘polluter pays’ levy scheme – The Guardian
- “If It Looks Like A Terrorist Attack, Walks Like A Terrorist Attack, But Talks Like A One Nation Senator, Then It Isn’t A Terrorist Attack” Says Australian Media – Betoota Advocate [Satire]
- Tasmania takes control of ore stockpile after Liberty Bell Bay defaults on $20 million loan – ABC
- Health courses the most popular area of study for Australian university students in 2026, as IT enrolments fall – ABC
- Portable bonds scheme for NSW renters quietly delayed after flagged rollout missed – ABC
- Why haven’t police labelled Perth’s Invasion Day rally incident terrorism? Here’s what we know – ABC
- Sussan Ley says David Littleproud rejected offer of talks this week after Coalition breakup – The Guardian
- Nationals leader David Littleproud to face leadership challenge – SBS
- Tony Abbott intervenes in Liberal leadership battle calling on right to unite to oust Sussan Ley – ABC
- Tamworth was once the National Party’s heartland but with Barnaby Joyce’s move, support for One Nation is taking hold – ABC
- The male breadwinner is gone. Why working from home is necessary for modern families – SBS
- The 16-month battle to reveal the truth about Sydney Water’s poo balls – The Guardian
- Westpac raises most fixed rates, but cuts one – Interest.co.nz
- Bank switching surges to $5.8b in December, as total monthly mortgage lending tops $14b – Interest.co.nz
- 2025 a very good year for first home buyers – Interest.co.nz
- ANZ NZ economists cut annual house price growth forecast – Interest.co.nz
MB Media Appearances:
My latest podcast with Martin North at Digital Finance Analytics unpacks the various policy failures that are destroying the economy and living standards. These include housing, immigration, energy, and tax policies, among others.
This week’s podcast with Catherine Cashmore from Land Cycle Investor discusses the outlook for Australia’s property market and why it could face a painful reckoning. We also examine the drivers of the housing crisis and the crashes underway in Canada and New Zealand.
Last weekend’s Treasury of Common Sense on radio 2GB/4BC discussed the mass exodus of residents from Sydney due to expensive housing, which is forecast to continue. I also lambasted the new hate speech laws, which are a draconian attack on free speech and democracy.
