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.
“We’re not anarchists, we’re satirists…”
A potted history of Count Binface, and Britain’s fine tradition of “joke” election candidates, pricking the pomposity of normal politics. Often, their ‘wacky’ policies have found their way into the mainstream.
“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.