Wondering what you've been missing out on over at Crikey? Here's a taste of today's email, including Bernard Keane on torture carried out by the CIA, Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on journalism in the "golden age of surveillance" and what it would take to power a town solely on renewable energy. Want to know more about how the government has dumped the GP co-payment on GPs themselves, or Guy Rundle on why the Right commentariat is fueled by contempt? Click here to subscribe.
Abbott’s approval rating plunges. Mike Carlton: the shoddy fiction that took out the PM’s book award for history. Sharri Markson, best editor ever, not going anywhere (despite rumours). How the big four banks screw over small business. Why you’ll never grow up to be a foreign correspondent (in Australia, anyway). France’s plan to keep Abbott out of climate talks. Is Qantas heading for a crash? Razer’s tribute to Stella Young. And climate change not really a thing in Qld.
Keane: Murray inquiry a (much-needed) win for Hockey. “No time for inspiration porn”: Stella Young remembered. The year in review: 2014 was, ah, not a good year to seek asylum. Queensland police, brought to you by Santos. Walkleys gossip (the late edition). Murdoch sells voting shares. New Matilda out of court, for now. Poll Bludger: Fisher byelection is a sign of things to come. And the great Defence loo-paper mystery … solved?
All the buzz from last night’s Walkley awards: ABC budget cuts didn’t stop the (terrible) music. Top public servant misled Senate over CCTV spying. Our exclusive interview with Naomi Klein. How Hockey made his own job harder. Abbott reckons he didn’t buy Facebook fans -- but we’re not so sure. The problem with Morrison’s Cambodian solution. Andrew Robb shows his face at Lima climate talks. Ferguson and Oakes on keeping the bastards honest. And Alan Jones … resigns?
Crikey’s guide to Abbott’s end-of-year reshuffle (yep, he needs one). Morrison sells Palmer a pup on refugees. Rundle in the US: protests erupt over Eric Garner verdict. Shorten’s surprising tribute. Are we really headed for recession? War of the poets. The three biggest myths about East West Link. What happened to Daniel Andrews the cage fighter? Sky News nails its colours to the mast. And Razer: in defence of Barbie.
Round two in Pyne’s war on working-class kids. Have we reached peak Greens? Slow GDP growth just the news Hockey didn’t want for Christmas. News Corp plaintiff goes bankrupt. Awkward family moments in Prime Minister and Cabinet. The men vying for Vic Libs leadership. BuzzFeed eats Clickhole. Pyne not Wong on Wang. Vultures circle on Ten. And the Coalition MP who has trouble with the laydeez.
The real story behind Lambie’s dummy spit. Rundle on the people’s republic of Victoria. Crikey Clarifier: can WA really shut down remote communities? How the Texas Tribune became the darling of new media. Essential: Abbott says he’s kept the faith, voters disagree. Why Baird won’t go the way of Napthine. No starry eyes as climate talks kick off in Lima. Macquarie invests in cluster bombs. And Tony Blair’s creepy Christmas greetings.
Keane on Abbott’s mea culpa -- and why Hockey’s critics can smell blood. Poll Bludger’s full analysis of the Vic election, plus: deadlock in the upper house? Lambie holds the govt to ransom on defence pay. The zombie nukes debate is back. How ads on the ABC would sink commercial TV. The preference whisperer demands his due. What’s at stake for Australia in Lima climate talks. Controversial media jobs up for grabs. And Todd McKenney said what about Jacqui Lambie?
Keane: Abbott’s week from hell. How “full confidence” became the political kiss of death (and David Johnston better watch his back). Are we really a nation of boozers? Mayne’s AGM season wrap. The top five seats to watch in this weekend’s Vic election, plus: could the Libs still swing it? Engineers out of work: are they the canaries in the economic coal mine? A Current Affair’s teeny-bop blunder. Rundle on the great American sitcom. And vale Phillip Hughes.
Keane: what does Shorten stand for? One year on it’s still unclear. Abbott scrubs French nukes from official press transcript. You’ll never guess who turned up to the Fairfax Christmas party. J-school academics confront the Oz over that “exclusive”. Razer: ABC cuts call for a political defence. Would a train to Melbourne Airport be worth it? Cabcharge’s full-frontal assault on Uber. And premier material: we ask style gurus to assess the Vic leaders (ladies like Dan’s dimples, apparently).
