Fran Lebowitz on smoking, Trump and today's young people being another species

When Fran Lebowitz was growing up in suburban New Jersey in the 1950s, she won a school award for being “the Class Wit” – and in her 50-year career as a writer and speaker, she’s repeatedly earned that label. Among her countless famous aphorisms, this zinger: "The best fame is a writer's fame. It's…

Labor’s baby a ‘honeypot of fraud’ and the gas tax’s viral moment

Today, we are talking about one of the federal budget’s trickiest customers - the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Labor was once like a proud parent of the NDIS, but now even the minister in charge, Mark Butler, is describing the scheme as a honeypot for organised crime. Also this week, an …

Labor’s baby a ‘honeypot of fraud’ and the gas tax’s viral moment

Today, we are talking about one of the federal budget’s trickiest customers - the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Labor was once like a proud parent of the NDIS, but now even the minister in charge, Mark Butler, is describing the scheme as a honeypot for organised crime. Also this week, an …

The case for a Bombers’ boilover

Essendon haven’t won on Anzac Day since COVID times, but Andrew Wu and Peter Ryan are yet to be convinced by Collingwood, and say the Dons are not without hope on Saturday. Gold Coast, likewise, pose a threat to Hawthorn’s winning streak, but would have to conquer their own Launceston hoodoo to cau…

The ‘axis of upheaval’ that's forming against the West

Since the Cold War ended more than 35 years ago, many of us have likely not given much thought to Bloc warfare. Those nuclear threats that the Western and Eastern Blocs hurled at each other? A thing of the past. But lately, the beginnings of a return to Bloc warfare have revealed themselves. Toda…

Dragons blood bath and the Red V rebuild

After their seventh straight loss to start the season, St George Illawarra have finally swung the axe with head coach Shane Flanagan departing the club at the start of the week. And new coach Dean Young has wasted no time leaving his imprint on the Dragons after being handed the job on an interim …

The likely change to the capital gains tax and the 'Ponzi scheme' of housing

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is slated to make a big change to the tax system, with the centrepiece of the May budget a change totaxing capital gains on property. Will the likely tweaks reduce skyrocketing house prices, or address intergenerational inequality? Today, senior economics correspondent Shan…

The uprising in women's basketball

There’s been something of a revolt in women’s basketball in the United States, and two Australians – Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor – are among the biggest winners. Today, sports reporter Frances Howe on the multimillion-dollar deals netted by these Australian stars, as a result of a very simple de…

How did the Blues fail Elijah Hollands?

Carlton are under scrutiny for their management of Elijah Hollands in their heartbreaking loss to Collingwood. Magpie Nick Daicos and Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron deliver virtuoso performances, the Bulldogs lose one of the AFL’s brightest young stars to a shattering injury and the luck of the Irish smi…

How Lego became the black market’s hottest trade

Just picture it: under the cover of night, police detectives raid a clandestine drug lab in Melbourne belonging to an organised crime gang. But instead of picking through just the usual: beakers, wads of cash and perhaps the unmistakable acetone odour of ICE, they stumble on something else. Boxes …