Latest news with #ECU
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
The neediest people were let down again by the lawmakers they voted for. It's baffling.
Cathy Price's words stopped me cold. She's a 72-year-old woman who worked as a nurse at Martin General in a rural part of North Carolina. That area stands to be particularly hard hit by the 'big beautiful bill' Republicans passed and President Donald Trump signed into law on the 249th anniversary of this country's birth. Martin General was part of ECU Health, a not-for-profit system that serves about 1.4 million people in eastern North Carolina, including rural areas in Martin County. ECU planned to reopen Martin General, at least for emergency and some diagnostic services. It closed in 2023, then North Carolina finally agreed to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), giving residents hope their local hospital would return. The nearest hospital is a 30- to 40-minute drive away. 'We're in a life-and-death crisis,' Price told The New York Times. 'People's lives are on the line because of the hospital not being here.' She knows the dire situation facing rural residents in Martin County, and elsewhere. Still, she told The Times she supports President Trump's supposed efforts to rid Medicaid of fraud and waste. What she and many other Trump supporters don't seem to understand is that in the eyes of Trump and most other Republicans in Washington, D.C. — including the ones rural North Carolina residents sent to the nation's capital to represent them — they are the fraud and waste. They are the lazy 'able-bodied' people, supposedly addicted to government assistance, who hate having to take care of themselves. They are the problem Republicans are trying to solve, the sacrifice the GOP just made to ensure the wealthiest Americans and corporations can receive yet another massive tax cut. The wealthiest Americans did not need even more money in their pockets, but Price's neighbors and friends in Martin County need the health care that will be taken away, or may never materialize, because of the 'big beautiful bill' billionaire Trump can't stop crowing about. The Medicaid coverage that, as recalled in The Times article, allowed 58-year-old Lori Kelley in Harrisburg to save a finger and detect two tumors? That might be going away. But at least private plane and yacht owners are gonna have yet another way to write off some of their tax obligations. For decades now, rural residents have been flocking to the Republican Party. It's mostly been white rural residents, but a small but not-insignificant number of Black and brown rural residents have joined them. Theories abound as to why. Political analysts will point to policies such as NAFTA, which has been blamed for the loss of manufacturing jobs in rural areas. I grew up in St. Stephen, S.C., and saw the Georgia Pacific paper plant that had sustained us close and leave a devastating void. At least four of my family members worked there. As a journalist, I documented the closing of a bevy of manufacturing plants, including International Paper and Georgetown Steel in Georgetown, and an electricity-producing plant in Conway. The shifts in manufacturing are complex and multilayered. They've caused real harm to real people. But there is no one cause, which is why I don't believe that can explain the voting shifts. And the two parties have been exceedingly clear about their priorities. When Democrats are given power, they fight to expand health care coverage, strengthen the safety net and argue for a living wage and higher taxes on the wealthy. The GOP does the opposite. (The same can be said of how the parties view disaster preparedness and assistance. The Trump administration is trying to dismantle FEMA even as natural disasters are causing even more harm and killing more people. Democrats want to better fund such agencies.) During Trump's first term, one of the Republicans' top goals was to fully uproot Obamacare, risking the lives of tens of thousands of Americans and the health of millions. The 'big beautiful bill' helped the GOP partially accomplish that goal – at the expense of Price and her rural North Carolina neighbors. It's one of the most baffling truisms of the modern political era. The neediest Americans repeatedly empower the people most likely to ignore their most-pressing needs.
Sky News AU
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
ABC's Sally Sara wins award for 'most unbalanced interview of the year', as cartoonists at Nine, the Guardian paint US as villain over Iran war
Read Gerard Henderson's Media Watch Dog column every Saturday morning on THE LATEST IT'S GONG AGAIN TIME FOR MWD FAVE PHILLIP ADAMS ON THURSDAY 3 JULY At last some GOOD NEWS. Media Watch Dog fave Phillip ('Have I told you more than a score of times that I was a teenage commie') Adams has just received another gong. How do we know this? Well, Comrade Adams put out this post on Elon Musk's X at Hangover Time on Thursday 3 July and a member of the Newcastle Soviet forwarded it to MWD. So, it's Farewell to Phillip Adams AO, AM, Hon DUniv (Griffith), Hon DLitt (ECU), Hon DUniv (SA), DLitt (Syd), Hon. DUniv (Macquarie), FRSA, Hon FAHA. And it is Arise Phillip Adams AO, AM, Hon DUniv (Griffith), Hon DLitt (ECU), Hon DUniv (SA), DLitt (Syd), Hon. DUniv (Macquarie), FRSA, Hon FAHA, Hon. (Newcastle). NEW AWARD – MWD AWARD FOR THE MOST UNBALANCED INTERVIEW IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND THE WINNER IS SALLY SARA Here's how the segment commenced on ABC Radio National on 18 June 2025: Sally Sara: That was the chair of the UN independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory in Israel, Navi Pillay. She's just presented her report to the UN Human Rights Council, which says that Israel has committed crimes against humanity with a clear goal in mind, quote, "the destruction of life in Gaza". It comes as fighting between Iran and Israel escalates. Israel has made the case that its actions are in self-defence. Iran, on the other hand, has told the United Nations Security Council that Israel's strikes are unlawful. So the question remains, where do Israel's actions lie in line with international law? William Schabas is a professor of international law at Middlesex University. I spoke with him a short time ago. William Schabas: Yes, thank you. Sally Sara: What do you make of these remarks from Navi Pillay from the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory? William Schabas: Well, this is not the first report that she's issued. She was formerly the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, and she has headed this commission now for really, since it was set up in late 2023. You know, the conclusions and the observations are consistent. And so it continued. Professor Schabas went on supporting the view of Navi Pillay and Comrade Sara did not challenge him at all. There followed such questions as: Sally Sara: From your point of view, do you think that genocide is currently happening in Gaza and the West Bank? William Schabas: Oh, yes… And this: Sally Sara: When looking at genocide, how important is it to consider both the actions that are occurring but also the language that you're talking about, which gives some indication of intent here, why those actions are happening? And this: Sally Sara: What do you think about a couple of the defences which are often put forward by Israeli officials, and we've certainly had interviews on this program where it's been the case. One is the defence of self-defence, and the other, in terms of what's happening in Gaza, is Israel denying that it is the occupying force. What do you think when you hear those arguments? William Schabas: Well, those are old arguments…. And this: Sally Sara: Professor William Schabas, thank you so much for your analysis and expertise this morning. It's been valuable. Thank you. William Schabas: Thank you. There was no push-back at any time from Ms Sara. It was, indeed, the softest interview of the year so far. MWD will award this prize again in December – for the second half of the year. CAN YOU BEAR IT? INSIDERS 'TALKING PICTURES' FANGS THE UNITED STATES WHILE GOING SOFT ON IRAN You've got to admire photographer Mike Bowers. He was involved in a late-night dinner some decades ago with Barrie Cassidy and a senior ABC manager in Europe or somewhere when the decision was made to create the ABC TV Insiders program. In addition to Cassidy, others who attended were ABC executive Max Uechtritz, former ABC producer Gaven Morris and photographer Mike Bowers. Your man Cassidy became the presenter of Insiders from its birth in July 2001 until his retirement in June 2019, and Comrade Bowers ended up presenting the 'Talking Pictures' segment. Comrade Bowers has stayed on every Sunday doing much the same thing in a leftist kind of way on his 'Talking Pictures' segment. The idea of 'Talking Pictures' is to get cartoonists and occasionally photographers to comment on the work of their cartoonist mates – along with, on occasions, the work of photographers. It's no surprise, then, that Bowers and his guests invariably praise the work of cartoonists/photographers. It is only rarely that there is any criticism. Which makes the segment somewhat boring and invariably predictable. For a long time, Comrade Bowers – who recently moved from the leftist Guardian Australia to the leftist New Daily – ignored the work of The Australian's Johannes Leak, one of Australia's finest cartoonists and artists. However, after Media Watch Dog commented on his absence, Leak's work now gets cited briefly every now and then. Such as last Sunday. However, 'Talking Pictures' is essentially a manifestation of the taxpayer funded public broadcaster as a Conservative Free Zone with leftists talking to, and about, other leftists. Here's how it commenced on Sunday 29 June: Mike Bowers: I'm Mike Bowers and I'm photographer-at-large for The New Daily . I'm talking pictures this morning with freelance cartoonist Glen Le Lievre . And a very warm welcome back. Glen Le Lievre: Morning Mike, glad to be here. Mike Bowers: We seem to stumble from one Trumpastrophe to another. He shocked the world again using stealth bombers. It's not so much the Manhattan Project as the Madhattan Project. Glen Le Lievre: Spare a thought for the poor dove, what it must be like to be trapped in there. Mike Bowers: This is your cartoon, Glen, dove of peace here is not going to outrun the mushroom cloud. How about that? First up, Comrade Bowers elected to discuss a Glen Le Lievre cartoon with, yes, Comrade Le Lievre. Both comrades thought his cartoon was pretty funny. Quelle Surprise! By the way, Bowers did refer to The Madhattan Project. 'The Madhatter Project' would have worked better if he was going for a joke. But there you go. Needless to say, the segment was essentially a leftist rant. For starters, contrary to Le Lievre's cartoon, the US's air attack on Iran was not an assault on a peaceful dove. The US attacked the nuclear facilities of Iran – which is a theocracy that kills or imprisons its dissenters, suppresses women, funds terrorist organisations and fired missiles indiscriminately into Israel in October 2024 and April 2025. It didn't get any better. The Bowers-Le Lievre duo showed give-peace-a-chance cartoons by Harry Bruce ( Cairns Post ), David Pope ( Australian Financial Review ), Fiona Katauskas ( Guardian Australia), David Rowe ( Australian Financial Review ), Megan Herbert (Nine Newspapers) and Matt Golding (Nine Newspapers). All were critical to a greater or lesser extent of the United States or Israel. Not one was critical of Iran. There were references to a couple of non-leftist cartoonists – whom Comrade Le Lievre criticised. Let's go to the transcript: Mike Bowers: Warren Brown has been on fire recently, and he's witnessing the A-bomb 1945 with military here in New Mexico, watching Trinity and witnessing the F-bomb 2025, as the press blocks its ears because the president dropped the F-bomb. Glen Le Lievre: Thank God Warren decided to do the F-bomb drawing so the rest of us didn't have to. Somewhat dismissive, don't you think? And then there was this: Mike Bowers: Glen, Trump's approach to Iran is something he swears by, and there's definitely a surplus in the swear jar here, according to Johannes Leak. So Albo's defence budget is just a couple of buttons. Glen Le Lievre: Defence from whom, from what? The Chinese? I mean, if they're coming for our buttons, they're too late. Another dismissive comment about a conservative cartoonist. Le Lievre fails to understand that China does not have 'to come for' Australia. Australia can be dominated by any unfriendly nation which interdicts Australia's sea lanes and/or flight paths. That's why defence is important. And here's how 'Talking Pictures' ended: Mike Bowers: Glen, you've got the bomb as a shark-like figure here eating the kids. Glen Le Lievre: Every box of kids is guaranteed to have your daily requirement of snap crackle and please stop. Mike Bowers: Yeah, please stop. I love 'Free Nobel Prize inside!' Glen Le Lievre: You've got to get to the bottom of the box. Quite an achievement when you think about it – even if you don't. All up, the Bowers/Le Lievre duo showed 11 cartoons – and two were drawn by Comrade Le Lievre. That's 18 per cent according to MWD. And the segment ended with the duo talking about Le Lievre . Can You Bear It? (FALSE) PROPHET CHAS LICCIARDELLO'S PREDICTION THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS TO BE A LAME DUCK PRESIDENT DROWNS IN THE ABC's SITUATION ROOM In recent times, the ABC has increased its resources in the United States. Indeed, it sent John Lyons to Washington DC in the new position of Editor Americas. Never mind that he was back in Australia, around the time of the release of his latest book, when the Canadian election took place. These things happen. As avid Media Watch Dog readers know, Comrade Lyons is on record as having said that he intends to interpret the Trump administration to Australians. And President Donald J. Trump is not a Canadian. Not yet, at any rate. So your man Lyons' views on Canada don't matter much. But Ellie's (male) co-owner digresses. In the absence of Lyons on leave, Australians have to rely on the taxpayer-funded public broadcaster's Planet America to find out what's going on in the US. This is how the ABC currently describes this program: Planet America Coming to you from the Situation Room, John Barron and Chas Licciardello cut through the spin as they discuss the people, policies and politics from the week in Donald Trump's second term in the White House. Planet America is on a production break. Chas and John will return soon. Alas, Planet America is on what journalists like to call a W.E.B. – as in Well Earned Break. MWD can barely wait for its return. In the meantime, here's a refresher on the Thought of Chas Licciardello. It occurred on 12 December 2024 – around six weeks before Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Let's go to the transcript where Comrade Chas discussed US politics with presenter David Marr on Radio National's Late Night Live (aka Late Night Left). Chas Licciardello: Trump, right now is at the zenith of his power. It only goes down from here. He comes a lame duck or a lame dog, so to speak, from here. David Marr: Thank you for that. Yes. Lotsa thanks for that. Now, as avid readers know, since returning to the Oval Office close to six months ago, President Trump has been very, very busy. Among other things, he has introduced a new tariff regime or 'Liberation Day', put his somewhat hyperbolically named 'Big and Beautiful Bill' to Congress, presided over the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, had a bust-up with Elon Musk, engaged in a row with Ukraine's president Vladimir Zelensky and more besides. Yet it's just six months ago that your man Chas, the ABC's home-based 'expert' on matters America, declared that Trump was at the zenith of his power and was about to become 'a lame duck or, perhaps, a lame dog'. How's that for a false prediction? What planet is Chas on? And here's another question: Can You Bear It? That's Chas and John in the ABC 'SITUATION ROOM' at Ultimo in inner-city Sydney AS VERBAL BOMBS GO OFF IN THE PENTAGON'S PRESS ROOM, THE ABC TV NEWS CHANNEL FALLS ASLEEP ON THE JOB Unlike the topic of the taxpayer-funded public broadcaster's coverage of the Trump administration, there was enormous interest in MWD's comments last week about the handling of the aftermath of the US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Or, rather, the ABC's lack of coverage of same. Soon after 10 pm (AEST) on Thursday 28 June there was a conference at the Pentagon which was addressed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dan Caine. As MWD pointed out last week, it was a riveting occasion. Hegseth attacked sections of the media for their coverage of the US military action. And Caine gave considerable detail about the extraordinary military action when US stealth bombers flew for 36 hours from the US to Iran and back. As President Trump put it – from 52,000 feet the B-2 bombers successfully dropped 14 bunker-busting bombs on designated targets in Iran – each around the size of a refrigerator door. In Australia the Pentagon press conference could be watched live on Foxtel – either Fox News or Sky News – or on Sky News Regional. However, the ABC TV News channel had an early night. Can You Bear It? A MARK KENNY MOMENT Wasn't it great to see Mark ('Please call me Professor Kenny') Kenny back on ABC TV Insiders on Sunday 29 June? As Media Watch Dog readers know, your man Kenny has – in the words of the late Kitty Muggeridge – risen without trace. After a brief stint as a student at the University of Adelaide he went to work for a socialist left backbench Labor MP in the South Australian Parliament. From there, Comrade Kenny became an ABC producer in Canberra and then it was on to a journalist position at Fairfax Media. Then, lo and behold, it was a matter of 'Arise Professor' as Comrade Kenny was given a professorship at the Australian National University. Quite an achievement since, according to MWD's research, he has neither academic teaching experience nor any substantial publications – apart from newspaper articles and columns. It is not clear whether or not the learned professor teaches any students at the ANU. But he does put out a podcast called 'Democracy Sausage' which is of little interest to the vegans in our midst – among others. And he is a regular panellist on the ABC TV Insiders program. COMRADE KENNY STUMBLES AS HE FANGS THE LIBERAL PARTY OVER ITS FEMALE REPRESENTATION Did anyone catch the comment by Mark ('Please call me Professor') Kenny in the 'Final Observations' segment of Insiders last Sunday? If not – here it is in its full (verbal sludge) form. In other words, this seems to be what passes for scholarship when professors meet at the taxpayer-subsidised Australian National University. David ('Please call me Speersy') Speers was the presenter and Professor Kenny chose to discuss the Liberal Party and its leader Sussan Ley: David Speers: Mark. Mark Kenny: Just on the scale of the – uh – the women problem that the Liberal Party has. Labor will have more women in the parliament than the Coalition, right? has MPs, right? – Uh – Labor will have – um – a majority in both houses. Ley will have five women behind her, sitting behind her, when she's sitting at the dispatch box. Um – uh – so they could all travel to Parliament in the same car effectively. Whereas Labor's contingent of women would need a full-size bus. Uh – there are more women in the Teals than in the Liberal Party – uh – parliamentary Liberal Party. Um – the, the, the minor party of the Greens has more women in it than the Liberal Party has, has women. Um – and in fact, there are more Greens with hyphenated names than there are Liberal women in the parliament. So, I mean, it's a fairly significant problem. What is – uh a really, um, significant problem – right? – is that Professor Kenny could not make an – um – obvious point without being hopelessly wrong for the most part. The learned professor is wrong. There are not more women in the Teals than in the Parliamentary Liberal Party. There are six Teals in the House of Representatives. There are 19 women in the Parliamentary Liberal Party – 6 in the House of Representatives and 12 in the Senate. The learned professor is wrong. The Greens do not have more women than the Parliamentary Liberal Party. The Greens party has 7; the Liberal Party has 19. The learned professor is wrong. There are not more Greens with hyphenated names than there are Liberal women in parliament. There are 5 Greens members belonging to what Paul Keating once called the hyphenated-name set. There are 19 women in the Parliamentary Liberal Party. It was hardly 'news' – even on Insiders – for Mark Kenny to state that the Parliamentary Liberal Party needs greater female representation. Yet the learned professor tried to make a joke about this – while managing to get his (alleged) facts wrong. Even though he used notes to make his point. Verily a Mark Kenny Moment. An avid reader has just drawn my attention to an interview which Comrade Kenny did with Peter FitzSimons in the Sun-Herald on 11 May 2025. It was part of the '5 Minutes with Fitz' series – which, I am sure you will agree, is a long time to spend reading something written by The Red Bandannaed One of recent memory. It's notable that the ANU professor did not contest Comrade FitzSimons' evident sexism and ageism. Here we go: Fitz: What I saw when they crossed from the Dutton concession speech [on election night] to the Albanese victory speech was a cross from a room of grieving old white men and their good lady wives with twin pearls and a fresh hairdo, to a cheering mob of all ages, colours, sexualities and no doubt – let's say it – even genders that actually looked like Australia. MK: Precisely…. And then there was this: Fitz: When I do your course, professor, I've decided upon my PhD thesis: 'By being 'woke', the ALP has made itself stronger. By rejecting it, the LNP are circling oblivion'. I shall make the case that when organisations go 'woke', they become more powerful, more connected and reactive to the world they're in, and more successful. MK: Exactly…. [This was the first time I have heard that Professor Kenny actually teaches courses at the ANU. This might be worth checking out. – MWD Editor.] DOCUMENTATION THE GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA'S FIRST EDITOR KATH VINER GETS FACT-CHECKED IN PRIVATE EYE Media Watch Dog has always resented the entry into Australia of The Guardian (the avowedly leftist British newspaper which commenced publication in Manchester in 1821 funded by the profits made from the slave trade). As avid readers know, The Guardian Australia was the idea of one-time Liberal Party leader and prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Your man Turnbull wrote in his book Malcolm Turnbull: A Bigger Picture (Hardie Grant Books, 2020) about how he did this. Turnbull was apparently of the view that the Australian media was not left-wing enough. [Really. – MWD Editor.] So he approached Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian in Britain, and suggested to a left-wing business guy in Australia that he 'use his fortune to bankroll an Australian edition of The Guardian '. Turnbull also introduced Rusbridger 'to two seasoned Canberra political writers, Lenore Taylor and Katharine Murphy (aka Murpharoo)'. And so it came to pass that Rusbridger's deputy Kath Viner was dispatched to the colonies to set up The Guardian Australia as its first editor. Comrade Viner returned to the Mother Country circa 2015 and was replaced by Comrade Taylor as editor with Comrade Murpharoo as her political editor. The former is still in situ at The Guardian headquarters in inner-city (where else?), Sydney. The latter recently stepped down as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's senior press secretary. Ellie's (male) co-owner is of the view that avid readers would like to know how the socialist Kath Viner is doing while toiling for the masses in London. Thanks to Private Eye for this entry in its 'Street of Shame' column in its edition of 13-26 June 2025: Prophet & Loss Understandably preferring to avoid the newspaper she is in charge of, Guardian editor Kath Viner spends much of her time these days writing lengthy posts on LinkedIn, where last week she celebrated the 10th anniversary of her appointment as boss. 'On June 1st 2015 we were pre-Brexit, pre-Trump, pre-pandemic, pre-AI. The Guardian was making big losses and the business model was not sustainable. When I see photos from my first day, I look so innocent!' she chortled. 'It has been constantly challenging and I have taken some tough decisions to build the Guardian's future – we now have 1.3 m people in every country in the world who support our journalism financially.' Fun fact: in the financial year up to 2015, when Viner took over as editor, the Guardian lost £17.6m. In the last set of accounts, losses stood at £38.2m – though staff were assured last month they are likely to come down to 'less than £25m' for 24-25. When paying membership of the Guardian passed the 1m mark way back in November 2018, Viner still felt confident enough to boast of the success of the paper's actual pages. 'This means that within just three years, the Guardian is on a path of being sustainable. We hope to break even by April 2019,' she told readers. The Guardian Australia is reported to have paid back its seed funding to Turnbull's millionaire mate. However, it is noted in media circles in Australia for paying its wage-slaves low remuneration. Meanwhile, The Guardian in London continues to survive on the funds it gets from The Scott Trust Limited – something that its editor Kath Viner seems not to know. [Interesting. I do not recall that either Comrade Taylor or Comrade Murpharoo ever declared their Malcolm Turnbull- Guardian connection when they were on the couch of the ABC TV Insiders program (producer Samuel Clark). – MWD Editor.] NEW SEGMENT: MWD RAILS AGAINST CLICHÉS & JOURNALISTS TELLING OTHERS TO 'GET REAL' THIS WEEK STARRING NINE'S JAMES MASSOLA Ellie's (male) co-owner just loved it when, every morning, ABC Radio National Breakfast would interview a bloke or sheila from the Canberra Press Gallery about Australian national politics. Over the years, such MWD faves as Paul ('They call me Bonge but not as often as used to be the case') Bongiorno, Nine's David Crowe and more besides. Especially since the interviewers were the likes of Fran (I'm an activist') Kelly and Patricia ('Please call me PK') Karvelas. Now, alas, RN's Breakfast is under the new management, so to speak, of presenter Sally Sara. And the segment with Canberra Bubble media types occurs only once a week on Fridays after the 8 am News. These days James Massola is national affairs editor for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald . He appeared on the RN Breakfast discussing Australian national politics on Friday 27 June – along with the program's Melissa Clarke (who seems to be on everything every day) and Katina Curtis (of the West Australian ). This is what Comrade Massola had to say, in somewhat turgid language, about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conference on the US attack on Iran and more besides. Let's go to the transcript: James Massola: ..I know there was some things going on in the PM's personal life at the time Sal, which he hasn't spoken about publicly, which I won't now. But it was an odd - sorry - an odd press conference. And I kind of came away thinking, "well, okay, this is what progressive patriotism", you know, which is a phrase that Anthony Albanese is bandying around the moment. He's, you know, trying to, if you like, slightly reorient our Foreign Policy to be very much sort of focused on our region, if you like. And I thought this is a manifestation of that. He doesn't want us to be the country that, you know, under John Howard, for example, would send off one, you know, if you like - I shouldn't say it, but I will say it - a token, you know, naval vessel, or what have you, to a task force or a group. And sort of, you know, maybe we don't contribute all that much, but we're there. He [Anthony Albanese] wants us as a country to be slightly, uh, well, to be orientated in a slightly different way. And that's what we've seen this week. Sally Sara: Of course, for those ADF people who are deployed, even if it's a small deployment – it is a challenging and active deployment, for those ADF personnel. James Massola: – Which is why I said it hesitantly, absolutely Sal. What a load of absolute tosh. Correct MWD if it is wrong, but you know, if you like, it was sort of the Hawke Labor government which sent one naval vessel to the First Gulf War. The Howard Coalition government, on the other hand, sent Australia's SAS to the Second Gulf War and to Afghanistan (along with other members of the Australian Defence Force). This was more than a token commitment. Hendo shouldn't say it – but he well, sort of, you know, Nine's man in the Canberra Bubble got this wrong. And then there was this when presenter Sally Sara turned the topic to the Liberal Party and women: James Massola: I'm gonna take, I would like to make a couple of points about Sussan Ley this week. I think it's been underestimated the significance of a Liberal leader saying, "actually, I'm opening the door", or 'I'm open to quotas'. I think that was a big deal. And secondly, on Angus Taylor, I mean, I heard, obviously, I heard your interview with him this morning. I took a slightly different view to Mel [Clarke], in that I heard a person who is saying, "I don't really have a specific plan. I think we need to do more. We need to fix this problem, but I'm not going to say anything that I haven't said anything before about how we're going to do that". Like the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. And that's what we heard from Angus Taylor. And I think the Liberal Party needs to get real. Well, in Massola-speak, MWD would like to make a couple of points about Nine newspaper's national affairs editor. MWD shouldn't say this but it will. Citing the definition of insanity as 'doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result' is, now, a boring cliché. So is urging others to 'get real'. Ellie's (male) co-owner shouldn't say this – but he will do. Comrade Massola should get real and embrace a cliché-free lifestyle. THE GUARDIAN /ABC AXIS Wasn't it great to see The Guardian /ABC Axis back in action? The occasion was the Newspapers Segment on ABC TV's News Breakfast. The date was 2 July. News Breakfast provides regular slots on this segment for the avowedly leftist Guardian Australia (usually Josh Taylor) and the avowedly leftist Australia Institute (usually Ebony Bennett). But no conservative gets a run. There is no regular slot for anyone from The Australian or such organisations as the Institute for Public Affairs, The Menzies Centre, The Centre for Independent Studies or The Robert Menzies Institute. MWD understands that the Robert Menzies Institute's Georgina Downer once had a slot but invitations suddenly ceased. All this befits the ABC as a Conservative Free Zone. But MWD digresses. On 2 July James Glenday and Bridget Brennan were in the presenters' chair. They spoke to The Guardian Australia's Josh Taylor. Earlier on, Comrade Taylor discussed technology matters, as is his wont, before turning his attention to, yes you've guessed it, Sky News. Here's what he had to say – with a focus on the Liberal Party and women and quotas. [Yawn – MWD Editor]. Josh Taylor: You can see that this [discussion about the Liberal Party and quotas for women in pre-selections] is obviously going to keep going, and it's really hard to see, sort of see how this is going to, whether this is going to be a sort of issue that divides the party or not. I noticed Janet Albrechtsen in The Australian is basically arguing against it again, saying that quotas will mean that we'll get worse candidates and things like that. But I think Labor will look at some of the people who are on the opposition benches and be like, well, what's happening now? Bridget Brennan: Yeah, you know, do you remain a relevant national political party if you don't put women up front, or you don't have a system to do that, and just hope, just by doing nothing, that it will change. I think there are some pretty strong concerns around that. Josh Taylor: Yeah. I think the other thing is that whether the branches themselves are representative of the broader population, I've heard Liberals talk about how the people in the branches just talk back Sky News talking points, back at them. And obviously that doesn't play well in the electorate, as we saw in the last election. So whether we need more, I guess diversity, and guess more people to join the branches and affect the party from within, that might be something. I think that a lot of them have gone to the Teals now. Bridget Brennan: Yeah, yeah, that has happened. Josh, it's great to see you as always. Turn it up. The Liberal Party went to the electorate with a policy platform close to that presented by the Labor Party. It was not drawn up by the likes of Rowan Dean. In any event, there's more genuine debate on Sky News at night than can be found in The Guardian Australia or on the ABC. Sky News has a number of paid contributors of a left-of-centre persuasion. However, the Guardian Australia is written for what in Britain is called 'a Guardian reader'. And the ABC has no conservative presenters or regular commentators on its (ever-shrinking) news and current affairs programs. ELLIE'S 'OCCUPY ULTIMO: RESTORE Q+A ' IS A FAILURE DUE TO A LOST IN FEAST DAY TRANSLATION SITUATION ELLIE'S OCCUPY ULTIMO CAMPAIGN IS A WOEFUL FAILURE It is Ellie's (male) co-owner's melancholy duty to record that MWD 's campaign to get the leftist-dominated ABC TV Q+A re-instated on the taxpayer-funded public broadcaster is a failure. A total failure. Which means that Q+A – with its panels and audiences stacked with leftists – will no longer be around to provide material for Media Watch Dog . What happened? – MWD hears avid readers cry. It seems that Hendo is at fault. In MWD on 20 June, avid readers were urged to support Ellie's 'Occupy Ultimo: Restore Q+A ' campaign by assembling around Gin & Tonic Time on the Feast Day of Saint Cyril of Alexandria at the ABC's Ultimo headquarters. Foolishly Hendo assumed that avid readers would know the relevant date was Friday 27 June. Obviously not – so only Ellie and her (male) co-owner turned up. Apologies to all concerned. * * * * * Until Next Time. * * * * *
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Fire and Fury League set to ignite women's cricket in Ekurhuleni
Benoni Northerns Ladies' captain and Eastern Storm wicketkeeper Tamzyn Hartman believes the Fire and Fury Women's League will bring much-needed exposure to women's cricket in Ekurhuleni. Hartman was one of 52 Eastern Cricket Union (ECU) players drafted into four teams that will form part of the competition during a player draft at Willowmoore Park on June 28. 'It brings so much exposure to the women's game and gives players looking to move up in the cricket world an opportunity to be recognised,' she said. 'It also lets them compete against more established players.' While the region's experienced names will likely draw the spotlight, the right-handed batter said the league also offers fringe players a platform to shine. 'It gives us all something to fight for. I like that we'll be playing against teammates we usually train with, and also seeing new talent step up and show us what they're capable of.' The franchise-based league was created to inspire, develop and showcase the growing female cricketing talent in the Eastern region. The four teams – the Dragons, the Gryphons, the Phoenix and the Unicorns – will be coached by former Eastern Storm player and current Titans cricketer Alysia Rudolph, Benoni Northerns' Megan Wilke, Ricea Coetzer, and Simone Lourens of the Titans. League convenors Carmen Coppin and Shannon McKelvey said the tournament for women is about more than competition. 'It's about empowerment and visibility for Easterns' rising stars,' said Coppin. 'Our mission is to create a space where women's cricket is taken seriously, where talent and hard work are celebrated, and future legends are forged on and off the field.' McKelvey added, 'The league brings together players aged 15 and older, affiliated with the ECU – from schools and clubs to provincial level – in an exciting, competitive format.' Matches will take place on September 6 and 7 at Hoërskool Hugenote and Laerskool Palm Brink in Springs. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Fire and Fury Women's League brings women's cricket spotlight to Springs
Eastern Storm wicketkeeper Tamzyn Hartman believes the Fire and Fury Women's League will bring much-needed exposure to women's cricket in Ekurhuleni. Hartman was one of 52 Eastern Cricket Union (ECU) players drafted into four teams that will form part of the competition during a player draft at Willowmoore Park on June 28. 'It brings so much exposure to the women's game and gives players looking to move up in the cricket world an opportunity to be recognised. It also lets them compete against more established players.' While the region's experienced names will likely draw the spotlight, the right-handed batter said the league also offers fringe players a platform to shine. 'It gives us all something to fight for. I like that we'll be playing against teammates we usually train with, and also seeing new talent step up and show us what they're capable of.' The franchise-based league was created to inspire, develop and showcase the growing female cricketing talent in the Eastern region. The four teams – the Dragons, the Gryphons, the Phoenix and the Unicorns – will be coached by former Eastern Storm player and current Titans cricketer Alysia Rudolph, Benoni Northerns' Megan Wilke, Ricea Coetzer, and Simone Lourens of the Titans. League convenors Carmen Coppin and Shannon McKelvey said the tournament for women is about more than competition. 'It's about empowerment and visibility for Easterns' rising stars. Our mission is to create a space where women's cricket is taken seriously, where talent and hard work are celebrated, and future legends are forged on and off the field,' said Coppin. McKelvey added, 'The league brings together players aged 15 and older, affiliated with the ECU – from schools and clubs to provincial level – in an exciting, competitive format.' Matches will take place on September 6 and 7 at Hoërskool Hugenote and Laerskool Pam Brink in Springs. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Consuming a cup and a half of THESE veggies regularly can prevent blockage of arteries
A cup and a half of THESE veggies can protect the heart, according to experts Heart disease is on the rise and has become the leading cause of death globally. Lifestyle factors, especially diet, play a crucial role in preventing these diseases. What you eat has a significant impact on heart health. A new study has found that eating certain vegetables can protect the heart and also prevent chronic disease. A new study led by researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU), the University of Western Australia, and the Danish Cancer Institute found that eating a cup and a half of these veggies can significantly improve heart health. The findings are published in the European Journal of Nutrition . Veggies for the heart The vegetables in question are the leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli. The researchers found that a cup and a half of leafy green vegetables could go a long way to addressing atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVDs). What is ASVD Atherosclerotic vascular diseases are a subgroup of cardiovascular disease, which are currently the leading causes of death worldwide, primarily due to heart attacks and strokes. In Australia, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claim the life of one person every 12 minutes, ECU PhD student Ms Montana Dupuy noted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Undo Greens can go a long way The study led by Ms Dupuy has found that leafy greens could reduce the risk of ASVD, due to its Vitamin K1 content. 'Leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, like spinach, kale and broccoli, contain Vitamin K1, which may assist in preventing vascular calcification processes that characterise cardiovascular disease. The great news is that these vegetables can be easily incorporated into your daily meals,' she said, in a statement. Along with its potential benefits on improving vascular health, Vitamin K may also improve musculoskeletal health through its impact on bone strength. What a cup and a half of veggies can do ECU Senior Research Fellow Dr Marc Sim confirmed that a cup and a half of such vegetables is an easy way to increase our daily vitamin K intake and may lower our risk for cardiovascular disease. 'This research found that women who consumed approximately 30% higher intakes of Vitamin K1 than currently recommended in the Australian Dietary Guidelines had a lower long-term risk of ASVD. Of importance, when we examined the blood vessels in the neck, those with a higher Vitamin K1 intake also had less thickening of these blood vessels, a marker of atherosclerosis,' he said. The researchers looked at the impact of Vitamin K on vascular health, as well as musculoskeletal health. Ronnie McDowell RUSHED to Hospital Mid-Show; Sudden Health Crisis STUNS Fans | WATCH 'This research has provided key evidence to support our future studies. We are now creating new foods that pack more leafy greens that are rich in Vitamin K1. These novel foods can be used in communities with special nutritional and dietary requirements, such as aged care residents. We are consolidating all our epidemiological data and converting that into a tangible product that would benefit the community,' ECU Post Doctoral Research Fellow Dr Liezhou Zhong added. Clear your arteries: 7 tips for preventing heart blockages naturally So if you want to keep your heart in good shape, eat a cup and a half of leafy greens and cruciferous veggies.
