Sue White

You’re all fucking incredible, witches. Why? Because here we have (yet more) proof that our method of campaigning and objecting to inexcusable media commentary is way, way better than almost anything other individuals and groups employ. Let us explain. Months ago, Laura Tingle reported on the murder of a Lebanese journalist, including observations about Israel’s involvement in the killing. And in the aftermath of that story, 56 individuals wrote identical complaints to the ABC board and executive. We don’t know who the complaining individuals were, but their method appear similar to those used by individuals who caused the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf from the ABC two years ago: that is, they wrote similar or identical complaints which were sent via rarified channels rather than via the usual ABC complaints systems: “Laura Tingle’s analysis of the killing of journalists by Israel has been found to be ‘duly impartial’ by the ABC ombudsman after a coordinated campaign of 56 identical complaints were emailed to the ABC board and executive.” theguardian.com/media/commenti… Here’s the interesting thing, though: the ABC ombudsman dismissed the complaints as, essentially, being only as powerful as ONE complaint. One. Why? Because the wording of those 56 emails was identical. And this is what that says about we witches: our campaign strategy of, firstly, refusing to publish email/contact templates (despite regular pleading for us to do so) proved to be exactly right in achieving our aims. Not only right, but essential. Because (while we disagree any organisation should treat multiple complaints as just one, for various reasons) the fact those receiving such complaints do this shows that only witches thoughtfully and sincerely explaining their individual POV to a company works in changing their behaviour and decisions. So doing the hard work of compiling and sending individualised communications to each company on our campaign lists really, really mattered. But secondly, it shows that as a witchy coven, our work and our impacts are larger than even we ever believed possible. 56 complaints? Piffle. We had hundreds - if not thousands - of witches furiously contacting companies about Alan and Kyle and others, not just a few dozen people (and even those few apparently too lazy and passionless to even write their own letters, lol). Lastly, not only did us witches write individual letters in huge numbers, but we kept it up for YEARS on end till we got a result. Not just one email, copy-and-pasted from some dickhead trying to go after Tingle. But dozens or hundreds of carefully crafted, passionate missives, all written by people who could have been reading or walking or sleeping or relaxing instead of putting in the effort (week in, week out) to sit down to complain about Kyle’s foulness. Witches are fucking INCREDIBLE. Witches are fucking HEROES. Witches GET RESULTS. And witches will KEEP ON DOING IT while there are depraved, horrific fuck-ups who need our attention. As ARN-designated Brand Safety Consultants, witches do the work. And if you didn’t before know just how fantastic and incredible we - you - all are before … you damn well do now. The article showcased in this post proves it. Congratulations. And once again, to all those who did the work: thank you. From the bottom of all our black witchy hearts. _________ We won’t stop till advertisers stop funding filth. Go to mfw.org.au/our-campaigns/ to learn how to contact advertisers. Or go directly to FOE lists for ongoing campaigns here: campaigndata.mfw.org.au/business-direc… . Send all responses you get to witches@mfw.org.au. Please also support our work to get rid of Vile Kyle: it’s a subscription to the future for the price of a coffee (or two) each month: mfw.org.au/support #ToYourBrooms

George H.W. Bush kept his assets in a blind trust, as did Bill Clinton. Neither Obama nor Biden traded stocks or bonds while in office. 3,700 trades is probably more than all the trades of all the presidents until now. And he is trading stocks that are affected by his decisions. A walking conflict of interest, at the least, and perhaps insider trading. Just as members of Congress should not be able to trade stocks, so too the president. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

This Ebola outbreak could get bad Really bad And what's worse - US leadership for building testing capacity, training ,clinical trials, and assisting with efforts to control these outbreaks is now pretty much gone since RFK Jr destroyed it.

Lovely response to David Hastie’s article on ABC website from Tom Greenwell. The system we have now is unsustainable. abc.net.au/religion/fixin…

Uneducated voters are more dangerous than illegal immigrants.

This is one of the legitimate polls not based on propaganda.

Insiders; wow Jim is an impressive Treasurer, he has all the answers, strong, clear & so positive, we are in safe hands after a decade of the nail biting LNP. Jim’s answer to a drop in the polls is Labor is more concerned about young people getting their first homes 😁

Housing is tough enough having to save for a deposit - let alone having to compete with property investors. We’re changing that. The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have secured a deal to build over 51,000 new homes, including over 20,000 exclusively for first home buyers.

Good luck to @jaysongillham whose case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is in court today. May he be triumphant.

Nothing says “regeneration” quite like wheeling out Tony Abbott. 🦖 Can’t blame him for dreaming, but ladies… it might be time to #putoutyourironingboard.

If capitalism is so great, why do corporations need so many tax breaks, subsidies, exemptions, grants, legal protections, bailouts, and trade protections? When citizens need these things, why is it socialism?

Credit: Fiona Katauskas.

@JohnOBrien101 Please tell us how an existing landlord is impacted by the announced changes to CGT & Neg gearing. They are grandfathered and does not change their current tax imposition. Why do you need to lie.

Big loss.

Newspoll tonight. A lot of noise. For what? Vote intentions have hardly moved. But look at where the movement is. Over the last 6 months, all on the Right and it’s profound. The budget hysteria tells you everything about who the commentariat is actually talking to. Shares. Investment portfolios. Family trusts. Negative gearing portfolios and super balances into the million. Most Australians don’t have any of that. They have a mortgage they’re barely servicing. Power bills, food shopping that costs more than it did last month. Rent that’s eating half their pay. A car they need for work and can’t afford to fuel. Aspiration for these people is a word that has a lot of relevance, aspiration to break even at the end of the month. That’s the financial life of the country. Not the one being screamed by a bunch of folk who frankly have no idea about the beating heart of this country. Hence, the people screaming about the budget aren’t the people the budget was written for. And Labor’s vote didn’t move. It held. Meanwhile, the realignment on the Right holds firm. One Nation heading towards a future parliament where they are the opposition - mainly at the complete destruction of the Coalition. *I would expect RedBridge Accent to report similar numbers shortly.

So, according to Newspoll, the electoral impact of the Budget is.... Labor steady, Coalition down, One Nation up. That must have been one hell of a Budget reply speech. In all seriousness, the idea that Australians absorbed any of last week's political news cycle is rather dubious. Multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, the kind run by Coca-Cola, Bunnings, and the major banks, take weeks of saturation media at serious levels before they shift awareness in any measurable way. Effective frequency research has been consistent for decades: a message needs somewhere between five and ten exposures before it starts to land. The frequency levels for political content are much higher (I know, it used to be my job). Major product launches with tens of millions behind them still measure unprompted recall in single digits after a fortnight on air or online. Now think about a Budget. No paid amplification. One week's news cycle. Competing with the footy, the supermarket bill, and a thousand other things that are actually relevant to people's lives. The notion that this lands with the median voter anywhere, so quickly, is a fantasy sustained by people who watch politics for fun. Or those who deeply wish political content is salient to millions.

Trusts are set up for wealth gain and less tax …. If they were affordable or viable the average wage earner would have them , they need large start up money and overview by serious accountants and solicitors . As for Speers why doesn’t he explain what they are ? #insiders

#insiders David Speers is being a complete arse. He could have learned more about the budget implications from Jim Chalmers but instead he’s regurgitating LNP talking points and chasing a gotcha moment. It’s a waste of time.

Insiders show what a LNP sycophant Speers is, reeling off a long list of things asking if Labor will changes their mind on them trying to imply they will 😳 it’s these desperate tactics that make many people demand Labor reboot the whole unfit management of the ABC!

#Insiders tabloid journalist David Speers now playing the pathetic "rule in rule out" games because "you changed your position." No wonder the fucking media in terms of respect are below real estate agents and used car salesman. #auspol #mediabias