Notes on the Crises pivoted on February 1st into around the clock coverage of the Trump-Musk Treasury Payments Crisis of 2025. Today is Day Twenty Two

As the Trump regime settles in, it menaces so much. I will spare you a list. Today, I kept feeling surges of fear. I tried to summon courage but it was hard. Then, I came across some examples of other people showing courage and it got easier for me to summon mine. Bravery is contagious. So, in the hopes that others will be fortified, here is what strengthened me today:

Gerald Epstein
More “Roundtable: Public Banking
Public Banking in the Age of Trump: Needed More than Ever but Can it Find a Beachhead?”

A prosperous and unified ‘Pacific family’ is essential for regional security, from climate resilience to geopolitical stability, and the alignment of Australia’s promises with its actions are more important than ever.

Watch:

Presented by Savenaca Narube, Unity Fiji Party Leader & Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji

The post Australia and the Pacific ‘Family’ – Savenaca Narube | Climate Integrity Summit 2025 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Australia’s domestic policies across climate, human rights, environmental protection, and democratic institutions create ripple effects that shape international responses to global challenges.

With the 2025 federal election approaching, this timely discussion underscores how Australia’s domestic choices have far-reaching implications for international cooperation on climate change, ecosystem protection, and human security.

Far from being too small to matter, the integrity of Australia’s actions at home fundamentally shape our capacity for meaningful leadership abroad.

Presented by Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy Director, The Australia Institute

The post Integrity at home shapes global outcomes – Polly Hemming | Climate Integrity Summit 2025 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Highlighting the link between climate change and global security, Dr Helder da Costa will emphasise how global challenges like climate change exacerbate conflict, undermine stability, and disproportionately affect fragile and conflict-affected states, and how to pursue resilience therein. Wealthy nations play a pivotal role in supporting the g7+ goals, and achieving true ‘security’ through genuine partnerships, enhanced climate financing, and knowledge-sharing.

By aligning its efforts with countries affected by conflict and fragility, Australia can not only contribute to global stability but also strengthen its own domestic security by addressing the far-reaching impacts of climate-driven instability. This session will underscore the urgency of collective action and the mutual benefits of prioritising climate resilience in places affected by conflict and fragility as a cornerstone of global and national security.

Presented by Dr Helder da Costa, General Secretary, The g7+ Secretariat

“Demanding better from our leaders is often met with threats like ‘well if you push too hard then you’ll get nothing’.”

“Ignore this. It shows you’re winning.”

Watch:

In his opening remarks, Richard shows how far we have come since the Australia Institute’s first Climate Integrity Summit 3 years ago.

Wrapping the Summit up, Richard explains the power that each of us hold, and can use to hold our leaders to account.

Watch:

If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere: It’s up to you New York, New York.

The big urbanism news of the past few weeks has been the debut and stunning early success of New York City’s long-delayed (and still endangered) congestion pricing system. On January 5, motorists began paying a $9 toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street at peak hours. As economists foretold, pricing the highly congested roadways produced immediate and material improvements in traffic.

The results are stunning.  In the first three-and-a-half weeks of congestion pricing, the number of vehicles entering Manhattan declined by more than a million compared to the same period a year earlier.  As a result, congestion is down, and bus speeds are up. Fewer cars also means crashes are down, and injuries are down.

Senator David Pocock will explore the ethical responsibility of current leaders and policymakers to prioritise long-term policy solutions relating to environmental protection, distribution of resources, and governance structures that ensure a healthy environment for future generations.

Drawing from international principles and his Duty of Care Bill, Senator Pocock will discuss the specific concept of intergenerational equity in climate action and its potential to drive more ambitious and effective climate policies for the benefit of all.

Presented by Senator David Pocock, Independent Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

The post Intergenerational Climate Equity – Senator David Pocock | Climate Integrity Summit 2025 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Fortescue’s chief climate scientist discusses the rewards of replacing Net Zero with Real Zero targets that set clear deadlines for fossil fuel phase out – and the economic losses awaiting businesses and governments that fail to do so.

Watch:

Presented by Dr Shanta Barley, Chief Climate Scientist, Fortescue

The post Real Zero. Real corporate leadership – Dr Shanta Barley | Climate Integrity Summit 2025 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

As new powers and alliances emerge, the traditional dominance of the US comes into question and Australia’s unwavering allegiance to the United States risks aligning climate and security strategies with a partner that is failing to lead on the most pressing issue of our time.

Watch:

By acting more independently and forging stronger partnerships with nations and blocs to advocate for genuine decarbonisation and adaptation funding, Australia has an opportunity to play a meaningful leadership role on the global stage. By embracing this potential and asserting itself as a proactive and innovative leader in the fight against climate change, Australia can secure its own prosperity and influence in a rapidly changing world.

Presented by Dr Emma Shortis, International & Security Affairs Director, The Australia Institute

The Wrap with Amy Remeikis

In amongst the gestures, *everything* happening in the world this week, the Albanese government delivered two lessons in power.

The first came through Anthony Albanese’s latest intervention in the fight to save the Maugean skate from extinction.

For those unaware, the Maugean skate, also known as the ‘dinosaur fish’ because of its direct lineage to the Gondwana era, is the only known brackish water skate in the world. It only lives in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, one-third of which sits in the state’s Wilderness World Heritage Area.

So far, pretty simple; Australia has a literal dinosaur fish and the only known example in the world.  So we should protect it, right?

Well, yes.  And it would be simple if it wasn’t for vested interests.  Enter the multi-billion foreign owned salmon farming industry, which, through intense lobbying dressed up as a ‘jobs versus the environment’ fight, has some people convinced is on the verge of collapse if environment minister Tanya Plibersek follows the science and winds back marine farming in Macquarie Harbour.

The American Mind’s ‘Editorial Roundtable’ podcast is a weekly conversation with Ryan Williams, Spencer Klavan, and Mike Sabo devoted to uncovering the ideas and principles that drive American political life. Stream here or download from your favorite podcast host.

Mr. Vance Goes to Germany | The Roundtable Ep. 255

After an Afghan national drove his car into a Munich crowd, J.D. Vance delivered a stern rebuke of the European ruling class. Unsustainable immigration, Islamic extremism, and censorship raise the question whether once-great nations can be relied on as true Western allies. Meanwhile back home, Democrats struggle to decouple from woke, but best not interrupt their mistakes. The guys sit down to talk foreign policy, DOGE’s popularity, and resistance 2.0—plus, recommendations for must-watch shows and must-read articles!

Recommended reading:

They see “discount” signs on products they know were cheaper only months ago.

They know polluters claiming to be carbon neutral are pulling the wool over their eyes.

But they feel helpless to stop them. Apart from reporting lies and rip-offs, what can they do? Take their business to the multi-national over the road which does exactly the same thing?

The Australia Institute welcomes the latest move to give the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) more resources to take on these companies, on our behalf.

“An extra $30 million in funding will help the ACCC to continue its oversight of the grocery sector,” said Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute.

“Coles and Woolworths have long dominated the sector and our research has shown that they are less interested in competing against each other than working together against smaller operators.

“Both Coles and Woolworths have higher profit margins than supermarkets chains in the UK, USA and Europe. Australian shoppers are paying for those profits.

“Even while inflation is coming down, Australians deserve a better supermarket sector – one where companies actually compete on price rather than do all they can to ensure their duopoly remains strong.”

My friends at the Claremont Institute have provided the intellectual underpinnings for President Trump’s executive order that attempts to end birthright citizenship and replace it with a rule that recalls the ius sanguinis rules of Old Europe.

According to the view advanced by participants in this symposium, including John Eastman, Ed Erler, Michael Anton (since departed for the Department of State’s Office of Policy Planning Staff), and my podcast host, the international woman of mystery Lucretia (yes, that is her official title), not only must a baby be born on American territory to become an American citizen, but the baby’s parents must also be in the country legally. I take them to mean that the parents must be either citizens or legal aliens, such as permanent resident aliens, but they cannot be in the United States illegally or even under short-duration visas, such as for tourists or students. I assume Claremont Institute scholars draw the line at citizens and green card holders because of Eastman’s argument in 2020 that Kamala Harris could not become vice president because she was born to parents who were in the U.S. on student visas.

NOTE BENE: Many of the links in this post go to archived web pages. I have done this in case the current live pages are taken down.

Today, Engineering Director of the United States Digital Service (USDS) resigned in protest over the USDS's takeover by Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOG-E). Though DOG-E is an unlawfully and unconstitutionally constituted entity, last week DOG-E operatives fired one third of the USDS team. This prompted the resigner, Anne Marshall, to write on LinkedIn: "These cuts were shortsighted ill-informed, and indiscriminate. The government and the American people will be worse off from the loss of these people." Marshall's full statement is worth reading. She is, however, an engineer, not a lawyer or historian. Her statement does not explain the political and legal significance of the destruction of USDS by DOG-E. While I'm not an expert on USDS and its history, I know enough to provide some background to help understand what's going here.

If you are a regular reader of City Observatory, you know that we’ve been experiencing some technical difficulties for the pas two months. I’m pleased to report that we’ve largely restored the functionality of the City Observatory website. We’ll be sending out our Week Observed newsletter again starting this Friday.
There’s still a bit of construction dust and debris around, so if you encounter problems with the website, please let us know, by dropping an email to info@CityObservatory.org.

Thanks for bearing with us.

Introduction

What are wicked problems? This article looks at what wicked problems are, different examples and how we can communicate about them.

This article is from Chapter 6, Wicked Problems, from the book, Public Interest Communication, by Jane Johnston and Robyn Gulliver. It was published by the University of Queensland in 2022.

The Commons librarian has made minor formatting changes, e.g. adding headings, paragraph breaks and quotes.

Wicked Problems are…

The concept of ‘wicked problems’ was first proposed by planning engineers Horst Rittell and Melville Webber in 1973 to contrast the difference between ‘tame’ problems – which could be resolved using standard scientific techniques – and complex, policy-based problems – which were neither simply nor completely resolvable. They said because wicked problems exist within pluralistic societies there was no way of knowing what was an “undisputable public good” and there was no clear picture of what “equity” meant when making decisions (1973, p. 155).

Wicked problems may have emerged from urban policy planning, but they are now used to describe social, political, environmental and economic problems more broadly.

As the U.S. southern border begins to function once again, it’s time to consider what kind of immigration policy we should adopt. President Trump’s move to deport huge populations, upwards of 10 million just since 2021, could prove to be among the most decisive actions a president has taken in decades.

The Biden Administration’s oddly permissive policies ironically have stiffened Americans’ opposition to immigration across the board. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans who wish to reduce all immigration has soared from 41% just two years ago to over 55% in 2024, although many still embrace legal migration.

This interview is also available on podcast platforms and Rumble.

To the West, the concept of the rules-based order functions either as a list on paper to be ignored, or a strict set of laws to be weaponized. Omar El Akkad, Egyptian-Canadian novelist and journalist, has witnessed many instances, both in the West and in the Middle East, where banners of virtue were used to justify hypocritical behavior. El Akkad details these stories in his new book, “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This,” and he joins host Chris Hedges on this episode of The Chris Hedges Report to discuss them.

Throughout his time in office, President Reagan was frequently called the “Great Communicator,” as he was blessed with a wealth of experience on the screen and possessed an actor’s natural sense of stage presence. But in his initial weeks in office, Donald Trump has put together a team whose power and effectiveness have dwarfed even Reagan’s substantial efforts.

It has long been said (usually with express or implied derision) that Trump picks senior staff because they will “look good on TV.” But even to the extent this is true, it is clear that Trump understands the centrality of communications for 21st-century governance in a way that his critics do not.

Just a week into Donald Trump’s presidency, Ben Shapiro, who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election but has never been the president’s biggest fan, expressed shock at the effectiveness of the Trump team’s communications work. He had “never seen anything remotely like this extraordinary level of effective quality agenda advocacy from a Republican administration in my lifetime. It’s jaw-dropping.”

Responding to Shapiro, conservative commentator John Hawkins wrote that “Reagan set the standard for grassroots Republicans from the eighties to the present…. Now, Trump is setting a new standard for both groups in his 2nd term.”

“It gets better with every minute,” agreed the popular Libs of TikTok account.

The urban core is the nucleus of the metropolitan area and its health is vital to regional economic success. Certain functions happen best and only in dense cores. Urban services and social function are better in cities with strong cores. S

Ratio of PCI in core to metro from CV

The measures presented in this report all describe the overall performance of a metropolitan area. But the city is the center and focal point of a metropolitan are, and we know that urban form is critical to a healthy, well-functioning metropolitan area. Vibrant metropolitan areas have strong centers that are hubs of economic, social and cultural activity. Strong urban cores attract and develop talent, make businesses more productive, foster creativity and innovation, are greener and more sustainable and provide more opportunities for all of its residents. And as market demand for vibrant urban neighborhoods continues to grow, strong core cities will be critical to helping achieve key national objectives.

Why is the urban core important to metropolitan economies?

A healthy urban core reinforces the success of a regional economy. Cities with dense, economically diverse, close-in urban neighborhoods play key roles in assimilating immigrants, making transit work better, providing affordable housing, promoting economic opportunity, strengthening civic participation and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. A struggling or unattractive core is a liability to the entire metropolitan area.

What is economic segregation?

Economic segregation is the physical separation of households according to income: Low income people are concentrated in some neighborhoods; higher income people are concentrated in other, different neighborhoods.

What are the negative effects of economic segregation?

Economic segregation is associated with a range of negative outcomes for poor families. As bad as it is to be poor, the effects of poverty are greater for poor families living in poor neighborhoods.

Studies by Raj Chetty and his colleagues as part of the Economic Opportunity Project have shown that there is a correlation between economic segregation and lower levels of intergenerational mobility: places with high levels of economic segregation have less inter-generational economic mobility <link>.

How is economic segregation measured?

There are a variety of statistical techniques that have been developed to measure the extent of economic segregation within metropolitan areas. One of the most common is the dissimilarity index, which computes fraction of high income or low income households that would have to move to a different neighborhood within the metropolitan area in order for each neighborhood to have the same income composition as the overall metro area.

Is economic segregation increasing or decreasing?

On this crossover episode of Follow the Money and Dollars & Sense, Greg Jericho and Ebony Bennett discuss what’s going on with inflation, the performance of the Reserve Bank and whether the Government deserves the credit for setting the economy on a better course.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes: 

Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

Introduction

In this podcast Movement Monitor Fellow Isabella Todd interviews Dan Sherrell, from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and Desiree Cai, from the Tomorrow Movement. They discuss the lessons learnt from campaigning around a policy and legislation win, in the form of the 2024 founding of the Net Zero Authority. In particular they explore how this work brought together and strengthened relationships between unions, climate activists and others.

Isabella Todd carried this interview as part of the 2024 Movement Monitor Research Fellowship.

Listen

Transcript coming soon.

The American Mind’s ‘Editorial Roundtable’ podcast is a weekly conversation with Ryan Williams, Spencer Klavan, and Mike Sabo devoted to uncovering the ideas and principles that drive American political life. Stream here or download from your favorite podcast host.

IVF | Cincinnatus Series Ep. 3

How Rising Tide organises and mobilises to achieve broad movement appeal in the current activist landscape.

Introduction

Rising Tide is a grassroots climate justice movement. Based out of Newcastle, New South Wales, but organising nationally, Rising Tide takes action with the goal of ending fossil fuel exports from Australia. In a changing activism landscape where established environmental organisations struggle to organise and mobilise in large numbers, Rising Tide turned out three thousand people to its People’s Blockade in 2023. In 2024, these numbers more than doubled, with over seven thousand people turning up to block the world’s largest coal port in Newcastle.

Written in late 2024, this case study seeks to investigate how Rising Tide organised and mobilised over a two year period to achieve this broad appeal across the climate movement. The entirely volunteer run, grassroots movement employs a range of mobilising and organising techniques and models, drawing from momentum organising, and using hub and spoke and affinity group organising to varying extents. 

Location

Australia, with a strategic, local focus in Newcastle 

Time Period

2022 relaunch – 2024 

Today, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) finally put out a statement saying they are "very concerned" by Trump regime members questioning the "courts' authority to review the legality of executive action." The entire statement is fairly tepid compared to the one put out by the American Bar Association a week ago. Law school deans are afraid of the Trump regime and the AALS had to get consensus from a wide range of law schools, both factors that probably led to a watery statement. Still, it is notable that the AALS has finally spoken up in the face of the Trump regime's ongoing disregard for law and the U.S. Constitution. That they issued any statement criticizing the regime tells you how bad the lawlessness is.