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Melanie La'Brooy

Melanie La'Brooy

Melanie La’Brooy is an award-winning novelist who has lived in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East and writes on politics and social justice issues.

US President Donald Trump.

Trump’s Epic Fury is grandiose, as he wanted. But it’s more of an epic fail

The US president has unleashed global chaos with his war on Iran. At this stage, the only geographical location that won’t be negatively affected is Epstein Island.

  • Melanie La'Brooy

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Illustration: Andrew Dyson

Trump is using a secret code to motivate extremists. It’s everywhere, if you know where to look

Racist memes and references to a mythical underground Aryan civilisation have become one of the Trump administration’s most potent forms of communication with its base.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
US President Donald Trump talks up his investment deal with Saudi Arabia in the White House on Tuesday.

The truth of Trump’s terrible November? His weapons are losing their potency

In a disastrous month, the US president has repeatedly shot himself in the foot with his insult gun, and his old MAGA allies have turned their backs on him.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
Donald Trump.

Russia was once the great kleptocracy. Trump’s America is giving it a run for its money

A decade ago, when I was living in Moscow, my Russian teacher explained to me her standard procedure if ever she was pulled over by traffic police.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
Robert Irwin in the Bonds US advertising campaign.

What do Americans really think about Australia? What I found raises a big problem

If you ask Australians, they don’t trust Trump’s America, but believe they need an alliance with it more than ever. Which raises bigger, more unsettling questions.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
US President Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, who has a new title of war secretary.

Trump’s ridiculous war on names has taken a deadly turn

It’s tempting to view the president’s latest rebrand as a frivolous example of the US president’s bellicosity. But it takes on grim meaning when the potential targets are considered.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
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Atlassian co-founder and chair of the Tech Council of Australia, Scott Farquhar.

Tech lords are promising us utopia. Their brave new world might be a dump

We’re repeatedly told the AI spaceship is leaving, so we’d better get on board. Unfortunately, the people steering the ship appear to have lost their moral compass.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump and his running mate Senator J.D. Vance on stage in Florida.

In naming the heir to his throne, Trump is setting up MAGA to fail

Trump’s newly anointed successor has dismissed the president as “cultural heroin” and loves gay anthems. Is the MAGA base ready to get behind JD Vance?

  • Melanie La'Brooy
 Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk

How Trump, Musk and Murdoch got embroiled in the same tawdry saga

The Epstein files were meant to bring justice to prominent figures from the left, such as the Clintons. Instead, they’ve engulfed high-profile figures from the right.

  • Melanie La'Brooy
Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

By fighting Musk for the dark soul of MAGA, Trump has finally met his match

In a chilling post aimed at the heart of MAGA, Musk pointed out that: “Trump has 3.5 years left as president, but I will be around for 40+ years.”

  • Melanie La'Brooy