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Many Australians may not have heard of Charlie Kirk before yesterday. The 31-year-old was a high-profile US conservative political influencer and supporter of Donald Trump, who came to fame by debating all-comers under the slogan “prove me wrong”.
But yesterday, while doing just that at a university in Utah, Kirk was shot and killed. As Jared Mondschein writes, it was yet another act of shocking political violence in the United States which will no doubt reverberate for some time to come.
Social media immediately descended into a frenzy of blame and recrimination, and while some were calling for cooler heads to prevail, recent history shows that is unlikely.
“Ultimately, there’s little question as to whether the United States will continue to suffer from political violence,” Mondschein says. “The greater question is to what extent, and at what cost.”
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Amanda Dunn
Politics + Society Editor
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Jared Mondschein, University of Sydney
The 31-year-old, who was shot and killed while speaking at a university in Utah, was a highly influential figure in conservative politics.
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Benjamin T. Jones, CQUniversity Australia
After months of pressure, Australian National University vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned. This creates a unique opportunity for the federal government.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
After mishandling the initial incident, Ley now has to contend with a freelancing backbencher in a deeply divided opposition.
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Hussein Dia, Swinburne University of Technology
Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ mode is set to arrive in Australia. But it’s not autonomous – drivers have to pay attention.
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Milad Haghani, The University of Melbourne; David A. Hensher, University of Sydney
The model can help state governments to avoid huge upfront spending and shift some risks on to private firms. But taxpayers often pick up the bill in other ways.
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Art Cotterell, Australian National University; William Grant, University of Canterbury
How we talk about outer space shapes the futures we imagine and build. Indigenous perspectives offer a better way forward.
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Fahad Hanna, Torrens University Australia
Migrants with dementia who’ve acquired English later in life may revert to their childhood language – and many rely on family members to interpret.
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Alexander Howard, University of Sydney
A new biography shows how Gertrude Stein has been celebrated, sidelined and criticised over the decades – as a revolutionary genius, charlatan and Nazi collaborator.
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Politics + Society
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Joel Robert McGregor, Swinburne University of Technology
Tougher knife laws make people feel safer but don’t address the real reasons knives are carried in the first place.
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DB Subedi, The University of Queensland
The youth who shook Nepal’s streets are being asked to help shape the country’s political future – can it work?
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Chris Ogden, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
By any measure, the multi-lateral BRICS forum is an economic and diplomatic powerhouse. NZ would not have to give up other alliances if it joined.
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Health + Medicine
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Grace Thompson, The University of Melbourne
Art and music therapists can charge the National Disability Insurance Scheme the same as counsellors, after an independent review found they are effective.
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Chelsea Morrison, Southern Cross University; Andrew Cashin, Southern Cross University; Kitty-Rose Foley, The University of Queensland
Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, with support needs often changing over time.
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Business + Economy
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Emma Beckett, UNSW Sydney
A food scientist explains which foods will give you the best value protein for every $1 you spend – at a fraction of what you’d spend on ‘high protein’ bars.
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Environment + Energy
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Simon Donald Stewart, Cawthron Institute
Climate change is already affecting lake stratification, the seasonal layering of water into distinct temperature bands, which is crucial for nutrient flows.
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Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Swinburne University of Technology
Communities hosting renewables projects often don’t receive meaningful benefits. Giving them cheap electricity could make the transition fairer – and faster.
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Science + Technology
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Davinia Beaver, Bond University
A pigment called melanin that’s found in the iris does most of the work.
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Arts + Culture
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Harriette Richards, RMIT University; Lisa Lake, University of Technology Sydney; Natalya Lusty, The University of Melbourne
The NSW Fashion Sector Strategy is a welcome contribution to the local fashion economy. It is also a reminder of the complex challenges the industry faces.
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Chris Thompson, Australian Catholic University
From Carrie to The Shawshank Redemption, there are now more than 50 Stephen King film adaptations – making him one of the most adapted authors alive.
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Senator snafu
"I think Senator Price has made the odd careless or rash statement at times, but I am unable to understand the fuss about her saying (as reported) that Labor governments favoured immigration from India because those people tended to vote Labor. In these columns Michelle Grattan recently reported that a recent survey showed that over 80% of Australians of Indian background vote, or had voted, this way. So if that is true, why should Indian people feel hurt by her statement and be considered as deserving of an apology?"
Jan Cooper
Qatar strike
"It appears clear that Netanyahu aims to prevent a ceasefire in Gaza, but I question whether getting rid of Hamas is his only goal. Why aren’t more politicians around the world calling it what it is, calling Trump out for his blatant interference in peace-making in both Gaza and Ukraine, and doing something about the genocide in Gaza."
Dr Claudia Baldwin
Not off to the shops
"The real question is how long owners will keep bricks and mortar stores open? It’s a high risk for workers’ compensation claims, and high risk for theft. The CCTV of 'customer' criminal behaviour is frightening. No employee should be placed in the path of danger. Home delivery looms large."
Allen Hampton
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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Auckland, New Zealand
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