Plus: Lehrmann trial aftermath demolishes another reputation.
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Saturday Aug 12
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Woodside is one of Australia's worst climate criminals, pumping millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year while paying minimal tax. This week Bernard Keane wrote on the oil and gas company's protected species status when it comes to Australia's political and media class.

Elsewhere this week Maeve McGregor considered the latest reputation tarnished in the legal saga born of the Lehrmann trial inquiry, Cam Wilson revealed that an anti-vaccine party leader headlined a No campaign event alongside Nyunggai Warren Mundine, and John Buckley shed light on how News Corp employees were blindsided by the company's use of AI.

Plus Megan Maurice unpacked the roaring success of the Matildas.

We hope you're having a great weekend.
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
Editor
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Climate criminal Woodside gets value for money from its political donations
BERNARD KEANE

Via millions of donated dollars, Woodside ensures the political class stands ready to defend it when its huge role in global heating is targeted.

Woodside Energy CEO Meg O'Neill (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
The chaos of the Lehrmann trial demolishes another reputation
MAEVE MCGREGOR

A ‘lapse of judgment’ or partisan fog adds yet another embarrassing chapter to this endless legal saga.

Shane Drumgold, left, and Walter Sofronoff (Images: AAP)
 
News Corp records 75% decline in full-year income amid ‘fruitful’ AI compensation talks
JOHN BUCKLEY

But News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson was upbeat with analysts, suggesting his conversations with AI companies could lead to 'a positive financial result'.

A News Corporation building (Image: AAP/EPA/Justin Lane)
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Labor’s mixed signals on mates don’t augur well for a reset from the Morrison years
BERNARD KEANE

While the situation might not be quite as blatant as it was under the Coalition, Labor is still more than happy to look after its big-spending friends.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, PM Anthony Albanese, and NSW Premier Chris Minns (Images: AAP)
 
Labor’s defence of American empire, Israel and a shrinking nation
MAEVE MCGREGOR

Australia has devolved into a US client state — and it seems the Albanese government has little interest in reversing this trend.

The US Capitol and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Images: Adobe, AAP)
 
Crowds matter, investment pays off and other lessons from the Matildas’ roaring success
MEGAN MAURICE

The success of the Women's World Cup demonstrates beyond a doubt that women's sport is worth investing in.

The Matildas celebrate their victory over Canada (Image: AAP/James Ross)
 
Bombshell report details the biggest rort of all — one right across the public service
BERNARD KEANE

A parliamentary report spells out profound flaws in the Commonwealth's $80-billion-a-year procurement systems. And you'll never guess who the biggest beneficiaries are.

(Image: Zennie/Private Media)
 
A cartoon, Anzac day, a diary scheduler: the public service can’t go to the toilet without using consultants
BERNARD KEANE

There apparently isn't an area where our enfeebled public sector won't turn to consultants.

(Image: Adobe)
 
FIFO cops: WA police are steamrolling climate activists
PATRICK MARLBOROUGH

If the way cops are treating climate protesters is heavy-handed now, how's it going to be once things really heat up?

Climate activist Kristen Morrissey (left) talks to the media outside the Perth Magistrates Court (Image: AAP/Richard Wainwright)
 
The wily old Fox agenda trumps all challengers
CHRISTOPHER WARREN

Try as they might, broadcasters just cannot out-right-wing the Murdoch model. The ABC should keep that in mind.

Rupert Murdoch (Image: AP/Josh Reynolds)
 
News Corp staff blindsided by company’s use of AI to produce articles for ‘years’
JOHN BUCKLEY and CAM WILSON

A letter sent to News Corp chair Michael Miller asks why staff only learnt about the company’s mass AI use from The Guardian.

(Image: AAP/Joel Carrett)
 
Mumbrella in the wind
JOHN BUCKLEY

In this week's Media Briefs, Mumbrella self-cannibalises, the ABC ditches X, and the Nine papers swoop for a new tech editor.

Shannon Molloy, who recently resigned as editor from Mumbrella (Images: Simon & Shuster/Jacalin King/Mumbrella)
 
Anti-vaxxer at No event says Yes camp doesn’t care about First Nations peoples
CAM WILSON

Anti-vaccine party leader Michael O'Neill spoke alongside others such as No campaign spokesman Warren Mundine.

(L-R) Jamal Daoud, Michael O'Neill, Tania Mihailuk, Warren Mundine and Family First Party national director Lyle Shelton (Image: Supplied)
 
Heston Russell shills on Instagram, Elon Musk changes his tune, and Crikey crops up in Canberra
CHARLIE LEWIS

Summing up the 21st century in a piece of sponsored content, Musk's inconsistent views on hiring and firing — and more from the Crikey bunker.

Elon Musk (Image: DPA/Britta Pedersen, Private Media)