menu_open Columnists

The Sydney Morning Herald

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

What’s ‘common’ in 2026? Let’s start with fiddle-leaf figs, Lululemon and Ozempic

What’s ‘common’ in 2026? Let’s start with fiddle-leaf figs, Lululemon and Ozempic

Every year, British interior designer Nicky Haslam – once called “the most stylish man in the world” – releases his damning list. You can...

latest 5

The Sydney Morning Herald

Kate Halfpenny

I will always defend the right to be a bigot. It’s hypocrisy that annoys me more

I will always defend the right to be a bigot. It’s hypocrisy that annoys me more

Unless you’re willing to defend the right to express views that offend just as strongly as views that gladden your heart, you can’t be taken...

latest 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

George Brandis

My partner’s colleagues are always off sick. Is it wrong to speak up?

My partner’s colleagues are always off sick. Is it wrong to speak up?

It’s no secret that schools, to a great extent, run on the goodwill of staff. But this is taking it too far.

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jonathan Rivett

Trump crashed on his own shores of discontent, but the blue wave doesn’t deliver certainty

Trump crashed on his own shores of discontent, but the blue wave doesn’t deliver certainty

The trouble with talk of waves and tsunamis is that they assume something steady lies beneath.

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Waleed Aly

Is this even legal? Ten’s staff scratching their heads over ‘buyout’ offer

Is this even legal? Ten’s staff scratching their heads over ‘buyout’ offer

Network Ten insists its cost-cutting drive is not a redundancy round. But it sounds a lot like one.

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Calum Jaspan

Sydney’s newest museum is lucky to look like our greatest design icon

Sydney’s newest museum is lucky to look like our greatest design icon

The humble milk crate is so perfectly designed it should be shorthand for the new Powerhouse.

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Andy Marks

Lighter policing is earned through trust. Lederer’s letter to Wanderers fans erodes it

Lighter policing is earned through trust. Lederer’s letter to Wanderers fans erodes it

The Western Sydney chairman attacked NSW Police over “intimidating” treatment of A-League fans. He forgets the force works on intelligence, and...

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Darren Kane

Cutting government spending may slow prices, but it could bring on something worse

Cutting government spending may slow prices, but it could bring on something worse

Both the Reserve Bank and government are copping blame for things out of their control. But bending to pressure might put us in a worse position.

latest 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Millie Muroi

I used to care what others thought of my taste and style. But then these words set me free

I used to care what others thought of my taste and style. But then these words set me free

After I outlined my renovation plans, people were aghast. So I stopped asking their opinion.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jo Stanley

The final two years of Trump could be a rocky ride. Here’s how Australia will handle it

The final two years of Trump could be a rocky ride. Here’s how Australia will handle it

Donald Trump’s electoral thrashing could finally bring the US president to heel. But don’t bet on it.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

James Massola

Want to know why DJs went bust? Walk through one of its stores at midday

Want to know why DJs went bust? Walk through one of its stores at midday

Ask any former rusted-on David Jones customer where things went wrong, and, overwhelmingly, the response is, “There is just no one to serve you”.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Melissa Singer

The billionaire who’s a winner from David Jones’ collapse

The billionaire who’s a winner from David Jones’ collapse

The collapse of David Jones is expected to give its rival Myer a boost, as reflected in the surging Myer share price.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Colin Kruger

I tried to convince Australians my country can be good. The belief is returning

I tried to convince Australians my country can be good. The belief is returning

My niece has only known a world in which a president pits people against one another. Now hope and joy is returning.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Cory Alpert

Vance believes America’s future is MAGA, and the future of MAGA is him

Vance believes America’s future is MAGA, and the future of MAGA is him

The US vice president argues the Iran war caused the Republicans’ midterm rout – not just because it made fuel more expensive, but because it tied...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Koziol

Marooned in paradise: Albanese and the summit that could not have come at a worse time

Marooned in paradise: Albanese and the summit that could not have come at a worse time

On balance, Albanese had to go to CHOGM. But it cost him. There is no time to change plans for 2026. There is still time to be ruthless with the diary...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

David Crowe

There was no other store like David Jones. I’m sorry for my part in its demise

There was no other store like David Jones. I’m sorry for my part in its demise

I first went to David Jones as a small child and then shopped there regularly, until I didn’t. Like the rest of Australia.

yesterday 5

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephanie Peatling

Down $60b, and counting: The midterms’ biggest loser isn’t Trump. It’s Elon Musk

Down $60b, and counting: The midterms’ biggest loser isn’t Trump. It’s Elon Musk

The world’s richest man invested heavily to back Republican candidates, much of it in Texas. He wasted his money and now faces obstacles to his...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Bartholomeusz

This unspoken tradition is stalling our economy. But is it really so bad?

This unspoken tradition is stalling our economy. But is it really so bad?

This months-long pause isn’t carved into any legislation, but is an unofficial countrywide practice.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tim Duggan

Sick of scrolling Netflix for something good? You’re not alone

Sick of scrolling Netflix for something good? You’re not alone

From endless flops to mass sackings, this might be Netflix’s worst year to date.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Craig Mathieson

Scorched earth: Iran’s revenge against Trump will be devastating

Scorched earth: Iran’s revenge against Trump will be devastating

Iran will bring the Gulf to its knees if Donald Trump unleashes a second round of Operation Fury.

yesterday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

Albanese and Chalmers are mired in the swamp. One could be gone before the next election

Albanese and Chalmers are mired in the swamp. One could be gone before the next election

The usual tensions between prime minister and treasurer, which simmer when the government looks cooked, could easily boil over. The danger signs are...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Niki Savva

An even more unpredictable Donald Trump is the world economy’s worst nightmare

An even more unpredictable Donald Trump is the world economy’s worst nightmare

The Reserve Bank has plenty of concerns about the Australian economy. The fallout from the US midterms just adds to those worries.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Shane Wright

‘Cool marble, wooden escalators, pure magic’: Remembering the glory days of DJs

‘Cool marble, wooden escalators, pure magic’: Remembering the glory days of DJs

A shopping trip to David Jones was once a rite of passage for Sydneysiders of a certain age and background. Now the landmark department store is...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

Republicans must now separate themselves from a delusional president

Republicans must now separate themselves from a delusional president

Call it a blue wave or a blue tsunami, but the Democratic Party has handed Donald Trump a painful defeat, with Americans comprehensively making their...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Koziol

Unaffordability of Sydney homes is a real-time future crisis

Unaffordability of Sydney homes is a real-time future crisis

House prices not only determine where people live but the number of children in a family.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald's View

‘Sad and devastated’: Canva’s cuts hit its staff, and Australian tech overall

‘Sad and devastated’: Canva’s cuts hit its staff, and Australian tech overall

Canva was the start-up every Australian tech entrepreneur wanted to have founded. Its job cuts raise hard questions about what comes next.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

David Swan

All the money said the Republicans and Trump would win. They blew it

All the money said the Republicans and Trump would win. They blew it

Ultimately, an avalanche of Republican money couldn’t pull Trump’s most important demographics out of their homes and into the voting booths.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Clinton Fernandes

It’s minutes to midnight: David Jones has run out of survival options

It’s minutes to midnight: David Jones has run out of survival options

The biggest Black Friday sale this year could be David Jones itself after the department store operator’s last hope for a rescue deal collapsed.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Colin Kruger

I’m sickened by the attacks on the young woman pilot killed in Florida. She never gave up

I’m sickened by the attacks on the young woman pilot killed in Florida. She never gave up

When I first obtained my commercial pilot’s licence I felt ready to take on the world, only to be told that the travelling public did not want a...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Sussan Ley

We’ve seen peak Trump, but the next two years will be a rocky ride

We’ve seen peak Trump, but the next two years will be a rocky ride

If a “blue wave” were to materialise in the elections, Trump would lose control of much of his domestic agenda. Expect him to double down.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Bartholomeusz

There are no good choices left for Albanese, only hard ones

There are no good choices left for Albanese, only hard ones

Nothing is sticking for the government, which lost control of the economic narrative soon after the budget was handed down.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

James Massola

Why a ‘blue wave’ today is not necessarily a rejection of Trumpism

Why a ‘blue wave’ today is not necessarily a rejection of Trumpism

Americans put the president and his Republicans in power – twice – for a reason. If voters deliver a harsh verdict today, it is because they...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Koziol

If the RBA gets its job wrong, the PM will pay with his

If the RBA gets its job wrong, the PM will pay with his

Anthony Albanese. He’s a man who’s taken little interest in the economy now being caught by the iron rule of politics: if the economy turns bad on...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Ross Gittins

We want to gift our daughter $200k. Will that get us on the age pension?

We want to gift our daughter $200k. Will that get us on the age pension?

Gifting kids an early inheritance can be a good move, but don’t expect it to magically move you into age pension range.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Noel Whittaker

Changing the way teachers see the world

Changing the way teachers see the world

The move to recruit frontline educators can help change lives.

tuesday 30

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald's View

Two years ago, the Wallabies rolled England at Twickenham. Can history repeat?

Two years ago, the Wallabies rolled England at Twickenham. Can history repeat?

Australia kick off a four-Test tour of the UK this weekend against England. Here are five burning questions about the month ahead.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Iain Payten

‘I looked up and thought, oh god’: The split-second choice that delivered Point Of Law’s historic Cup triumph

‘I looked up and thought, oh god’: The split-second choice that delivered Point Of Law’s historic Cup triumph

A tearaway Royal Supremacy gapped the field, leaving jockey Ethan Brown with a decision to make aboard Point of Law. We break down the race and how...

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Danny Russell

There’s a problem with mince pies and spring. It goes way deeper than hot cross buns

There’s a problem with mince pies and spring. It goes way deeper than hot cross buns

I no longer believe the Christmas mince pie is an innocent little pastry designed to bring cheer.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Nicola Redhouse

Let Aaron Sorkin do the preaching. I’d rather watch superheroes save the day

Let Aaron Sorkin do the preaching. I’d rather watch superheroes save the day

Marvel fatigue or not, the superhero genre’s clear line between good and evil is essential right now.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Mali Cornish

The Reserve Bank has played its part. Now it’s Jim Chalmers’ turn

The Reserve Bank has played its part. Now it’s Jim Chalmers’ turn

This isn’t a recession, says Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock, but she concedes it sure feels like one.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Shane Wright

A blue tidal wave is coming for Trump. But some polling experts are nervous

A blue tidal wave is coming for Trump. But some polling experts are nervous

The Democrats are odds-on favourites to win control of both chambers of US Congress, but painful defeats to Trump in the past come with a warning.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Koziol

Ten* things I hate about Chris Minns, and should have told the doorknocker who asked

Ten* things I hate about Chris Minns, and should have told the doorknocker who asked

Here was a willing pair of ears who would take important policy critiques from my mouth to God’s ear. But when she asked if I had any problems, I...

tuesday 30

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jenna Price

Why working harder won’t make you rich – and what to do instead

Why working harder won’t make you rich – and what to do instead

The only way to get off that hamster wheel of chasing more is to stop chasing money and start building wealth.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Paridhi Jain

Trump’s two-year demolition derby satisfied the bloodlust. Now his voters know the cost

Trump’s two-year demolition derby satisfied the bloodlust. Now his voters know the cost

In my state, Republicans haven’t lost a Senate race this century. Trump has been here repeatedly, fighting to stay alive.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Cory Alpert

Trump has lost control of his war with Canada

Trump has lost control of his war with Canada

The US president tried and failed to bully Canada in tense negotiations this year. Now he may pay a heavy price.

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Bartholomeusz

Forget the Melbourne Cup form guide – this is the horse that has it all

Forget the Melbourne Cup form guide – this is the horse that has it all

If you are looking for the runner that ticks every box for Tuesday’s $10 million feature, you can stop scrolling now. Ciaron Maher’s Point of Law...

tuesday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Ally Mosley

China is a dictatorship. The midterms will prove if the US has also become one

China is a dictatorship. The midterms will prove if the US has also become one

The US, for all the ugliness, does have the option of the bloodless removal of a bad government. On the proviso, of course, that Trump allows the...

tuesday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher

Tough times as James Packer makes do with a $60 million payday

Tough times as James Packer makes do with a $60 million payday

The billionaire’s private investment vehicle recorded a sharp dip in revenues last year. But he’s still in line for a $60 million dividend windfall.

tuesday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

John Buckley

My suburb is a flirty extrovert, even with those who can’t pronounce it properly

I’m almost a local – 40 years in residence, with a year off for good behaviour.

02.11.2026 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Rick Feneley

America Inc is turning away from Trump

America Inc is turning away from Trump

With the president’s grip on Washington set to be much weaker after the midterms, US bosses are desperately trying to de-MAGAfy their companies.

02.11.2026 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Economist