Media worth consuming – January 2026

Top six articles

Houses priced under Australia’s 5% deposit scheme limit jumped by 3.6% in December quarter, well above Treasury’s estimate of 0.5% additional price growth over six years.

Socialism kills, through both political violence and poverty. Capitalism is about serving others instead of stealing from them.

Central banks long ago stopped being independent, with QE and low interest rates encouraging excessive government debt and lowering productivity.

Volunteers on Global Mercy ships travel to the world’s poorest countries to undertake surgeries for conditions rarely seen in the West.

For $600 a month, Chinese military style weight loss camps include food, exercise sessions and accommodation.

Finance

America is in the midst of an economic boom, powered by capital investment in AI and technology. US jobs data continues to point to a robust economy. Over the last four months, Russell 2000 companies with negative earnings per share have substantially outperformed those with positive EPS. Tesla’s global Q4 sales fell 15.6%, but its P/E ratio is at 300. For the first time since 2008, Deutsche Bank’s shares are trading above their book value. Small caps and energy are the contrarian trades for US equities in 2026.

Easing credit conditions have lowered leveraged loan defaults and distressed exchanges. Defaults have jumped on art backed loans following a fall in art sales. Restructurings outside Chapter 11 bankruptcy are increasing, with lower costs and faster resolution the key drivers. The brother of the founder of First Brands is alleged to have received kickbacks on loans to the company, with IRRs of up to 300%. Several Canadian real estate funds have gated as prices fall following a normalisation of migration. The bailout of a bank that made loans to government cronies helped trigger the current Iranian protests.

Bond vigilantes are starting to flex their muscles against Japan. Dutch pension funds are reducing long bond positions, putting upward pressure on yields. There isn’t a clear line between public and private credit anymore, borrowers just pick the option that offers the best execution. Since handing back client capital in 2016, hedge fund Bluecrest has posted annual returns ranging from 20% to 153%, helped by high leverage.

Politics & culture

The US government has withdrawn from the World Health Organisation, citing Covid failures and a refusal to reform, but the WHO is refusing to confirm the withdrawal, arguing that dues are still owed. The Trump administration is withdrawing from 66 international bureaucracies, but will remain part of the OECD and IMF.

Bill and Hillary Clinton think they are above the law in refusing to testify at a House Oversight hearing - will Republicans let them off? Congress is passing far fewer laws, which might be a good thing. The Trump administration is fighting Congress and universities in its attempt to direct more funding to scientists and less to bureaucracy.

Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates shows a lack of understanding of economics. Trump promised to drain the swap, but on at least one measure it is getting bigger. The US doesn’t need to buy Greenland; it already has a military base there and has the right to build more, but Trump is sick of America paying for the protection of other countries. People from American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens, which creates much confusion. Trump’s crackdown on illegal migration may result in negative net migration to the US, which would help turn around the housing affordability problem.

Under US law, Trump had good precedent for capturing Maduro. UK residents are posting satirical memes asking Trump to kidnap Keir Starmer like Maduro, but could be risking jail for doing so. The UAE has stopped funding its citizens studying at British universities due to concerns that they will become radicalised while in the UK.

A Canadian woman was euthanized against her will after a hospital denied her palliative care. A Canadian appeals court upheld the ruling that the government had no grounds for freezing the bank accounts of protestors in 2022. Europe has signed a trade agreement with India, ignoring that the country is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil that funds the war in Ukraine. Russia’s “allies” are upset that Putin failed to help when they needed it most.

Zohran Mamdani put forward a rat infested Bronx slum as an example of what he hopes to achieve during his time as Mayor. New York State’s in home care program was another widely defrauded, taxpayer funded program. Many Republican states have chosen to run their own DOGE campaigns, using the savings to reduce taxes.

With the split in the Liberal/National coalition, One Nation is now polling as the most popular opposition party. The Albanese government is finding that legislating to ban things is far easier than stopping them.

The activist left’s silence on Iranians being terrorised and murdered by their government makes them look like hypocrites and antisemites. Many eulogies of Dilbert creator Scott Adams were critical, but this one honours his legacy of challenging politically correct positions.

Economics & work

American socialists point to Cuba, South Africa and Venezuela as better economies, ignoring their widespread poverty and lack of freedoms. If you want European levels of welfare, you’ll also get lower income, higher taxes on everyone and slower growth. America would be better off politically and economically if government were more decentralised, like in Switzerland. America’s core middle class is shrinking because the upper middle class is growing.

Powell’s record of excess inflation, setting interest rates too low and overspending on a new building are all valid reasons for his departure - but not setting interest rates too high. Central banks have done a bad job in the last two decades, but this is better than what you get when a politician takes control of setting interest rates and printing money.

Australia’s rapid population growth requires more hospitals, schools and infrastructure, all of which are expensive and take years to plan and build. Australia’s population measures are not fit for purpose, as temporary residents are not counted in the major measures, even though many reside here long term and need permanent housing. Low skill migrants are using Australia’s second tier universities as a backdoor way to gain entry and the right to work.

Miscellaneous

Stretching your brain through activities like self-navigation can help ward off Alzheimer’s. Scientists have concluded that elite endurance athletes max out their calorie burning at around 2.5 times their basal metabolic rate. People approaching retirement often plan their finances but neglect to plan on how to use their time meaningfully.

Residents near Real Madrid’s stadium are suing the club after noise from concerts breached local regulations. A gang of thieves pulled off an “Ocean’s Eleven” style robbery of a bank vault in Germany. If you want less crime, lock-up repeat offenders for longer. A critique of America’s illogical tipping culture. If you are desperate to build followers on LinkedIn, you can hire a ghostwriter.