I do wonder what kind of single point of failure is in the Telstra network to cause a national outage, and why is it DNS...

#telstradown

The Telstra outages are so bad that their outages page isn't working.

I don't think that ending birthright citizenship in the US would be a big deal. Outside of the Americas, birthright citizenship isn't really a thing. I'm sure the world would adjust if the US decided to close this path to citizenship.

However - it is part of the Constitution, and if _this_ Supreme Court isn't prepared to tear it up, nobody will. Nor can Trump simply avoid a "long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment" - Congress can't unilaterally override the Constitution. That's the whole point.

(What he _might_ be able to do is declare non-citizens - especially ones without visas - not subject to US laws. Basically giving every undocumented migrant diplomatic immunity. That would prevent birthright citizenship if _both_ parents are undocumented - but that's a pretty big change)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-01/us-supreme-court-rejects-trump-bid-birthright-citizenship/106863538

RE: https://mastodon.social/@eff/116817934510969461

There's a strong assumption here that Google would respect your choice to opt out, and not just use your data (_possibly_ after being de-identified) anyway.

Because if it's one thing that AI companies do, it's respect the rights and ownership of other people's data...

I'm just going to put this here: Karl Stefanovic gave me icky vibes for his entire career, and he is the reason we stopped watching Today.

(That, and the ABC Breakfast show is infinitely better than the commercial alternatives)

I'm not at all surprised about the recent events, other than it took that long.

Probably the key problem with the prosecution's case was that, on the days the attacks were meant to have been planned for, the teenager in question stayed home and played video games.

Video games prevent violence, people.

(Also, the police investigation into the teen started after the dates of the allegedly planned attacks)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-25/teenager-acquitted-of-planning-terror-attack-liberal-party/106837200

"Mr Burke said the government had been advised that, once it received a request for a permit to return from the woman, it was unable to legally refuse the application"

Good. No Australian citizen should be refused entry to Australia under any circumstance.

You want to arrest them when they get here? Go ahead, assuming you've got evidence.

You want to apply surveillance, or limit their civil liberties? Again - with evidence, go ahead.

But you should _never_ deny a citizen the right to return to their country.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-25/isis-bride-syria-return-home-security/106839208

Trump is _finally_ going to drain a swamp.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-23/washington-reflecting-pool-to-be-drained-again-after-renovations/106830116

Anyone know the weather in the UK this day?

Is it raining there in England?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nUFseaHtfs

The Lord's Prayer was never appropriate to read out in Parliament. We don't have a state religion, and we never have had one. Having an explicitly religious ceremony be a part of Parliament isn't appropriate.

(For that matter, neither is swearing people in on the Bible - and that includes in court)

This is even more true than ever now. In the 2021 census, less than half of respondents reported being Christian - and of those, most probably never set foot in a church outside of key life events. Almost as many reported no religion at all. It is nearly certain that in the 2026 census (less than two months away!) that the "No Religion" will overtake Christian - I wouldn't be surprised if it passes 50%.

We shouldn't have religious trappings in government and judicial proceedings.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-22/call-for-lords-prayer-to-be-scrapped-in-wa-parliament/106827492

Here’s an idea: how about winding back the excise subsidy to minors (and other primary producers) at the same time they wind it back for motorists?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/22/mining-tax-credit-scheme-coal-companies-subsidies-taxpayer-refunds-diesel

RE: https://federate.social/@mattblaze/116788622800673446

Musk spent weeks arguing in public about the signage on the Twitter building after buying it (the company, not the building. Heck, I don't know if he ever got around to paying the rent on the place).

Tesla stock rose (presumably because Musk was distracted elsewhere)

Really? Brands are using AI-generated "people" to promote their products?

Who would have thought that this _totally legal thing to do_ would be done?

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/21/brands-using-ai-generated-influencers-to-promote-products-on-social-media

RE: https://toot.cat/@devopscats/116780582702953705

I wonder if that includes the double-tap attack on the school...

McSweeney’s on the economics of the AI bubble. This description of AI driven layoffs is excellent satire.

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/ai-economics-for-dummies

Little-to-be-proud-of says: ""The one question that no insurance company can answer is, 'What's changed?'""

They can answer it. They have answered it. He doesn't like to hear the answer, so he ignores it.

The answer is flood and fire risks, driven by climate change, both of which increase risk, and the cost of labour and materials, which increases the cost of rebuilding.

Oh, and it's answered _in the article_

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/david-littleproud-accc-insurers-south-west-queensland/106807554

You know, there was a time in US history when popular murderers literally wouldn't be convicted by juries.

This time is supposedly long gone. Luigi Mangione may test that...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/mangione-psychiatric-defence-extreme-emotional-disturbance/106811672

RE: https://mastodon.social/@fribbledom/116766590828521955

I'm going to steal that line...

Hmm... why would a MP leave the party that got her voted in, form her own party, and _then_ go and join another?

"The [Sarah Game's Fair Go for Australians] party went on to secure 0.3 per cent of the upper house vote."

Ah, gotcha.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-17/sarah-game-joins-family-first-party/106805904

It's only about a page-and-half, but the ABC couldn't bother linking to it or including it as an attachment. Well done, ABC.

The Sydney Morning Herald at least managed to do it. Why not Auntie?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/iran-us-mou-deal-ceasefire/106811768