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    Jennifer Hewett

    Columnist

    Jennifer Hewett is the National Affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com

    Jennifer Hewett

    Yesterday

    Labor’s shock at CFMEU deserves an acting prize

    After years of ignoring all the evidence, Labor governments have expressed their shock at evidence of criminality and corruption in the construction union. What now?

    This Month

    Anthony Albanese, Michele Bullock, Jim Chalmers

    RBA returns serve on inflation

    The RBA’s take down of government spending is reverberating loudly in Canberra and can only undermine Labor’s key argument that its fiscal policy complements monetary policy.

    Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, at a campaign rally on Tuesday.

    The big risk in Kamala Harris’ surprise choice for VP

    Tim Walz’s down-to-earth language was transformed into the equivalent of a political magic wand, but there’s a risk in overlooking Josh Shapiro in the must-win swing state of Pennsylvania.

    RBA governor Michele Bullock in Sydney on Tuesday.

    RBA warns rate cuts are a no-go this year

    Why interest rates won’t come down this year after all. They might even go up.

    Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.

    Markets mayhem jangles investor nerves

    Why are markets are suddenly tumbling as sentiment turns down – and is this the start of something bigger?

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    Albemarle boss Kent Masters at the company’s lithium hydroxide plant at Kemerton in WA.

    Albemarle sounds warning on critical minerals processing

    The US-based firm’s decision to reduce output from its lithium hydroxide plant and write down much of its investment demonstrates the flaws in Australia’s plan for greater domestic processing of critical minerals.

    July

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers

    Inflation helps government dodge interest rate bullet

    The June quarter figures were not good, but they also weren’t as bad as feared. That is likely to give the Reserve Bank breathing space to keep interest rates on hold next week.

    President Joe Biden addresses the US from the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

    Hoarse but coherent Biden bows out, sets up Democrats’ last hope

    Joe Biden says his decision to step aside as the Democrats’ presidential candidate was because the greatest need is to defend American democracy.

    One issue where Kamala Harris gives the Democrats an edge

    The party hopes to use the burning issue of abortion rights – and the elevation of Kamala Harris – to change what has been a losing election hand.

    Kamala Harris’ approval rating has fallen below that of Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

    Trump will relish a fight against ‘DEI candidate’ Harris

    The former president would clearly have preferred to cruise to victory against Joe Biden, but Republicans have always had plenty of attack lines to launch against the vice president.

    President Joe Biden.

    Why Biden’s decision may be too late

    The president risks being remembered for having provided Donald Trump the opening to retake the White House in November.

    • Updated
    President Joe Biden walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday.

    Democrats know that this fight is done

    No matter how much Joe Biden points to falling inflation and violent crime rates and rising real wages, too many voters are looking in the other direction.

    Joe Biden’s election campaign is in deep trouble as calls mount from within his party for him to step aside.

    Democrats try to stop the slide as Biden isolates

    Nothing has gone right for Joe Biden since his disastrous debate with Donald Trump last month. His COVID diagnosis may be the last straw for a distraught party.

    Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention.

    ‘We have a country to save’: Republicans rally to a reborn Trump

    The Republican National Convention is showcasing a party dominated by Donald Trump and his views, while the disarray in the Democrats just keeps coming.

    • Updated
    Donald Trump and J.D. Vance at the Republican Conference in Wisconsin.

    Donald Trump goes for broke with Vance

    Vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance is more evidence of how confident the Trump campaign feels about its election prospects.

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    The Republican National Convention opens this week with Donald Trump as its star.

    Trump’s survival will turbocharge the Republican convention

    The former president’s narrow escape from death is giving new life to his campaign, and Joe Biden’s address calling for unity won’t fix the extreme division in America.

    Why Biden’s biggest threat is from his own party

    There has been no more critical moment for his presidency than the attacks on him by powerful Democrats. It’s one major fight he looks at imminent risk of losing.

    George Clooney has withdrawn his support for Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy.

    Democrats simmer over no-win dilemma as Biden support ebbs away

    President Joe Biden is losing political traction on Capitol Hill as congressional Democrats count the cost of his determination to stay in the race.

    President Joe Biden delivers a NATO summit welcome speech.

    Inside the Democrats’ fight over Biden

    Hosting the NATO summit was supposed to help the US president demonstrate unity within the Democratic Party. But it is tearing itself apart.

    President Joe Biden.

    Confused despair grips Democratic voters

    Joe Biden seems to be revelling in his determination to once again prove his doubters wrong. The Trump campaign is confident it ensures their victory on November 5.