Trump’s military parade exposes weak Albo and Wong

US Army 250th anniversary parade, Washington DC.

On June 14, Washington DC roared to life with the thunder of tanks, the wokka of choppers, and the march of some 7,000 soldiers celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the US Army. Hooah!

This spectacle of military might and national pride, unusual in the self-loathing West, was a bold declaration of America’s strength that coincided with President Trump’s 79th birthday.

Predictably, the usual chorus of left-wing critics in the US and abroad erupted in outrage, clutching their pearls while crying ‘dictator’ over what was, at its core, a celebration of the nation’s resilience and its defenders.

In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes had this to say:

Resident flaneur, Michael de Percy, says President Trump’s military parade on the weekend (and Trump’s birthday) highlights America’s strength and our defence weakness. Something must change. The Trump administration says spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence should be our goal: at his meeting with Trump today, Anthony Albanese should at least accept a goal of that magnitude is a realistic ask of Australia. But the Prime Minister also must brace himself to do what’s necessary to do the right thing and pursue it – and that’s not to raise taxes. Jettison unaffordable election promises. Cut wasteful programmes – not matter how popular – and cancel ideological vanity projects. Dump economy-crippling Net Zero. Incentivise productivity growth and defence industry investment. Even consider reintroducing national service in some form – after all, the old National Service Act is still on the books. National defence must have top priority, and government must lead by example. Our tip: Albanese won’t do anything but talk.

My latest opinion piece in The Spectator Australia, Trump’s military parade exposes weak Albo and Wong.

"The reaction from MSM wasn’t just overblown. It stems from a deeper hatred of Western strength."

The usual chorus of left-wing critics erupted in outrage, clutching their pearls while crying ‘dictator’ over a celebration of the nation’s resilience.https://t.co/OdqiSm6gXS

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 16, 2025

Warwick Stacey: One Nation’s Senate ‘stunner’

One Nation's Senate 'stunner'

One Nation’s newly elected senator, Warwick Stacey, brings to the table skills and experience that most Australian politicians have only ever seen at the movies. Our own Professor David Flint has sung his praises, and after discussing Stacey’s views about the long-forgotten idea of representative democracy, in my opinion there is much to like. Warwick Stacey’s responses to my questions are outlined in the article below.

Alexandra Marshall wrote in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Michael de Percy sat down with newly elected One Nation Senator Warwick Stacey to talk about what sort of agenda he would like to see in a political system that seems to be stacked against conservatives and free thinkers.

My latest report in The Spectator Australia, Warwick Stacey: One Nation’s Senate ‘stunner’.

"The life experiences to date on which I will draw as a senator have given me a very healthy scepticism of the knowledge, capabilities and decisions of ‘experts’, our so-called ‘élites’, senior bureaucrats, and politicians." - WARWICK STACEYhttps://t.co/qg3UnapGpr

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 16, 2025

Surfing the waves of nostalgia with Brian Wilson

Wilson wasn’t just writing songs. He was building worlds.

As I write this, I’m struck by how much of my childhood was shaped by Brian Wilson’s sounds. The Beach Boys weren’t just a band, they were a feeling, a memory, a tether to a time when the world seemed simpler, even if it never really was. Brian Wilson’s genius wasn’t just in his music but in his ability to make kids like me believe in the endless summer, no matter where we were. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

Alexandra Marshall had this to say in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Michael de Percy has written a fond farewell to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. ‘Wilson’s genius lay in his ability to uplift one’s spirits, even though his were deeply troubled,’ he wrote, adding, ‘Wilson wasn’t just writing songs, he was building worlds.’ It’s a shame that we are slowly losing talent only to have it replaced by … well, I’m not really sure that much of the noise today can be considered ‘music’.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Surfing the waves of nostalgia with Brian Wilson.

MICHAEL DE PERCY | "The Beach Boys weren’t just a band, they were a feeling, a memory, a tether to a time when the world seemed simpler, even if it never really was."https://t.co/UvtdCpRvEm

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 14, 2025