Aaron Smith
@aaronsmith333.bsky.social
Tech for work, swimming for sanity, and doing my bit to fight for integrity in our politics. Also at instagram.com/aaronsmith333/
Pinned
Aaron Smith
@aaronsmith333.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Part two of my year in reflection swimming thread that I rescued from twitter before the end.
This is all salt water, and mostly ocean pools.
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This is all salt water, and mostly ocean pools.
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Watching the eternal denial over Dan Andrews is like hearing someone insist the sun didn’t rise this morning.
The man won 3 elections, winning more seats each time, and left his opponents in a smoking ruin.
Is there a medical diagnosis for this level of denialism?
The man won 3 elections, winning more seats each time, and left his opponents in a smoking ruin.
Is there a medical diagnosis for this level of denialism?
August 27, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Watching the eternal denial over Dan Andrews is like hearing someone insist the sun didn’t rise this morning.
The man won 3 elections, winning more seats each time, and left his opponents in a smoking ruin.
Is there a medical diagnosis for this level of denialism?
The man won 3 elections, winning more seats each time, and left his opponents in a smoking ruin.
Is there a medical diagnosis for this level of denialism?
Forget Shaked and Rotman, Gideon.
Just send Netanyahu instead so Australia can fulfil its obligations as a signatory to the International Criminal Court and deliver him to The Hague.
Just send Netanyahu instead so Australia can fulfil its obligations as a signatory to the International Criminal Court and deliver him to The Hague.
August 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Forget Shaked and Rotman, Gideon.
Just send Netanyahu instead so Australia can fulfil its obligations as a signatory to the International Criminal Court and deliver him to The Hague.
Just send Netanyahu instead so Australia can fulfil its obligations as a signatory to the International Criminal Court and deliver him to The Hague.
Reposted by Aaron Smith
You mean to tell me old mate Matthew didn't turn up today?
So James pretends that comments from an individual - that they directly attributed to this individual man - and who has been in prison for two years, should automatically be known by the public as really his "press office"?
#pffft
So James pretends that comments from an individual - that they directly attributed to this individual man - and who has been in prison for two years, should automatically be known by the public as really his "press office"?
#pffft
August 17, 2025 at 2:37 AM
You mean to tell me old mate Matthew didn't turn up today?
So James pretends that comments from an individual - that they directly attributed to this individual man - and who has been in prison for two years, should automatically be known by the public as really his "press office"?
#pffft
So James pretends that comments from an individual - that they directly attributed to this individual man - and who has been in prison for two years, should automatically be known by the public as really his "press office"?
#pffft
Reposted by Aaron Smith
The initial smear was bad enough. The attempt to hide it was utterly reprehensible.
Why did the @sydmorningherald.bsky.social let Knott completely rewrite the story to correct his embarrassing "stuff up" & claim it had merely been "updated"?
And why is #Insiders not interrogating this properly?
Why did the @sydmorningherald.bsky.social let Knott completely rewrite the story to correct his embarrassing "stuff up" & claim it had merely been "updated"?
And why is #Insiders not interrogating this properly?
Claim a quote from a Hamas co-founder who’s in prison unable to comment.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
August 17, 2025 at 5:13 AM
The initial smear was bad enough. The attempt to hide it was utterly reprehensible.
Why did the @sydmorningherald.bsky.social let Knott completely rewrite the story to correct his embarrassing "stuff up" & claim it had merely been "updated"?
And why is #Insiders not interrogating this properly?
Why did the @sydmorningherald.bsky.social let Knott completely rewrite the story to correct his embarrassing "stuff up" & claim it had merely been "updated"?
And why is #Insiders not interrogating this properly?
Reposted by Aaron Smith
Must read thread.
This is extraordinarily poor in any circumstance, but in the context of an issue this controversial and a claim this incendiary, it’s genuinely shocking.
A newspaper committed to ethical journalism would have sacked Matthew Knott on the spot and retracted the article.
This is extraordinarily poor in any circumstance, but in the context of an issue this controversial and a claim this incendiary, it’s genuinely shocking.
A newspaper committed to ethical journalism would have sacked Matthew Knott on the spot and retracted the article.
You’ll remember the blow-up over Matthew Knott’s SMH piece quoting a Hamas co-founder in what looked like a hit job on Albanese. (Context in the quote tweet below if you aren't up to speed.)
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
Curious that the Sydney Morning Herald suddenly has direct contact with Hamas.
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
August 17, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Must read thread.
This is extraordinarily poor in any circumstance, but in the context of an issue this controversial and a claim this incendiary, it’s genuinely shocking.
A newspaper committed to ethical journalism would have sacked Matthew Knott on the spot and retracted the article.
This is extraordinarily poor in any circumstance, but in the context of an issue this controversial and a claim this incendiary, it’s genuinely shocking.
A newspaper committed to ethical journalism would have sacked Matthew Knott on the spot and retracted the article.
Claim a quote from a Hamas co-founder who’s in prison unable to comment.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
August 17, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Claim a quote from a Hamas co-founder who’s in prison unable to comment.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
Quietly rewrite when busted.
Pull Knott from the Insiders sofa and send Massola instead to waffle about "offices".
Keep running the smear anyway.
That’s SMH. That’s #Insiders. That’s garbage.
First Matthew Knott's words were quietly scrubbed in his discredited article, now Matthew Knott himself has been quietly scrubbed from #Insiders.
August 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
First Matthew Knott's words were quietly scrubbed in his discredited article, now Matthew Knott himself has been quietly scrubbed from #Insiders.
You’ll remember the blow-up over Matthew Knott’s SMH piece quoting a Hamas co-founder in what looked like a hit job on Albanese. (Context in the quote tweet below if you aren't up to speed.)
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
Curious that the Sydney Morning Herald suddenly has direct contact with Hamas.
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
August 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
You’ll remember the blow-up over Matthew Knott’s SMH piece quoting a Hamas co-founder in what looked like a hit job on Albanese. (Context in the quote tweet below if you aren't up to speed.)
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
Well, it gets worse, and no one’s noticed. A thread....
/1
bsky.app/profile/aaro...
OMFG. AFR says Hamas denies co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef praised Albanese - because he’s been in prison for 2 years.
Hey AFR - maybe wander over to your SMH colleagues and ask why / how they quoted Yousef from prison, because that is now the fucking story.
Link below
/1
Hey AFR - maybe wander over to your SMH colleagues and ask why / how they quoted Yousef from prison, because that is now the fucking story.
Link below
/1
August 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
OMFG. AFR says Hamas denies co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef praised Albanese - because he’s been in prison for 2 years.
Hey AFR - maybe wander over to your SMH colleagues and ask why / how they quoted Yousef from prison, because that is now the fucking story.
Link below
/1
Hey AFR - maybe wander over to your SMH colleagues and ask why / how they quoted Yousef from prison, because that is now the fucking story.
Link below
/1
Curious that the Sydney Morning Herald suddenly has direct contact with Hamas.
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
August 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Curious that the Sydney Morning Herald suddenly has direct contact with Hamas.
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
Even more intriguing is that Matthew Knott - once described as a stenographer for pro-Israel groups got the story. (Article in post 2)
Labor stumbles behind public conscience, slowly shifting on Gaza once the outrage is undeniable.
The Liberals? No shame, no hesitation - just unwavering support for a regime starving children and bombing civilians. Silence as endorsement. Genocide as policy.
The Liberals? No shame, no hesitation - just unwavering support for a regime starving children and bombing civilians. Silence as endorsement. Genocide as policy.
July 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Labor stumbles behind public conscience, slowly shifting on Gaza once the outrage is undeniable.
The Liberals? No shame, no hesitation - just unwavering support for a regime starving children and bombing civilians. Silence as endorsement. Genocide as policy.
The Liberals? No shame, no hesitation - just unwavering support for a regime starving children and bombing civilians. Silence as endorsement. Genocide as policy.
"We can’t trick voters into thinking we care about the climate," says Matt Canavan, while single-handedly reminding every teal voter why they left.
July 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
"We can’t trick voters into thinking we care about the climate," says Matt Canavan, while single-handedly reminding every teal voter why they left.
American beef in Australia is like sending instant coffee to Italy.
Who in Australia would want this?
Who in Australia would want this?
July 25, 2025 at 3:14 AM
American beef in Australia is like sending instant coffee to Italy.
Who in Australia would want this?
Who in Australia would want this?
Penny Wong’s right - Faruqi was seeking attention….
Attention to the fact that the govt’s response to Israel’s mass killing and starvation is as effective as a slap with a wet lettuce.
Honestly, an actual wet lettuce might do more.
Attention to the fact that the govt’s response to Israel’s mass killing and starvation is as effective as a slap with a wet lettuce.
Honestly, an actual wet lettuce might do more.
July 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Penny Wong’s right - Faruqi was seeking attention….
Attention to the fact that the govt’s response to Israel’s mass killing and starvation is as effective as a slap with a wet lettuce.
Honestly, an actual wet lettuce might do more.
Attention to the fact that the govt’s response to Israel’s mass killing and starvation is as effective as a slap with a wet lettuce.
Honestly, an actual wet lettuce might do more.
Victorian Liberals trying to pressure Labor on the Comm Games fiasco yesterday:
No policies, no alternative plan, just whinging and walking next to a man with bagpipes - because Scotland has the games now.
Not opposition. Just noise in tartan. Politics as pantomime.
No policies, no alternative plan, just whinging and walking next to a man with bagpipes - because Scotland has the games now.
Not opposition. Just noise in tartan. Politics as pantomime.
July 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Victorian Liberals trying to pressure Labor on the Comm Games fiasco yesterday:
No policies, no alternative plan, just whinging and walking next to a man with bagpipes - because Scotland has the games now.
Not opposition. Just noise in tartan. Politics as pantomime.
No policies, no alternative plan, just whinging and walking next to a man with bagpipes - because Scotland has the games now.
Not opposition. Just noise in tartan. Politics as pantomime.
Hanson represents the calcification of public thought - an ossified relic of white anxiety, preserved and paraded like a national artefact long past its relevance.
She is what happens when grievance becomes a lifestyle, and ignorance becomes a brand.
She is what happens when grievance becomes a lifestyle, and ignorance becomes a brand.
July 23, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Hanson represents the calcification of public thought - an ossified relic of white anxiety, preserved and paraded like a national artefact long past its relevance.
She is what happens when grievance becomes a lifestyle, and ignorance becomes a brand.
She is what happens when grievance becomes a lifestyle, and ignorance becomes a brand.
Below is the Penny Wong I respected - the Penny Wong who called out injustice.
Today she rolled over, and chose silence in the face of genocide.
Has she become what she once derided?
Today she rolled over, and chose silence in the face of genocide.
Has she become what she once derided?
July 23, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Below is the Penny Wong I respected - the Penny Wong who called out injustice.
Today she rolled over, and chose silence in the face of genocide.
Has she become what she once derided?
Today she rolled over, and chose silence in the face of genocide.
Has she become what she once derided?
One Nation Senators turn their back on First Nations people by refusing to respect Welcome to Country, and there's zero consequences.
But speak out for starving Palestinians and that results in punishment?
What kind of Parliament is this?
But speak out for starving Palestinians and that results in punishment?
What kind of Parliament is this?
July 23, 2025 at 8:08 AM
One Nation Senators turn their back on First Nations people by refusing to respect Welcome to Country, and there's zero consequences.
But speak out for starving Palestinians and that results in punishment?
What kind of Parliament is this?
But speak out for starving Palestinians and that results in punishment?
What kind of Parliament is this?
Faruqi held a sign: “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.”
Labor and Liberal censured Faruqi and banned her from taking part in any overseas parliamentary delegations.
Labor and Liberals on a unity ticket to punish truth before they ever confront genocide.
Labor and Liberal censured Faruqi and banned her from taking part in any overseas parliamentary delegations.
Labor and Liberals on a unity ticket to punish truth before they ever confront genocide.
July 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Faruqi held a sign: “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.”
Labor and Liberal censured Faruqi and banned her from taking part in any overseas parliamentary delegations.
Labor and Liberals on a unity ticket to punish truth before they ever confront genocide.
Labor and Liberal censured Faruqi and banned her from taking part in any overseas parliamentary delegations.
Labor and Liberals on a unity ticket to punish truth before they ever confront genocide.
Morally stunted and intellectually barren.
July 22, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Morally stunted and intellectually barren.
Reposted by Aaron Smith
As Louise Milligan notes, this is a systemic issue.
So the question is not just why did Greg Malham last so long.
But how many more Greg Malhams are there?
So the question is not just why did Greg Malham last so long.
But how many more Greg Malhams are there?
July 20, 2025 at 10:25 PM
As Louise Milligan notes, this is a systemic issue.
So the question is not just why did Greg Malham last so long.
But how many more Greg Malhams are there?
So the question is not just why did Greg Malham last so long.
But how many more Greg Malhams are there?
Greg Malham became known in recent federal election campaign for being filmed smashing Monique Ryan’s sign and laughing about "burying the body".
Four Corners looked deeper, and what they found is very disturbing.
Full story next tweet.
1/2
Four Corners looked deeper, and what they found is very disturbing.
Full story next tweet.
1/2
July 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Greg Malham became known in recent federal election campaign for being filmed smashing Monique Ryan’s sign and laughing about "burying the body".
Four Corners looked deeper, and what they found is very disturbing.
Full story next tweet.
1/2
Four Corners looked deeper, and what they found is very disturbing.
Full story next tweet.
1/2
Does anyone know if this guy was a candidate in Tasmania's State Election yesterday. It seems like a huge missed opportunity if not.
This is how Australians learn about the subtle differences between South American camelids.
July 20, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Does anyone know if this guy was a candidate in Tasmania's State Election yesterday. It seems like a huge missed opportunity if not.
I wonder what qualified Tim Smith for this role.
July 20, 2025 at 7:45 AM
I wonder what qualified Tim Smith for this role.
Reposted by Aaron Smith
One of the other big funders of Advance for the past few years is a pro-Israel woman who likes to keep her name quiet and off social media
She donates large sums to Advance every year (over $50K)
But hey, ho - social cohesion and racism and all of that says Jillian Segal
She donates large sums to Advance every year (over $50K)
But hey, ho - social cohesion and racism and all of that says Jillian Segal
July 20, 2025 at 2:23 AM
One of the other big funders of Advance for the past few years is a pro-Israel woman who likes to keep her name quiet and off social media
She donates large sums to Advance every year (over $50K)
But hey, ho - social cohesion and racism and all of that says Jillian Segal
She donates large sums to Advance every year (over $50K)
But hey, ho - social cohesion and racism and all of that says Jillian Segal