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Good morning!
In case you missed it, today we’re launching a new newsletter: TDA Culture.
TDA Culture is a place for context, not just headlines. We’ll break down the cultural stories dominating your algorithms, proudly a week behind, when the plot might be getting away from you.
That’s the TDA way, and we want you to come with us! It is a weekly newsletter, dropping in your inboxes at 5pm every Thursday.
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I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
“Any commentary about this bill applying in other contexts is insensitive.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaking to ABC radio on Wednesday morning, in reference to four Coalition MPs who raised issues with a bill to ensure employer-paid parental leave cannot be cancelled when a baby is stillborn or dies in infancy.
Stat of the day
$1 billion
The estimated cost if the Australian Government hosted the UN COP31 climate summit in 2026, according to The Australian Financial Review, citing anonymous Government sources.
TDA reader’s comment of the week
"I remember font-gate. Was impressed by how long you tried to stick with it"
A comment left on our podcast reel discussing the issues with the BoM's website rebrand, referencing the time TDA changed our headline font.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
The Government has confirmed platforms Kick and Reddit will be included in its social media ban for under-16s, which comes into effect next month. Kick is an online platform launched in late 2022 which allows users to watch, broadcast, and comment on live streams. Co-founded by Australian billionaire Edward Craven, its content guidelines are less stringent than competitors including Twitch. Earlier this year, the eSafety Commissioner accused Kick of failing to meet online content standards following the death of a man on a livestream, threatening a $49.5 million fine. Reddit was founded in the U.S. in 2005 and is best known for its communities of ‘subreddits’ — forums based on specific interests, where users share opinions and give advice. Both Kick and Reddit allow visitors to view most of their content without creating an account, but not to comment or interact with posts. From 10 December, both platforms will have to verify Australian users’ age when they create an account, or face millions of dollars in fines.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released its 16th annual report evaluating nations’ progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It found nations have worked to fulfil their obligations under the Paris Agreement — a global pact to limit carbon emissions so global temperatures don’t rise more than 1.5°C above levels recorded during 1850-1900. The UNEP now projects Earth will warm by 2.3 to 2.5 degrees Celsius this century, which is cooler than last year’s projections, but still far from the 1.5 degree target. It estimated global emissions need to be reduced by a minimum of 55% in the next 10 years in order to limit warming to the Paris agreement line, calling this goal “extremely challenging” to reach. The Australian Government has legislated a goal of reducing emissions by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030. In September, the government accepted advice from the independent Climate Change Authority to aim to reduce emissions by up to 70% from 2005 levels by 2035.
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I’ve got 1 minute
ASIO believes three countries are willing to assassinate someone on Australian soil
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess has warned acts of political violence are “more likely” than before.
In a speech at an event hosted by Australian think tank the Lowy Institute, Burgess discussed security threats like espionage, foreign interference, and internet radicalisation.
He said these issues are putting Australia’s “community cohesion... under attack.”
Background
Each year, the Lowy Institute invites a “prominent individual” to speak about “Australia’s role in the world and the world’s influence on Australia.”
Past speakers at the Institute include former world leaders U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Every Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has spoken at the Institute since its foundation in 2003.
Details
In his speech on Tuesday night, Burgess said: “Australia has never faced so many different threats… at scale… at once.”
Burgess sorted the cohorts behind these threats into three groups: “the aggrieved” (individuals), “the opportunistic” (organisations), and “the cunning” (countries).
Looking at the threat of other nations, he said ASIO “believe[s] there are at least three nations willing and capable” of “assassinat[ing] a perceived dissident in Australia.”
Burgess raised examples, such as
ASIO identifying the “Iranian Regime” was behind two antisemitic attacks this year.
Russia was also singled-out, with Burgess suggesting “operatives are covertly... amplifying division here”.
After the speech, Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove asked Burgess about his exclusion of China, to which he said, “how do you know I wasn’t talking about things China did?”
Response
In response to these threats, Burgess said national security is “everybody’s business” and that “our words, our decisions, our actions matter.”
He warned that Australians are engaging and acting on online content “accelerating extremism and radicalisation”.
However, Burgess said Australians “can and should have confidence in our ability to respond [to threats].”
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
Sun fact of the day
👒 Hot tip! UV defence starts with what you wear (hat and sunnies), not just what you apply.
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I’ve got 2 minutes
A 34-year-old has become the youngest NYC mayor in over a century. Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani has become the first Muslim, millennial, and South Asian Mayor of New York City.
In a hotly-contested election, Mamdani beat former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an independent) and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
More than two million people voted, the biggest turnout since the 1960s.
Media outlets including CNN and The Associated Press called the election within 40 minutes of polls closing.
About Mamdani
Mamdani was born in Uganda to Indian parents. When he is sworn in on 1 January 2026, he will be the first Muslim and South Asian person to become Mayor, and the youngest in more than a century.
He was previously a member of New York State’s lower house.
Mamdani identifies politically as a democratic socialist, which means he believes in establishing socialist policies through traditional political systems.
He campaigned on cost-of-living relief, including rent freezes, free buses, and free universal childcare.
Mamdani was open about his support for Palestine and Palestinian-Americans, and also told late night host Stephen Colbert: “I believe [Israel] has a right to exist and a responsibility... to uphold international law.”
Mamdani regularly posted on his social media accounts during his campaign.
On his Instagram – which has five million followers – Mamdani documented his 2024 New York Marathon run and collaborated with account SubwayTakes, actor Ilana Glazer, and model Emily Ratajkowski.
Mamdani also hosted a briefing with mainly Gen Z social media personalities one week before the election.
Endorsement
Mamdani was endorsed by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and unions representing New York services.
Despite running as an independent and the presence of a Republican candidate in the race, Andrew Cuomo was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said “a vote for [Republican] Curtis Sliwa... is a vote for Mamdani” and that voters “must vote for [Cuomo].”
Trump said it was “highly unlikely” he would “contribut[e] federal funds, other than the very minimum as required” to New York City if Mamdani won.
This U.S. financial year, the federal Government provided 6.4% of New York City’s operating budget, totalling $US7.4 billion ($AU11 billion).
The majority of this funding is received through grants, supporting areas including education, health, and housing.
Election Day
This year’s mayoral election attracted the largest voter turnout in decades.
The NYC Board of Elections said voting numbers reached two million for the first time since 1969.
Mamdani attracted just over 50% of the NYC Mayoral vote.
Speaking to supporters on election night, Mamdani said: “You have delivered a mandate for change.”
Mamdani said his election is “a new age... defined by a competence and a compassion.”
In Cuomo’s concession speech, he told supporters to ”feel proud because we fought our hearts out”.
Cuomo congratulated Mamdani and urged all New Yorkers to unite for “the greatest city in the world.”
The mayoral election was one of several held across the U.S. on Tuesday (local time).
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was elected as the state’s first female Governor, while fellow Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected as Governor of New Jersey.
The next major elections in the U.S. will be held in November 2026. At the federal level, the midterm elections will see every seat in the lower house and a third of Senate seats up for election.
Across the country, 36 states will vote to elect governors, and 46 will vote for members of their state parliaments.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
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🍊 Suburban football club banned for ‘Silly Sunday’ incident. More details.
🍊 David Beckham receives knighthood. Check out what Sir David said.
🍊 Sabalenka and Kyrgios to play ‘Battle of the Sexes’. Read more.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: cricket, basketball, and more…
Give me some good news
The biggest supermoon of the year was visible in the sky last night.
Supermoons appear three to four times a year, and are the “biggest and brightest moons of the year,” according to NASA. They occur when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit — around 360,000 kilometres away. If you missed last night’s moon, no stress! The next and final supermoon of the year is a month away, in early December.
Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA titbit
15 years after ‘Camp Rock 2’, the Jonas Brothers are coming back to screens.
This time, the brothers will be appearing in a Christmas movie, aptly named ‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’.
The musical trio play themselves as they hurry across Europe to get home in time for Christmas.
No spoilers, but based on the trailer, the film also features Jesse Tyler Ferguson (‘Modern Family’), who is dressed suspiciously like Santa.
Reporting by Rosa Bowden.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
Think back to the last time you logged in to Netflix, Disney+, or any streaming service. How much Aussie content do you remember seeing? If you’re struggling to imagine a single local production, the future could look very different.
After years of discussion, the Federal Government has announced it will introduce legislation requiring streaming services to boost their spending on Aussie content.
Today, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this announcement, what it means for the film and television industry here, and how the streaming platforms are responding.
TDA asks
