From Mar-a-Lago to the Ashes

It's been quite a fortnight. After three weeks in Los Angeles, I flew back into Sydney last Monday; recorded a podcast in Sydney on Tuesday; flew to Melbourne and recorded a vodcast episode and spoke at a dinner on Thursday; and then on Friday flew back to the US.

I've spent a lot of time on Qantas A380s this month – and truly, I've no complaints! To me, the service ethic of the ground staff and cabin crew are the best thing about the airline. However, I did enjoy, as we waited at the front door to disembark in Dallas, a couple of American businessmen quizzing the cabin manager, incredulously, "What's with the no wi-fi?!" 

Several months ago, Anthony Pratt – proprietor of what is now America's largest individually-owned manufacturer – invited me to attend Pratt Industries’ annual client party at Mar-a-Lago on November 15. My professional justification for accepting this generous invitation was somewhat dubious. I wasn't going to get a major story out of it. At Pratt's earlier invitations, I'd already written two gonzo columns from Mar-a-Lago during Trump's first term (the second of which was, incidentally, the last ever piece of journalism I wrote steaming drunk). I'd even been to stay with James Packer in December 2023 – right after I quit the AFR – at the house he's rented from Trump on Mar-a-Lago's fence line (the president-in-exile very kindly permitted me to use the club facilities).