Tom Switzer is a senior fellow at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre and a host at the ABC's Radio National.
Virtually every seasoned observer of American politics, including this writer, has all too often dismissed Trump. And yet, as things stand, the Republican standard bearer could win the election.
Tough border control not only discourages people from making perilous journeys on the high seas. It also, crucially, boosts public confidence in a large-scale, non-discriminatory migration program.
Placing rugby league stars in the same company as US foreign-policy elites would seem to many to be a long bow to draw.
Donald Trump is raising several issues that go to the very heart of American politics in 2016. It would be a big mistake to say his growing appeal is simply due to racism and xenophobia.
It's time Turnbull reached out to conservatives. The common mantra is that if only the star of Q&A; had embraced a "progressive" agenda he would have won a convincing majority. This is hogwash.
What the received media wisdom fails to recognise is that Turnbull would have committed a dangerous betrayal if he had supported policies that fly in the face of most party members
Australian is having a sea change in foreign policy opinion.
Thirty years ago this month Paul Keating warned we could become a "banana republic". The anniversary is worth commemorating as a seminal moment in Australian history. It's also a reminder of real political leadership that is lacking in Canberra today.
The Prime Minister has not actually done anything to explain his rapid downhill trajectory. But contradicting himself almost every week, Turnbull has stood fast in indecision.