Trump’s rhetoric has become less grounded in reality – Albanese can no longer tiptoe around the madness | Julianne Schultz

The PM’s political antennae finally twitched this week when he felt safe to criticise the US president’s ‘extraordinary’ threat Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast When a madman calls out your name you have two choices – pretend you didn’t hear him and hide, or try to reason; explain he had you confused with someone else, he didn’t understand what you were really trying to say and how you were really his best friend. Australian political leaders, who cling to what seems to be their genetically programmed fear of abandonment , generally opt for the second choice. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.