How lobsters help us start to make sense of Donald Trump’s trade chaos

Cognitive dissonance is now part — particularly for Australia — of just being in the world. For evidence, it’s not necessary to peer very far back into history. Yesterday will do. Consider the epic weirdness of the diplomatic task yesterday presented for Anthony Albanese, an Australian prime minister welcomed warmly to Beijing by the leaders of a “people’s democratic dictatorship” who five years ago banished us comprehensively into the snow. On the agenda for enthusiastic open discussion: our common interest in clean energy! Our mutually beneficial trade relationship! (Now defrosting before a crackling fire.) Not for discussion: America’s public demands,…