Amy Mullins chats with Don Watson, acclaimed author and former speechwriter to Paul Keating, about his Quarterly Essay, High Noon: Trump, Harris and America on the Brink. In this historically rich and incisive account, Watson explores Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and a nation approaching its democratic high noon. As part of his research, Don travelled across the U.S. earlier this year, exploring the question: Is the United States disintegrating?

Key themes of his essay include voter suppression, Australian parallels, and deeply rooted systemic racism, with his queries capturing a critical juncture in history. Furthermore, he says: 

“The core of the problem lies in their founding documents — the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, as they never began resolving the race debate.”