Speaking in Greece, President Barack Obama said it would be an "interesting test" to see if Trump and Brexit satisfies those who voted for them. He said he recognised voters' fears about globalisation but said the Republicans distorted facts to mobilise support. "You've seen some of the rhetoric among Republican elected officials and activists and media. Some of it pretty troubling and not necessarily connected to facts, but being used effectively to mobilise people... And obviously President-elect Trump tapped into that particular strain within the Republican Party and then was able to broaden that enough and get enough votes to win the election," said Obama. [Kevin Liptak/CNN] Trump is meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence to further thrash out key Cabinet positions. Rudy Giuliani has taken himself out of the running for Attorney-General, a position he was widely touted for, and is now reported to be in the running for Secretary of State. [Washington Post]

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton is also in the running. [Wall Street Journal] Ben Carson, one of the contenders for the Republican nomination and a retired neurosurgeon, turned down an offer to serve in Trump's administration citing lack of experience. Surely someone who wanted to Commander in Chief could come up with a better on than that? [Raffi Williams/Circa] And the transition team has lost another man. Mike Rogers, the former House Intelligence Committee Chairman has left. [Jennifer Jacobs/Bloomberg] This is part of a purge of people close to Chris Christie, who has was also forced out. [NBC] Giuliani says Trump is going to supersize the military to thwart China, which should reassure those worried about his isolationist approach, particularly in the Asia Pacific, although it will alarm those worried about his temperament and impulsiveness. [The Australian] Giuliani was speaking at a Wall Street Journal CEO council event. Guess who was also there? Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi who is on secondment to the United Nations in New York.

The conservative Senator posted to Twitter a photo of himself with Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway. Wonder what campaign Bernardi is seeking advice for... In Australia, the Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe says Trump's trade policy is "dangerous" and singled it out as his biggest concern. Lowe has some interesting observations on Brexit, including his belief the people of Britain voted to be poorer. [Peter Martin/The Age] 2. Turnbull's 457 crackdown Malcolm Turnbull has been planning his own crackdown on the skilled 457 worker visa scheme "for some months" but feared looking like he would be following Shorten, reports Philip Coorey. [Financial Review]

Nevertheless, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is set to go ahead in announcing the crackdown. This will include reducing from three months to two the time a sacked worker on a 457 visa has to find a new job or go home. The changes were gazetted last week and before Shorten's own ramped up rhetoric, reports Renee Viellaris. [Courier Mail] Bill Shorten is taking an Australia-first policy approach for jobs and industry. Credit:Joe Armao Bill Shorten and his attack on foreign workers is Trump-lite and his "aping of Trump is unmistakeable and pathetic in its transparency," and shows the sad condition of the Labor party today, writes Paul Kelly. Ouch! [The Australian] The Labor leader is straying into dangerous territory, says former Rudd and Gillard advisor Sean Kelly. [The Monthly] Some of those foreign workers include tech-heads and belong to the very industries Shorten has previously spruiked as unlocking the "jobs of the future". [Ben Potter, Lucille Keen/Financial Review]

3. Aus politics - the rest of. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Penny Wong has made her first significant move in the Foreign Affairs portfolio. In an opinion piece, Senator Wong argues that post-Trump, the world and the alliance faces a very different America and Australia needs a better road map in Asia as a result. [Fairfax] The position is endorsed by by the head of the foreign affairs think tank The Lowy Institute, Michael Fullilove, who was once frontrunner to fill a vacant Senate spot for Labor. [Peter Hartcher/Fairfax] Hillary Clinton and Gillian Triggs are women of their own undoing, writes right-wing commentator Janet Albrechtsen. [The Australian]

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar, a conservative from Victoria, believes lighting can strike thrice and in Australia same-sex marriage will be our Brexit and Trump moment. [The Australian] Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will raise the asylum seeker deal with US President Barack Obama at a summit in Peru on the weekend. [Dennis Shannahan, David Crowe/The Australian] And a quick plug for something I'm up to tonight. It's my last night in Oz so how better to share it than with Anthony Albanese? (I hear the Albo beer is actually not that great but I'm keeping an open mind). If you can make it in Sydney please come along, if not, make sure you follow on Facebook and send me any questions you'd like asked! 4. Gender pay gap is real

Sobering report from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency which finds the average full-time base salary across all industries and occupations for women is 17.7 per cent, or $16, 219, less than men's. This gets worse when you take into account total remuneration like bonuses. (23 per cent) Women make up half of Australia's workforce. [Fairfax] 5. Deloitte authored leaked Brexit memo British Prime Minister Theresa May. Credit:Getty Images Prime Minister Theresa May is targeting firm Deloitte for the appearance of a very damaging memo in the British press today. The leaked memo confirms what has long been obvious - the Tories, having executed the Brexit referendum, have absolutely no idea how to make it happen. [Reuters]

And it confirms a split within the Cabinet over Brexit which could cause delays in negotiating of up to six months. A great scoop by The Times. [Deborah Haynes, Francis Elliot] But 10 Downing says the document is not from the government nor prepared for the government and Deloitte is "touting for business." Deloitte says the memo was intended for internal use and was not informed by any access to government. [Greg Heffer/Daily Express] 6. Assange interview concludes Swedish chief prosecutor Ingrid Isgren arrives at the Embassy of Ecuador. Credit:Chris J Ratcliffe Swedish prosecutors have finished interviewing Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London over rape allegations. Prosecutors are yet to announce what they determined and whether or not the investigation will continue. [9News]

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