Mindful that most of you have a long weekend, Crikey is doing something a little different with this edition of Weekender. We are publishing four fresh, original stories — all unlocked.

And not just any fresh stories. We have two fine long reads — Kishor Napier-Raman’s essay on pandemics and Bernard Keane’s analysis of Donald Trump — plus two excellent opinion columns.

Our medical columnist Nick Carr reflects on doctors and opiates, while director of the Australian Centre for International Justice Rawan Arraf considers the court cases involving alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers.

Four great pieces — all for free. We hope you enjoy them.

And in case you missed my interview with former PM Malcolm Turnbull this week, you can catch up on the full video, and read Crikey’s Charlie Lewis break it all down here.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 6 minute read

It was the deadliest disease in human history, yet it's treated as little more than an afterthought. Surely this time it'll be different.

BERNARD KEANE 5 minute read

Far from being a failed presidency, Donald Trump has achieved exactly what he set out to achieve: the destruction of the capacity of government to make American lives better.

RAWAN ARRAF 3 minute read

Australia needs a full investigation and prosecution into war crimes in Afghanistan, otherwise the case could go all the way to The Hague.

NICK CARR 2 minute read

Despite dire warnings, doctors have kept blithely handing out scripts for opiates to vulnerable and addicted patients. Those days may be in the past.