It's a de facto marriage made in populist heaven — the unholy union between the little Aussie huckster Dick Smith and the crass, unquestioning tabloid TV of A Current Affair.

So whose lobbying power really struck this year’s federal budget? Below are some of The Power Index’s top people picks.

Don't look now, but self-described faceless man Paul Howes is having some regrets about his starring role in the disposal of ex-PM Kevin Rudd.

Singapore names an orchid after the PM, Rudd shines on Weibo, Nine scores a rare victory.

Desperate for a smoking gun yesterday, silks for Big Tobacco played the Orwell card, accusing the government of engaging in doublespeak over what effect the law will have on their trademarks.

ABC supremo Mark Scott will have been smiling over his cornflakes this morning after the national broadcaster was a surprise winner at last night's Logie awards.

A fortnight ago you didn't know who they were, now their Anglo-Irish haircuts are everywhere. So who's riding the barely-legal boy band behemoth that is One Direction?

It's flack against flack as PR legend John Connolly sues Libs polling king Mark Textor over an errant 140 characters.

David Walsh hasn't just changed how the rest of the country sees Tasmania with his sex and death museum, he's altered the very mindset of the Apple Isle itself.

When it comes to Australian music, there aren't many who match the make-you-or-break-you power of Richard Kingsmill.