USSC Live

The US midterm elections are typically a referendum on the sitting president, but the stakes this year are especially high. President Trump’s second term has been marked by an unprecedented rate of both executive actions and legal challenges. However, the Republican-controlled 119th Congress have wielded little oversight and have passed even less legislation. Going into the midterms, President Trump’s approval rating is near historic lows.Will Republicans retain control of Congress in spite of Trump’s low approval ratings? What do the midterms signal about the future of the Democrats and Republicans? What does Australia need to know about the 120th Congress?To discuss the results of the US midterm elections, the United States Studies Centre and the POLITICO Canberra Playbook team joined forces to deliver a special event. The audience heard from Canberra Playbook Launch Editor Ryan Heath, USSC Associate Professor of American Politics and Foreign Policy, Dr David Smith and USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein in a discussion moderated by USSC Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck.Carrie Budoff Brown, Executive Editor and Executive Vice President, POLITICO also joined remotely to share her insights.

Americans will vote in the midterm elections ― a referendum on the president and his party ― at a time when US President Donald Trump's approval rating is at a record low.The Democrats are fighting to win back Congress, leading Trump to push for new voter requirement laws and toy with suggestions he will call a national security emergency ahead of the polls.At this event, Herald editor Jordan Baker unpacked the key issues of the midterms with political and international editor Peter Hartcher and columnist Jacqueline Maley.They were joined by experts from the United States Studies Centre (USSC): CEO Dr Michael Green and Director of Research Jared Mondschein.Renowned US political analyst and bestselling author Dr Larry Sabato also provided video remarks from Virginia. Sabato was in conversation with Herald columnist and USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe.This exclusive event was held in partnership with The Sydney Morning Herald.

With much of the world’s attention focused on global flashpoints, Tibet’s uncertain future is often sidelined in geopolitical conversations. Yet the Tibetan plateau holds major implications for the region’s balance of power, climate security, and human rights around the world.What is the geopolitical significance of Tibet in the 21st century? How could Tibet’s environmental future affect millions of lives across Asia? And what does Tibet’s political future mean for religious freedom and international law around the world?To answer these questions, the United States Studies Centre hosted a discussion with Tibet Policy Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr Tenzin Desal, UTS Associate Professor in China Studies Dr Feng Chongyi and La Trobe Asia Director Dr Ruth Gamble, in conversation with United States Studies Centre CEO Dr Michael Green.

China, Russia and North Korea have significantly deepened strategic ties in recent years. China and North Korea have played significant roles in enabling Russia to prosecute its war on Ukraine, providing direct and indirect military, technological, economic and diplomatic support. Beyond the Ukraine war, the three countries share a common resistance to the US-led world order, promoting their own diplomatic groupings and alternative vision for a multipolar order.For some, this represents a deep and enduring ideological and strategic challenge to a fracturing Western-led global order and portends a greater likelihood of conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Others are less convinced that a China-Russia-North Korea axis can or will endure beyond the Ukraine war and argue that assessments of the combined threat are overblown.How should we understand the deepening relations between China, Russia and North Korea? Where is the emerging authoritarian axis likely to produce collective and bilateral strategic effects in Indo-Pacific region? Is there a divergence of views among countries in the region on the significance of the axis? And how should Australia and its partners respond?Bringing together leading experts from Australia, India, Singapore and the Philippines, USSC hosted a panel discussion unpacking these big questions facing the region. The panel featured Hudson Institute Senior Fellow, Dr Aparna Pande, University of the Philippines Professor Herman Joseph Kraft, National University of Singapore Associate Professor, Dr Ja Ian Chong and United States Studies Centre Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Program, Dr Lavina Lee, in conversation with Foreign Affairs and National Security Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Matthew Knott.

Almost all advanced technology today depends on critical minerals. Rare earths, in particular, are necessary for a range of applications, including powering electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, industrial motors, and defence systems. Yet the supply chain behind them is highly concentrated. China accounts for over 90% of the world’s rare earth refining and permanent magnet production, leaving the global economy exposed to a single point of failure.What have allies done to de-risk their rare earth supply chains? Have efforts been successful? What more needs to be done? And what might a joined-up allied approach look like?To answer these questions, the United States Studies Centre hosted a webinar discussion with Dr Naoise McDonagh, MBA Director and Senior Lecturer in Geopolitics and International Business at the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University, and author of the upcoming report The Missing Market: Why US and allies’ rare earth derisking needs a demand-side strategy. Dr McDonagh is joined by Genna Lehman, USSC Non-Resident Fellow in Economic Security and Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner Scholar, and moderated by USSC Director of Economic Security, Hayley Channer.