After America

After a rocky week for Australian diplomacy, Prime Minister Albanese is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly...and maybe, just maybe, a meeting with President Trump. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the MAGA movement’s weaponisation of Charlie Kirk’s murder, why no Trump meeting might be the best outcome for Anthony Albanese, formal recognition of Palestine, and Australia’s disastrous fortnight of Pacific diplomacy. This episode was recorded on Monday 22 September. ‘Save Tuvalu, Save the World’ is our September Politics in the Pub – join us at 6.30pm on Wednesday 24 September live in Canberra or via the livestream. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation is the latest sign we’re witnessing the end of US democracy by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (September 2025) Australia’s failure of diplomacy in PNG shows we can’t – and won’t – understand our Pacific neighbours by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (September 2025) Anote Tong & Dr Monique Ryan MP | Melbourne, the Australia Institute on YouTube (March 2024) Rt Hon Enele Sopoaga PC - Keynote | Climate Integrity Summit 2024, The Australia Institute on YouTube (March 2024) Is Australia REALLY choosing to help our Pacific neighbours? The Australia Institute on YouTube (August 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Instead of trying bring Americans together after the latest act of political violence, the Trump administration is fanning the flames of division. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk’s latest foray into global far-right politics, and the devastating impact of Robert F Kennedy Jr’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda. This episode was recorded on Monday 15 September. After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis and Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss are available now via the Australia Institute website. Host: Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Charlie Kirk Didn’t Shy Away From Who He Was. We Shouldn’t Either by Jamelle Bouie, The New York Times (September 2025) On the Mindless Menace of Violence, Robert F. Kennedy (1968) HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s impact on Americans' health, Fresh Air, NPR (September 2025) RFK Jr. says COVID may have been ‘ethnically targeted’ to spare Jews by Jon Levine, New York Post (July 2023) RFK Jr. says he's "not familiar" with all health program cuts in exclusive interview, CBS News (April 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior leaders from the Ukrainian Red Cross join us to discuss how international standards in armed conflict are being “compromised”. On this episode of After America, Maskym Dotsenko and Illya Kletskovskyy, the Director General and Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, join Allan Behm to discuss the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukrainians, the role of Red Cross in armed conflict, and the importance of international humanitarian law in saving lives and reducing suffering. This episode was recorded on Thursday 4 September. After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis and Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss are available now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Maskym Dotsenko, Director General, Ukrainian Red Cross Society // @MaksymDotsenko Guest: Illya Kletskovskyy, Deputy Director General, Ukrainian Red Cross Society Host: Allan Behm, Special Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: War Crimes: Where do Responsibility and Accountability Start and End? by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (May 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump is behaving like “an emperor”, enabled by insufficient checks and balances on the power of the Oval Office. On this episode of After America, Professor Elizabeth Saunders from Columbia University joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the extreme volatility of this administration’s foreign policy and how Trump is breaking down the guardrails of American democracy. This episode was recorded on Thursday 28 August. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Elizabeth N Saunders, Professor of Political Science, Columbia University // @profsaunders Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘Imperial President at Home, Emperor Abroad’ by Elizabeth Saunders, Foreign Affairs (June 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An imperial revival is occurring under the second Trump presidency. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Trump’s deployment of federal authorities to Democrat-voting jurisdictions, land grabs by the Russian and Israeli governments, and what a collapse of American democracy might mean for Australia. This episode was recorded on Friday 22 August. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel by Emma Shortis, Allan Behm and Bob Bowker, The Australia Institute (February 2025) Australia must resist US bullying to increase military spending by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. But did he get played again?  On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Angus Blackman to discuss the fallout from Trump’s meeting with Putin, the Australian government’s commitment to recognising Palestinian statehood, and the not-super-encouraging prospects for American democracy as Trump sics the National Guard on Washington, D.C.  This episode was recorded on Monday 18 August.   You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS.  Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website.  Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis  Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb  Show notes:  Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel by Emma Shortis, Allan Behm and Bob Bowker, The Australia Institute (February 2025)  Australia to recognise Palestinian state, Prime Minister of Australia (August 2025)  Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions  We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Probably not...”  On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss how Trump is normalising the idea that he might not leave the White House once his second term is up. Then, Helen Haines MP, independent member for Indi, joins Emma to discuss her community’s concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the growing push for more transparency and accountability in Australian foreign policy.  Emma's discussion with Helen was recorded on Tuesday 29 July. Her discussion with Angus was recorded on Thursday 7 August.  After America will be back on Tuesday 19 August.  You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS.  Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Helen Haines MP, Independent Member for Indi // @‪helenhainesindi  Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis  Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb  Show notes:  Watch CNBC's full interview with President Donald Trump, CNBC on YouTube (August 2025)  What does Texas redrawing its voting maps mean and why have Democrats left the state? Explained, The Guardian (August 2025)  RFK Jr. is incredibly dangerous, Jamelle Bouie on YouTube (May 2025)  Polling – AUKUS, the Australia Institute (June 2025)  Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions  We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Gaza to AUKUS, pressure for change is building on Australian foreign policy. On this special crossover episode of Follow the Money and After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Glenn Connley to discuss the Australian protests calling for more action to protect Palestinians, the momentum against the troubled AUKUS submarine pact, and Trump’s decision to fire his chief of labour statistics after job growth slowed. This discussion was recorded on Monday 4 August 2025. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: ‘Right moment’? Australia risks losing power and respect on Gaza by Amy Remeikis, The New Daily (August 2025) Palestinian statehood vote at Victorian Labor conference heaps more pressure on PM, by Benita Kolovos, Guardian Australia (August 2025) Polling – AUKUS, the Australia Institute (June 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By courting neo-cons and failing to address cost of living concerns, have establishment Democrats signed the party’s death warrant? On this episode of After America, Assistant Professor Musa Al-Gharbi joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the catastrophic failure of the Democrats to effectively resist Trump’s agenda and whether a new generation of leaders can turn the party around.   This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 9 July 2025. Emma and Musa also did a live event with Alex Sloan in Canberra – the recording is available here.  Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Musa al-Gharbi, Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Journalism, Stony Brook University // @musaalgharbi  Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis  Show notes:  We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite by Musa al-Gharbi, Princeton University Press (2024)  A Graveyard of Bad Election Narratives by Musa al-Gharbi (November 2024)  The Elite Panic at the Heart of Liberal Attacks on Mamdani by Tressie McMillan Cottom, The New York Times (July 2025)  Common Sense Solidarity, Jacobin (November 2021)  Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions  We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s only been SIX MONTHS. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman take a step back to reflect on what’s happened since Trump was inaugurated in January. Tl;dr: it's all pretty grim. This discussion was recorded on Monday 21 July 2025. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Friday essay: Project 2025, the policy substance behind Trump’s showmanship, reveals a radical plan to reshape the world by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (April 2024) Tracking Trump’s overhaul of the federal workforce, CNN (July 2025) Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts, Boston University Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals would help Big Pharma make bigger profits, but it’d be a disaster for Americans’ health. Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgeon and Nobel Peace Prize winner with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss why a growing number of Australians want an AUKUS review, Trump’s pharmaceuticals tariffs, and what the US President can learn from Jane Fonda. This discussion was recorded on Friday 11 July 2025. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Ruth Mitchell, Board Chair, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War // @drruthmitchell Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Polling – AUKUS, the Australia Institute (July 2025) Medicine price comparison between Australia and the United States by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Moral Ambition: Stop wasting your talent and start making a difference by Rutger Bregman (April 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legislation will turbocharge inequality and the climate catastrophe – and it’s all part of the administration’s plan to radically reshape American society. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis discusses how Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will further redistribute wealth from lower and middle class people to the richest Americans, before Josh Bornstein joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court and whether the rule of law is crumbling in the United States. This discussion was recorded on Friday 4 July 2025 and things may have changed since recording. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Join Dr Emma Shortis and Dr Richard Denniss in conversation about After America: Australia and the new world order at the University of Melbourne at 6pm AEST, Wednesday 16 July. Guest: Josh Bornstein, Principal Lawyer, National Head of Employment Law, Maurice Blackburn // @joshbornstein Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Working for the Brand by Josh Bornstein (October 2024) Trump has long speculated about using force against his own people. Now he has the pretext to do so by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (June 2025) Trump promises a second term focused on immigration and nationalism – as well as revenge and retribution by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (January 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had signed a trade deal with China. Did it though? On this episode of After America, Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Trump administration’s confused approach to China and how Australia is navigating these complex relationships. This discussion was recorded on Friday 13 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Join Dr Emma Shortis and Dr Richard Denniss in conversation about After America: Australia and the new world order at the University of Melbourne at 6pm AEST, Wednesday 16 July. Guest: James Laurenceson, Professor and Director, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney // @j_laurenceson Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Polling – President Trump, security and the US–Australian alliance, the Australia Institute (March 2025) UTS:ACRI/BIDA Poll 2024, Australia-China Relations Institute (June 2024) Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore (As Delivered), U.S. Department of Defense (May 2025) Don’t fall for NATO’s hyped-up rhetoric on defence spending by Xiao Qian, The Australian (June 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s never about regime change (until it is). On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss Trump’s decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites, the comparisons with America’s 2003 invasion of Iraq, and what this decision could mean for Australia. This discussion was recorded on Monday 23 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Join Dr Emma Shortis and Dr Richard Denniss in conversation about After America: Australia and the new world order at the University of Melbourne at 6pm AEST, Wednesday 16 July. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: As the US chooses destruction over diplomacy in Iran, Australia has to decide between principle and prostration by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia traded sovereignty for security with the AUKUS submarine deal, but it might end up with neither. On this episode of After America, Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s 29th Prime Minister, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Trump’s AUKUS review, Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Trump, and why Australia doesn’t share values with the US administration. This discussion was recorded on Monday 16 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s 29th Prime Minister // @TurnbullMalcolm Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: AUKUS is a disaster for Australia. Trump has given us an out – let’s take it by Emma Shortis, The Sydney Morning Herald (June 2025) Australia must resist US bullying to increase its military spending by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025) Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine (Pillar 1) Project: Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service (February 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musk may be out, but the influence of the tech bros has never been greater. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss Trump’s dystopian presidency, the administration’s renewed pressure on the Australian government to increase defence spending, and the end of the Trump-Musk bromance. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: ‘Australia must resist US bullying to increase its military spending’ by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025) ‘Let’s rethink Australia’s national security – and focus on fairness and climate action, not blind fealty to the US’ by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (June 2025) ‘The Gleeful Profiteers of Trump’s Police State’ by Sophie Hurwitz, Mother Jones (February 2025) ‘How US Intelligence and an American Company Feed Israel’s Killing Machine in Gaza’ by James Bamford, The Nation (April 2024) ‘The Cruelty is the Point’ by Adam Serwer, The Atlantic (October 2018) Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts, Boston University Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump promised a golden age for the US economy – and now a golden dome to protect the continent. On this episode of After America, Matt Duss joins Emma Shortis to sort the signal from the noise in the Trump administration’s foreign policy. They discuss Trump’s approach to the Middle East, its negotiations with Iran, and the continued influence of China hawks in his Cabinet. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 28 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order After America: Australia and the new world order or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Guest: Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy // @mattduss Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s confrontation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was about trying to show who’s in charge. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss Trump’s false claims about ‘white genocide’, the administration’s war on Harvard University, Kamala Harris on the Goldie, and whether Anthony Albanese’s talk about “progressive patriotism” will be backed up with real action. This discussion was recorded on Monday 26 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump isn’t an aberration – he’s as much a product of American history as JFK or Barack Obama. On the 50th episode of After America, Nick Bryant joins Dr Emma Shortis to reflect on the second Trump presidency, why division is the default in American political history, and what the United States might look like after Trump. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 15 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order After America: Australia and the new world order or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s unending conflict with itself // ‪@nickbryantoz Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: The Forever War: America’s unending conflict with itself by Nick Bryant (2024) When America Stopped Being Great: a history of the present by Nick Bryant (2020) Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s fatal alliance with the United States by Emma Shortis (2021) Polling: Australia-US relations, the Australia Institute (May 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Americans facing shortages and price hikes, the Trump administration is orchestrating a colossal transfer of wealth and power to the very rich. On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti, economic policy specialist and former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss what the second Trump administration is doing to the American economy. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 8 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Collaborative // @ENPancotti Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Trump’s tariffs won’t wreck Australia’s economy. But America’s could be cooked. Dollars & Sense (April 2025) New Polling: Republican Plan to Gut Vital Programs, Shower Ultra-Wealthy With Tax Breaks is Unpopular With Voters, Groundwork Collaborative (February 2025) Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants, Follow the Money (October 2024) Power gouge: how AGL and Origin are milking monster profits from battling families, the Australia Institute (December 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.