After America

Will the midterm trouncing push the Trump administration towards a deal with Iran? On this episode of After America , Sina Toossi, analyst of US-Iran relations and American foreign policy towards the Middle East, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the US-Israel war on Iran, the dramatic geopolitical realignments underway in the Middle East, and whether the midterms make an end to the conflict more l...

On this bonus mini-episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the Democrats’ historic midterms success, what now for the Trump administration, and what it might mean for the Australia-US relationship. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November. Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Host: Emma...

The midterms are finally upon us. On Tuesday US time, Americans will vote in a new Congress – and deliver a verdict on two years of the second Trump administration. On this episode of After America , If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan joins Dr Emma Shortis to preview the midterms and examine the election results in Israel. In both countries, these could be the most important elections...

Elephant?! What elephant? On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss key races in the midterms, the upcoming Israeli election, and the latest from the Canberra bubble on Euro-Indo-Atlanto-Pacific strategic interests. This episode was recorded on Monday 26 October. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host...

The United States keeps showing us what an unreliable ally it is. Are European governments now getting the message? Dr Tobias Cremer, Member of European Parliament, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss how the European Union is responding to the second Trump administration, the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, and how to build democratic solidarity in the face of rising authoritarianism. This episod...

The Australian government has been excruciatingly silent when it comes to standing up for the International Criminal Court and foundations of international law it so loves to talk about . Journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Australia’s non-response to the Trump administration’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court, the American military footprint in Austral...

While miles apart in their responses to the Trump administration, Canada and Australia are in lock-step on expanding fossil fuel production. On this episode of After America , Québécoise senator and pollution control expert Dr Rosa Galvez joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Carney government’s response to the Trump administration, climate policy failures in Australia and Canad...

Last week’s Trump-Xi meeting delivered few tangible outcomes, but is a bigger shift in US-China relations under way? On this episode of After America , Professor James Laurenceson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the latest US-China leaders’ meeting, why the Biden administration’s hawkish approach to China may not be coming back, and what it all means for Australia. This episode...

A new suite of legislation aims to ensure that Australia doesn’t fund, arm or invest in illegal settlements, war crimes or genocide – but the federal government has blocked an inquiry into the bills. On this episode of After America , lawyer and advocate Rawan Arraf joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Red Lines Package, the decision of the United Kingdom and others to sanction illegal...

The United States controls or has access to more than 100 defence facilities on Australian soil, according to new research. On this episode of After America , Dr Richard Tanter joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss his new research on American access to Australian defence facilities, the long-term consequences of the war on terror for the Australia-US alliance, and whether Australia is the only America...

Nine nuclear weapons states are holding the rest of the world “hostage to annihilation”, but the Australian government is yet to act on a global ban. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the United States’ military footprint in Australia, before former Australian Minister for International Development Melissa Parke joins the show to discuss the Treaty on...

The Australia-United States relationship is strong in spite of the flawed defence partnership. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss 75 years of the ANZUS treaty, the Trump administration’s assault on international law, and what confident, capable Australian foreign policy could look like. This episode was recorded Friday 28 August. New Game, New Rules : A...

What might the midterms mean for an historically unpopular president? On this episode of After America , Chas Licciardello joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the latest from the midterm primaries, the “civil war” between democratic socialist and establishment Democrats, and why Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has MAGA rattled. This episode was recorded Thursday 20 August. Get your tickets for...

If the United States government isn’t caring for its own military personnel, how could policymakers expect the US to come to Australia’s aid? On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss concerning reports about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to USAID, and the speculation over whether Ale...

The Australian government constantly talks up the international rules-based order – but its willingness to uphold the principles that underpin it is inconsistent at best. Human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry’s findings of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the Trump administration’s attacks on the i...

Fragile men in government and tech are supercharging misogyny in the United States and beyond . Linda Robinson, author of Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism , joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the misogyny of the Trump administration, how Big Tech enables its spread, and the stark realities facing women in politics. This episode was recorded Friday 31 July. 1800RES...

Faced with an entirely new type of president, the Australian government insists on playing an old game by the old rules. Dr Emma Shortis reflects on Trump’s “joke” about a third term in office at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, before If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan returns to the show to discuss the midterms and Trump’s finances. This episode was re...

No one knows what’ll happen at the November midterms or the next presidential election. Is the Australian government prepared for the worst-case scenario? On this bonus episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis joins Glenn Connley to discuss the upcoming midterm elections in the United States, how the Trump administration has been chipping away at the guardrails of American democracy, and w...

Former Washington Post journalist Anna Fifield reflects on her time at the paper, the state of American media, and New Zealand’s role in the world. On this episode of After America , New Zealand-based journalist Anna Fifield joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the American media during Trump’s second term, views of the United States and China in New Zealand, and what the Australian govern...

Introducing The Australia Institute's new podcast series, What's the Point? with Richard Denniss . Subscribe to the show on  YouTube ,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. *** On the first episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses the reasons behind One Nation grabbing the headlines, why it is highly unlikely Pauline Hans...

Even with his luxury jet grounded, Trump and his administration have flown the United States into a strategic black hole. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the demise of an Iran agreement that never really lived, the latest NATO summit, the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, and the evolution of the Australian government’s diplomacy in the Pacific I...

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, in a heat wave, delayed by storms, Donald Trump gave a very Donald Trump speech. We expected that. But what can we expect next? On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the November midterm elections and what they might bring. After Emma’s trip to Brussels and Berlin, they also reflect the contr...

Trump’s “peace” “deal” with Iran is already falling apart. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Angus Blackman to discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran, where it all went wrong for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European views of Trump’s America. This episode was recorded live on Friday 26 June. Support the rese...

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now. On this episode of After America , Dr Lindsay Owens joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss World Cup ticket pricing, the consolidation of corporate power in Trump’s America, the impact of the war on Iran o...

Donald Trump pledged to reach a better deal with Iran than the Obama administration negotiated in 2015. He hasn’t – and probably won’t. On this episode of After America , foreign policy analyst Matt Duss and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the war on Iran, what the administration might be planning with regards to Cuba, the UFC fight on the White House lawn, and what a more progressive Au...