After America

President Donald Trump has been issuing Executive Orders and dominating the media cycle, trying to radically reshape America and the world in the process.     On this special crossover episode of After America and Follow the Money , Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss the role of Elon Musk, Trump’s pause on all US foreign aid, his ability to ‘flood the zone’,...

The second Trump era has begun. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss Trump’s inauguration, his radical agenda to reshape American life and the United States’ role in the world, and how Australia can respond. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 21 January 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Get your tickets for the Australia Institu...

From threatening to annex Greenland to blaming California Democrats for the state’s deadly wildfires, the Trump circus is back in town – and he’s not even president yet. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Alice Grundy discuss Trump’s empire pantomime, the devastating California fires and the death of Jimmy Carter. This discussion was recorded on Monday 1...

Don Watson joins us to discuss Trump’s beyond-bizarre cabinet selections, Joe Biden’s tainted legacy, and what this might all mean for Australia on the final episode of After America for 2024. Author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis on After America to discuss what Trump’s re-emergence reveals about the United States and how Australia might respond differently to a second T...

Zoe Daniel MP joins us to discuss the MAGA loyalists Trump is tapping for senior roles and how Australia can deal with the President-elect. On this episode of After America , Zoe Daniel MP, Independent Member for Goldstein and former foreign correspondent, joins Dr Emma Shortis to talk about the incoming Trump administration, Australia’s relationships with the United States and China, and the role...

We discuss brainworms, Elon’s new gig, and why it’s a really bad idea to micro-dose E. coli. Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgeon and founding member of the Australian Nobel Prize-winning group, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the global consequences of Trump’s cabinet picks and what his election means for efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons. This...

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the show to discuss how Australia should approach the second Trump presidency. Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s 29th Prime Minister, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss why sucking up to Trump will get Australian leaders nowhere and how the AUKUS “shocker” is making Australia more dependent on the United States, right at the time America is becoming less depe...

With this presidential race now over, Emma reflects on an extraordinary campaign and the challenges that may lie ahead for Australia. In the last of our daily election episodes of After America , Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the glass ceiling in American politics, the Democrats’ failure to address their own shortcomings over the last three decades, and why the Australian Government doesn’t need to...

Donald Trump will return to the White House – how should Australia prepare? On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Alice Grundy discuss what the Trump victory means for American society and democratic institutions, the soul-searching facing the Democrats after a comprehensive defeat, and the implications for Australia. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 6 November 2024 and t...

Will Trump declare victory on election night, regardless of the result? On the final pre-election episode of After America , Matthew Bevan and Dr Emma Shortis reflect on an enormous Harris rally in Philadelphia, whether the polls have anything useful to tell us, and the dangers of a contested result. This discussion was recorded on Monday 4 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording...

Emma is on the road at a Harris rally in North Carolina and Bruce Thompson, former advisor to the Obama and Clinton campaigns in the state, joins us to preview the election. Bruce Thompson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss what it’s like to live in a battleground state in the heat of a presidential campaign, the prospect of legal challenges from the Trump in the event of a Democratic victory, and w...

His Excellency José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, joins us to discuss why the United States will remain an economic powerhouse despite rising tensions with China. On this episode of After America , Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the US-China relationship and his disillusionment with the Western response to the Israel’s acti...

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis joins us to talk about the presidential election, Joe Biden’s foreign policy legacy and the future of America’s role in the world. On this episode of After America , Yanis Varoufakis joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the prospect of a grand deal between the US and China on climate, how Trump emerged from the Obama presidency, and why America isn’t a re...

The Democrats have been largely overshadowed by the Trump spectacle in the final weeks of the campaign. Will it hurt Harris’ chances of winning the presidency? On this special crossover episode of After America and Presidency Pending , Associate Professor Zim Nwokora and Associate Professor Clare Corbould from Deakin University join Dr Emma Shortis to discuss whether reproductive rights will mobil...

Chas Licciardello joins us to discuss Beyonce’s Texas appearance, Trump’s hate-filled Madison Square Garden dude-fest, and how the campaigns are spending their money. Comedian and co-host of Planet America on ABC TV, Chas Licciardello, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss why the campaigns are spending time in states they’re unlikely to win and what their advertising reveals about the campaigns’ strat...

We discuss the race in the key swing state of Michigan and whether Australia is really prepared for a second Trump administration. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Alice Grundy discuss Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, Eminem’s appearance at a Harris event in Detroit, and what this election result could mean for Australia. This discussion was recorded on Monday 28 October...

We discuss the impact of Trump’s extreme immigration rhetoric and how the candidates are courting the male vote. On this episode of After America , Dr Prudence Flowers, Senior Lecturer in US History at Flinders University, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss immigration, reproductive rights, and why Harris and Trump are hitting the podcast circuit. This discussion was recorded on Monday 21 October 20...

We discuss hurricane conspiracies, Harris’ “decency coalition” and the threat of post-election violence. On this episode of After America , award-winning author, journalist and screenwriter Richard Cooke joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the state of this extremely close campaign. This discussion was recorded on Monday 14 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute....

We discuss America's apparent crisis of confidence, the conflict in the Middle East, and the Vice-Presidential debate. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm, Director of the International & Security Affairs program at the Australia Institute, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the sense of helplessness creeping into American policymaking. This discuss...

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, joins us to discuss AUKUS and how the US presidential candidates might shape American foreign policy. Helen Clark ONZ joins Dr Emma Shortis on this episode of After America to discuss the US-China relationship and how Australia and New Zealand can play a constructive role in the Asia Pacific. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 2 October 202...

Author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins us to discuss political violence, America’s deep divisions and whether Kamala Harris can turn the country around. Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis on this episode of After America to discuss the cult-like support Donald Trump has manufactured, the “mad” AUKUS agreement, and his latest Quarterly Essay , ‘High Noon: Trump, Harris and America on the Bri...

We discuss race in the presidential campaign and the fallout from the debate with Terri Givens, Professor of Race, Ethnicity and Politics at the University of British Columbia. Professor Terri Givens joins Dr Emma Shortis on this episode of After America to discuss race in American politics and whether the country is ready to elect a Black female president. This discussion was recorded on Friday 1...

Nick Bryant and Emma Shortis discuss the presidential debate and the state of the race on this bonus episode. On this bonus After America , Nick Bryant, acclaimed author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself and former BBC journalist, joins Dr Emma Shortis to reflect on the Harris-Trump debate. This discussion was recorded live on Thursday 12 September 2024 and things may hav...

We discuss Trump’s pinky promise to Elon and RFK Jr and Albo’s ‘hot mic moment’ in Tonga. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Alice Grundy reflect on the presidential campaign so far and on the dynamics of the Australia-United States relationship ahead of the third anniversary of the AUKUS deal. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 September 2024 and things may have changed...

Greg Jericho, Australia Institute Chief Economist, joins us to examine the Harris-Walz economic agenda. Republicans have tried to pin the Vice-President as ‘Comrade Kamala’, but are her economic policies all that radical? On this special After America and Dollars & Sense crossover episode, Dr Emma Shortis and Dr Greg Jericho discuss Harris’ economic agenda. This discussion was recorded on Frid...