Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Is social media now a more powerful force reshaping Australian democracy than any politician, party, or policy? Why has Pauline Hanson spent thirty years in the political wilderness only to emerge as the country's most potent electoral force in 2026? Can the anger-entertainment industrial complex explain everything from One Nation's surge to the Voice referendum's collapse — and if rage...

Have Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender just become the party they always swore they weren't? Can a "free vote" constitution and no party room really survive contact with a Senate seat? Does the donation and spending caps from the last parliament leave community independents with no real choice but to collectivise? And what happens to "putting community first" the moment a hung parliament forc...

How did a Prime Minister who won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in British history find himself gone within two years — and what does his fate tell us about the limits of triangulation politics? Is Andy Burnham's victory a genuine realignment moment for British Labour, or is he inheriting a structurally broken state where no leader can succeed? With Reform UK on the march and the Nort...

How long will the honeymoon last for One Nation? Can Pauline Hanson create a robust political party to be competitive at the next election? How do populist leaders like Trump, Farage, and Hanson convince the working class that their wealthy backers back them?  With One Nation rising in the polls, Special Correspondent at the Saturday Paper, Jason K...

Does the experience in the US, Germany, and Brazil reflect the Australian experience? How have institutional structures insulated centrist parties against new political threats? Can the rise of anger captured by the populists be effectively tested, and has Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani shown the way?  Dr Rüçhan Kaya joins Mark an...

Can Australia manage the tensions between our strategic relationship with China and the alliance with the United States? Does membership of AUKUS and the Quad damage our China relationship? How significantly are societal and economic issues - such as the role of women in decision making, aging population, corrupti...

Have young voters lost faith in the major political parties and politics in general? Did the recent federal budget go far enough in addressing the generational wealth gap and what will it take for political parties to successfully engage young voters? In this special classroom edition of Democracy Sausage, Dr Jill Sheppard joins the DS team and heads back to school (literally) to discuss the...

Will the budget changes reconnect young and disaffected Australians to the benefits of the economy? Is Angus Taylor’s vision likely to arrest the decline in support to One Nation? Is the ALP open to creating a sovereign wealth fund as outlined by Pauline Hanson?  Treasurer of Australia, Dr Jim Chalmers joins Marija and Mark to d...

Has the social deficits of broken promises put the government 'on the ropes'? Could Labor have 'pulled their punches' in this budget? Does the zeitgeist allow governments to adjust the status quo? Join Mark and Marija from the 'ringside seats' as they analyse labors 'chin-leading' budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of a dominant political victory, what are the challenges for One Nation in navigating a path to opposition status in Australian politics?  Does Angus Taylor have the political capital to survive the long road back to political relevance for the Liberal Party? Will One Nation’s uncompromising anti-immigration rhetoric backfire...

What responsibilities should the government have? Can hypocrisy be ignored if the government's narrative is perceived as authentic? Does the lack of access to education help to explain the erosion of democratic ideals? Professor Nicholas Biddle joins Democracy Sausage to make sense of the paradoxical observations of Australian voters in this 'age of pessimism'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

After a landslide election victory, why has Labour plummeted in the polls? Can Sir Keir’s leadership survive and who are the likely contenders? Will the conservative party capitalise on Labour’s disfunction, or is Reform UK set to benefit from record levels of dissatisfaction with government? What are the parallels with Australian politics and...

With One Nation polling plateauing, can Barnaby Joyce reinvigorate a party without policy and remain ahead of a Coalition veering to the right? What does the Liberal party stand for and will the unity ticket with the Nationals survive? Will Labour capitalise on changing public sentiment and start an agenda of significa...

Have the US achieved their principle objectives in Iran? Will the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz improve the US negotiating position? Will Australian naval capability be useful if formally called upon? Jennifer Parker joins Democracy Sausage to shed light on the American military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the recent p...

Have the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine demonstrated the limits of great power aggression? Can American prestige survive the chaotic and devastating conflict in Iran, and the fallout around the globe? Charlie Miller joins Democracy Sausage to shed light on American military adventurism and the path to peace.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

What does the Middle East conflict mean for Australia and how instructive is the past in drawing parallels with the chaos of today? Will a global recession benefit One Nation in marginal, outer suburban electorates? How worried should the National Party be in the upcoming Farrer by-election? Can Albo manage the Tr...

Will the Liberal and National parties do better in the Victorian election and the Farrer by-election? Can One Nation build itself into a national political force, beyond its Queensland heartland and newfound popularity in South Australia? Will poor leadership and discipline unravel One Nation success, or will it become the party of the right? South Australia political junkies, Josh Sunman and Dr E...

What are the legal implications of Australia's participation in the Gulf? Is International Law being undermined by the US? How are the powers of influence tipping the scales of justice?  Leading international law expert Donald Rothwell joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the legal implications of the Iran war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What were the domestic pressures in Israel and the US for attacking the Iranian regime? Has the international rules-based order been permanently eroded or is the current conflict lawful? How does the Australian government plan consular service responses in a time of conflict and what is the IDETF?  Career diplomat and foreign policy observer,...

Can Angus Taylor rebuild public confidence in the Liberal Party and will Migration play out well for them? What are the risks for Angus Taylor in the Farrer by-election? Will One Nation capitalise on the disarray in the Liberal party? ‘Live to tape’ at the Australian National University, political scientist, Jill Sheppard and The Saturday Paper national affairs correspondent, Jason Koutsoukis...

How long does Angus Taylor and the Liberal party have to redefine themselves in a changed electoral landscape? Can the major parties develop serious policy in the era of grievance politics? What is ‘cross-cutting cleavage’? With a new opposition leader and the return of Nationals to the shadow cabinet, Intifar Chowdhury and Richard Denniss join Democracy Sausage to discuss the...

What has fuelled grievance politics and anti-system sentiment in Australian politics? How does policy reform in housing and education build social cohesion and why are One Nation successful in harnessing voter discontent? How have policy settings created intergenerational inequity and will the ALP develop a significant reform agenda in this term, or next? Member for Reid, Sally Sito...

How has the preferential voting system masked the decline of the major parties and why is the decline worse for the Liberals and Nationals? Can One Nation capitalise on the trend? How does ‘voter softness’ play out amongst the ‘aggrieved’,and what lessons are there from similar democracies? Social and political data scientist, Shaun Ratcliff joins Democracy...

What were the structural factors in the split of the coalition? How did the culture wars and deindustrialisation change the conservative base? Can the liberals regroup to become an effective opposition? Former federal politician, Jason Falinski joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the fractures within conservative politi...

How did the politicisation of a national tragedy backfire for Sussan Ley? Can the coalition survive? Who will reign supreme in the fight for the right? With an early return to federal parliament, political scientist, Dr Jill Sheppard joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the politicisation of a tragedy and the deep divisions within the federal coalition and conservative parties in Australia.  Ho...