After America

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 Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer – Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Shorter America: Looks like woke’s back on the menu; Choosin’ Texas; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 in generations – so what will the fallout be? This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October. Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Guest: Matt Bevan, host of If You’re Listening, Australian Broadcasting Corporation // @mattbevan Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: If You’re Listening Live Midterms Broadcast, 3pm AEDT (Melbourne Cup +24-ish), Wednesday 4 November Shorter America: Races to watch; The Trump effect; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) Israel’s October 7 inquiry hinges on this election, If You're Listening on YouTube (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: Michigan Matters; Looking to Europe; Political Violence by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) Faith and nostalgia: dangerous strategic partners by Allan Behm, The Point (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 episode was recorded on Wednesday 14 October. Guest: Tobias Cremer, Member of European Parliament Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: Betting on death; Racist raids; Everything is fine by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) Navigating Choppy Waters: Australia and the EU Chart a New Course by Margherita Matera & Philomena Murray, Australian Institute of International Affairs (March 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia, and the OpenAI hack of Medicare on this episode of After America. This episode was recorded on Monday 12 October. Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: No peace without accountability: Sydney Peace Laureate Navi Pillay, After America, the Australia Institute (October 2025) The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026) OpenAI hack on Australian government reveals anxiety at heart of global artificial intelligence dilemma by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (September 2026) Shorter America: Things are not normal; Muskism; Good men by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Canada, and the opportunities for a better future for both countries. This episode was recorded on Thursday 17 September. Guest: The Hon Senator Dr Rosa Galvez, Independent Senator for Québec (Bedford), Canada // @senrosagalvez Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Australia and Canada can learn from each other on climate if we separate action from declaration by Rosa Galvez, Guardian Australia (September 2026) Climate Integrity Summit 2026, the Australia Institute on YouTube Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, World Economic Forum (January 2026) Mark Carney is saving Canada… but for whom? by Jim Stanford, The Point (September 2026) Shorter America: Oh my god these men (cont.); Rethinking national security; Speaking truth to pain by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) American exceptionalism: the poison that cannot protect its children from violent death by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (May 2022) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 was recorded on Monday 28 September. 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: Trump on throwing a state dinner for Xi Jinping, Mother Jones on Bsky (September 2026) As fears of China wane, Americans favor greater engagement with Beijing, Chicago Council on Global Affairs (September 2026) Trump dismisses China spying concerns after reports they provided Iran with Jordan airbase images, The Hill on YouTube (September 2026) Stabilising ties with China is not appeasement by Graham Fletcher, Lowy Interpreter (August 2026) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the future of international law. This episode was recorded on Friday 18 September. Join Emma and Allan Behm for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book, New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times at 6pm on Tuesday 22 September. Guest: Rawan Arraf, Executive Director & Principal Lawyer, Australian Centre for International Justice // @rawanarraf Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Red Lines Package New Game, New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026) Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel by Emma Shortis, Allan Behm & Bob Bowker, the Australia Institute (September 2026) International law is under attack. Australia can stand up for justice, After America (August 2026) Will Another Global Court Ruin Itself? by the Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal (September 2026) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 American ally not seriously rethinking its relationship with the United States. This episode was recorded on Friday 11 September. Join Emma and Allan Behm for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book, New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times at 6pm on Tuesday 22 September. Tickets to ‘The Last Best Hope of Earth: Reflections on the USA at 250’ at the Celtic Club in Melbourne on Friday 18 September are available here. Guest: Richard Tanter, Senior Research Associate, Nautilus Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Australian Bases & US Involvement The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026) 9/11: Can the US ever recover? by Allan Behm, The Point (September 2026) Shorter America: Anniversaries; Australia and 9/11; From the rubble by Emma Shortis, The Point (September 2026) New Game, New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026) A suitable piece of real estate: American installations in Australia by Desmond Ball, Hale & Iremonger (1980) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This episode was recorded Thursday 26 August. Join Dr Emma Shortis and Allan Behm at 6pm, Tuesday 22 September for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book, New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times. Guest: Melissa Parke, Executive Director, International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons // @MelissaParke01 Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons New Game, New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026) The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026) The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders” by Nick Turse, The Intercept (September 2026) Shorter America: An unhealthy alliance; Our "good friend" Pete; Oh my god these men (cont.) by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 2026) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.