After America

The Australia Institute
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The United States we thought we knew is gone. And it isn’t coming back.  Every week on After America, Dr Emma Shortis examines the second Trump presidency, its impact at home and abroad, and how Australia can help shape our rapidly changing world for the better.  Presented by the Australia Institute.

  1. 6 days ago

    This World Cup shows who holds the cards in Trump’s economy

    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 on the US economy, and fighting back against efforts to use misinformation about the economy to demonise migrants. This episode was recorded live on Thursday 11 June. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Guest: Lindsay Owens, Executive Director, Groundwork Collaborative // @lindsayowens Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Shorter America: America's best writers; Empire of white supremacy; Empire of toxic masculinity by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026) Gouged: The End of a Fair Price – and What That Means for Your Wallet by Lindsay Owens, Penguin Random House (forthcoming) As Summer Kicks Off, Memorial Day Staples Up 13% on Average and Travel Prices Soar, Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (May 2026) It’s not me, it’s you – Australians ready to break up with Trump’s America, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, the Australia Institute (October 2025) Homeland Security deploys white nationalist, anti-immigrant graphics to recruit by Caleb Kieffer and RG Cravens, Southern Poverty Law Center (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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  2. 15 Jun

    Trump says the war on Iran is over. Is it really?

    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 Australia-US alliance could look like. This episode was recorded live on Friday 12 June. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Guest: Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy // @mattduss Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: Alliances crumble; White supremacy at home and abroad; History matters (always) by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026) What’s the Left’s Vision for Foreign Policy After Trump?, The Ezra Klein Show (June 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  3. 8 Jun

    SPECIAL | Why it's time for a public inquiry into AUKUS

    On this special episode, we’re joined by two commissioners from the new community-led, independent inquiry into the AUKUS security deal. This episode was recorded live on Thursday 4 June. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Guest: Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Australia Ambassador Guest: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb Show notes: An independent public inquiry into the AUKUS security partnership ICAN Australia Polling – Australia, the US and Iran War, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  4. 25 May

    Australia gambles on AUKUS as Trump rides Iran merry-go-round

    Despite the global upheaval caused by the Trump administration, the Australian government is trying to plough on with AUKUS as if Biden was still in charge. On this episode of After America, Guardian Australia journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the likelihood of the Australia ever receiving a nuclear-powered submarine, the “dangerously undemocratic” secrecy around key elements of the AUKUS agreement, and Australia’s significantly changed strategic environment. This episode was recorded on Friday 22 May. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Aukus nuclear submarine base would ‘place a massive target on our backs’, NSW labour union warns by Krishani Dhanji & Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (May 2026) As Aukus spending and delays blow out, will Australia’s nuclear submarines ever materialise? by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Shorter America: Ivy League brain; These men; Shared fates, shared future by Emma Shortis, The Point (May 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) WEBINAR | Submarine Dreams: understanding Australia’s commitment to AUKUS, the Australia Institute (October 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  5. 27 Apr

    Correspondents' dinner attacked, MAGA confronts midterms

    Violence is a feature of American democracy. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on yet another appalling yet unsurprising act of political violence in the United States, before Mother Jones journalist James West joins the show to discuss the midterm elections and whether real fractures are emerging in the MAGAverse. This episode was recorded on Thursday 23 April Australian time. The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: James West, Executive Editor, Mother Jones // @jamespwest Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: Madman theory, continued; Deeper derangement; International solidarity by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026) No Kings Rallygoers in New York Share Their Biggest Fears—and Greatest Hopes by James West, Mother Jones (March 2026) New poll: 55% support impeaching Trump, Strength in Numbers (April 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  6. 20 Apr

    Trump is fighting for a worse deal with Iran

    After tearing up the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Obama, Trump is trying to bomb his way to a better outcome and it’s failing spectacularly. On this episode of After America, nuclear policy expert Jon B Wolfsthal and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US-Iran negotiations, the risks of this conflict metastasising, and how Trump is continuing to break down the guardrails around the use of nuclear weapons. This episode was recorded on Friday 17 April. The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Jon B Wolfsthal, US Nuclear Policy Fellow, PAX sapiens // @jonatomic Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: The consequences of not caring; The enemy of your enemy is not your friend; Visions for the future by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026) What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal?, Council on Foreign Relations Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  7. 13 Apr

    Vance joyless as US-Iran negotiations fall apart

    The Trump administration’s failure to reach an agreement with Iran to end the war shouldn’t come as a surprise. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the consequences of failure in US-Iran negotiations, the oxymoron of Trump administration “diplomacy”, the future of NATO, and what this all means for Australia. This episode was recorded on Friday 10 April. Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America This Week: Ceasefire?; Madman theory; Group hugs in space by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026) LIAR, LIAR, CEASE ON FIRE! PEP with Chas & Dr Emma Shortis, Planet PEP on YouTube (April 2026) The Wrap: A missed opportunity to face reality by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  8. 23 Mar

    Trump nixes Xi summit as Iran war escalates

    Far from winding down, tit-for-tat threats on civilian energy infrastructure suggest the US-Israel war on Iran may enter a new spiral of violence. On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the war on Iran and how American sanctions are creating a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, before Professor James Laurenceson joins the show to talk about the impact of the conflict on China and the postponed Trump-Xi summit. This episode was recorded on Friday 20 and Monday 23 March. 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 Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute //  @angusrb Show notes: Shorter America This Week: History sighs, repeats itself; Surprise: Trump doesn't need allies; A bloodthirsty White House by Emma Shortis, The Point (March 2026) The attacks on Iran hurt us all by Allan Behm, The Point (March 2026) Israel planning massive ground invasion of Lebanon, officials say by Barak Ravid, Axios (March 2026) UN chief suggests both sides may be committing war crimes in US-Israel conflict with Iran by Anne McElvoy, Politico (March 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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 the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
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About

The United States we thought we knew is gone. And it isn’t coming back.  Every week on After America, Dr Emma Shortis examines the second Trump presidency, its impact at home and abroad, and how Australia can help shape our rapidly changing world for the better.  Presented by the Australia Institute.

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    After America

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