Latika Takes: The Podcast

Latika Bourke
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  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Latika Takes: The Podcast

Australian-British writer and journalist Latika M Bourke discusses geopolitics, national security and defence with invited guests. www.latikambourke.com

  1. Latika Takes interviews former Kamala Harris adviser Michael Nellis

    1 DAY AGO

    Latika Takes interviews former Kamala Harris adviser Michael Nellis

    In this episode of Latika Takes: The Podcast, Democratic strategist and former adviser to Kamala Harris Michael Nellis joins Latika M Bourke to discuss what went wrong for the Democrats in the 2024 election. Michael Nellis discusses the fury he feels over former President Joe Biden’s decisions not to stand down early enough to allow Kamala Harris a clear run at the Presidency. Nellis is convinced Harris could have won. He discusses how the Democrats can recover — stop defending the system — how to combat Donald Trump and the need for new generational blood in the left. Latika and Mike discuss Trump and JD Vance’s treatment of Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office and how this will be perceived by everyday Americans. He also discusses how the Democrats need to appeal to white men and their self-interest for their votes and abandon identity politics. Latika and Mike discuss whether MAGA survives post-Trump and his tips for the future rising stars to watch. You can follow Mike on X, LinkedIn and BlueSky. Thanks for reading Latika Takes! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    53 min
  2. Latika Takes interviews top pollsters Tony Barry, James Johnson and Luke Tryl

    FEB 2

    Latika Takes interviews top pollsters Tony Barry, James Johnson and Luke Tryl

    In this episode, pollster James Johnson of The Next America and JL Partners returns to Latika Takes: The podcast to discuss the wash-up from the US election and the first few weeks of US President Donald Trump’s second go in the White House. Latika and James are joined by former Liberal party adviser Tony Barry, co-founder of RedBridge Group and Luke Tryl, a former Special Adviser to David Cameron and pollster at More in Common in the UK. The three discuss the issues defining Australian, British and US politics, including the war on woke, inflation, the collapse of the two-party system or realignment, the bro vote, and the surprising thing voters really want. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at www.latikambourke.com James Johnson's previous appearance on the podcast: https://www.latikambourke.com/p/latika-takes-interviews-pollster This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    48 min

  3. JAN 19

    Latika Takes interviews bountied Hong Kongers Chloe Cheung and Finn Lau

    On Christmas Eve Hong Kong police issued bounties for six more Hong Kongers living overseas. One of those was 19-year-old Chloe Cheung who left Hong Kong in 2020 with her family after the National Security Law crackdown. She is the youngest Hong Konger to have a warrant issued for her arrest — it was for her work helping the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. Chloe Cheung joins this week’s episode of Latika Takes: The Podcast for her first extended interview since the bounty was placed on her head. Also joining is Finn Lau who has been living with a bounty on his head since July 2023 following a warrant for his arrest issued in August 2020. They discussed the UK’s level of support for Hong Kongers compared to that shown by the governments of Australia and the United States, what Britain should do as it seeks more money in trade and investment from China and what living with a bounty on your head means. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    48 min

  4. 12/15/2024

    Latika Takes interviews Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna

    In this episode of Latika Takes: The Podcast, Latika is in Tallinn to interview Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. Mr Tsahkna, also a former Defence Minister of Estonia, discusses his call for ‘boots on the ground’ to make sure whatever security guarantees given to Ukraine are meaningful, unlike the 2014 Minsk agreements. He says the entry of North Korean troops into the War in Ukraine was a huge shock he could never have imagined that it has changed the political understanding of Russia’s war and her authoritarian supporters and backers. Latika questions Mr Tsahkna about how the war in Ukraine has changed his understanding of China and if he has received satisfactory explanations about the high-profile cases of damage caused to undersea cables by Chinese-flagged ships. The foreign minister also discusses the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and what Donald Trump means for Europe and Ukraine. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    39 min
  5. Latika Takes: The Podcast from the Australian Institute of International Affairs conference

    12/01/2024

    Latika Takes: The Podcast from the Australian Institute of International Affairs conference

    This week’s episode is a special edition and comes from the Australian Institute of International Affairs annual conference in Canberra where I hosted the all-star final panel focussing on American power after the shock return of US President-elect Donald Trump. Panellists include Australia’s former Home Affairs boss and author of the 2009 Defence White Paper and a familiar voice to listeners of this podcast Mike Pezzullo, Professor Hugh White, one of the leading doves on China policy in Australia, Melissa Conley-Tyler, director of the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue and Professor Peter Dean, from the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and also author of this year’s Defence Strategic review. I greatly enjoyed moderating this discussion and hope you enjoy the carefully curated diverse points of view assembled by the AIIA. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    1h 29m
  6. Latika Takes interviews urban warfare strategist John Spencer

    11/24/2024

    Latika Takes interviews urban warfare strategist John Spencer

    This week Latika Takes interviews John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at Modern War Institute at West Point and is the world’s leading expert on urban warfare. Spencer, who served 25 years in the US Army, discusses the evolution of urban warfare in Ukraine and Gaza. He has recently visited Gaza and is one of the few people to have been inside Hamas’ vast tunnel network. He discusses the challenges underground warfare poses, why the war in Gaza is unlikely to conclude anytime soon despite international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire and the power of the smartphone camera in changing war from a contest of will to a contest of narrative. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    47 min
  7. Latika Takes Interviews Michael Green from the United States Studies Centre

    11/10/2024

    Latika Takes Interviews Michael Green from the United States Studies Centre

    This week Latika Takes is in Australia and sits down with Dr Michael Green, the head of the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University. Dr Green is a specialist on Indo-Pacific policy, having authored several books on Japanese politics and lived there as well as in Australia. He previously served in the Pentagon and sat on the National Security Council in George W Bush’s Administration. He explains how the Democrats lost their way this election leading to Trump’s historically huge electoral victory, how US President Joe Biden surrounded himself with yes men to miss the wider picture forming across an inflation-scarred America and why these same dynamics are a factor in the upcoming Australian election. He argues AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific will fare well under the Trump 2.0 Administration because America-Firsters are also Asia-Firsters. Europe will not do so well. He says Germany will be panicking and Ukraine should not feel confident as Trump is likely to put previously non-negotiables like NATO on the table in order to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. He explains why Australia is unlikely to be hit with Trump’s planned blanket tariffs and why the future of the Quad is probably safe. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    38 min

  8. 11/03/2024

    Latika Takes interviews former US Ambassador to Palau John Hennessey

    In this episode, Latika interviews John Hennessey who served as US Ambassador to the Pacific nation of Palau, which is holding an election on Tuesday. Palau is one of the few countries that recognises Taiwan and has formal diplomatic ties with the self-governed democratic island. The retired Ambassador made history and headlines when he visited Taiwan in 2021, becoming the first serving US Ambassador to do so since the adoption of the One China policy. John discusses his recent piece published by the American Foreign Service Association. He argues that the US risks a credibility gap in the Pacific if it doesn’t step up. He discusses his time in Palau, how the US is trying to combat Chinese interference i the Pacific and the implications of Tuesday’s Presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for US foreign policy. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe

    50 min
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About

Australian-British writer and journalist Latika M Bourke discusses geopolitics, national security and defence with invited guests. www.latikambourke.com

Information

  • Creator
    Latika Bourke
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Latika M Bourke
  • Show Website
    Latika Takes: The Podcast

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