After America

The Australia Institute
  • 5.0 (4)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 2D AGO

    Born to rule: Trump’s economy and the State of the Union

    In the MAGAverse, it’s white men who are born to rule – at home and abroad. On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti from Washington DC-based think tank Groundwork Collaborative joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the State of the Union, Trump’s vile attack on Somali-Americans, and how tariffs are driving up prices in a deeply unequal American economy. This discussion was recorded on Friday 27 February. After America: Australia and the new world order is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Collaborative // @ENPancotti Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Groundwork Collaborative The US and Israel attack Iran, foment chaos, After America, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Albanese’s policy on Iran makes us complicit in the collapse of international rules by Emma Shortis, Guardian Australia (March 2026) Australia’s shameless support for the US attack on Iran makes us gullible, duplicitous, or both by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (March 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  2. MAR 2

    The US and Israel attack Iran, foment chaos

    The ‘president of peace’ has started another war with Iran, with no apparent regard for the consequences. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the assassination of its leader, Trump and Netanyahu’s cynical messages for the Iranian people, what this war means for nuclear proliferation, and the Australian government’s “deeply disappointing” response. This discussion was recorded on Monday 2 March 2026. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: The Mar-a-Lago model: how Trump is trying to dominate global governance, After America, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Shorter America This Week: The State of the Union is... bad; AI is also bad; But hard times ain't gonna rule my mind by Emma Shortis, The Point (February 2026) How to foster global lawlessness: Destroy the UN and its agencies by Allan Behm, The Point (January 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min

  3. FEB 23

    The Mar-a-Lago model: how Trump is trying to dominate global governance

    The ‘president of peace’ is at it again: threatening Iran again and boasting that his ‘board of peace’ will look over the United Nations. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the potential consequences if the United States again strikes Iran, the first meeting of Trump’s grotesque ‘board of peace’, and the striking similarities between a(nother) shamefully racist week in Australian politics and Trump administration rhetoric and policies. This discussion was recorded on Friday 20 February 2026. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. 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: Will he or won't he on Iran; The Trump doctrine?; On climate, he absolutely will; The only thing more powerful than hate is love by Emma Shortis, The Point (February 2026) The Wrap: Trump's America is a warning, and Australia keeps treating it like a guide, by Emma Shortis, The Point (February 2026) How to foster global lawlessness: Destroy the UN and its agencies by Allan Behm, The Point (January 2026) Talk us through AUKUS by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (February 2023) 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. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  4. FEB 16

    The “president of peace” is helping revive the nuclear arms race

    By removing guardrails around nuclear weapons, the Trump administration is making the world a far more dangerous place. On this episode of After America, Jon B Wolfsthal, former Special Assistant to President Obama for National Security Affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the expiry of the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, AUKUS and Australia’s nuclear capabilities, and why “nuclear weapons are back with avengeance”. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026 Australian time. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Jon B Wolfsthal, former Director of Global Risk, Federation of American Scientists // @jonatomic Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Trump has scrapped the long-standing legal basis for tackling climate emissions by Robyn Eckersley, The Conversation (February 2026) It is now 85 seconds to midnight, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (February 2026) The nuclear option, After America, the Australia Institute (December 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. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  5. FEB 9

    Democracy “dies in darkness” and Trump is trying to turn out the lights

    As American democracy teeters, the Australian government is trying to pretend everything is just fine. On this episode of After America, Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia senior reporter covering international affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, the lack of transparency around the AUKUS submarine deal, and why the Australian government still has its head in the sand over Trump. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 February 2026. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘Possibility of US ever selling Australia nuclear submarines is increasingly remote, Aukus critics say’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (February 2026) ‘Australia’s confidence in Trump’s US has evaporated. What will it take for the alliance to rupture?’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (January 2026) ‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (December 2025) ‘Shorter America This Week:  How to win (or cancel) elections; No START; You should smile more’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  6. FEB 2

    Why MAGA is here to stay with Don Watson

    With each passing day, the Make America Great Again movement is becoming more battle-hardened and less likely to disappear once Trump leaves office (whenever that may be). On this episode of After America, author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the trajectory of the Trump administration, why Australia can’t avoid the rupture being brought about by the MAGA movement, and where Democratic leadership might come from in a “woefully” split party. This discussion was recorded on Friday 30 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. Guest: Don Watson, author of The Shortest History of the United States Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: The Shortest History of the United States of America by Don Watson, Black Inc. (2025) ‘International cooperation on firefighting shows the best of the Australia-US alliance’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) ‘Shorter America this week: Protest works; Name reality; It's the end of the world as we know it’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  7. JAN 30

    BONUS EPISODE | Stephen Miller, the architect

    Autocrats cannot rise to power by themselves. On this bonus episode, Dr Emma Shortis speaks to Justin Bergman, The Conversation’s International Affairs Editor, about Stephen Miller, the key Trump ally who’s been described as the most powerful unelected bureaucrat in the United States – possibly the world. This episode was made by The Conversation for their six-part series on the rise of Trump, The Making of an Autocrat, which is available wherever you get your podcasts. After America: Australia and the new world order by Dr Emma Shortis is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation 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 After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min

  8. JAN 26

    “Living within a lie”: Carney’s eulogy to the international order

    The Trump administration may have killed what remained of the post-war international order, but last week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered its eulogy. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis discuss the global “rupture” identified by Prime Minister Carney, President Trump’s petulant response, why Trump’s apparent climbdown over Greenland may not save NATO, and what this all means for America’s allies, including Australia. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 22 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. After America: Australia and the new world order is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95. Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Special Address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, World Economic Forum on YouTube (January 2026) Trump sows ‘chaotic cruelty’ while Canadian PM Carney reminds the world it doesn’t have to play along by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (January 2026) Shorter America this week: Trust is rust; It’s the white supremacy, stupid; Five Eyes goes cross-eyed by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) Scrambled Europe: insecurity and sentimentality are no basis for strategy by Allan Behm, The Point (January 2026) Photo: World Economic Forum/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) 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. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 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
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    After America

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