USSC Briefing Room United States Studies Centre

Former president Donald Trump narrowly avoided death when a bullet grazed his ear at a campaign rally on 13 July. The images of him rising, holding his fist high and chanting “Fight!” while blood streamed down his face instantly became iconic.
 
Donald Trump has been called a ‘strongman’ throughout his political career, how does this assassination attempt shape the mythology around him? What cultural factors contribute to his persona and perception at home and abroad? How could this change in his standing influence perceptions of him for the rest of the election?
 
USSC Non-Resident Fellow Dr Yancey Orr joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck to discuss these questions from a cultural perspective. 
 
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Last week, NATO leaders gathered in Washington DC for their annual summit, this year celebrating the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. However, much of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s final summit was overshadowed by scrutiny of President Biden and then quickly followed by the assassination attempt on former president Trump and the announcement of his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
 
What was the main objective for NATO at this summit and was it achieved? Did competing for attention with President Biden and former president Trump hinder those objectives? What does the announcement of Senator JD Vance, one of the most prominent voices against aid for Ukraine mean for the future of NATO under a second Trump administration?
 
To discuss these issues, we welcomed USSC Senior Lecturer in US Politics and Foreign Policy Dr Gorana Grgic back on the podcast for a conversation with USSC Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck. Dr Grgic attended the NATO Summit again this year and offered her perspective on the experience in the room as the eyes of the world were on DC.
 
Recommended reading and listening:
USSC Briefing Room | Inside the NATO Vilnius Summit with Dr Gorana Grgic and Mari Koeck‘I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine’: what a JD Vance vice presidency could mean for the world by Ava Kalinauskas and Samuel GarrettRed Book | Blue Book 2024: A guide to the next US administration by variousRedefining NATO’s Indo-Pacific partnerships: cooperative security meets collective defence and deterrence by Dr Gorana GrgicSubscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

The US Supreme Court handed down their ruling in former president Trump’s immunity case and it granted far broader immunity than most experts anticipated.
Why was the ruling so expansive? What does this mean for Trump’s criminal trials? How will this change the presidency going forward?
To discuss these issues, we welcomed Chas Licciardello from ABC’s Planet America back on the podcast to follow up on his initial discussion with USSC Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck.
Read the full Supreme Court ruling.
If you can’t get enough of US politics, in addition to Planet America, check out Chas’ Planet Extra Podcast with Chas and Dr Dave, featuring Chas in conversation with USSC Associate Prof. David Smith each week: YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Google and Stitcher.
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

President Biden’s approval rating is at an all-time low and the number of “double haters” who want neither candidate is at an all-time high. The US system is driving the selection of candidates further and further away from the mainstream.  Campaign financing contributes to this.
 
How did Trump and Biden become their party’s nominee with so little public support? What systems contribute to the polarisation of politics? Could campaign finance reform lead to candidates with a broader appeal?
 
USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein spoke with Prof. Raymond La Raja, Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amhurst, about his research into campaign finance reform.
 
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s debate in Atlanta was always going to be one for the history books. Never before had a general election debate occurred before the party conventions officially named them as their presidential nominees. But following a debate performance that even President Biden conceded was not his best, the most historical aspect of the debate was how many Democrats want to take advantage of the early debate timing and change their nominee altogether. 
 
If Democratic primary votes already occurred, what’s the process for Democrats changing their candidate? Which Democrats will be the most influential in deciding Joe Biden’s future? Beyond Vice President Kamala Harris, who are Democrats to watch as potential successors?
 
USSC Non-Resident Fellow Lester Munson, a DC insider with extensive experience in the legislative and executive branches of government, speaks with Research Director Jared Mondschein on the potential pathways forward for an increasingly uncertain Democratic ticket.
 
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

As American politics has become increasingly polarised, experts and analysts have explored avenues for electoral reform to shift voting to be more representative. One solution is ranked-choice voting (RCV), which is standard in Australia, but only appears in a fraction of jurisdictions in the United States.
 
Why is ranked-choice voting so rare in the United States? What is driving the movement to adopt it in more jurisdictions? How can Australia’s method of voting address “the fundamental issue in American politics” today?
 
USSC Non-Resident Fellow Prof. Benjamin Reilly is a scholar of electoral reform who has worked on reforms in a number of different US states. He spoke with Director of Research Jared Mondschein about the uptick in interest around RCV and the difference it can make in US politics.
 
Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
 
Produced by: Elliott Brennan
Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat