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After America

After America

By: 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.

2026 The Australia Institute
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • My Iran deal is better than yours [citation needed]
    Jun 29 2026

    Trump’s “peace” “deal” with Iran is already falling apart.

    On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Angus Blackman to discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran, where it all went wrong for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European views of Trump’s America.

    This episode was recorded live on Friday 26 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: Allan Behm, Special Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute

    Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB

    Show notes:

    How will Australia pay for AUKUS? Submission to AUKUS Public Inquiry by Rod Campbell, Richard Denniss and Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (June 2026)

    The Iran Disaster Is an Opportunity to Turn Away From Hawkish Idiocy and Reset Our Relationship With the Region by Matt Duss, The Nation (June 2026)

    Wong and Marles were left waiting in the wings in London – it’s further proof Aukus was never anything more than a political stunt by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 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. 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.

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • This World Cup shows who holds the cards in Trump’s economy
    Jun 22 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Trump says the war on Iran is over. Is it really?
    Jun 15 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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