Defense Secretary Hegseth doesn’t want the US military to fight with “stupid rules of engagement”.

On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Angus Blackman discuss the American ‘double-tap’ strike on an alleged drug boat, Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal to share sensitive military information, and why Trump spent a night posting 160 times on Truth Social.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 5 December 2025.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute

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

Show notes:

War Crimes: Where do Responsibility and Accountability Start and End? By Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

What legal experts say about second US strike on Venezuela boat by Lucy Gelder, BBC (December 2025)

Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages, The Atlantic (December 2025)

Trump’s night of 160 posts on Truth Social fuels debate about US president’s stamina by Richard Luscombe, The Guardian (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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s statements about resuming American nuclear testing left administration officials scrambling.

On this episode of After America, Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize winner with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Trump’s nuclear testing claims, American healthcare under RFK Jr.’s leadership, and the misogyny at the heart of key US institutions.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Ruth Mitchell, Chair, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War // @drruthmitchell

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Medicine price comparison between Australia and the United States by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

While the rest of the world rushes to hire US scientists that Trump has cut, Australia follows in his footsteps by Tegan George, The Point (November 2025)

Man collapses behind Donald Trump during White House announcement by Richard Wood, 9 News (November 2025)

As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ by Dhuruv T Patel and Cam N Srivastava, The Harvard Crimson (November 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rumours about America's role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam have circulated for decades – but is there any truth to them? 

On this special episode of After America, we explore the state of the Australia-United States relationship under the Whitlam government, the machinations at the time around the renewal of Pine Gap, and the previously untold account of Dr Liz Cham, former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Whitlam, who recalls handing over a mystery letter to an American official just before the Dismissal.

The interview with Liz Cham was recorded on Thursday 30 October.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Elizabeth Cham, fellow at the University of Technology Sydney and former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Scripting and production support: Stephen Long

Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite

Show notes:

Did the CIA overthrow the Whitlam government? by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)

What Washington really thought of Whitlam before the dismissal by James Curran, Australia Financial Review (November 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By negotiating an end to the government shutdown without getting anything much in return, some Democrats have gone back to their old trick of resisting the President by giving him exactly what he needs.

On this episode of After America, Crikey’s Charlie Lewis joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Congress’ failure to extend life-saving health insurance tax credits, Trump’s inability to make the Epstein files go away, and whether there is evidence of US involvement in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 14 November.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.

Guest: Charlie Lewis, Reporter-at-large, Crikey // @theshufflediary

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Shorter America: Opposing Trump, trouble in paradise, the American elite by Emma Shortis, The Point (November 2025)

The Democrats were winning the shutdown. So naturally, they caved by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)

Did the CIA overthrow the Whitlam government? by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)

What Washington really thought of Whitlam before the dismissal by James Curran, Australia Financial Review (November 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In New York City, California, New Jersey and Virginia, American voters sent Trump and Republicans a clear message.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Angus Blackman to discuss the results of last week’s sweeping election victories. They discuss what it all means for the Democratic Party, how the MAGA-verse is responding, and the impact of the longest federal government shutdown in American history.

This discussion was recorded on Monday 10 November.

Follow Emma’s work at The Point, where she publishes a column on the week in American politics every Monday.

Join Emma and Don Watson in conversation in Carlton on Saturday 15 November.

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis 

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

Show notes:

Democrats' 2025 election wins go beyond big races to places like Georgia, Pennsylvania by Stephen Fowler, NPR (November 2025)

Dems Won. Cue the Far-Right Crash-Out by Kiera Butler, Mother Jones (November 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump and Xi may have come to a “deal”, but their meeting was a wasted opportunity. Plus: what do Australians think about our relationship with the US? 

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Angus Blackman to discuss some new Australia Institute polling, which shows that Australians are less than convinced that we “share values” with Trump’s America. Emma is then joined by Dr Frank Yuan and Allan Behm to discuss Trump’s meeting with Xi and the chaos whirling around the president. 

The first part of this discussion was recorded on Friday 31st October. The second part was recorded on Monday 3rd November. 

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via Australia Institute Press. 

Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International Affairs, the Australia Institute   

Guest: Dr Frank Yuan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Australia Institute // @yuan-frank 

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis 

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

Show notes: 

How China Sees the South China Sea: Beijing’s policy and interests in the South China Sea disputes by Frank Yuan, Allan Behm and Rod Campbell, The Australia Institute (October 2025) 

What you need to know about the next Trump/Xi meeting by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2025) 

American exceptionalism: the poison that cannot protect its children from violent death by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (May 2022) 

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 [email protected]. 

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may not be able to take the ‘president of peace’ at his word, but you can trust Trump to have his own interests in mind.

On this episode of After America, Matt Duss joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Trump’s deployment of troops in the domestic United States, the administration’s attacks on Venezuela, negotiations over Gaza and Ukraine, and what it really means when the President makes a promise.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 24 October 2025.

You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via Australia Institute Press.

Guest: Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy // @mattduss

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (October 2025)

Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel, the Australia Institute (February 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump was relatively drama-free, but the devil is in the detail when it comes to the president’s ‘commitments’ on AUKUS and critical minerals.

On this crossover episode of Follow the Money and After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss why Australia is still unlikely to receive any Virginia-class submarines, why the “shared values” that supposedly underpin the Australia-US alliance are looking increasingly shaky, and Trump’s bizarre AI video showing himself dropping excrement on protesters.

You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS.

After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis is available via Australia Institute Press.

Guest: Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Can Albanese claim ‘success’ with Trump? Beyond the banter, the vague commitments should be viewed with scepticism by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (October 2025)

Albanese hints US could still seek changes to Aukus agreement amid review by Josh Butler, Guardian Australia (October 2025)

Trump’s shutdown power play, After America, the Australia Institute (October 2025)

Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (October 2025)

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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump may have declared the war on Gaza over, but a welcome-but-shaky ceasefire and lasting peace are not the same thing.

On this episode of After America, Judge Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and 2025 Sydney Peace Prize Laureate, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss accountability in international law and the prerequisites for genuine peace.

This discussion was recorded on Monday 13 October 2025.

Details of Judge Navi Pillay’s Australian events are available on the Sydney Peace Foundation website.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via Australia Institute Press.

Guest: Navi Pillay, Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds, Office of the High Commissioner, United Nations Human Rights (September 2025)

Summary of ICJ’s Order of 24 May 2024, United Nations (May 2024)

2025 Peace Prize Citation: Navi Pillay, Sydney Peace Foundation (2025)

Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel, the Australia Institute (February 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Trump and his officials look at invoking the Insurrection Act, the administration is using the ongoing government shutdown to lay off workers and consolidate power.

On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti, economic policy specialist and former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the US government shutdown and how the Trump administration is using it to further consolidate power.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 10 October 2025.

Tickets for America Unravelling, featuring Emma Shortis and Don Watson, on Sunday 19 October at the Queenscliffe Literary Festival are available online.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via Australia Institute Press.

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:

Trump administration officials seriously discussing invoking Insurrection Act, sources say, NBC News (October 2025)

Our PBS is a national treasure, not an international trade barrier, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

American Consumers Sour on Trump’s Economy as Health Care Costs Climb, Groundwork Collaborative (October 2025)

An Economy on Ice as Americans Prepare for a Health Care Price Fright, Groundwork Collaborative (October 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 [email protected].

Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.