Australia Matters

Donald Trump isn’t an aberration – he’s as much a product of American history as JFK or Barack Obama.

On the 50th episode of After America, Nick Bryant joins Dr Emma Shortis to reflect on the second Trump presidency, why division is the default in American political history, and what the United States might look like after Trump.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 15 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order After America: Australia and the new world order or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store.

Guest: Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s unending conflict with itself // ‪@nickbryantoz

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

Show notes:

The Forever War: America’s unending conflict with itself by Nick Bryant (2024)

When America Stopped Being Great: a history of the present by Nick Bryant (2020)

Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s fatal alliance with the United States by Emma Shortis (2021)

Polling: Australia-US relations, the Australia Institute (May 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Australia to stop dismissing ourselves as a ‘middle power’ and start exerting our influence on the global stage. 

On this episode, Allan Behm joins Paul Barclay to discuss Australia’s diplomatic strategy of ‘pre-emptive capitulation’, America’s international bullying and how Australia should use its unrecognised national power. 

This discussion was recorded on Monday, 24 February 2025, and things may have changed since the recording. 

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. 

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

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes:  

AUSFTA: A bad deal then. Even worse now., by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (March 2025) 

With friends like these, After America (February 2025) 

Polling – President Trump, security and the US–Australian alliance, Polling brief (March 2025)  

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 [email protected]. 

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For housing affordability to improve, wages must grow faster than house prices.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Elinor returns to discover the economy does in fact still exist, before her and Greg discuss the latest wage data, house prices and Trump blinking on his China tariffs.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 15 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

‘Australia’s wage growth remains solid. But now the recovery needs to be sustained’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2025)

Economist busts myths on QandA | Richard Denniss highlights, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

It’s impossible to be single and save for a deposit in Sydney – no matter how good your job is by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (April 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the influence of the right-wing media waning, the Labor Government can use its massive majority to pursue big reforms.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Stephen Long, Walkley Award-winning journalist and Australia Institute Contributing Editor, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the Murdoch press bogeyman, supporting the public broadcasters and the prospects for major, progressive reforms in the second Albanese term.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 13 May 2025 and things may have changed.

Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series and save 25% via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @stephenlongaus

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

Show notes:

Worth a Punt – 2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend by Stephen Long and David Richardson, the Australia Institute (August 2024)

Peter Dutton confirms excessive gas exports hurt Australia, the Australia Institute (March 2025)

There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Americans facing shortages and price hikes, the Trump administration is orchestrating a colossal transfer of wealth and power to the very rich.

On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti, economic policy specialist and former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss what the second Trump administration is doing to the American economy.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 8 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store.

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’s tariffs won’t wreck Australia’s economy. But America’s could be cooked. Dollars & Sense (April 2025)

New Polling: Republican Plan to Gut Vital Programs, Shower Ultra-Wealthy With Tax Breaks is Unpopular With Voters, Groundwork Collaborative (February 2025)

Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants, Follow the Money (October 2024)

Power gouge: how AGL and Origin are milking monster profits from battling families, the Australia Institute (December 2024)

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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To end the housing crisis, governments need to stop subsidising private investors and instead directly invest in social housing. 

On this episode, Maiy Azize joins Paul Barclay to discuss the housing crisis, how the government stopped directly providing housing and started subsidising private investors, why immigration is not to blame, how the housing crisis is an inequality crisis, why ‘supply’ is not the main problem nor main solution, and why Australia needs to massively invest in social housing. 

This discussion was recorded on 20 March 2025, and things may have changed since the recording. 

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. 

Guest: Maiy Azize, national spokesperson Everybody's Home and deputy director, Anglicare Australia // @MaiyAzize 

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay 

Show notes:  

Australia’s sick housing joke, Dollars & Sense (March 2025) 

Migrants are not to blame for soaring house prices, by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (March 2025) 

Australia wastes billions making housing more expensive, Dollars & Sense (July 2024) 

For more affordable housing we need more public housing by Lilia Anderson, the Australia Institute (February 2024) 

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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the election, the re-elected Labor Government has an extraordinary opportunity to make big structural changes to the economy.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Hayden discuss the election result, Trump’s Hollywood tariffs, and what retail spending figures reveal about the state of economy.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 8 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamut

Host: Hayden Starr, Digital Media Manager, the Australia Institute // @haydenstarr

Show notes:

‘The Reserve Bank played it safe and didn’t cut interest rates in April – and households suffer’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2025)

Raising revenue right: Better tax ideas for the 48th Parliament by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the influence of its historical opponents waning, is anything standing in the way of the Labor Government passing ambitious reforms?

On this episode of Follow the Money, Chief Political Analyst Amy Remeikis and Chief Economist Greg Jericho join Ebony Bennett to discuss the election result, the legislative priorities of the new parliament and the future of the conservative side of politics.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 6 May 2025 and things may have changed.

Pre-order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series on the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis

Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

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

Show notes:

There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

Reforming university governance in Australia by John Quiggin, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

Migration is not out of control and the figures show it is not to blame for the housing crisis by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

Australia’s sick housing joke, Dollars & Sense, the Australia Institute (March 2025)

Polling: Australia-US relations, the Australia Institute (May 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How big a role did Trump play in Australia’s remarkable federal election result? 

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Angus Blackman to discuss whether Anthony Albanese’s massive election victory is part of a global “repudiation” of Trumpism and what new Australia Institute polling reveals about Australians’ views on Trump and the alliance. 

This discussion was recorded on Monday 5 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. 

Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. 

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

Host: Angus Blackman, Podcast Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb 

Show notes: 

Polling: Australia-US relations, the Australia Institute (May 2025) 

US independence day? Poll shows Australians' radical shift over Trump, economy, ABC News (April 2025) 

Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton, The Conversation (May 2025) 

Tourism to the US is tanking. Flight Centre is facing a $100m hit as a result, The Conversation (April 2025) 

Australia needs more than hollow words about a fair go – we need brave policy-makers, Guardian Australia, (April 2025) 

Polling – President Trump, security and the US–Australian alliance, the Australia Institute (March 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to solving the biggest national problems, a bit of courage leaves political caution for dead. Now’s not the time for politeness. 

On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with the Australia Institute’s climate and energy research director, Polly Hemming. There’s no chance of solving Australia’s biggest challenges—inequality and poverty, environmental destruction, climate change and political disillusionment—if leaders aren’t willing to make big decisions and, as Hemming puts it, ‘stop doing bad stuff’.  

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, and things may have changed since the recording. 

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. 

Guest: Polly Hemming, Director of Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming 

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay 

Show notes   

Offsetting Us Up To Fail: The myths of ‘nature markets’ explained by Richard Denniss and Polly Hemming, the Australia Institute (November 2022) 

Ending child poverty in Australia by Kristen Scicluna, Jack Thrower, and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (June 2024) 

Pay up: Australians say it’s time big polluters paid for the damage they do to the environment, the Australia Institute (November 2024) 

Securing transparency and diversity in political finance by Bill Browne and Benjamin Walters, the Australia Institute (November 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 [email protected]. 

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.