Ballot to Talk About

This week's episode turns Sam and Chern’s attention to the United States, reviewing the 2021-22 term of the Supreme Court and taking an early look at this year’s midterms. As a seismic and consequential term for the Supreme Court comes to an end, this episode discusses the trends of the decisions and the behaviour of the justices. What are the standout rulings? Is it a surprise that the conservative majority have been flexing their muscles so quickly? And is John Roberts still in control of this court?

With midterms looming in November, Sam and Chern look at some of the races to look out for, some of the most significant primaries to have already taken place, and what the potent themes might be. How significant will the Supreme Court rulings be in the November elections? Do the primaries so far suggest that Trump still has a grip on the Republican party? And which are the key races that will decide the composition of Congress in the first electoral test of the Biden presidency? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks back at two European election results – the French legislative assembly and the state election in the Spanish region of Andalusia. Juan Manuel Moreno and his Andalusian Peoples Party won a stunning majority and topped the polls for only the second time. How did the centre-right win in this traditionally leftist region? And now after three consecutive regional disappointments, what impact will this have on Pedro Sanchez’s national Socialist government?

In France, Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble alliance have lost their majority and will have to negotiate with other blocs in the National Assembly. Sam and Chern assess the most likely allies and what this fractured parliament will mean for governance. After pledging to become Prime Minister, will this result be a disappointment for Jean-Luc Melenchon and his NUPES alliance? How did the National Rally vastly outperform polling expectations? And with the slimmest relative majority in modern French political history, will this legislative term last the full 5 years? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks at the new frontbenches in Australia as Albanese’s Cabinet is sworn in, and Peter Dutton begins his tenure as the leader of the Liberal Party. Sam and Chern dissect appointments and look into what portfolios suggest about the policy focus of the two parties. Were there any surprises in Albanese’s Cabinet? Will they regret their selection mistakes in Fowler after they lost their Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally? What do Peter Dutton’s appointments suggest about his policy direction as leader of the Liberals? Why did the Nationals remove Barnaby Joyce as leader despite retaining their caucus in the election? And what are the battle lines to watch out for as this term begins? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode primarily dives into the election results in Canada’s most populous province Ontario, as Doug Ford has led his Progressive Conservative Party to a second consecutive majority in Queens Park. It also features a dissection of the first round of Colombia’s presidential election. As Gustavo Petro and Rudolfo Hernandez prepare to face each other in the second round, who is better positioned to win the support of eliminated candidates? Will Petro become Colombia’s first left-wing President, or will Hernandez become one of its oldest?

In Ontario, the Progressive Conservatives improved on their 2018 result and ensure that Doug Ford will remain Premier for the foreseeable future. Sam and Chern analyse the results and discuss the fate of the NDP and Liberals who are both seeking new leaders as they begin a soul search. What were the key ingredients to Doug Ford’s big victory? Have the NDP reached their natural ceiling of support in Canada’s most populous province? What can the Liberals do to make a comeback and restore party status? And what are the federal implications for Trudeau’s Liberal Government and the federal Conservatives as their leadership election continues? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks back at the results of last weekend’s Australian federal election where Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party has unseated the incumbent government led by Scott Morrison. As Labor celebrate their first election win since 2007, Sam and Chern dissect where the victory came from and whether it truly is a cause for triumphant celebration for the party. What were the ingredients to Labor’s win, and how did they avoid a similar fate to 2019? Who posed the biggest problem to the Coalition: Labor or the Teal Independents? Do the election results demonstrate shifting demographic sands in Australian politics? And as the Greens pick up 3 extra seats, is Australia becoming a broader multi-party system? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks back at results from two German state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein which have both been convincingly won by the CDU. In Schleswig-Holstein, Merkel’s old party fell just one seat short of an overall majority and they are in pole position to form a centre-right Government in Germany’s most populous state as well. Sam and Chern dissect the results and discuss what the federal implications might be for Olaf Scholz’s traffic light coalition. Were the results a retaliation for the Government’s slow and hesitant response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Are the Greens back in a position to dislodge the SPD in opinion polls? Will the results breed discontent in the FDP about their membership of the federal coalition? And are the CDU back on track after their lowest ebb last Autumn? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks ahead to next week’s Australian federal election where Scott Morrison is hoping to take the Coalition into a fourth term and a decade in power. After the 2019 shock result, Anthony Albanese is hoping that his Labor Party’s polling lead can be reflected in the eventual result. Sam and Chern assess the chances of each party, the seats to watch, and the potential impact of third-party candidates and independents. Do the ingredients exist for yet another Coalition upset victory on polling day? How severe is the threat to Scott Morrison’s party from the Climate 200 Teal independents? Can Albanese lead his party into power? And where is the election going to be won or lost? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks back at results from across the UK, at both local elections in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Assembly election in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein have topped the polls and seat count, becoming the first nationalist party to do so in Northern Ireland’s history but doubts remain over whether a new executive can be formed. Why was Sinn Fein able to do so well? What was behind the dramatic fall of the DUP, and will they be able to recover? Is the surge of the Alliance Party likely to lead to institutional change to better support an unaligned bloc? And the key question – will government return to Stormont after these results?

Across the rest of the UK, the local elections were a bad night for Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party as they look to recover from the partygate scandal and emerging cost of living crisis. However, were they completely good news for Keir Starmer’s Labour Party who are looking to benefit from Conservative troubles and put themselves in a good position to lead the government in the next few years. Who are the biggest winners and losers from these local elections? Are the Lib Dems showing signs of recovery after the 2015 drubbing, and will they challenge Conservative MPs in the South of England? And do these results show any signs that Labour is recovering in their former heartlands? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's slightly extended episode looks both back at results from two elections in Europe last weekend – parliamentary elections in Slovenia and the second round of France’s presidential election. In Slovenia, Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement pulled off an astonishing victory, winning the highest seat total since the country’s independence. How did the party win an election, despite only forming four months ago? What difficulties await them in Government? And who are the potential government partners as they set to under Janek Jansa’s democratic backslide?

In France, as Emmanuel Macron prepares to be the first incumbent President to be inaugurated again in 20 years, Sam and Chern look at whether this election was always a foregone conclusion. Did Marine Le Pen miss an opportunity, or was this race never really winnable? Did Macron win on merit or just because he wasn’t Le Pen? Where did Melenchon voters end up going? And as parties now gear up for the legislative elections in June, which parties are the best-positioned? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.

This week's episode looks back at the results from the first round of the French Presidential election which will see Emmanuel Macron face Marine Le Pen for the presidency for the second consecutive election. It also features a breakdown of the recent constitutional crisis in Pakistan which resulted in Imran Khan’s ousting as Prime Minister. Why did he lose the support of coalition allies? And will this be the end of his political career, or will the expected 2023 general election see a comeback?

In France, Jean-Luc Melenchon narrowly missed out on advancing to the second round in a first poll that saw the Republican and Socialist candidates come 5thand 9th respectively. Sam and Chern break down the results of the first round, focussing on the candidates who failed to advance. How did Valerie Pecresse’s campaign go so wrong after a seemingly strong start? Are the Republican and Socialist brands damaged beyond repair? Where will Jean-Luc Melenchon’s supporters go in the second round? And why did Eric Zemmour underperform early expectations? All these questions, and more, answered in this week's podcast.