What were the domestic pressures in Israel and the US for attacking the Iranian regime? Has the international rules-based order been permanently eroded or is the current conflict lawful? How does the Australian government plan consular service responses in a time of conflict and what is the IDETF? 

Career diplomat and foreign policy observer, Andrew Goledzinowski joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and the prospects for regime change in the Islamic Republic.

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Can Angus Taylor rebuild public confidence in the Liberal Party and will Migration play out well for them? What are the risks for Angus Taylor in the Farrer by-election? Will One Nation capitalise on the disarray in the Liberal party?

‘Live to tape’ at the Australian National University, political scientist, Jill Sheppard and The Saturday Paper national affairs correspondent, Jason Koutsoukis join the DS team for a beer and to discuss the reconfiguration of the coalition, the Farrer by-election and all things 1 Nation.

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How long does Angus Taylor and the Liberal party have to redefine themselves in a changed electoral landscape? Can the major parties develop serious policy in the era of grievance politics? What is ‘cross-cutting cleavage’?

With a new opposition leader and the return of Nationals to the shadow cabinet, Intifar Chowdhury and Richard Denniss join Democracy Sausage to discuss the rocky path ahead for mainstream conservative politics.

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What has fuelled grievance politics and anti-system sentiment in Australian politics? How does policy reform in housing and education build social cohesion and why are One Nation successful in harnessing voter discontent? How have policy settings created intergenerational inequity and will the ALP develop a significant reform agenda in this term, or next?

Member for Reid, Sally Sitou joins Democracy Sausage to discuss her political journey, migration, grievance politics and areas of reform needed to improve social cohesion.

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How has the preferential voting system masked the decline of the major parties and why is the decline worse for the Liberals and Nationals? Can One Nation capitalise on the trend? How does ‘voter softness’ play out amongst the ‘aggrieved’,and what lessons are there from similar democracies?

Social and political data scientist, Shaun Ratcliff joins Democracy Sausage to discuss new polling on the realignment of the Australian political landscape.

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What were the structural factors in the split of the coalition? How did the culture wars and deindustrialisation change the conservative base? Can the liberals regroup to become an effective opposition?

Former federal politician, Jason Falinski joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the fractures within conservative politics, the challenges of opposition and the opportunity for Sussan Ley, and the Liberal Party in the wake of the dissolution. 

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How did the politicisation of a national tragedy backfire for Sussan Ley? Can the coalition survive? Who will reign supreme in the fight for the right?

With an early return to federal parliament, political scientist, Dr Jill Sheppard joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the politicisation of a tragedy and the deep divisions within the federal coalition and conservative parties in Australia. 

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National Affairs journalist, Jason Koutsoukis joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the year that was, an historic election victory, the vexed question of political authority, and declining trust in major parties.

Will Albo develop a significant reform agenda in 2026 or will he stick to the modest election promises that delivered him a landslide election victory? Can Labour effectively manage a progressive Senate and will Democracy Sausage LIVE return in 2026?

Jason Koutsoukis is a highly experienced and well-regarded Australian journalist with a strong background in both political and foreign correspondence. 

Marija Taflaga is the Director of the Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a senior lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.

Mark Kenny is the Director of the Australian Studies Institute. He came to the Australian National University after a high-profile journalistic career culminating in 6 years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.

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Historian and author Frank Bongiorno joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the year that was, a landslide federal election victory, the rise of Teal and independent politicians and the split in the conservative Coalition.

Will Labour grasp the reform ‘nettle’ and tackle complex structural issues facing Australia or will Albo take a small C approach to governing? Can the Liberal party survive in a new political landscape and are Australians getting the democratic system they deserve?

Frank Bongiorno AM is an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, Donald Horne Professor and inaugural Director of the Centre of Public Ideas (COPI) at the University of Canberra.

Dr Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.

Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected].

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political journalist and author Sean Kelly joins Democracy Sausage to discuss his Quarterly Essay examining the Albanese government and asks what today's Labor actually stands for.

Why has Labor become a graveyard of lost futures, discarding reform policies after political failures? Can Anthony Albanese's vision of 'kindness' translate into material policy? And has Labor's 94-member caucus become toxically obedient, failing to provide the internal opposition necessary for good government?

Sean Kelly is a political journalist, author and former adviser to prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. His Quarterly Essay The Good Fight: What Does Labor Stand For? is the landmark 100th essay in the series, published by Black Inc.

Dr Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.

Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected].

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.