Who is a conservative and who is a radical in American politics right now? It’s not entirely clear when the Republican party has dramatically shifted its policies on tax, industry and trade.

Oren Cass has an important part in this identity shift, he is influential in the New Right, a movement that also counts JD Vance and Marco Rubio as important figures. 

Guest: Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass, author of The New Conservatives: Restoring America's Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry

Recommendations:

Geraldine: Why Empires Fall: Rome, America and the Future of the West, Peter Heather and John Rapley

Hamish: 'This Instability May Be Worth It. Here’s Why.' New York Times

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Some news stories shake the world, others barely make the front page. 

In the era of Donald Trump, many important stories are being forgotten.

Lindsey Hilsum is one of the journalism's most experienced and fearless foreign correspondents.

She shares reflections on a career spent running towards atrocities and how to balance covering Trump and the stories we're missing.

Guest: Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News International Editor, author of I Brought The War with Me; Stories and Poems from the Front Line

Recommendations:

Hamish: Lindsey Hilsum on Desert Island Discs, BBC

Kylie: You Don’t Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War, Elizabeth Becker

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Donald Trump's tour of the Middle East was three days of glitz, gold and billion-dollar deals. 

The big surprise was a meeting with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Does this signal an intent to reshape the region and some of its enduring conflicts? 

And does the decision not to visit Israel signal a cooling relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu?

Recommendations:

Kylie: Jerusalem the biography by Simon Sebag Montefiori 

Hamish: Donald Trump seeks bromance and billions as he heads to Gulf, FT

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The Australian Signals Directorate is one of Australia's most secretive agencies, responsible for decoding enemy messages, protecting us from cyber threats and collaborating with allied intelligence services. 

Rachel Noble knows how the machine works, as the former head of ASD she helped shape Australia's role in the Five Eyes alliance. 

Now, with Trump's return and Signal-gate leaks, can Australia still trust its closest ally?

Guest: Rachel Noble, former Director-General of Australia Signals Directorate 

Recommendations:

Geraldine:  The Crisis of our Time by Christopher Clark

Hamish: East West Street by Philippe Sands

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As the world awaits the sitting of the conclave and the appointment of a new Pope, Geraldine sits down with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher in the Apostolic Palace.

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The Australian election campaign was rocked by allegations that Moscow had requested access to an Indonesian air base for use by long-range Russian military planes.

Russia and Indonesia have a long and deep history of cooperation and trade going back to Indonesian independence, which appears to be strengthening under President Prabowo Subianto. Does Australia have reason to be concerned?

Guest: Dr Marty Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of Indonesia

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There are two states that have the most to gain, and the most to lose, when it comes to AUKUS: South Australia and Western Australia. In the final episode of AUKUS Investigated Hamish and Geraldine speak to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about why he thinks the rest of the country needs to come to the AUKUS party. 

NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.

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A great re-balancing is underway from the Western world to a much more diverse future.

As developing nations rise up with greater wealth, military power, demographic heft and cultural influence, will Western nations give up their privileged positions willingly?

Guest: Dr Samir Puri, author of Westlessness: The great global rebalancing; Director, Global Governance and Security Centre at Chatham House; former UK diplomat 

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AUKUS doesn't only affect us. From the time that it was announced there were mixed reactions from our neighbours - some who wanted in, and some who thought it unwise and provocative. A big part of the fear - both regionally and within Australia - concerns the nuclear question. As the first non-nuclear country to ever acquire a conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, can we be confident of our own safety? And what happens to the waste that will remain dangerous for generations of Australians to come? 

NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.

GUESTS:

Gareth Evans - former Australian Foreign Minister (1988 –1996).

Maria Rost Rublee - Associate Professor of International Relations at Monash University, with expertise in international security and nuclear politics.

Dr Evan Laksmana - Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

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The death of Pope Francis closes the door on a papacy that was focused on the plight of migrants and other vulnerable groups. 

In this emergency episode, what was the Pontiff's contribution to global politics and who might come after him?

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