After America

As American democracy teeters, the Australian government is trying to pretend everything is just fine.
On this episode of After America, Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia senior reporter covering international affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, the lack of transparency around the AUKUS submarine deal, and why the Australian government still has its head in the sand over Trump.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 February 2026.
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Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
‘Possibility of US ever selling Australia nuclear submarines is increasingly remote, Aukus critics say’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (February 2026)
‘Australia’s confidence in Trump’s US has evaporated. What will it take for the alliance to rupture?’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (January 2026)
‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (December 2025)
‘Shorter America This Week: How to win (or cancel) elections; No START; You should smile more’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
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.

With each passing day, the Make America Great Again movement is becoming more battle-hardened and less likely to disappear once Trump leaves office (whenever that may be).
On this episode of After America, author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the trajectory of the Trump administration, why Australia can’t avoid the rupture being brought about by the MAGA movement, and where Democratic leadership might come from in a “woefully” split party.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 30 January 2026.
A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only.
Guest: Don Watson, author of The Shortest History of the United States
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
The Shortest History of the United States of America by Don Watson, Black Inc. (2025)
‘International cooperation on firefighting shows the best of the Australia-US alliance’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
‘Shorter America this week: Protest works; Name reality; It's the end of the world as we know it’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
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.

Autocrats cannot rise to power by themselves.
On this bonus episode, Dr Emma Shortis speaks to Justin Bergman, The Conversation’s International Affairs Editor, about Stephen Miller, the key Trump ally who’s been described as the most powerful unelected bureaucrat in the United States – possibly the world.
This episode was made by The Conversation for their six-part series on the rise of Trump, The Making of an Autocrat, which is available wherever you get your podcasts.
After America: Australia and the new world order by Dr Emma Shortis is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95.
A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only.
Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation
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.

The Trump administration may have killed what remained of the post-war international order, but last week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered its eulogy.
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis discuss the global “rupture” identified by Prime Minister Carney, President Trump’s petulant response, why Trump’s apparent climbdown over Greenland may not save NATO, and what this all means for America’s allies, including Australia.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 22 January 2026.
A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only.
After America: Australia and the new world order is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95.
Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Special Address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, World Economic Forum on YouTube (January 2026)
Trump sows ‘chaotic cruelty’ while Canadian PM Carney reminds the world it doesn’t have to play along by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (January 2026)
Shorter America this week: Trust is rust; It’s the white supremacy, stupid; Five Eyes goes cross-eyed by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
Scrambled Europe: insecurity and sentimentality are no basis for strategy by Allan Behm, The Point (January 2026)
Photo: World Economic Forum/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
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.

American alliances aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.
On this episode of After America, Matt Duss joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Trump administration’s new tariffs against Europe, what if anything it might do in Iran, and its threats to prosecute political opponents.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 16 January (AEDT) 2026.
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 – offer available for a limited time only.
Guest: Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy // @mattduss
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
‘Shorter America this week: everything is gender’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
‘How Marco Rubio Went from “Little Marco” to Trump’s Foreign-Policy Enabler’ by Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker (January 2026)
‘Marco Rubio is Trump’s reported secretary of state. How did we get here?’ by Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times (November 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 After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.