After America

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, in a heat wave, delayed by storms, Donald Trump gave a very Donald Trump speech.
We expected that. But what can we expect next? On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the November midterm elections and what they might bring. After Emma’s trip to Brussels and Berlin, they also reflect the contrasts between European and Australian views of the United States.
This episode was recorded live on Monday 6 July.
Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB
Show notes:
This World Cup shows who holds the cards in Trump’s economy, After America, the Australia Institute (June 2026)
From Europe’s strategic settings to China’s overcapacities – a view through an antipodean lens, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (June 2026)
The 2026 midterm elections, Brookings
‘God is non-binary’: Texas Dem nominee Talarico’s past remarks on abortion, race and gender draw scrutiny by Peter Pinedo & Paul Steinhauser, Fox News (March 2026)
STRICTLY BALLROOM! PEP with Chas & Dr Emma Shortis, PEP podcast (October 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s “peace” “deal” with Iran is already falling apart.
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Angus Blackman to discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran, where it all went wrong for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European views of Trump’s America.
This episode was recorded live on Friday 26 June.
Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.
Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB
Show notes:
How will Australia pay for AUKUS? Submission to AUKUS Public Inquiry by Rod Campbell, Richard Denniss and Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (June 2026)
The Iran Disaster Is an Opportunity to Turn Away From Hawkish Idiocy and Reset Our Relationship With the Region by Matt Duss, The Nation (June 2026)
Wong and Marles were left waiting in the wings in London – it’s further proof Aukus was never anything more than a political stunt by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now.
On this episode of After America, Dr Lindsay Owens joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss World Cup ticket pricing, the consolidation of corporate power in Trump’s America, the impact of the war on Iran on the US economy, and fighting back against efforts to use misinformation about the economy to demonise migrants.
This episode was recorded live on Thursday 11 June.
Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.
Guest: Lindsay Owens, Executive Director, Groundwork Collaborative // @lindsayowens
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB
Show notes:
Shorter America: America's best writers; Empire of white supremacy; Empire of toxic masculinity by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026)
Gouged: The End of a Fair Price – and What That Means for Your Wallet by Lindsay Owens, Penguin Random House (forthcoming)
As Summer Kicks Off, Memorial Day Staples Up 13% on Average and Travel Prices Soar, Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (May 2026)
It’s not me, it’s you – Australians ready to break up with Trump’s America, the Australia Institute (May 2026)
Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, the Australia Institute (October 2025)
Homeland Security deploys white nationalist, anti-immigrant graphics to recruit by Caleb Kieffer and RG Cravens, Southern Poverty Law Center (August 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump pledged to reach a better deal with Iran than the Obama administration negotiated in 2015. He hasn’t – and probably won’t.
On this episode of After America, foreign policy analyst Matt Duss and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the war on Iran, what the administration might be planning with regards to Cuba, the UFC fight on the White House lawn, and what a more progressive Australia-US alliance could look like.
This episode was recorded live on Friday 12 June.
Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.
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: Alliances crumble; White supremacy at home and abroad; History matters (always) by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026)
What’s the Left’s Vision for Foreign Policy After Trump?, The Ezra Klein Show (June 2026)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special episode, we’re joined by two commissioners from the new community-led, independent inquiry into the AUKUS security deal.
This episode was recorded live on Thursday 4 June.
Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.
Guest: Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Australia Ambassador
Guest: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb
Show notes:
An independent public inquiry into the AUKUS security partnership
ICAN Australia
Polling – Australia, the US and Iran War, the Australia Institute (May 2026)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.