After America

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.

Even as the Trump administration facilitates the demise of the international order the United States helped create, the Australian government’s embrace of Aukus ties the two countries ever closer.
On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss op-shop submarines, the Democrats’ review of the 2024 election, and Trump’s Iran loop.
This episode was recorded on Monday 1 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.
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb
Show notes:
Shorter America: The Iran clown show continues; Trump threatens to bomb an ally (again); Trump doesn’t care by Emma Shortis, The Point (May 2026)
Democrats Can’t Avoid a Reckoning with Gaza by Matt Duss, The Nation (May 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025)
Major Aukus switch to buy only secondhand subs from US means ‘significant’ cost savings, Marles says by Tom McIlroy & Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (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.

Despite the global upheaval caused by the Trump administration, the Australian government is trying to plough on with AUKUS as if Biden was still in charge.
On this episode of After America, Guardian Australia journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the likelihood of the Australia ever receiving a nuclear-powered submarine, the “dangerously undemocratic” secrecy around key elements of the AUKUS agreement, and Australia’s significantly changed strategic environment.
This episode was recorded on Friday 22 May.
You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS.
Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Aukus nuclear submarine base would ‘place a massive target on our backs’, NSW labour union warns by Krishani Dhanji & Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (May 2026)
As Aukus spending and delays blow out, will Australia’s nuclear submarines ever materialise? by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (May 2026)
Shorter America: Ivy League brain; These men; Shared fates, shared future by Emma Shortis, The Point (May 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025)
WEBINAR | Submarine Dreams: understanding Australia’s commitment to AUKUS, the Australia Institute (October 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.