After America

On this bonus mini-episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the Democrats’ historic midterms success, what now for the Trump administration, and what it might mean for the Australia-US relationship.
This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November.
Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne.
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer – Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB
Show notes:
Shorter America: Looks like woke’s back on the menu; Choosin’ Texas; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 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 After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjB
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterms are finally upon us. On Tuesday US time, Americans will vote in a new Congress – and deliver a verdict on two years of the second Trump administration.
On this episode of After America, If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan joins Dr Emma Shortis to preview the midterms and examine the election results in Israel. In both countries, these could be the most important elections in generations – so what will the fallout be?
This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October.
Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne.
Guest: Matt Bevan, host of If You’re Listening, Australian Broadcasting Corporation // @mattbevan
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
If You’re Listening Live Midterms Broadcast, 3pm AEDT (Melbourne Cup +24-ish), Wednesday 4 November
Shorter America: Races to watch; The Trump effect; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026)
Israel’s October 7 inquiry hinges on this election, If You're Listening on YouTube (October 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 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 After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjB
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elephant?! What elephant?
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss key races in the midterms, the upcoming Israeli election, and the latest from the Canberra bubble on Euro-Indo-Atlanto-Pacific strategic interests.
This episode was recorded on Monday 26 October.
Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America: Michigan Matters; Looking to Europe; Political Violence by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026)
Faith and nostalgia: dangerous strategic partners by Allan Behm, The Point (October 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 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 After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjB
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States keeps showing us what an unreliable ally it is. Are European governments now getting the message?
Dr Tobias Cremer, Member of European Parliament, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss how the European Union is responding to the second Trump administration, the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, and how to build democratic solidarity in the face of rising authoritarianism.
This episode was recorded on Wednesday 14 October.
Guest: Tobias Cremer, Member of European Parliament
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America: Betting on death; Racist raids; Everything is fine by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026)
Navigating Choppy Waters: Australia and the EU Chart a New Course by Margherita Matera & Philomena Murray, Australian Institute of International Affairs (March 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 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 After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjB
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government has been excruciatingly silent when it comes to standing up for the International Criminal Court and foundations of international law it so loves to talk about.
Journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Australia’s non-response to the Trump administration’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court, the American military footprint in Australia, and the OpenAI hack of Medicare on this episode of After America.
This episode was recorded on Monday 12 October.
Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
No peace without accountability: Sydney Peace Laureate Navi Pillay, After America, the Australia Institute (October 2025)
The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026)
OpenAI hack on Australian government reveals anxiety at heart of global artificial intelligence dilemma by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (September 2026)
Shorter America: Things are not normal; Muskism; Good men by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 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 After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjB
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.