After America

160 years after the American Civil War, the Confederacy is ascendent.
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the Trump administration’s withdrawal of troops from Germany, why the United States is losing its war on Iran, and the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act.
This episode was recorded on Monday 4 May.
The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Hegseth’s ‘paranoia’ of being replaced explains purge of top general — as ally emerges for Army secretary’s role by Steven Nelson, New York Post (April 2026)
The FBI Director Is MIA by Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic (April 2026)
Return of the king?, After America (July 2024)
Project 2025, the policy substance behind Trump’s showmanship, reveals a radical plan to reshape the world by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (April 2024)
Project 2025’s Distortion of Civil Rights Law Threatens Americans With Legalized Discrimination by Mariam Rashid and William Roberts, Centre for American Progress (October 2024)
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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Violence is a feature of American democracy.
On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on yet another appalling yet unsurprising act of political violence in the United States, before Mother Jones journalist James West joins the show to discuss the midterm elections and whether real fractures are emerging in the MAGAverse.
This episode was recorded on Thursday 23 April Australian time.
The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
Guest: James West, Executive Editor, Mother Jones // @jamespwest
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America: Madman theory, continued; Deeper derangement; International solidarity by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026)
No Kings Rallygoers in New York Share Their Biggest Fears—and Greatest Hopes by James West, Mother Jones (March 2026)
New poll: 55% support impeaching Trump, Strength in Numbers (April 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After tearing up the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Obama, Trump is trying to bomb his way to a better outcome and it’s failing spectacularly.
On this episode of After America, nuclear policy expert Jon B Wolfsthal and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US-Iran negotiations, the risks of this conflict metastasising, and how Trump is continuing to break down the guardrails around the use of nuclear weapons.
This episode was recorded on Friday 17 April.
The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
Guest: Jon B Wolfsthal, US Nuclear Policy Fellow, PAX sapiens // @jonatomic
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America: The consequences of not caring; The enemy of your enemy is not your friend; Visions for the future by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026)
What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal?, Council on Foreign Relations
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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration’s failure to reach an agreement with Iran to end the war shouldn’t come as a surprise.
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the consequences of failure in US-Iran negotiations, the oxymoron of Trump administration “diplomacy”, the future of NATO, and what this all means for Australia.
This episode was recorded on Friday 10 April.
Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America This Week: Ceasefire?; Madman theory; Group hugs in space by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 2026)
LIAR, LIAR, CEASE ON FIRE! PEP with Chas & Dr Emma Shortis, Planet PEP on YouTube (April 2026)
The Wrap: A missed opportunity to face reality by Emma Shortis, The Point (April 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States and Israel’s war on Iran has been disastrous.
On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the situation with the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, why airport security workers in the US aren’t getting paid, and why, despite plenty of evidence suggesting it’s a terrible deal, some Australian policymakers remain committed to the bit with AUKUS.
This episode was recorded on Monday 30 March.
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 This Week: Maximum Lethality; Everything has a history; Don't fly with me by Emma Shortis, The Point (March 2026)
Trump is impotently railing against the US’s allies. Albanese is right to avoid the president’s global catastrophe by Allan Behm, The Point (March 2026)
Funeral held for three journalists killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon by William Christou, The Guardian (March 2026)
Evidence Points to US Scattering Mines over Iranian Village by Trevor Ball, Bellingcat (March 2026)
Airports on ICE by Marisa Kabas, The Handbasket (March 2026)
AUKUS raucous in Canberra as submarine experts debate Donald Trump’s deal by Andrew Greene, The Nightly (March 2026)
Andrew Hastie on Insiders, ABC (March 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.