If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via their website, www.lifeline.org.au.

If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via their website, <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">www.lifeline.org.au</a>.

The United States we thought we knew is gone. And it isn’t coming back. 

Every week on After America, Dr Emma Shortis examines the second Trump presidency, what’s happening in global politics, and how Australia can help shape our rapidly changing world for the better. 

Presented by the Australia Institute.

The United States we thought we knew is gone. And it isn&rsquo;t coming back.&nbsp;
Every week on After America, Dr Emma Shortis examines the second Trump presidency, what&rsquo;s happening in global politics, and how Australia can help shape our rapidly changing world for the better.&nbsp;
Presented by the Australia Institute.

After America

Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Australia Matters

Our shared humanity

Conflict with Venezuela

'Double tap' strike

Signalgate

Trump's unpopularity

Defense Secretary Hegseth doesn’t want the US military to fight with “stupid rules of engagement”.

On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Angus Blackman discuss the American ‘double-tap’ strike on an alleged drug boat, Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal to share sensitive military information, and why Trump spent a night posting 160 times on Truth Social.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 5 December 2025.

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.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute

Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB

Show notes:

War Crimes: Where do Responsibility and Accountability Start and End? By Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

What legal experts say about second US strike on Venezuela boat by Lucy Gelder, BBC (December 2025)

Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages, The Atlantic (December 2025)

Trump’s night of 160 posts on Truth Social fuels debate about US president’s stamina by Richard Luscombe, The Guardian (December 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.

Defense Secretary Hegseth doesn&rsquo;t want the US military to fight with &ldquo;stupid rules of engagement&rdquo;.
On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Angus Blackman discuss the American &lsquo;double-tap&rsquo; strike on an alleged drug boat, Pete Hegseth&rsquo;s use of Signal to share sensitive military information, and why Trump spent a night posting 160 times on Truth Social.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 5 December 2025.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery">A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage</a> is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code &lsquo;POD5&rsquo; to get $5 off.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/aiming-higher-vantage-point-issue-3">Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia&rsquo;s future</a> by Professor George Williams is also available now.
Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International &amp; Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/angusrb.bsky.social">@AngusRB</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/war-crimes-where-do-responsibility-and-accountability-start-and-end/">War Crimes: Where do Responsibility and Accountability Start and End?</a> By Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (May 2025)
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v15zkxpe0o">What legal experts say about second US strike on Venezuela boat</a> by Lucy Gelder, BBC (December 2025)
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2025/12/hegseth-signalgate-trump-defense-pentagon/684997/">Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages</a>, The Atlantic (December 2025)
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/02/trumps-truth-social-post-health">Trump&rsquo;s night of 160 posts on Truth Social fuels debate about US president&rsquo;s stamina</a> by Richard Luscombe, The Guardian (December 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="https://theausinstitute-my.sharepoint.com/qnap-nas-tai.tai.local/NAS_Media&amp;Marketing/Podcast/After%20America/Episode%20descriptions/podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Defense Secretary Hegseth doesn’t want the US military to fight with “stupid rules of engagement”.

“Maximum lethality”: the US military under the Trump administration

US to resume nuclear testing

RFK Jr says eat more saturated fats

Epstein & misogyny

Trump’s statements about resuming American nuclear testing left administration officials scrambling.

On this episode of After America, Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize winner with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Trump’s nuclear testing claims, American healthcare under RFK Jr.’s leadership, and the misogyny at the heart of key US institutions.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Ruth Mitchell, Chair, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War // @drruthmitchell

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Medicine price comparison between Australia and the United States by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

While the rest of the world rushes to hire US scientists that Trump has cut, Australia follows in his footsteps by Tegan George, The Point (November 2025)

Man collapses behind Donald Trump during White House announcement by Richard Wood, 9 News (November 2025)

As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ by Dhuruv T Patel and Cam N Srivastava, The Harvard Crimson (November 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.

Trump&rsquo;s statements about resuming American nuclear testing left administration officials scrambling.
On this episode of After America, Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize winner with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Trump&rsquo;s nuclear testing claims, American healthcare under RFK Jr.&rsquo;s leadership, and the misogyny at the heart of key US institutions.
This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 November 2025.
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.&nbsp;Call&nbsp;<a href="tel:1800737732">1800 737 732,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://1800respect.org.au/help-and-support/telephone-and-online-counselling#faq-2707">text 0458 737 732</a>, chat online or video call via <a href="https://1800respect.org.au/">their website</a>.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery">A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage</a> is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code &lsquo;SAVE5&rsquo; to get $5 off.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/aiming-higher-vantage-point-issue-3">Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia&rsquo;s future</a> by Professor George Williams is also available now.
Guest: Ruth Mitchell, Chair, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/drruthmitchell.bsky.social">@drruthmitchell</a>
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International &amp; Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/emmashortis.bsky.social">@emmashortis</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/medicine-price-comparison-between-australia-and-the-united-states/">Medicine price comparison between Australia and the United States</a> by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/news/281125-while-the-rest-of-the-world-rushes-to-hire-us-scientists-that-trump-has-cut-australia-follows-in-his-footsteps">While the rest of the world rushes to hire US scientists that Trump has cut, Australia follows in his footsteps</a> by Tegan George, The Point (November 2025)
<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/main-faints-next-to-donald-trump-in-white-house/2fa93cec-ef39-4cf2-951e-eafde0b7170c">Man collapses behind Donald Trump during White House announcement</a> by Richard Wood, 9 News (November 2025)
<a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/11/17/summers-epstein-wing-man-woman-described-as-mentee/">As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His &lsquo;Wing Man&rsquo;</a> by Dhuruv T Patel and Cam N Srivastava, The Harvard Crimson (November 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="https://theausinstitute-my.sharepoint.com/qnap-nas-tai.tai.local/NAS_Media&amp;Marketing/Podcast/After%20America/Episode%20descriptions/podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Trump’s statements about American nuclear testing left administration officials scrambling.

The nuclear option

Rumours about America's role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam have circulated for decades – but is there any truth to them? 

On this special episode of After America, we explore the state of the Australia-United States relationship under the Whitlam government, the machinations at the time around the renewal of Pine Gap, and the previously untold account of Dr Liz Cham, former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Whitlam, who recalls handing over a mystery letter to an American official just before the Dismissal.

The interview with Liz Cham was recorded on Thursday 30 October.

A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘SAVE5’ to get $5 off.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is also available now.

Guest: Elizabeth Cham, fellow at the University of Technology Sydney and former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Scripting and production support: Stephen Long

Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite

Show notes:

Did the CIA overthrow the Whitlam government? by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)

What Washington really thought of Whitlam before the dismissal by James Curran, Australia Financial Review (November 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.

Rumours about America's role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam have circulated for decades &ndash; but is there any truth to them?&nbsp;
On this special episode of After America, we explore the state of the Australia-United States relationship under the Whitlam government, the machinations at the time around the renewal of Pine Gap, and the previously untold account of Dr Liz Cham, former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Whitlam, who recalls handing over a mystery letter to an American official just before the Dismissal.
The interview with Liz Cham was recorded on Thursday 30 October.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery">A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage</a> is available for pre-order now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code &lsquo;SAVE5&rsquo; to get $5 off.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/aiming-higher-vantage-point-issue-3">Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia&rsquo;s future</a> by Professor George Williams is also available now.
Guest: Elizabeth Cham, fellow at the University of Technology Sydney and former executive assistant in the office of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International &amp; Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/emmashortis.bsky.social">@emmashortis</a>
Scripting and production support: Stephen Long
Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite
Show notes:
<a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/11/did-cia-overthrow-whitlam-government/">Did the CIA overthrow the Whitlam government?</a> by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)
<a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/what-washington-really-thought-of-whitlam-before-the-dismissal-20251106-p5n8cf">What Washington really thought of Whitlam before the dismissal</a> by James Curran, Australia Financial Review (November 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="https://theausinstitute-my.sharepoint.com/qnap-nas-tai.tai.local/NAS_Media&amp;Marketing/Podcast/After%20America/Episode%20descriptions/podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Rumours about America's role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam have circulated for decades – but is there any truth to them? 

Our shared humanity

Australia Matters

In 2 playlist(s)

After America

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips