US withdraws troops from Germany

Iran war update

Hegseth's purge, Iran war support

SCOTUS guts voting rights act

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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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&rsquo;s withdrawal of troops from Germany, why the United States is losing its war on Iran, and the Supreme Court&rsquo;s gutting of the Voting Rights Act.
This episode was recorded on Monday 4 May.
The latest Vantage Point essay, <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/rich-kid-poor-kid-vantage-point-issue-5">Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro</a>, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International &amp; Security Affairs, the Australia Institute
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://nypost.com/2026/04/03/us-news/hegseths-paranoia-over-being-replaced-explains-purge-of-top-general-as-ally-emerges-for-army-secretarys-role/">Hegseth&rsquo;s &lsquo;paranoia&rsquo; of being replaced explains purge of top general &mdash; as ally emerges for Army secretary&rsquo;s role</a> by Steven Nelson, New York Post (April 2026)
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/">The FBI Director Is MIA</a> by Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic (April 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/return-of-the-king/">Return of the king?</a>, After America (July 2024)
<a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-project-2025-the-policy-substance-behind-trumps-showmanship-reveals-a-radical-plan-to-reshape-the-world-227161">Project 2025, the policy substance behind Trump&rsquo;s showmanship, reveals a radical plan to reshape the world</a> by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (April 2024)
<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/project-2025s-distortion-of-civil-rights-law-threatens-americans-with-legalized-discrimination/">Project 2025&rsquo;s Distortion of Civil Rights Law Threatens Americans With Legalized Discrimination</a> by Mariam Rashid and William Roberts, Centre for American Progress (October 2024)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>. Subscribe to After America on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/after-america/id1751661496">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/788c8nelszhzvsxwTzQzGS?si=32cb1a5509704ebb">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/after-america/49b88b40-1809-013d-5deb-0acc26574db2">Pocket Casts</a>&nbsp;or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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, its impact at home and abroad, 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, its impact at home and abroad, and how Australia can help shape our rapidly changing world for the better.&nbsp;
Presented by the Australia Institute.

After America

160 years after the American Civil War, the Confederacy is ascendent.