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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.