World Cup controversies

Price gouging & corporate power in America

Iran, the US economy & redirecting blame

America 250 celebrations

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now.

On this episode of After America, Dr Lindsay Owens joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss World Cup ticket pricing, the consolidation of corporate power in Trump’s America, the impact of the war on Iran on the US economy, and fighting back against efforts to use misinformation about the economy to demonise migrants.

This episode was recorded live on Thursday 11 June.

Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.

Guest: Lindsay Owens, Executive Director, Groundwork Collaborative // @lindsayowens

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

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

Show notes:

Shorter America: America's best writers; Empire of white supremacy; Empire of toxic masculinity by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026)

Gouged: The End of a Fair Price – and What That Means for Your Wallet by Lindsay Owens, Penguin Random House (forthcoming)

As Summer Kicks Off, Memorial Day Staples Up 13% on Average and Travel Prices Soar, Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (May 2026)

It’s not me, it’s you – Australians ready to break up with Trump’s America, the Australia Institute (May 2026)

Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, the Australia Institute (October 2025)

Homeland Security deploys white nationalist, anti-immigrant graphics to recruit by Caleb Kieffer and RG Cravens, Southern Poverty Law Center (August 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.

With the men&rsquo;s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now.
On this episode of After America, Dr Lindsay Owens joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss World Cup ticket pricing, the consolidation of corporate power in Trump&rsquo;s America, the impact of the war on Iran on the US economy, and fighting back against efforts to use misinformation about the economy to demonise migrants.
This episode was recorded live on Thursday 11 June.
Support the research powerful interests fear. <a href="https://theaus.in/3Q70UxN">Make a tax-deductible donation</a> to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.
Guest: Lindsay Owens, Executive Director, Groundwork Collaborative // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lindsayowens.bsky.social">@lindsayowens</a>
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International &amp; Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/emmashortis.bsky.social">@emmashortis</a>
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/angusrb.bsky.social">@AngusRB</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/new/260619-shorter-america-this-week">Shorter America: America's best writers; Empire of white supremacy; Empire of toxic masculinity</a> by Emma Shortis, The Point (June 2026)
<a href="https://gougedbook.com/">Gouged: The End of a Fair Price &ndash; and What That Means for Your Wallet</a> by Lindsay Owens, Penguin Random House (forthcoming)
<a href="https://groundworkcollaborative.org/work/as-summer-kicks-off-memorial-day-staples-up-13-on-average-and-travel-prices-soar/">As Summer Kicks Off, Memorial Day Staples Up 13% on Average and Travel Prices Soar</a>, Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (May 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/its-not-me-its-you-australians-ready-to-break-up-with-trumps-america/">It&rsquo;s not me, it&rsquo;s you &ndash; Australians ready to break up with Trump&rsquo;s America</a>, the Australia Institute (May 2026)
<a href="https://theconversation.com/trumps-tragedy-the-us-becomes-an-autocracy-and-the-presidency-a-dictatorship-266675">Trump&rsquo;s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship</a> by Emma Shortis, the Australia Institute (October 2025)
<a href="https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/dhs-white-nationalist-anti-immigrant-social-media/">Homeland Security deploys white nationalist, anti-immigrant graphics to recruit</a> by Caleb Kieffer and RG Cravens, Southern Poverty Law Center (August 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="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

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now.