Donald & Elon's epic breakup

Palantir & Trump's dystopian presidency

The FBI & attacks on trans rights

Travel bans 2.0

Hegseth & Aussie defence spending

Musk may be out, but the influence of the tech bros has never been greater.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss Trump’s dystopian presidency, the administration’s renewed pressure on the Australian government to increase defence spending, and the end of the Trump-Musk bromance.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better.

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

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

Show notes:

‘Australia must resist US bullying to increase its military spending’ by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025)

‘Let’s rethink Australia’s national security – and focus on fairness and climate action, not blind fealty to the US’ by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (June 2025)

‘The Gleeful Profiteers of Trump’s Police State’ by Sophie Hurwitz, Mother Jones (February 2025)

‘How US Intelligence and an American Company Feed Israel’s Killing Machine in Gaza’ by James Bamford, The Nation (April 2024)

‘The Cruelty is the Point’ by Adam Serwer, The Atlantic (October 2018)

Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts, Boston University

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.

Musk may be out, but the influence of the tech bros has never been greater.
On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss Trump&rsquo;s dystopian presidency, the administration&rsquo;s renewed pressure on the Australian government to increase defence spending, and the end of the Trump-Musk bromance.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 June 2025 and things may have changed since recording.
Our independence is our strength &ndash; and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute&rsquo;s <a href="https://theaus.in/EOFY2025AA">End of Financial Year appeal</a> today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better.
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, Producer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/angusrb.bsky.social">@AngusRB</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/03/australia-must-resist-us-bullying-to-increase-its-military-spending">&lsquo;Australia must resist US bullying to increase its military spending&rsquo;</a> by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (June 2025)
<a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-lets-rethink-australias-national-security-and-focus-on-fairness-and-climate-action-not-blind-fealty-to-the-us-258064">&lsquo;Let&rsquo;s rethink Australia&rsquo;s national security &ndash; and focus on fairness and climate action, not blind fealty to the US&rsquo;</a> by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (June 2025)
<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/palantir-alex-karp-trump-private-prisons-profiteers/">&lsquo;The Gleeful Profiteers of Trump&rsquo;s Police State&rsquo;</a> by Sophie Hurwitz, Mother Jones (February 2025)
<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/world/nsa-palantir-israel-gaza-ai/">&lsquo;How US Intelligence and an American Company Feed Israel&rsquo;s Killing Machine in Gaza&rsquo;</a> by James Bamford, The Nation (April 2024)
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelty-is-the-point/572104/">&lsquo;The Cruelty is the Point&rsquo;</a> by Adam Serwer, The Atlantic (October 2018)
<a href="https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/tracking-anticipated-deaths-from-usaid-funding-cuts/">Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts</a>, Boston University
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>.

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.

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