The Trump administration’s imperial march is gathering pace.

On this episode of After America, Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the credibility of the Trump administration’s threats against Greenland and elsewhere, and the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 9 January 2026.

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.

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

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

Show notes:

‘What you need to know about Trump administration's abduction of Nicolás Maduro’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)

‘Trump is destroying the rules of international behaviour. Australia can – and must – act now’ by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (January 2026)

Polling – Australia-US Security, the Australia Institute (November 2025)

‘Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break’ by Natasha Betrand, CNN (November 2025)

‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Daisy Dumas and Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (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.

The Trump administration&rsquo;s imperial march is gathering pace.
On this episode of After America, Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro and his wife, the credibility of the Trump administration&rsquo;s threats against Greenland and elsewhere, and the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 9 January 2026.
<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.
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/explainers/4136">&lsquo;What you need to know about Trump administration's abduction of Nicol&aacute;s Maduro&rsquo;</a> by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026)
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/08/trump-destroying-rules-international-behaviour-australia-reaction">&lsquo;Trump is destroying the rules of international behaviour. Australia can &ndash; and must &ndash; act now&rsquo;</a> by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (January 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/polling-australia-us-security/">Polling &ndash; Australia-US Security</a>, the Australia Institute (November 2025)
<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/politics/uk-suspends-caribbean-intelligence-sharing-us">&lsquo;Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break&rsquo;</a> by Natasha Betrand, CNN (November 2025)
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/11/australia-us-tourism-new-visa-rules-social-media-history">&lsquo;&lsquo;The whole thing disgusts me&rsquo;: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared&rsquo;</a> by Daisy Dumas and Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (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>.

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

The Trump administration’s imperial march is gathering pace.

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