By laying off tens of thousands of federal employees, challenging the authority of judges and throwing erstwhile allies under the bus, the Trump administration is radically reshaping America and its role in the world.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss Trump’s efforts to “rinse” Ukraine for its resources, the administration’s moves to dismantle significant portions of the Federal Government, and how the Australian Government can use its significant bargaining power to push back against the American President.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 25 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Subscribe to After America now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

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

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Money Talks: The Australia-America Economic Relationship – Where From and Where To by Joey Herlihy, the Australia Institute (August 2023)

‘How Many Federal Workers Have Lost Their Jobs?’, New York Magazine (February 2025)

‘Dems "pissed" at liberal groups MoveOn, Indivisible’ by Justin Green and Andrew Solender, Axios (February 2025)

Hostile Government Take Over (EDM Remix) @AGiftFromTodd, Vinny Marchi on YouTube (February 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.