Tue 18 Nov 2025 09.00
The White House/Flickr
By negotiating an end to the government shutdown without getting anything much in return, some Democrats have gone back to their old trick of resisting the President by giving him exactly what he needs.
On this episode of After America, Crikey’s Charlie Lewis joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Congress’ failure to extend life-saving health insurance tax credits, Trump’s inability to make the Epstein files go away, and whether there is evidence of US involvement in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
This discussion was recorded on Friday 14 November.
Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.
Guest: Charlie Lewis, Reporter-at-large, Crikey // @theshufflediary
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Shorter America: Opposing Trump, trouble in paradise, the American elite by Emma Shortis, The Point (November 2025)
The Democrats were winning the shutdown. So naturally, they caved by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)
Did the CIA overthrow the Whitlam government? by Charlie Lewis, Crikey (November 2025)
What Washington really thought of Whitlam before the dismissal by James Curran, Australia Financial Review (November 2025)
Photo: The White House/Flickr (U.S. Government work)
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.
Experts say the insertion of US special forces into Caracas and the abduction of President Maduro was a precision tactical operation.
A new Australia Institute podcast shows why an amnesty is needed to address the estimated 7000 cases of people who have “disengaged” from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
The abduction and subsequent arrest of the President of Venezuela is a dramatic re-statement of America’s dominance of the western hemisphere and its willingness to do whatever it takes – including defiance of international legal norms – to protect and promote its interests.