Tue 2 Jun 2026 17.15 AEST
The White House/Flickr
Even as the Trump administration facilitates the demise of the international order the United States helped create, the Australian government’s embrace of Aukus ties the two countries ever closer.
On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss op-shop submarines, the Democrats’ review of the 2024 election, and Trump’s Iran loop.
This episode was recorded on Monday 1 June.
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Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb
Show notes:
Shorter America: The Iran clown show continues; Trump threatens to bomb an ally (again); Trump doesn’t care by Emma Shortis, The Point (May 2026)
Democrats Can’t Avoid a Reckoning with Gaza by Matt Duss, The Nation (May 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025)
Major Aukus switch to buy only secondhand subs from US means ‘significant’ cost savings, Marles says by Tom McIlroy & Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (May 2026)
Photo: The White House/Flickr (U.S. Government work)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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.
Australia’s $368 billion AUKUS pact is facing fresh scrutiny as the Albanese government continues to deepen its investment in a program critics warn may never deliver promised nuclear-powered submarines.
Hundreds of diplomats from almost every country just met for four weeks at United Nations headquarters in New York to review the most comprehensive nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the world. And they agreed to absolutely nothing.
