The Long-Read Essay: Democracy, Power and Australia at the Crossroads

The Long-Read Essay: Democracy, Power and Australia at the Crossroads

2025 was the year the comforting myths finally fell away. In this long-read essay, we trace how democratic institutions – globally and in Australia – proved far more fragile than many assumed, as misinformation, authoritarian politics and media failure reshaped the political landscape. From Trump’s return and Elon Musk’s political interference, to the catastrophic war on Gaza and Australia’s own shallow election campaign, the year exposed a deep crisis of leadership, media courage and moral clarity. Yet amid the disillusionment, there are faint but real signs of renewal: growing scepticism of mainstream media, the rise of independent voices, and a questioning of Australia’s place in a changing world. This long-read episode asks a simple but urgent question: at the crossroads revealed in 2025, will Australia choose to continue to drift, or seek a democratic renewal? #AUSPOL

Support New Politics, just $5 per month:



Song listing:
  1. ‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.

Episoder(311)

The year in review: the 2022 election

The year in review: the 2022 election

It was a big year in politics and the biggest event was the federal election in May. It wasn't clear who was going to win the election, even though opinion polls were suggesting Labor was going to win...

16 Des 202231min

Labor election review, gormless Robodebt, AFP interferes in Lehrmann case, and final 2022 opinion polls

Labor election review, gormless Robodebt, AFP interferes in Lehrmann case, and final 2022 opinion polls

The Labor review of the 2022 election has been released, and it’s a much better read than the reviews from the previous three elections which were all lost by the Labor Party. Of course, Labor did win...

9 Des 202243min

The massive media fail, Morrison censured and Labor ends the year on a high

The massive media fail, Morrison censured and Labor ends the year on a high

The Victoria election was held last weekend and, contrary to what everyone in the media wanted and predicted, it was another crushing defeat for the Liberal Party. It wasn't even close. For the past t...

2 Des 202241min

Miners attacking IR changes, despicable media in Victoria, and drop the whistleblower charges now!

Miners attacking IR changes, despicable media in Victoria, and drop the whistleblower charges now!

Industrial relations are once again in the spotlight, with the mining industry and Qantas joining the Coalition in their attacks on the Labor government’s proposed legislation.And the big sticking poi...

25 Nov 202238min

China Defrosted, the US Midterms and Australia’s Big Gambling Problem

China Defrosted, the US Midterms and Australia’s Big Gambling Problem

There’s been a major breakthrough in the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China, with the Australian Prime Minister and Chinese president holding a meeting at the G20 summit in Indonesia....

18 Nov 202240min

Business behaving badly, COP27 no-show, Robodebt disaster, and it’s time to investigate News Corp

Business behaving badly, COP27 no-show, Robodebt disaster, and it’s time to investigate News Corp

There’s a lot of issues that are starting to build up in federal politics and with just a few more weeks of sitting days before the end of the year, the Labor government is trying to fit in as much as...

11 Nov 202248min

Ghosts of inflation, Lehrmann mistrial, a racist attack in the West, and the divisive News Corp

Ghosts of inflation, Lehrmann mistrial, a racist attack in the West, and the divisive News Corp

The Budget is all over, and just like many of the previous Budgets, it’s almost disappeared from the news cycle, although there’s still some remnants that are being discussed, and the two big issue s ...

4 Nov 202244min

Sick of the media: 2022 Labor Budget analysis

Sick of the media: 2022 Labor Budget analysis

The second Budget for 2022 has been released, and it’s Labor’s first budget in nine years – it’s a Budget that’s been prepared in very difficult circumstances – there’s a national government debt of a...

28 Okt 202237min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
det-store-bildet
rss-gukild-johaug
dine-penger-pengeradet
nokon-ma-ga
fotballpodden-2
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
rss-ness
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik