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

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

Episoder(305)

Bonus Episode: Why Democracy Is Broken (David Lewis interviews Kim Wingerei)

Bonus Episode: Why Democracy Is Broken (David Lewis interviews Kim Wingerei)

Democracy is being held hostage by the adversarial nature of party politics. The people deserve better and a democracy upgrade is long overdue. Is democracy broken? Do we need a blueprint for change? ...

16 Jul 201917min

Surprise Agendas, Mandates And Codes Of Conduct

Surprise Agendas, Mandates And Codes Of Conduct

Surprised by their surprise 2019 election victory, the Liberal-National Party is searching for an agenda to implement over the next term of Parliament, and trying to convince the public it's all about...

3 Jul 201937min

The 2019 Federal Election Wrap-Up, Politics For Sale, And Parliament 46

The 2019 Federal Election Wrap-Up, Politics For Sale, And Parliament 46

Apologies if our 2019 Election Wrap-Up special episode is late but we had to wait until every postal vote had been received and counted, and see if there was any sign of a late swing. Of which, there ...

6 Jun 201950min

Who Wins The 2019 Election Final Countdown?

Who Wins The 2019 Election Final Countdown?

It's the final week of Election 2019 and Labor is still in the best position to win the election. We're not saying anything controversial here: Labor has been ahead in the polls for almost three years...

14 Mai 201935min

A Most Exciting 2019 Election Campaign Continues

A Most Exciting 2019 Election Campaign Continues

Contrary to most perceptions from the media about a ‘boring’ campaign, we think the 2019 election is one of the most exciting ever. Why? Because it's a ‘change’ election, where there's a possibility t...

2 Mai 201935min

Bonus Episode: Sweet Election Victories From The 1990s

Bonus Episode: Sweet Election Victories From The 1990s

The 2019 election is on, but to look forward, we always need to look back, and we go far back into the archives to look at the events of elections from 1992 and 1993. But that's over 25 years ago: are...

24 Apr 201912min

Budget 2019, The End Of A Zany Parliament And Waiting For An Election

Budget 2019, The End Of A Zany Parliament And Waiting For An Election

Conventional wisdom suggests there are two types of Budgets: one that's in surplus, and one that's in deficit. But there's also the Budget type that is totally political, and we've got a feeling Josh ...

8 Apr 201934min

NSW Election Wrap, Morrison’s Racism And The Big Issues Affecting Election 2019

NSW Election Wrap, Morrison’s Racism And The Big Issues Affecting Election 2019

The NSW Election is all over, and the Coalition Government has been returned for a third term. But is it the landslide victory the mainstream media is claiming? No, of course not: they only just scrap...

26 Mar 201937min

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