Trump’s China trip light on substance as his approval rating continues to tank

Stuck in a quagmire of its own making in Iran, the Trump administration has little to show for its diplomatic efforts in Beijing.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the fallout from Donald Trump’s China visit, how Xi Jinping got the commentariat talking about long-dead Greeks, and why Trump’s approval rating is still hitting new depths.

This episode was recorded on Monday 18 May.

The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.

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

Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb

Show notes:

Shorter America: He started it; Won't someone think of the billionaires; Creeps and weirdos by Emma Shortis, The Point (May 2026)

After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025)

Trump addresses Xi's WARNING over Taiwan, Fox News on YouTube (May 2026)

Trump weighs pause on Taiwan arms sale, Chinese sanctions relief by Jessica Gardener, Australian Financial Review (May 2026)

Tracking the presidency, The Economist (May 2026)

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.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(100)

BREAKING: Housing slightly more affordable

Some in the media are treating it like the beginning of a housing apocalypse, but a slight drop in house prices shows that the government’s housing investor tax reforms are doing their job. On this ep...

2 Jul 27min

The Safeguard Mechanism is failing miserably

Australia’s flagship climate policy is failing to drive actual emission reductions. On this episode of Follow the Money, the authors of new Australia Institute research, Dr Fergus Green and Frances Me...

1 Jul 34min

My Iran deal is better than yours [citation needed]

Trump’s “peace” “deal” with Iran is already falling apart. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Angus Blackman to discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran, where it al...

29 Jun 38min

What’s the Point of One Nation?

On the first episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses the reasons behind One Nation grabbing the headlines, why it is highly unlikely Pauline Hanson will be Prime Minister after the nex...

29 Jun 16min

Inflation falls, tax changes pass & Greg loses his fancy parking spot

Plus: how the One Nation leader got all tangled up over childcare and paid parental leave. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s comments on paid parental leave ...

25 Jun 31min

Australians overwhelmingly back abortion access, but the politics are getting more toxic

Australians overwhelmingly support access to abortion care – but there’s a resurgence in anti-abortion politics underway. On this episode of Follow the Money, Amy Remeikis and Hamdi Jama join Ebony Be...

24 Jun 32min

This World Cup shows who holds the cards in Trump’s economy

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now. On this epi...

22 Jun 29min

What is 'middle income' in Australia?

A new data drop by the Australian Tax Office has A) brought Greg great joy and B) shed new light on Australians’ incomes. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest interes...

18 Jun 33min