2020Vision

President Trump once referred to the press as the “enemy of the people”, yet spends a lot of his time consuming news content and broadcasting favourable items on Twitter. So, is he getting a rough deal out of the mainstream media compared to previous administrations? Kim Hoggard was White House Assistant Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs under President George H.W. Bush. She shares her thoughts on this White House's relationship with the media, the impeachment process and the 2020 election.

Mia Love was the first black woman to be elected to US Congress for the Republican Party, but she drew the ire of President Trump during last year's midterm elections for not paying him enough attention. Since losing her seat by just a few hundred votes she's been critical of Trump's 'transactional' approach to working with black Americans and minorities. So, does she think the president is racist and what are her predictions for 2020 and the future of the Republican Party? Mia shares her thoughts on this week's episode.

A tentative trade deal between the United States and China has proved a welcome distraction for a White House rattled by events in Syria and the unfolding impeachment investigation. But is it worth the paper it's not printed on? Not according to this week's guest, economist Dr Stephen Kirchner, who runs us through the economic dangers facing President Trump in the upcoming election year.

Another presidential phone call with an Australian prime minister is causing angst among allies as the impeachment investigation heats up and Trump's Twitter goes into meltdown. With the daily dump of new revelations, it's hard to remember there's an election campaign going on. To catch us up on all the week's big stories and 2020 news – plus a very special presidential birthday – former congressional advisor to the Democrats Bruce Wolpe joins the podcast.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump. So, what does that mean, will Democrats succeed in removing the president and what were the allegations against Trump that finally convinced Pelosi to pursue a course of action she had rejected for so long? Former Bloomberg BNA analyst and Council on Foreign Relations associate Jared Mondschein joins the podcast to break it all down.

Climate change has been a top-tier issue in recent elections and political debates, even prompting a special CNN Town Hall for Democrats in September to specifically address how they'll tackle the problem if they win office next year. Professor of Environmental Politics David Schlosberg joins the podcast this week to discuss the climate policies of the 2020 candidates and explain whether we'll continue to see climate change as a central issue in next year's presidential election.

Democratic presidential hopefuls faced off in the second round of live debates over two nights in Detroit, Michigan this week. It offered a rematch for Senator Kamala Harris and former Vice President Joe Biden, and saw progressive senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on the debate stage together for the first time. There were fireworks aplenty, and United States Studies Centre Research Associate Elliott Brennan joins the podcast to break it all down.

Dr Gorana Grgic returns from a six-month stint at Harvard University's Center for European Studies to give us a run-through of last week's rise to political prominence for the so-called "Squad" of Democratic congresswomen – and the international outcry over the racist attacks launched at the them. She also takes a look at the future of transatlantic relations under President Trump and new British PM Boris Johnson.

Sexual assaults in the US military increased by almost 38 per cent last year, according to the Pentagon's own report. So, has the #MeToo movement failed to make an impact on the armed services or have women become more confident about reporting incidents? Dr Ellen Haring, a former US Army colonel and the current CEO of the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) in Washington, DC joins the podcast to discuss the challenges for women in the US military, and SWAN's work with Congress and Democratic presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand.

The Trump administration's 2017 National Security Strategy gave an unequivocal assessment that the world has entered an era of outright geostrategic competition between “those who favour repressive systems and those who favour free societies”. But will countries want to hear about the benefits of democracy from a White House that appears more enamoured with authoritarian "strongmen" than liberal democratic values? And would a new president in 2020 make any difference? Macquarie University lecturer Dr Lavina Lee joins the podcast to discuss her new report on these issues.

The first Democratic presidential debates took place in Miami, Florida this week, with immigration, healthcare and race dominating discussions among the 20 candidates. Who came out on top and who suffered some serious body blows to their campaign? Senior Lecturer in American politics Dr David Smith joins the podcast to share his thoughts on their performances and discuss some of the big surprises.

President Donald Trump officially launched his re-election bid in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday. But having filed his intention to run on day of his 2017 inauguration, given his love of frequent televised rallies with supporters, and in possession of a tried and tested new campaign slogan, did the campaign ever really end? United States Studies Centre CEO Professor Simon Jackman joins the podcast to discuss Trump's launch event and previews the first of the Democratic presidential debates next week.

A former advisor to a US Secretary of State and a former advisor to an Australian Foreign Minister have joined forces on a new report reevaluating the future of the US-Australia alliance amidst rising tensions with China. They join the podcast to discuss their findings and evaluate the positions of 2020 Democratic candidates on US-China relations.

The Australian federal election in May was seemingly the latest polling disaster, with political prognosticators unable to properly gauge the mood of the electorate following similar forecasting failures in 2016 with Donald Trump's election and Brexit. So, have pollsters lost their power and will 2020 be the year that polls are no longer seen as prophecy? Dr Shaun Ratcliff, an expert in public opinion and political strategy, and manager of the United States Studies Centre’s polling partnership with YouGov, joins the podcast to answer the critics.

Ronald Reagan was the first US president to win an election campaign on a promise to "Make America Great Again" back in 1980. But is that where the similarities between the 40th and 45th presidents end? Reagan's executive assistant for 10 years after he left office, Peggy Grande, joins the podcast to talk about the similarities and differences between the two men, and whether she thinks the Democrats have what it takes to win in 2020.

Has #MeToo brought lasting change to the US politics? Will Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign loom over women candidates in 2020? Director of the North American Studies Program at Germany's University of Bonn, Sabine Sielke, joins the podcast this week to answer these questions and discuss the recent attacks on women's reproductive rights in the United States. Professor Sielke's extensive research focuses on gender in American culture and the rhetoric of sexual violence in the United States.

It’s been a busy week in foreign affairs for the Trump administration, with fires on multiple fronts, from Latin America, North Korea and the US trade relationship with China. Joining the podcast this week is Associate Professor in American Politics Brendon O'Connor, who has also co-written a new book titled 'Ideologies of American Foreign Policy'. He compares the current and previous administrations' approaches to foreign policy and discusses what might change if Democrats take back the White House in 2020.

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg found himself the subject of an elaborate hoax this week, attempting to tie him to false sexual assault allegations. Senior Lecturer in American Politics Dr David Smith joins the podcast to unpack the conspiracy and explain why "Mayor Pete" has had such a meteoric rise among the 2020 Democratic field.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report finally saw a public – though heavily redacted – release late last week. Bruce Wolpe, a congressional advisor to the Democratic Party during President Obama’s first term, returns to the podcast to discuss whether this is the end or just the beginning of investigations into President Trump's conduct, and what House Democrats and 2020 presidential candidates are likely to do next.

Will the 2020 race be lost or won on social media? And what is the future role of traditional forms of media in politics and elections? Claire McFarland was previously an assistant secretary for digital economy policy and strategy with the Australian government, and has worked in digital innovation for companies like Telstra and Fairfax Media, having started her career with Australia’s first internet service provider, Ozemail. She joins the podcast this week to detail the demands for tech leaders to be held accountable for what's hosted on their platforms and looks ahead to a post-Trump media climate.

Former advisor to US Secretary of State John Kerry, Dr Charles Edel, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, The Lessons of Tragedy: Statecraft and World Order (Yale University Press). Charles details what those lessons are and how the White House – or those in the race for it in 2020 – might apply them.

Former ALP National President and Australian Senator Stephen Loosley, AM joins the podcast and gives us his thoughts on Attorney-General William Barr's summary of the Mueller Report, rising Democratic stars Beto O'Rourke and Pete Buttigeig, and looks at the modern day political parallels with the 1962 film, The Manchurian Candidate.

Late night comedy programs have become a popular platform for candidates running for political office and for politicians looking to shape or reshape their image. But it wasn’t always this way – and what are the pitfalls of relying on comedians for our news and current affairs? American Studies lecturer Dr Rodney Taveira joins the podcast to discuss how these programs made the switch from light-hearted variety hours to the home of politics.

The proposed break-up of big tech and treatment of workers at Amazon dominated discussion among 2020 Democratic candidates this week. Freya Zemek joins the podcast to discuss Elizabeth Warren's latest salvo in the "techlash" and how big business is doing under President Trump.

What happens if the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election is released and no one believes it? Political scientist and polling expert Dr Shaun Ratcliff joins the podcast this week to discuss what his public opinion research suggests people believe on this and other likely 2020 issues, such as immigration and border control.

The historic second summit between the United States and North Korea has taken a back seat to explosive testimony from President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to Congress. Senior Lecturer in American Politics and one-half of ABC Radio Drive's Trump Tuesday, Dr David Smith, gives us his take on Cohen's performance, as well as the looming conclusion of the Mueller report.

Former Pentagon official and advisor to the Obama White House on North Korea Dr Van Jackson joins the podcast this week to preview the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He tells us how close we came to nuclear war in 2017 and also takes a look at where the Democrats stand on foreign policy and diplomacy in the lead up to 2020.

It’s been a rocky start to Iraq War veteran and Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's presidential campaign. This week on the podcast we look at what's gone wrong and discuss President Trump’s trans military ban and women at war. Our guest is Professor Megan MacKenzie, author of Beyond the Band of Brothers: The US Military and the Myth that Women Can't Fight and a member of the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney.

Professor Simon Jackman joins the podcast this week to discuss accusations of voter suppression in the United States, as well as his expert testimony in US court cases challenging so-called partisan gerrymandering. He also gives his verdict on President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address.

This week on the podcast, we look at some of the female Democrats in contention for 2020 and also examine the idea of "unlikeable women" in politics with Macquarie University's Gender Studies Program Director Dr Rebecca Sheehan. Plus, we unpack Hillary Clinton's reemergence and her advice for so-called "Bernie Bros".

We return in 2019 in the midst of an historic US government shutdown. Meanwhile, a steady stream of new Democratic candidates are putting up their hands for the 2020 race and the White House has been rocked by allegations in a BuzzFeed News report that the president directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress. Former Bloomberg BNA analyst and research associate with the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Jared Mondschein, joins the podcast to discuss the high stakes for Trump, the Democrats and the media.

What were the moments that defined US foreign policy, domestic politics and the unfolding Russia investigation this year? Former Democratic Party advisor and chief of staff to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Bruce Wolpe, joins the podcast to wrap 2018 and forecast the issues likely to impact the 2020 campaign.

In the inaugural episode of 2020Vision, Charles Edel and Gorana Grgic help unpack the results of the 2018 midterm elections, their impact on US foreign policy, the reactions around the world, and the implications for the 2020 US presidential election.