Oligarchy or democracy?

The Trump administration is orchestrating a colossal transfer of wealth and power to the very rich.
On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti, economic policy specialist and former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss what the second Trump administration is doing to the American economy.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 8 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording.
Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store.
Guest: Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Collaborative // @ENPancotti
Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis
Show notes:
Trump’s tariffs won’t wreck Australia’s economy. But America’s could be cooked. Dollars & Sense (April 2025)
New Polling: Republican Plan to Gut Vital Programs, Shower Ultra-Wealthy With Tax Breaks is Unpopular With Voters, Groundwork Collaborative (February 2025)
Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants, Follow the Money (October 2024)
Power gouge: how AGL and Origin are milking monster profits from battling families, the Australia Institute (December 2024)
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Theme music: 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.
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Trumpocalypse Now | Between the Lines
The Wrap with Amy Remeikis If seeing the new world order sitting in the front row of Donald Trump’s inauguration didn’t send a chill down your spine then there may not be a lot of point reading beyond this line. Much has been said about the oligarchy threatening America’s democracy. But this is not an
What Assange means for the AUS/US relationship – Dr Emma Shortis on ABC News | Video
“The US-Australia alliance is consistently described as being based on shared democratic values.”
Victim-in-chief
The second Trump era has begun.