

Reformasi Dispatch
On The Level Media
Independent and lucid analysis of Indonesian politics, policymaking, justice, and economics featuring Kevin O’Rourke and Erin Cook. The podcasts incorporate exclusive interviews with experts and draws on content from the Reformasi Weekly reports, produced for subscribers since 2003.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 1, 2025 • 39min
Season 5 Episode 34
In this episode: the Golkar chair seeks criminal defamation charges for social-media users who distribute disagreeable memes; Prabowo proffers Gaza engagement, but with political pitfalls - as seen at Asean's summit attended by Trump; and Sjafrie seriously considers a purchase of yet more fighter jets, from China.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 11min
Acid Reign - Season 5 Episode 33 (with Krista Shennum)
Our pod guest Krista Shennum from Climate Rights International discussed CRI's extensive field research on nickel sector impacts on communities across a swathe of Eastern Indonesia -- from pollution such as acid rain, health adversities such as skin afflictions, disasters such as dam breaks and disputes over land rights and compensation. An interviewee asked, 'Does anyone care?', which is CRI's report title. Also in this episode: Erin & Kevin discuss the "Hari" referred to by two presidents, Trans7's pesantren debacle and expatriate directors in an SOE.Read Climate Rights International report here: https://cri.org/reports/does-anyone-care/It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Oct 12, 2025 • 51min
Season 5 Episode 32
This week: Prabowo and Widodo together again; signs of sensitivity on free lunches; the new finance minister makes a rocky start; and the Al-Khoziny disaster in Sidoarjo.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Sep 28, 2025 • 48min
Season 5 Episode 31
This week: Prabowo's address to the UN General Assembly and the signing of trade agreements (CEPAs) with both Canada and the EU. Prabowo's signature program, free school lunches, faces criticism with almost 6,000 children having suffered food poisoning. Almost 1,000 people remain in custody for the August demonstrations and riots. And radioactive Cesium-137 turned up in tons of exported shrimp.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Sep 15, 2025 • 49min
Season 5 Episode 30
In this episode: A new finance minister, a cabinet reshuffle, the Nation's Conscience Movement, Thaksin detained, Anti-elite movements from Kathmandu to Manila, deadly floods in Bali and Freeport workers trappedFor a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Sep 7, 2025 • 45min
Season 5 Episode 29 (with Ian Wilson)
Joining us to consider recent developments -- namely, unrest, economic frustrations and democratic hopes -- is Prof Ian Wilson, principal fellow of the Indo-Pacific Research Centre at Murdoch University.Read Ian Wilson's article here: https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/who-speaks-for-the-riot-youth-agency-and-the-contest-over-protest-narratives/ It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Sep 2, 2025 • 35min
Season 5 Episode 28: Update on Protest in Indonesia
'Let them eat kue!' Kevin and Erin update the escalation of protests over the weekend throughout Indonesia, surrounding the death of 21-year-old delivery-bike driver Affan Kurniawan, crushed by an armored police vehicle. The ensuing frenzy witnessed the looting of houses of several parliamentarians as well as that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (she was away). Who is the orchestrator? Who is the dastardly criminal mastermind? Is it "foreign actors"? (Morgan Freeman?) Spoiler alert it was the internet... For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Aug 31, 2025 • 42min
Season 5 Episode 27
This week, protests Monday set the scene for a chaotic week. Elsewhere, Immanuel Ebenezer's arrest marks the first cabinet alleged corruption case and a new addition to the Constitutional Court shores up government support on the bench. Please note this podcast was recorded Thursday afternoon Jakarta time and there will be more to come.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.infoRead Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/We apologize for the sending awrong buymeacoffeelink earlier. We have corrected the URL. It should be buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Aug 19, 2025 • 38min
Season 5 Episode 26
Prabowo celebrated Indonesia"s 80th anniversary of Independence at the Palace. Residents of Pati protested against their district chief, backed by a nationwide online campaign. And Setya Novanto, disgraced former Speaker of the House who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, won release.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.infoRead Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Aug 12, 2025 • 33min
Season 5 Episode 25
Better than expected GDP data shows resilience in the economy, but is not without controversy. Also: startling personnel changes in Gerindra and a state bank, and a plan for aiding Gazans.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!


