

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

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!

Aug 4, 2025 • 43min
Season 5 Episode 24
This week - the patronage politics of pardon power plays; a test to freedom of expression from cartoon pirates; funding cooperatives from the accumulated deficit-financing surplus (Sal); and a listener's question on good sources for analysis of the ASEAN-wide political economy.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!

Jul 29, 2025 • 45min
Season 5 Episode 23
Tensions erupted along the Thai-Cambodia border as five days of skirmishing caused 32 deaths. Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia sat down with the Thai and Cambodian PMs; ASEAN centrality shone as he brokered a ceasefire. The next day he visited Prabowo and addressed the ASEAN Secretariat.Prabowo gives an hour-long speech at PSI, talking about elephants; the new PSI logo, his commitment to elephant conservation, all while omitting the elephant in the room: Trump's lopsided tariff negotiation with Indonesia.Also, Hasto Kristianto, former Secretary General of PDI-P was found guilty of corruption in Harun Masiku's case and sentenced to four and a half years.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!

Jul 20, 2025 • 41min
Season 5 Episode 22
Prabowo went to Brussels to meet with Ursula Von der Leyen to finalize the long awaited Indonesia-EU CEPA. Trump announced 19% tariff announcement on Truth Social. Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4 and a half years, a loud political statement on what dissent will cost and a warning for other Ministers not to cross Prabowo.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!

Jul 13, 2025 • 34min
Season 5 Episode 21
This week: we discuss a Java-Bali ferry disaster, Gibran's new assignment, Prabowo's Brics Summit, Trump's revised tariff threat and, not least - aura farming.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!

Jul 6, 2025 • 36min
Season 5 Episode 20
Paetongtarn is out, an Indonesian influencer is arrested and sentenced to 7 years in Myanmar's Insein prison, a new Constitutional Court decision on election scheduling is causing a stir.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!

Jun 29, 2025 • 34min
Season 5 Episode 19 (With Dr. Rien Dam)
In this interview with Dr. Rien Dam, an expert on water and land management, Kevin talks about the long-discussed plan of North Jakarta sea wall program.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!