

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

Mar 16, 2024 • 50min
Indonesia's Vote Count: Applying Pressure Can Inflate PSI (in 'pounds per square inch'?)
Reformasi Dispatch takes a closer look at the vote-count process unfolding, with help from a foremost civil-society figure, Khoirunnisa ('Ninis') Nur Agustyati of Perludem. We discuss the technical drawbacks affecting the online 'SiRekap' display of the Election Commission (KPU) and whether commissioners acted judiciously in taking down the display on 5 March. Ninis explains the significance of C-Form tabulations from ballot stations and possible explanations for some to still remain missing. Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss the state of the formal censure proposal in parliament and the estimated seat breakdown for the next parliament and Jakarta assembly (DPRD).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!

Mar 9, 2024 • 43min
Knee-capped by SiRekap: Concerns Mounting about Party Counting (with Erin Cook)
Indonesia's election authorities took down the 'SiRekap' online display of the vote count -- just after an improbable leap in the count for PSI, the party of the president's younger son. Erin Cook of Dari Mulut ke Mulut steps in as co-host with Kevin to discuss the legislative‑election tallying, whether Jakarta's November gubernatorial contest will feature direct voting and to what extent parallels are discernible with politics in the Philippines. Plus: weighing in on Taylor Swift and getting Steven to unmute.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!

Feb 29, 2024 • 28min
Sartorial Litigants? Widodo Beyond 2024
A recent presidential fashion statement -- a bright yellow necktie -- triggered anticipation that he may harbor designs on a takeover of Golkar, the Soeharto-era ruling party that will likely remain second-largest in the next parliament. Insider sources cited by Tempo magazine corroborated this indication of this maneuvering via sartorial elegance. But a Golkar takeover next December would be no simple task, even for the powerful Joko Widodo -- and it might conflict with the interests of Prabowo Subianto. Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss Prabowo's Free Lunch program and its costs, along with a possible parliamentary process to censure the government for wayward handling of the election process.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!

Feb 23, 2024 • 55min
Helter-Smelter: The Crippling Cost of Regulatory Lassitude (with Katherine Hasan)
Nickel smelter air pollution, and the cost on the economy and public health, is the focus of substantive research in a new 100-page report from Crea and Celios. Crea analyst Katherine Hassan discusses the findings, methodology, and implications -- including the possibility of much of Eastern Indonesia eventually becoming a highly polluted and impoverished zone. At issue is whether regulatory enforcement will address options for cleaner nickel processing technology, smokestack scrubbing and deployment of renewable energy. Given the unmatched attributes of Indonesia's nickel resources and the imperative for transitioning to EV fleets worldwide, nickel‑industry externalities take on global significance. Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss how the new parliament may shake out and what a limited cabinet reshuffle signals about post-election politics.To read Celios x CREA's report on nickel downstreaming industry, go to https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/debunking-the-value-added-myth-in-nickel-downstream-industry/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!

Feb 18, 2024 • 53min
It's Widodo Wot Won It (with Seth Soderborg and Wahyu Dyatmika)
Pollster Seth Soderborg joins for our post election wrap up as Indonesians overwhelmingly cast ballots in the first round for Prabowo Subianto who syphoned support from Joko Widodo's fellow party member, Ganjar Pranowo. Now Ganjar's party, the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) must decide whether to join a governing coalition or reprise its role as parliamentary opposition. That's something its chair, Megawati Sukarnoputri may relish more than her cadres who may have developed a taste for power over the past decade under Widodo. Also Wahyu Dyatmika, CEO of Info Media Digital, the digital arm of Tempo Media Group joins after the break to talk about ongoing harassment of reporters and cyber attacks during the campaign, driving up the risks and costs to media companies which seek to hold the powerful to account.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!

Feb 13, 2024 • 27min
Indonesia: At a Crossroads No Longer
The Prabowo-Gibran ticket has succeeded in portraying the 14 February national election as, in effect, a referendum on Widodo-ism -- with themselves on the overwhelmingly popular side promising "continuity". But will it instead, unbeknownst to many, actually prove to be a referendum on democracy? Jeff and Kevin discuss new polling data and the impact (if any) of some livelier public discourse in the final days approaching balloting. We expect a comfortable first-round majority for Prabowo. Also: a look at the legislative elections, the election-day Quick Count methodology, and some consideration of post-election policymaking.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!

Feb 12, 2024 • 2min
A New Special Episode with Andreas Harsono on Buy Me A Coffee
If you enjoy Reformasi Dispatch, you might enjoy our special episode. In this special episode, we talk to Andreas Harsono, a veteran reporter and rights advocate writing for the NGO Human Rights Watch.Get the episode on Buy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/e/219468It 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!

Feb 9, 2024 • 1h 11min
Squarely in the Turnout Zone: 1st Round Majority May Hinge on Whose Supporters Show (with Dr Seth Soderberg)
Dr. Seth Soderberg, professional public-opinion research analyst, joins the pod to delve into the dynamics of the election in Indonesia, discussing the potential for a one-round win for Prabowo or a runoff in June. The hosts also examine cabinet resignation rumors and review the final presidential candidate debate. They explore the impact of TikTok on the election campaign and discuss the changing momentum in the campaign. The chapter ends with a discussion on the proposal to lower the electoral threshold and the release of quick counts on Election Day.

Feb 2, 2024 • 29min
Down the Straightaway: Weighing Whether to Weigh In
In this podcast, the hosts discuss the possible outcome of the upcoming election and the impact of rising rice prices. They also explore the behavior of Indonesians in elections and the threats to democracy. Additionally, they talk about views on constitutional term limits and the potential for incumbents to stay in power indefinitely.

Jan 27, 2024 • 1h 14min
Indonesia's Valentines Election: Cupid(ity) at Play? (with Hadar Gumay)
NetGrit founder Hadar Gumay explains the mechanics of the 14 February election process - from the voter list to the official count, and all the balloting procedures and monitoring systems in between. Given his experience, this is tantamount to having the workings of a car engine explained by Henry Ford. He cites the complexities, including Papua's communal noken voting, but notes the remarkable organizational successes of past elections. Nonetheless, the upcoming process is not without cause for concern. Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss Gibran Rakabuming's latest debate (a bit odd), a Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA) case, whether PDI-P is re-unifying and prospects for cabinet departures -- perhaps including the iconic finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati.To download Netgrit's Jaga Suara App on Google Playstore, click here: Jaga Suara 2024It 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!