The Conversation Weekly

Paul Collins, a law and political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, discusses the intricate relationship between presidential power and the judiciary. He highlights Donald Trump's aggressive tactics against judges, including personal attacks that have politicized the courts. Collins contrasts Trump's approach with past presidents' respect for judicial independence and explores pivotal Supreme Court cases that could redefine executive authority. He also draws parallels between Trump's strategies and those of historical autocrats, signaling potential threats to democratic norms.

Natasha Lindstaedt, a Professor of government at the University of Essex, dives into the art of crisis-manufacturing by autocrats like Trump. She explains how leaders exploit crises to consolidate power, rally support, and distract from scandals. Lindstaedt illustrates the use of scapegoats and historical examples, revealing how figures like Duterte and Erdogan have adopted similar tactics. Explore how these narratives shape public perception and enable emergency measures that bolster authoritarian rule.

Emma Shortis, a historian and adjunct senior fellow at RMIT University, explores the significant yet unseen role of Stephen Miller as an architect of Donald Trump's power. She reveals how Miller's loyalty and communication skills helped shape hardline immigration policies. Shortis compares him to historical figures like Karl Rove and highlights his incendiary rhetoric. The conversation delves into the essential traits of unelected architects who enable autocrats, asking whether Trump could've consolidated power without Miller's influence.

Erika Frantz, an associate professor of political science at Michigan State University, dives into the mechanics of authoritarianism. She discusses the defining tactics of modern strongmen, including the use of populist narratives and media manipulation. Frantz examines how Trump's rise parallels global authoritarian trends and identifies key moments that transformed the GOP under his influence. She also speculates on the future of U.S. democracy, highlighting the fragile nature of political systems even in established democracies.

Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

In the latest escalation of tensions between the US and Venezuela, the US President Donald Trump ordered a "complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. His Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, called the move "warmongering threats", and accused the US of trying to steal its resources. In this episode we speak to Pablo Uchoa, a PhD candidate researching Venezuela's military, on how Venezuela has long been preparing for this moment, ever since a failed coup attempt on Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood. Mixing by Michelle Macklem and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.Mentioned in this episode:The Making of an AutocratSearch "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series: The Making of an Autocrat. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

Oecusse, a rugged, remote district of Timor-Leste in south-east Asia, is usually a pretty sleepy place. But in August, Oecusse was rocked by a large police raid on a suspected scam centre, later linked by a UN report to organised crime networks running scamming operations across south-east Asia. And then in early September, a Facebook post by one of Timor-Leste’s highest political officials made some explosive allegations about a murky criminal underworld trying to get a foothold in the country.In this episode, we speak to Michael Rose, an anthropologist and adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide who has lived and worked in Timor-Leste, about how Asia’s scamming gangs set their sights on Timor-Leste as their next frontier – and the movement to keep them out.This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood and Gemma Ware with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Mixing by Michelle Macklem and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.Cambodia is vowing to ‘rid’ the country of scam compounds. But we’ve seen several still operating in the openListen to episode 1 of Scam Factories '‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia'Scam Factories: read the series on The ConversationOrganised crime may be infiltrating Timor-Leste’s government. One minister is sounding the alarmMentioned in this episode:The Making of an AutocratSearch "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series: The Making of an Autocrat. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

Carolyn Holmes, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Tennessee, discusses the intriguing connections between white nationalist movements in South Africa and the United States. She reveals how Donald Trump's focus on South Africa's white Afrikaners influences US refugee policy, exploring historical roots dating back to a 1930s sociological study. Carolyn also examines the cyclical nature of racial narratives, the role of media in shaping perceptions of violence, and critiques the political implications of prioritizing Afrikaners in refugee applications.

Ian Barr, a leading virologist and Deputy Director at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, reveals the intricate process behind flu vaccine strain selection. He shares insights on how 40 scientists meet biannually to decide which strains to target, the role of hemispheric interactions in flu patterns, and how emerging variants complicate decisions. Barr also discusses the future of vaccines, including advancements in mRNA technology, and addresses the rise of vaccine hesitancy post-COVID.

In this insightful discussion, Laura Wilcox, a meteorologist from the University of Reading, reveals how China transformed its air quality from smog-filled to clean skies, particularly ahead of the 2008 Olympics. She explains the immediate policy actions taken, like vehicle regulation and coal reduction, leading to a significant drop in pollution levels. However, Laura also highlights a surprising twist: cleaner air means reduced cooling aerosols, potentially accelerating global warming. The talk explores the health benefits of cleaner air while addressing the broader climate implications.