
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny
Mark Kenny takes a weekly look at politics and public affairs with expert analysis and discussion from researchers at The Australian National University and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jul 15, 2025 • 46min
Pressure to act
Historian Frank Bongiorno joins Democracy Sausage talk about political independence, and the pressure to be agile and take action.Is Albanese’s John Curtin Oration pivot-point speech on the level of Curtin’s own ‘turn to America’ or something entirely tamer? How will history interpret AUKUS? And can we expect Labor to take a bolder approach to governance this time around? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Frank Bongiorno joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss the current political environment, and how you cannot stand still in response to uncertainty. Frank Bongiorno is a Professor at the ANU School of History. He is President of the Australian Historical Association and the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 8, 2025 • 42min
The pendulum swing
The numbers are in. Pollster Shaun Ratcliff joins Democracy Sausage to dissect the latest election data and what it means for the future of #auspol. What do the numbers tell us about when the shift to Labor started? What does the fall off in the primary vote tell us about the future of our politics? And what’s behind young voters moving away from major parties? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Shaun Ratcliff joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to go over what the latest election data tells us about the state of our democracy. Shuan Ratcliff is a political scientist, survey researcher and data scientist. He is the principal at Accent Research. He is also an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney’s US Studies Centre. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 1, 2025 • 43min
Bending the knee
US expert Emma Shortis joins Democracy Sausage to talk about the reshaping of the US-Australia relationship, misguided assumptions and finding Australia’s place in the world. Can Trump be treated as an aberration in US foreign policy or has he permanently reshaped the global order? Does fealty to Trump’s America make Australia safer or should we rejig our relationship? And what can we learn from our neighbours in the region and their approach to foreign policy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Emma Shortis joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss what the world could look like after America – and where Australia fits in. Emma Shortis is Senior Researcher in the International & Security Affairs Program at The Australia Institute. Her research focuses on the history and politics of the United States and its role in the world. She is the author of After America: Australia and the New World Order and Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s Fatal Alliance with the United States. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 2025 • 44min
The face of election night with Antony Green
The ABC’s Chief Election Analyst Emeritus Antony Green joins Democracy Sausage to discuss a career spent covering elections. Antony Green has covered more than 90 elections. How does this recent one compare to ones in the past? What does the ‘broad church’ of the Liberal party mean these days? And will Labor ever be vulnerable to an ‘orange’ independent vote? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Antony Green joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to talk elections past, present and future. Antony Green is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Chief Election Analyst Emeritus.Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 2025 • 33min
Permanent unpredictability with Jim Chalmers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers joins Mark Kenny to talk our changing economic environment, productivity and ‘progressive patriotism’. Amid the unpredictability of the current economic environment, how can Australia benefit from global change? What is the government planning to do to ensure productivity roundtables are actually productive? And how can we meet the challenge of decarbonising our economy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Jim Chalmers joins Professor Mark Kenny to talk about how to best position Australia’s economy for the future. Hon Dr Jim Chalmers is the Treasurer and the Member for Rankin. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 10, 2025 • 54min
The soul of the party
Join Democracy Sausage co-hosts to discuss the US, domestic fiscal debates and what to expect in the weeks ahead. What will the agenda be for the Albanese-Trump meeting at the G7, especially with the unfolding instability in the US? What does the conversation around the proposed changes to superannuation taxation say about our expectations for government? And how will Sussan Ley and Anthony Albanese change how their parties operate? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga catch up to discuss the US under Trump and issues closer to home. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 3, 2025 • 45min
On the road
Former Attorney-General George Brandis joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the Liberal Party’s “Jack Kerouac political experience” and wider political trends. Is the Liberal Party’s shift to the right a more recent trend or has it been a long time coming? Does the party still need to find itself? And is it finally time for gender quotas? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor George Brandis KC joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss rediscovering the Liberal Party. George Brandis KC is a former Attorney-General, the recent High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and a Professor in the Practice of National Security at the Australian National University (ANU). Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2025 • 56min
Class is in session
The hosts of Democracy Sausage are joined by political scientist Jill Sheppard and ANU students to gauge the current state of politics. Will the tensions between the Liberal and National parties be a shot in the foot or an opportunity to reshape the parties? What questions and issues linger for Australia’s young people after the federal election? And what will it take for a Liberal party to connect with young people? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, recorded in a political science classroom, Dr Jill Sheppard and Dr Marija Taflaga take Professor Mark Kenny back to school to discuss the changing face of Australian politics. A special thanks to the student panel for volunteering and contributing to this podcast. Jill Sheppard is a Senior Lecturer in the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. She is an investigator on several major survey studies of Australian public opinion and behaviour, including the Australian Election Study, World Values Survey, and Asian Barometer Survey. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2025 • 53min
Journey of rediscovery
Correspondent Jason Koutsoukis joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the latest power plays, election missteps and the lost heart of the Liberal party. How did the Liberal party misjudge the election? Now returned to power, can Labor deliver on its election promises? And is Sussan Ley up to the task of reshaping a Liberal party adrift? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist Jason Koutsoukis joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss stories from this new parliament. Jason Koutsoukis is a special correspondent for The Saturday Paper. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 2025 • 46min
Cabinet battles
Political scientist Dr Jill Sheppard and independent electoral analyst Ben Raue unpack the latest results on seats and preference flows, the cabinet battles in the party room and the two-party system. With some of the election dust settled, what does it tell us about the relevancy of two-party preferred polling? Can Albanese maintain party unity with a landslide victory, a huge backbench and a diversity of voices? And will new Liberal party leader, Sussan Ley, be able to keep her party room onside? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Jill Sheppard and Ben Raue talk to Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga about interesting results, cabinet battles and how to create unity without silencing diverse voices. Ben Raue is an independent electoral analyst and the founder of The Tally Room. Jill Sheppard is a Senior Lecturer in the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. She is an investigator on several major survey studies of Australian public opinion and behaviour, including the Australian Election Study, World Values Survey, and Asian Barometer Survey. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Australian Politics Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Mark Kenny is the Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.