When Democrats lost the 2024 election, questions immediately swirled around President Biden and his decision to run again. Just as a new book critical of Biden was about to launch, a spokesperson for the former president announced he had just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

What role did Biden’s decision to first run and then withdraw from the 2024 presidential race play in the Democrats’ sweeping losses? What new insights are revealed in the new book? How does Biden’s cancer diagnosis shape the narrative on these issues and Biden’s legacy?

To discuss these issues, USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe and Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy David Smith joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the USSC Briefing Room Podcast.

Recommended reading:

By the numbers | Prostate cancer and Biden's "Cancer Moonshot"

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

In December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and had military troops surround the National Assembly before reversing that decision following an immediate backlash and widespread protests. On 4 April 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court announced its verdict to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon, ending 18 weeks of political uncertainty in Seoul. With President Yoon removed from office, South Korea is gearing up for a snap election.

What are the ramifications of the impeachment verdict? What might this mean for the future of Korea’s engagement in the region? What is at stake in the upcoming Korean presidential election?

To discuss these questions, USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben and Research Associate Kester Abbott joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the USSC Briefing Room Podcast. Tom coordinated a Track 1.5 workshop in Canberra with Korean and Australian representatives and Kester was on the subsequent delegation in Korea when martial law was declared.

Recommended reading:

Australia–Republic of Korea Dialogue on Security Cooperation outcomes report

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

When US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz set up a Signal group chat to coordinate principals for discussions on a US strike on the Houthis in Yemen, he had no idea that the Editor in Chief for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was part of the chat and would later share the content of their group chat with the world.

Former White House National Security Council Senior Director for Asia and USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and USSC Lecturer in American Studies Dr Kathryn Robison joined the podcast to give a breakdown of Signalgate, what it tells us about technology and intelligence sharing and what it means for intelligence relationships moving forward.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

A critical component and potential vulnerability of AUKUS is Australia’s manufacturing capability. And even beyond AUKUS, the 2023 Defence Strategic Review cited the need for a whole-of-nation uplift in manufacturing and investment to fulfil Australia’s defence objectives.

What is the state of play for defence manufacturing and investment in Australia? What changes are needed? How could the change in government in the United States impact Australia’s approach to defence production?

International Fellow with Silicon Valley Defense Group Bronte Munro and USSC Non-Resident Fellow Sophie Mayo joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the USSC Briefing Room to discuss these questions and Munro’s recent brief: Reviving industry: How the Australian Government can be a better customer to the manufacturing sector.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Since President Trump took office for a second time on 20 January 2025, he has driven an unprecedented level of sweeping governmental change. One of the first and most drastic changes was to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration has cancelled the majority USAID contracts, eliminated 1,600 positions and almost the entire workforce is on administrative leave.

What is USAID and why was it a target for major cuts by Trump? Are these changes permissible within the powers of the Executive branch? What impacts could this have globally?

USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Lester Munson joins Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these questions. Munson formerly served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID.

You may also like Leter Munson’s recent write-up The new game in aid: Deal power.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Dr Mara Karlin joined us on the USSC Briefing Rood podcast to talk about her book The Inheritance: America’s Military After Two Decades of War.

What impact did the extended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have on the US military? What lessons have been learned since this time? And how prepared is the US now for future wars?

Dr Karlin discussed these questions and the conclusions she reached in her book with Mari Koeck, USSC Director of Engagement and Impact.

Dr Karlin is a Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She has served in national security roles for six US Secretaries of Defense, and most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities.

You may also want to watch Dr Karlin at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024:

• How do we approach the security challenges of 2025?
• What we need to know about the new Trump administration

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Three years ago, Russian troops invaded Ukraine with air strikes and a ground invasion from the North towards Kyiv, the South from Crimea and the East from the Donbas. Many expected Ukraine to have to surrender almost immediately and give up significant territory to Russia. However, global allies quickly united to support Ukraine through providing weapons and constraining Russia through severe sanctions. The war has lingered on and is the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

Now, President Trump is pushing for talks to end the war, but the focus has primarily been on improving the relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What might peace look like in a negotiated treaty? Who benefits most from this outcome? What message does this send to countries around the world?

Dr Gorana Grgic, Senior Lecturer in US politics and Foreign Policy and Senior Researcher with the Swiss and Euro-Atlantic Security team at the ETH Zürich’s Center for Security Studies discussed these questions with Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck as we mark three years of the war in Ukraine.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Around the time of President Trump’s first indictment, USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe released his latest book, Trump’s Australia: How Trumpism changed Australia and the shocking consequences for us of a second term. Now, less than two years later, President Trump was elected again, this time as a convicted felon. Bruce has just released an updated version of his book following the election, What Trump’s Second Term Means for Australia.

What changes will we see in the United States during a second Trump term? How will his emphasis on protectionism, nativism and isolationism impact Australia? What issues will most greatly impact US allies and partners around the world?

Bruce sat down with USSC Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck to discuss these questions and his updated book as we look ahead at the next four years.

If you enjoyed this discussion, you may also want to watch the recording of Bruce at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024:

• What you need to know about the new US Congress

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat