Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Learning to listen

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Julian Leeser and Bridget Archer join us on this episode to discuss the media’s performance during the Voice referendum and the “dishonourable” ...

Saying yes to change with Pat Dodson

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, Senator Pat Dodson joins us to talk about the Voice, why it’s important for improving outcomes for First Nations people and the con...

Daniel Andrews, the master of lounge room politics

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the resignation of Daniel Andrews and boundaries for bureaucrats on this episode of Democracy Sausage. How did former Victorian leader...

The “horrible irony” of the Voice campaign

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and academic Julianne Schultz joins Mark and Marija to discuss the media coverage of the Voice campaign and the importance of understanding Aus...

Is Putin losing his grip on power?

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Russia expert Derek Hutcheson joins us to discuss the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political longevity and whether his power is fi...

Hangovers and hard landings

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers Nicholas Biddle and Intifar Chowdhury join us to discuss the impact of the inflation crisis on Australians’ wellbeing and their attitude...

The echidna strategy with Sam Roggeveen

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute joins us on this episode of Democracy Sausage to discuss Australia’s search for power and peace in the Indo-Pa...

The Voice with Megan Davis and George Williams

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Megan Davis and George Williams join Mark Kenny live on campus to talk about Australia’s constitution and their new book, Everything you need to kno...

Saying the quiet part out loud

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Frank Bongiorno and Liz Allen join us to discuss the political challenges facing the Labor Party in the wake of its national conference and the upcomi...

Labor’s AUKUS moonshot with Bob Carr

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former foreign minister Bob Carr joins Mark Kenny to talk about AUKUS, Julian Assange and the Australian government’s language around the Israeli-Pa...

Cartel country

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Independent Member of Parliament Kate Chaney joins us to discuss how to make Australian politics more transparent and ways to level the playing field ...

Mugged by reality: climate denial in retreat

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Climatologist Janette Lindesay joins the show to discuss whether climate denial is finally on the decline and the science behind our increasingly seve...

Dutton’s cul-de-sac

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Global referendums expert Matt Qvortrup joins us to bust some referendum myths ahead of this year’s Voice vote and to discuss the political implicat...

A non-aligned movement

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Leigh joins Mark and Marija to discuss breaking up the Labor Party’s factional ‘duopoly’ on this episode of Democracy Sausage.Are Labor’...

Getting the message

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former Attorney-General George Brandis joins us to discuss the geographic challenges facing the Liberal Party, referendum politics, and Anthony Albane...

Trump’s Australia with Bruce Wolpe

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce Wolpe joins us to discuss Donald Trump’s impact both in the United States and Australia, and what it would mean if he was re-elected in 2024.H...

Smashing the status quo

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

David Speers and Senator Barbara Pocock join us at the barbecue to discuss the PwC scandal, Julia Gillard’s political legacy and the Labor-Greens re...

Breaking the housing deadlock with Allegra Spender

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender discusses how a citizens’ assembly might help parliament break through its housing policy impasse.C...

Out of the shadows

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the Trump indictment and Australia’s intelligence services with John Blaxland and Clare Birgin on this episode of Democracy Sausage.Why i...

Rorting the system

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss dodgy grants, a hollowed-out public service and what the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation ruling means for journalis...

Does Australia need a new COVID-19 strategy?

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Brendan Crabb and Chris Wallace join us to discuss whether Australian governments have dropped the ball on COVID...

The Queen is dead with Stan Grant

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this special episode of Democracy Sausage, Stan Grant discusses the importance of speaking truth with love, his decision to step away from media an...

Can Labor be a long-form government?

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Peter van Onselen joins our discussion on the first year of the Albanese government on the 250th episode of Democracy Sausage.How does the first year ...

Running to stand still

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Demographer Liz Allen and social policy expert Ben Phillips join us to discuss the budget's impact on struggling Australians and the politics of the p...

The politics of a promise

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Miranda Stewart and Peter Martin join Mark Kenny to fire up the barbecue for a sizzling post-budget Democracy Sausage special.The budget may be back i...

Is Labor’s long honeymoon over?

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Historian Frank Bongiorno joins the show to discuss coronations, consecrations and policy cremations.Poised to deliver its second budget in under a ye...

A budget under fire

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chief Executive Officer of the Grattan Institute Danielle Wood joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the pressures facing the Australian economy and to p...

The Liberal Party’s greatest challenge with Trent Zimmerman

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former Member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman joins the show to discuss the current direction of the Liberal Party, the demographic challenges the pa...

What now for the Liberal Party?

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Kos Samaras joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss how the Australian electorate is changing and the Lib...

Nuclear subs and the Aston fallout with Rex Patrick

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former Senator Rex Patrick joins Democracy Sausage this week to discuss the Australian government’s “mind-blowingly absurd” AUKUS decision-makin...

Crossbench compromise and ending the climate wars

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Democracy Sausage, we discuss negotiations between the government and the Greens over the ‘safeguard mechanism’ and the findings of t...

AUKUS and the US alliance with Hugh White

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Strategic studies expert Hugh White argues that the AUKUS submarines arrangement is a deeply flawed deal that ties Australia to the United States in t...

Robodebt and Australia’s ‘rotten’ public service

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton joins the show to discuss what the Robodebt royal commission hearings uncovered and the dire state ...

One rule for some

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Historian Frank Bongiorno joins us to discuss superannuation reforms, Robodebt and the state of policy debate in Australian politics on this episode o...

Democracy under attack (in 280 characters or less)

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Social media expert Jennifer Stromer-Galley joins us to discuss social media, echo chambers and the erosion of democratic institutions on this episode...

As long as it takes

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

International relations scholar Charlie Miller joins the show to discuss Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine and the one-year anniversary of Russia’s inv...

The powers that be

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Hamish Macdonald joins Mark Kenny to get under the skin of some of the world’s most prominent political leaders.How did Xi Jinping and Vl...

What goes up…

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sophia Gaston and Mark Kenny discuss balloons in the United States, tanks in Ukraine, and railways in the United Kingdom on this episode of Democracy ...

Can Australia get to ‘yes’?

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, former Chair of the Australian Republican Movement Greg Barns joins Mark Kenny to discuss the Voice referendum a...

Australia’s big chance with Jim Chalmers

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Treasurer of Australia Jim Chalmers joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss the future of Australia’s economy and society on the first episod...

The third Annual Democracy Sausage Awards

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Roll out the red carpet and prepare to get fancy, it’s that time of year again - we present the third edition of the very serious and highly revered...

Severed ties and succession plans

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the penultimate episode of Democracy Sausage for 2022, Benjamin Jones joins us to discuss the future of the republican movement, before Ian McAllis...

Putting down the megaphone

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, author and head of The Australia Institute’s international and security affairs program Allan Behm joins Mark ...

Victoria votes after a ‘nasty’ campaign

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With just days remaining before Victorians head to the polls in the first state election since the pandemic, Andrea Carson and Phoebe Hayman from Melb...

Trump’s midterm misfires

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Jennifer Hunt joins Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny to discuss the Republican ‘red wave’ that wasn’t in the ...

Dreamers and schemers with Frank Bongiorno

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, historian and pod regular Frank Bongiorno joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to talk about Australia’s politi...

Britain's bad decade?

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, regular UK-based guests Elizabeth Ames and Sophia Gaston join Mark Kenny to discuss the British government’s l...

Windfalls, storm clouds, and the ‘r' word

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, The Conversation’s Peter Martin and The Australian National University’s Jenny Gordon join Mark Kenny to examine the ne...

In for the long haul?

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Bill Browne from The Australia Institute joins political scientist Marija Taflaga and host Mark Kenny to discuss...

The big teal with Simon Holmes à Court

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Climate 200 Convenor Simon Holmes à Court joins Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny on this Democracy Sausage to discuss the success of independent candida...

Will Russia ‘escalate to de-escalate’?

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

International relations expert Charles Miller joins Mark Kenny on this Democracy Sausage to discuss the Ukrainian forces’ ability to strike back aga...

Humanity’s moment with Joëlle Gergis

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, climate scientist and lead author of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessme...

Orders of precedence

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, journalist David Speers, political scientist Marija Taflaga, and host Mark Kenny discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II ...

Fair game with Andrew Leigh

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Democracy Sausage, parliamentarian Andrew Leigh laces up the boots to give 110 per cent alongside Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga, tackling...

Crikey! Is Murdoch’s defamation case an own goal?

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Defamation expert and President of the Australian Bar Association Matt Collins joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga on this episode of Democracy Sausag...

The messiah complex

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Gilbert, Chief News Anchor at Sky News Australia, joins The Australian National University’s Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny to discuss former ...

The net good of the net

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shirley Leitch, Paul Pickering and Katrina Grant from The Australian National University join Mark Kenny to discuss how to make social media a safe an...

Ukraine's journey from cold war flashpoint to crowdfunded war

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Charles Miller and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to review the past six months of the war in Ukraine and the ro...

The dismal science of economic management

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Peter Martin joins Mark Kenny to unpack the latest economic update to the nation, and challenges ahead for the A...

Back in the bubble

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this parliamentary sitting day after Australia’s “earthquake election”, Frank Bongiorno, Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny discuss some of the ch...

Multiculturalism in Australian politics

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Host Mark Kenny discusses multiculturalism in the Australian political system with Sukhmani Khorana, Fan Yang, and Marija Taflaga on this episode of D...

Bye bye, Boris

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Elizabeth Ames and Sophia Gaston join Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to unpack the Conservative Party’s leaders...

Judging America’s democratic decline

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Jennifer Hunt joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss recent events in the United States, including the S...

The voters’ verdict

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Nicholas Biddle and Intifar Chowdhury join Mark Kenny to discuss what was important to Australian voters at the ...

The digital age of political advertising

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Ed Coper joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss how the teals’ disrupted the traditional media and pol...

Sub failures and Australia's gas crisis with Rex Patrick

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, independent Senator Rex Patrick joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss Australia’s “total policy fai...

The independents

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, our panel of political scientists - Carolyn Hendriks, Shirley Leitch and Marija Taflaga - join Mark Kenny to discuss the unprecedente...

A new political climate?

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, acclaimed journalists Karen Middleton and Malcolm Farr join Mark Kenny to pick apart the Australian federal elec...

The final countdown

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist Kieran Gilbert, author Judith Brett, and political scientist Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny fire up t...

The state of the debate

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Frank Bongiorno, Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny fire up the barbecue for the sizzling penultimate episode before ...

LIVE SHOW | Election policy peril

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this live Democracy Sausage and Policy Forum Pod crossover episode, Nicholas Biddle joins Sharon Bessell, Arnagretta Hunter and Mark Kenny to talk ...

Australia’s crunch point

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With political and economic storm clouds brewing across the globe, Mark Kenny, Marija Taflaga, and University of New South Wales economist Richard Hol...

LIVE SHOW | Federal election special

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the 200th episode of Democracy Sausage, recorded live at The Australian National University, youth advocate Yasmin Poole, journalist Ross Solly, an...

The federal election and Ukraine’s resistance

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, the Australian Electoral Commission’s Evan Ekin-Smyth joins us to talk about the incredible logistical effort ...

On your marks…

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, historian Chris Wallace and political scientist Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to discuss the imminent federal e...

Factional fights and budget booby traps

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Kenny takes a look at the federal budget and pre-election politics with political scientists Marija Taflaga and Jill Sheppard and economist Leono...

Will the government get a budget bounce?

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny previews the federal budget with Business and Economy Editor of The Conversation Peter Martin and Mar...

No enemies, no friends with Allan Behm

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Allan Behm - former public servant and advisor to Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong - joins Mark Ke...

When trust collapses

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Tony Ward and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to talk about perceptions of corruption and the importance of trust...

Russia and the invasion of Ukraine

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, former Russia correspondent Monica Attard and Dean of ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Helen Sullivan join Ma...

The Ukraine crisis and Britain’s #PartyGate

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group Sophia Gaston joins Mark Kenny in the studio to discuss the investi...

Morrison’s pre-election pitch

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the first episode of Democracy Sausage of 2022, Marija Taflaga and Frank Bongiorno join Mark Kenny at the barbecue hotplate to discuss the Omicron ...

The second (and possibly last) Annual Democracy Sausage Awards

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the curtain comes down on Democracy Sausage for another year, Frank Bongiorno, Chris Wallace, Marija Taflaga and Mark Kenny look back at the best a...

Lying with a smile

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, London-based pod regular Elizabeth Ames joins Mark Kenny to discuss the United Kingdom's ‘sleaze crisis’, th...

On the money

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, political scientists Ian McAllister, Anne Tiernan and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to talk about political integrity and ...

Lies, damned lies, and election campaigns

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist Bernard Keane and political scientists Judith Brett and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to discuss tru...

Getting a go

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss the week that was in federal politics, before Glyn Davis and Liz Allen joi...

With friends like these

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group and COP26 attendee Sophia Gaston joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflag...

The game with Sean Kelly

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, columnist and former political advisor Sean Kelly joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss Scott Morrison, political ...

Kevin Rudd on climate, AUKUS and reconciliation

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd joins Mark Kenny on this week’s episode of Democracy Sausage to discuss the country’s climate policy ahead of COP...

Money talks

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny speaks with Craig Reucassel - formerly of The Chaser and director of the new two-part ABC film Big De...

Holding government to account

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, journalist David Crowe and political accountability expert Yee-Fui Ng join Mark Kenny to discuss how a federal integrity co...

Into the rip with Damien Cave

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Australia bureau chief for The New York Times Damien Cave joins us to discuss Australia’s attitude to risk, th...

What Australia thinks

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, The Australian National University’s Matthew Gray joins Mark Kenny to discuss the impact of the pandemic on Au...

In deep water

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Frank Bongiorno and Chris Wallace join us to discuss ministerial standards and the new Australia-United States-U...

The accidental prime minister with Annika Smethurst

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist and author Annika Smethurst joins Mark Kenny to discuss political accountability and her new biograph...

After Afghanistan

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist Karen Middleton and foreign policy specialist Gorana Grgić join Mark Kenny to discuss the 20-year wa...

Pandemic planning and political plasticity

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Insiders host David Speers and regular podleague Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to talk about the federal govern...

The justice so deserved

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this Democracy Sausage, guest host Virginia Marshall has a yarn with Yawuru man Peter Yu, who reflects on his 40 years in Indigenous development an...

Belonging to Country

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, guest host Virginia Marshall takes over the tongs, fires up the barbie, and speaks to community pastor and advoc...