Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Mar 03 2025 332 ep. 48 mins 1.9k
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny Podcast artwork

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.
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Monkey see, monkey don’t?

Mar 03 2025 54 mins  
Political scientist Shaun Ratcliff joins Democracy Sausage to discuss election polls, influential demographics, and whether foreign politics are at the forefront of voter's minds.How will Donald Trump's hostile meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy affect diplomatic ties between Australia and the United States? What are the key issues influencing Australian voters in the upcoming f

Keep calm, Keir-y on?

Feb 25 2025 44 mins  
We Are New Britain's Anna McShane joins Democracy Sausage to talk British politics, the return of President Trump, and the power of visible change in uniting public support.With the Australian federal election on the horizon, what can we learn from the leadership styles of politicians across the world?Should UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer take on a ‘Trumpist’ approach to wieldi

An unpredictable race?

Feb 10 2025 46 mins  
The Tally Room’s Ben Raue joins Democracy Sausage to talk by-election results, swing seats and what it all means for the federal election. What lessons we take from the most recent by-elections?  What do they tell us about long-term shifts in Australian politics?  And what are the patterns we should watch for ahead of the federal election? On this

Countering effective mislabelling

Feb 03 2025 44 mins  
Senator Larissa Waters joins Democracy Sausage to talk electoral reform, resisting the far right and the Greens’ ongoing negotiations.  What’s stopping donations data from being revealed in real-time? Do proposed donation reforms go far enough to strengthen Australian democracy? And is the left too fractured to rise to the challenge at the next election? On

Shrinking leaders and nations

Jan 28 2025 47 mins  
Cultural studies professor Graeme Turner joins Mark and Marija to compare election campaign expectations, media concerns, and ask whether Donald Trump’s return could affect Australian democracy. Can we expect Peter Dutton to adopt a Trump-style for the upcoming election?  Could such a campaign ever gain traction in Australia?  And if it did, would t

Hungry for hope in the new year

Dec 12 2024 54 mins  
Historian Frank Bongiorno and political scientist Marija Taflaga join Democracy Sausage to look back on 2024 and ahead to upcoming election year.  After a turbulent year for democracy, does incumbency offer an advantage anymore? What does this say about the Albanese government’s chances next year? And what is Peter Dutton’s vision for Australia (and what are his

Punishing kids for adult failures

Dec 04 2024 40 mins  
Teen journalist Leonardo Puglisi and youth justice expert Faith Gordon join Democracy Sausage to discuss social media bans. How can we manage the very real harms of social media – for young people and society? Is the youth social media ban the first step towards safer social media or purely performative? And can large tech and social media companies be regulated

Perception and judgement

Nov 26 2024 44 mins  
Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss the final sitting week of 2024, what drives political deal making and how politicians interpret public opinion.  With the last sitting week upon us, how long until an election is on the horizon? What do the politics behind the Greens’ shift to back Labor’s housing policy say about the current political climate? And what do

Big money, big influence, big parties

Nov 19 2024 53 mins  
Independent MPs Kate Chaney and Zali Steggall join Democracy Sausage to talk campaign finance reform and how it impacts your choice at the ballot box. Will Labor’s election finance reform bill strengthen democracy or give major parties an unfair head start? What do the details of the bill look like? And what does this tell us about major parties and their willingne

Throwing in the Trump wild card

Nov 12 2024 55 mins  
Marija Taflaga and Elise Stephenson return to Democracy Sausage to discuss the ripple effects of a new Trump era. What influenced Trump’s decisive win in the US presidential election? Does this signal another global shift toward populist, strongman leaders? And what will this mean for the upcoming election in Australia?  On this episode of Democracy Sausa