No images? Click here
September 2020
Ambassador John Bolton talks to the USSC
Ambassador John Bolton is the second former Trump National Security Advisor to join a United States Studies Centre (USSC) webinar this year. This comes after releasing his damning take on his time with the Trump administration The Room Where it Happened. The discussion covered everything from the possibility of a surprise President Trump and Kim Jong Un meeting in October, the need for Australia to beef up its military, to why he will be lodging a “protest vote” this year. Watch the full discussion and Q&A here. To make sure you never miss an invite to USSC events with VIPs, make sure to sign up for notifications here.
ELECTION WATCH
Two months to the election
With the virtual Republican and Democratic national conventions completed, debate season is about to start. At present, three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate are scheduled. As discussed in the Vice-presidential sweepstakes webinar and in analysis by Bruce Wolpe and Kim Hoggard, in choosing Kamala Harris as his running mate, Joe Biden is looking for an active, electable and historic partner to try and win the White House.
Over the past month, the polls have tightened a bit, but Biden still has a projected lead in most swing states. USSC CEO Professor Simon Jackman and former Research Assistant and Data Visualisation Analyst Zoe Meers have taken a closer look at the 2016 polls to see what lessons can be learned in their upcoming brief The perils of pre-election polling. Critically, it considers why pollsters got it wrong and if these errors are fixed in 2020 or if they are set to repeat the same mistakes. Sign up HERE to receive a notification when the publication is live.
To get your US 2020 election fix, tune into our upcoming Debate Commentary and Election Watch events.
US Politics Web Series with special guest Mark Textor and host Zoe Daniel
Election Watch
The Perth USAsia Centre and United States Studies Centre host a monthly web series in which our CEOs review the latest in US politics with a focus on the upcoming US election and US-Indo-Pacific relations.
This month's guest is Mark Textor, Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director of C|T Group and the political strategist behind John Howard, Boris Johnson and Tony Abbott. Mr Textor will join USSC CEO Simon Jackman and Perth USAC CEO Gordon Flake for their insights on the top stories in US politics from an Australian perspective hosted by former ABC Washington Bureau Chief Zoe Daniel.
DATE & TIME
SYDNEY
Friday, 4 Sep, 1pm–2pm (AEST)
PERTH
Friday, 4 Sep, 11am-12pm (AWST)
COST
Free, but registration required.
Law, the courts and free and fair elections in the United States: what to expect in 2020
Ensuring that elections are free and fair is far from a settled matter in the United States, with courts frequently asked to settle disputes about virtually every element of election administration. In 2020, President Trump and his supporters contend that vote by mail is rife with fraud (in an election cycle where COVID will help drive demand for mail balloting to record levels) and that an election loss would constitute evidence of a rigged election. Trump’s opponents are casting the election and access to the polls as a struggle for voting rights and democracy itself. Interest groups allied with both sides of politics are launching or preparing for post-election litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
Which issues are being litigated, by whom, and where? How are these legal challenges being funded? What constitutional and legal arguments are being deployed? What likely role for the US Supreme Court, and what might be the likely outcome? And for the eventual winner, will their victory and governing authority be accepted as legitimate by the American people and the world?
To discuss these issues, please join us for a webinar event featuring Ruth Greenwood, Co-Director of the Voting Rights and Redistricting Program at the Campaign Legal Center in conversation with United States Studies Centre CEO Professor Simon Jackman.
DATE & TIME
SYDNEY
Thursday, 24 Sep 10am–11am (AEST)
WASHINGTON DC
Wednesday, 23 Sep 8pm-9pm (EDT)
COST
Free, but registration required.
CENTRE NEWS
China looms large for both Trump and Biden
As the US-China-Australia relationship continues to make headlines, the USSC released Biden vs Trump: An Australian guide to the issues, and China looms large for either administration. It looks at the policy and practical implications of everything from pandemic economic recovery to tech competition and the role for Australia in Washington DC.
USSC CEO Professor Simon Jackman discussed these insights on Channel 7's Weekend Sunrise and ABC's Radio National.
Australia risks being left behind without US innovation
Following a webinar with former Acting US Ambassador to Australia James Carouso, Google Australia Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager Alex Lynch and Queensland Innovation Lead and Deputy Director-General Dr Sarah Pearson, Senior Advisor Jared Mondschein launched The role of US innovation in securing Australia’s economic future.
Watch Mondschein discuss the report on ABC's The World and Ausbiz TV or read his commentary in AFR and The
Canberra Times.
Last day to register for Semester 2
Black Lives Matter, election chaos, global unrest: USSC’s semester two subjects will prepare you for what’s next in one of the world’s most influential and unpredictable countries.
Are you an undergraduate student who wants in on the action as the US presidential election unfolds or a postgraduate student hoping to upskill in a volatile job market? Make sure to get in quick, as enrolments for semester two close on 4 September 2020. Register now to have a front row seat for the US presidential election and access the only dedicated American Studies program in Australia.
Farewell Zoe Meers and Becky Love
The Centre is saying farewell to two staff members. Research Assistant and Data Visualisation Analyst Zoe Meers was the creator behind the COVID-19: Australia and United States by the numbers. Since launching in April, this data comparison proved invaluable, providing critical context to the pandemic at home and abroad. Database Administrator Becky Love led the transition to a new database for the Centre. Through the pandemic pivot to webinars and working remotely, having a well-functioning customer relationship management system helped the Centre coordinate our approach and improve our engagement. We wish them the best in the next stage of their career.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Webinar replay
The last month of USSC webinars has been saturated with unmissable topics and top calibre experts. If you missed an important event, check out the webinar replays through the USSC Live podcast and on YouTube. Here are some of the greatest hits from recent webinars:
- A conversation with former National Security Advisor John Bolton ft John Bolton, Stephen Smith, Stephen Conroy, Simon Jackman and Gordon Flake
- The trajectory of American politics, power and prestige ft Tom Friedman, Bruce Wolpe and Simon Jackman
- The role of US innovation in securing Australia's economic future ft James Carouso, Alex Lynch, Sarah Pearson, Jared Mondschein and John Lee
- The perils of pre-election polling ft Courtney Kennedy and Simon Jackman
- Will Democrats take the Senate and the House? ft Anna Greenberg and Simon Jackman
- The future of America's alliances ft Mira Rapp-Hooper, Charles Edel and John Lee
- US foreign policy, Iran and the United States after the 2020 election ft Wendy Sherman, Bruce Wolpe and Simon Jackman
- Tech wars: US-China technology competition and what it means for Australia ft William Greenwalt, Lesley Seebeck, Brendan Thomas-Noone and Ashley Townshend
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the USSC YouTube channel to get notifications as soon as new videos are uploaded.
ARE YOU GETTING "THE 45TH"?
"The 45th" is our weekly wrap of US politics and 2020 election-related news, analysis and events, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.
Sign up now
Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend
United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
