The trial of US Army private Bradley Manning – alleged to have leaked classified information to whistleblower website WikiLeaks – is underway.
EPA/Michael Reynolds
Even before his trial commenced, United States Army private Bradley Manning must have known that he would be spending a significant time in prison. Think decades rather than years.
Manning pleaded guilty…
A US flag lies in the wreckage of the Benghazi consulate, stormed on September 11 2012 in an attack that saw the US ambassador and three others killed.
EPA/Stringer
Are US Republicans set to attempt to impeach another Democratic president?
Utah representative Jason Chaffetz suggested US president Barack Obama could face impeachment over his administration’s response…
Partisan gridlock in US politics has led to the recent failure of Barack Obama’s gun reform agenda, which did not get through Congress last week despite public support.
EPA/Spencer Platt
For all its international power, the United States government seems increasingly powerless to make laws for the benefit of its own people. The recent failure to implement popular gun control measures in…
The US remains the most militarily powerful nation on Earth – but will budget cuts bring it back to the fold?
EPA/Zurab Kurtsikidze
The maelstrom surrounding budget cuts that has engulfed the United States over the last twelve months seems no nearer to reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
The U.S. Congressional House and Senate currently…
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at a press conference announcing major new gun control reforms.
EPA/Jim Lo Scalzo
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
The Founding Fathers of the American Constitution might…
President Obama pardons a turkey named Liberty in 2001 in a traditional presidential ceremony held every year.
EPA/Michael Reynolds
The Myanmar government hailed Barack Obama’s recent trip to Burma, the first US president to visit the former military regime, by pardoning 56 prisoners. On his return to the US, President Obama will pardon…
The next four years in office for Barack Obama (and VP Joe Biden) will define his presidency and historical standing.
EPA/Shawn Thew
Barack Obama’s re-election won’t generate the same exuberance as 2008. The lofty rhetoric of “Hope” and “Change” has been replaced by the much more sombre message of “Forward”.
And while four years ago…
President Barack Obama would be well advised to catch some sleep on the plane during his whirlwind tour.
EPA/Michael Reyonds
Politicians of all persuasions often claim they need little sleep to lead their nations. Thatcher, Hawke, Abbott, Rudd, Berlusconi and Clinton are all examples of this “on the job 24 hours per day” club…
President Obama’s sporting prowess has helped his popularity among the wider American electorate.
EPA/Kevin Dietsch
For many Americans, it seems, politics is the ultimate sport, the true national pastime.
Like athletes, political candidates are written about and widely seen as heated rivals – for popularity, power…
President Obama addresses the American Latino Heritage Forum in Washington last year.
EPA/Olivier Douliery
In the first of The Conversation’s video explainer series – produced in collaboration with SBS Online – Dr David Smith from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney discusses the importance…
Who will occupy the White House next? Our experts give their insight.
Matt Wade Photography
Welcome to the first of our weekly podcasts dissecting US politics in the run-up to the presidential election.
Each week we’ll be talking to Australia’s top US experts on the ins and outs of the Romney…
Mitt Romney introduces Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.
EPA/Jim Lo Scalzo
On Saturday, August 11, “before the press and just about everyone else” was notified, the Mitt Romney campaign used a mobile phone app to inform supporters that Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan would be…
Presumptice Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney managed to offend his British hosts on his recent visit.
EPA/Neil Munns
On its trip abroad, the Mitt Romney campaign would have done well to heed the advice US presidential candidates are given in a selecting a VP: “First, do no harm.” Upon arrival in the United Kingdom, however…
President Obama outlines his tax policy at the White House on Monday.
EPA
On Monday afternoon, President Obama delivered what sounded like a speech on tax policy. In reality, though, the speech dispensed more politics than policy – politics carefully crafted to secure Obama…
The US is growing in popularity down under … have we all got Obamamania?
AAP/Scott Barbour
When Barack Obama was under fire for his foreign policy inexperience in 2007, he told the New York Times that his unique biography could be a vital instrument in a new American foreign policy. “If you…
US Republicans are sick of urban ‘elites’ and want to take their public transport funds away.
Vittorio Sciosia
There is a high level of bipartisan support for public transport investment in Australian politics. Parties of all colours are willing to promise rail schemes and bus improvements (in marginal electorates…
A sign spray painted on snow indicates a polling station for Alaskan voters on Super Tuesday.
EPA/Michael Dineen
For Democrats, the Republican presidential primaries remain the gift that keeps on giving.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, once hoped to seal…
Voters elect delegates who pledge support to a particular candidate.
EPA/Michael Reynolds
Super Tuesday is billed as the most important day for any US presidential nomination contest, and this year it’s more fascinating than ever. Fewer states are voting than usual and the Republican party…
President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the White House in early March, 2012.
EPA/Martin H Simon
A key facet of America’s extended, depressing election campaigns is that every serious presidential candidate has to prove their fanatical, unswerving devotion to the Israeli government.
As part of this…
The level of political discourse is descending to new lows … but why?
Garrettc
Given the importance of science and technology to modern life, particularly in developed nations, why don’t we see more scientists in leading governmental positions?
This dearth is particularly stark…
Does the US suffer from its desire to go it alone in space?
NASA
In its newly released budget request to Congress, the Obama Administration is seeking to reduce NASA’s funding by US$59m to US$17.7 billion – a reduction of just 0.03%, not that you would know that from…
Mitt Romney has targeted voters in different market segments in his bid to win the Republican nomination.
EPA/Michael Nelson
One of the more interesting techniques emerging from the United States Republican Nomination Primary Contest has been the strategy being used in television advertising by some candidates, in particular…
Mitt Romney is struggling to gain traction with the base of the Republican party. Can the media be to blame?
AAP/Jim Lo Scalzo
Despite his solid performances in the early Republican primaries, Mitt Romney’s candidacy for the Republican nomination is still facing a crisis of legitimacy.
Social conservatives have questioned his…
Another election campaign, another out-of-this-world promise.
Erik S. Lesser/EPA
In Florida last week, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich asserted that, under his leadership, the US would establish a “permanent moon base” by 2020. What’s more, he claimed, “it will be American…
Rick Perry failed to distinguish himself among an uninspiring field of contenders.
EPA/Jim Lo Scalzo
I stated on The Conversation last August that Rick Perry would become the next President of the United States in 2013. Instead, the Texas governor dropped out of the race last week, unable to establish…
Can the Republican party get behind Mitt Romney despite the misgivings of the base?
AAP/Michael Reynolds
By rights, Mitt Romney should be on the ropes. In the years leading up to the Republican presidential primaries, he supported small-l liberal positions on anything from abortion and gun control to climate…
Mitt Romney’s team hopes that his rivals will turn on each other in the next few weeks.
AAP
In the aftermath of the New Hampshire Republican primary, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has gone a long way towards securing the nomination. To be sure, he faces continued challenges from an…
Senator for South Australia Cory Bernardi has attracted controversy with some of his right wing views.
www.corybernardi.com
Welcome to our In Conversation between Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi and Dr Timothy Lynch, lecturer in American politics at Melbourne University.
Since being appointed to the Senate in 2006, the Senator…
The Palestinian delegation to UNESCO await the outcome of the vote on membership.
AAP
The United States announced last Monday that it would refuse to pay its 2011 funding commitment to the United Nations' lead cultural and educational body following that organisation’s decision to admit…
Governor Chris Christie (far left) with President Obama at a 9/11 memorial service.
AAP
Of all the many health-related, stamina-centred, role-model unworthy criticisms of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joining the Republican 2012 hopefuls, the most perplexing are allegations of his lack…
Obama’s mishandling of the politics of stimulus and deficit may be costing him voter support.
President Barack Obama’s $US447 billion jobs plan appears to be struggling.
Republican resistance to some aspects of the rescue deal announced last week – particularly around government spending – was…
The Cronulla riots saw ugly attacks on people of “Middle Eastern appearance”.
AAP
It’s about that moment; if you’re old enough it’s the indelible memory of JFK being shot. As a teenager I was listening to the car radio when I heard.
For Gen X it’s 9/11, the midnight phonecalls, the…
Karl Rove was never far from President George W Bush’s side.
AFP/Stephen Jaffe
MEDIA & DEMOCRACY: Today, Anne Tiernan looks at how voters have become consumers of political marketing, as part of The Conversation’s week-long series on how the media influences the way our representatives…
China may appear strong now compared to the troubled US, but still lags behind in technology and per-capita wealth.
Flickr/futureatlas.com
Europe is on the decline. The US has its own problems. Meanwhile, China and India appear strong. But is it too soon pick the next global superpower?
In this Q+A, Professor Geoffrey Garrett, CEO of the…
Minnesota’s three-week shutdown saw basic government services stripped back.
Flickr/mngop
Minnesotans have breathed a sigh of relief after the state’s Republican-led legislature signed off on a budget deal negotiated with Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, ending a three-week state government…
