Menu

Search

Emma Shortis

Emma Shortis

Research Fellow, RMIT University
I’m a historian and writer focused on the history and politics of the United States. I use my expertise in history to interpret and explain what is happening in America today, and what it means for Australia, in a compassionate and accessible way. In a conversation dominated by the same voices, I offer a fresh perspective on the United States grounded in moral questions about how we might imagine a post-American future.

My first book, Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s Fatal Alliance with the United States, was published by Hardie Grant in August 2021. I also co-host RMIT’s popular history podcast, Barely Gettin’ By, with my friend Dr Chloe Ward.

I’m a regular guest on ABC radio and television and programs like Triple RRR’s Uncommon Sense. I’ve appeared on ABC’s The Drum, Channel 9’s Today Show, and ABC podcasts like Russia, If You’re Listening and The Signal. I write regularly for popular outlets including ABC News Online and the Sydney Morning Herald. In 2020, I was named RMIT’s Media Commentator of the year.

I’m currently a Research Fellow at RMIT. Before that, I spent a year in the United States as the Fox-Zucker International Fellow at Yale University, where I finished writing my PhD in History. My academic research focuses on the history of global climate policy and global environmental governance, and the role of the United States in the world.

In a largely uneventful and inconsequential US vice presidential debate, no one can claim victory

Oct 03, 2024 00:04 am UTC| Politics

Just like vice presidents themselves, in US politics, debates dont really matter until they do. The most recent debate (and likely the last of the 2024 election cycle) between aspiring vice presidents Senator JD Vance and...

Are you ready for it? What a Taylor Swift endorsement means for Kamala Harris

Sep 16, 2024 06:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

As the US Presidential debate wrapped up on Wednesday, commentators and journalists regrouped and drew breath. But then, enter Taylor Swift. The pop superstar posted her endorsement of the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz...

Is America ready to elect a Black woman president?

Sep 09, 2024 08:16 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Its the big question that has loomed over Kamala Harris presidential campaign from the start: is the United States ready for a Black woman president? I get asked this almost every time I speak about American politics....

Global Geopolitics Series

How will US foreign policy affect Joe Biden’s chances of re-election in November?

Apr 22, 2024 03:28 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

When big questions about American foreign policy collide with an election, its rarely good news for a sitting president. Like many leaders before him, US President Joe Biden has had some of these questions thrust on...

US Election Series

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Apr 01, 2024 03:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

Some truths are self-evident: Joe Biden is too old. But who could possibly replace him?

Feb 21, 2024 10:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

It is possible, in politics as in life, for several things to be true at once. It is true that Donald Trump and his plans for a second presidential administration represent an existential threat to American...

US under Trump Series

Donald Trump faces half a billion dollars of debt and several court cases. But that may not stop him from becoming president again

Feb 20, 2024 11:13 am UTC| Politics

The verdicts keep coming. On Friday US time, the three-month hearing focused on Donald Trumps business dealings in New York came to an end. Trump was ordered to pay back more than $US350 million (A$537 million), plus...

1 2 

Economy

S&P 500 Positioning Hits Three-Year High: Market Trends and Risks

SP 500 Positioning at Three-Year High: Market Risks and Global Trends Positioning in the SP 500 has reached a three-year high, according to Citi strategists. This extended positioning contrasts with other global...

U.S. Stock Futures Fall as Corporate Earnings and Fed Rate Cuts Dominate Market Focus

U.S. Stock Futures Decline Ahead of Corporate Earnings Stock futures in the U.S. edged lower on Tuesday as investors prepared for a wave of quarterly earnings reports. As of 03:30 ET (07:30 GMT), Dow futures dropped 82...

Randstad Reports Stronger-Than-Expected Quarterly Profits Amid Economic Challenges

Randstads Quarterly Performance Exceeds Expectations Randstad, the worlds largest employment agency, announced its quarterly profits on Tuesday, reporting figures slightly above analysts expectations. Despite a...

Boeing's Shares Rise Amid Strike Resolution Hopes

Boeings Share Price Surge Boeing shares rose 3% on Monday, fueled by optimism surrounding a potential resolution to an ongoing strike affecting 33,000 workers. The vote on a new labor contract is scheduled for...

Gold Prices Near Record High Amid Political Uncertainties

Gold Prices Surge Amid U.S. Election Uncertainty Gold prices increased on Tuesday, hovering near a record high reached the previous day due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding the U.S. election and escalating tensions...

Politics

Laid-Off Auto Worker Blasts Kamala Harris' EV Mandate: ‘I'm Voting Trump for the First Time!’ in Michigan Shock

An auto worker in Macomb County, Michigan, recently laid off by Stellantis, is speaking out, directly blaming Vice President Kamala Harris electric vehicle (EV) mandate for his job loss. The worker, who is one of 1,100...

Nate Silver Warns ‘It Feels Like 2016 Again!’ as Donald Trump Steals the Spotlight with Media Stunts in Final Stretch

With just weeks remaining before the 2024 presidential election, prominent statistician and political analyst Nate Silver has sparked a wave of discussion with his latest remarks, comparing the current campaign environment...

Tim Walz Defends Ties with ‘War Hawk’ Liz Cheney: ‘She Won’t Lead Us to World War III!’

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing intense scrutiny over his defense of Liz Cheney, the former U.S. representative from Wyoming and a leading contender for a top position in Vice President Kamala Harriss potential...

Donald Trump Surges Ahead in Arizona Polls by 3 Points! ‘We’re Taking the State Back,’ He Declares at Rally

A new poll conducted by InsiderPolling shows Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by 3 percentage points in Arizona. The survey, carried out on October 20-21 among 800 likely voters, has Trump at 50%, with...

Science

Starlink Services Target South Korea by 2025, Pending Regulatory Approval

SpaceXs Starlink services may reach South Korea by early 2025, contingent on regulatory approval. The Ministry of Science and ICT has initiated key amendments to prevent frequent interference, signaling progress toward...

Nicotine Pouches Skyrocket in Popularity as Youth Tobacco Use Hits 25-Year Low — ‘This Is the New Trend,’ Experts Warn

Nicotine pouches have surged in popularity across the U.S., while traditional tobacco use has hit its lowest point in 25 years. Public health experts are now grappling with the implications of this emerging trend, as a...

SpaceX Sues California Coastal Commission, Alleging Political Bias Over Falcon 9 Launch Denials

SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission, accusing the agency of political bias in blocking several Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The lawsuit, filed on October 15, comes...

SpaceX Shares Breathtaking Images of Starship Flight 5 Featuring Reentry and Stage Separation

SpaceX has unveiled stunning new images from its Starship Flight 5 test, capturing key moments like booster recovery, stage separation, and plasma engulfing the upper stage during reentry. These high-definition images,...

Technology

Apple Vision Pro Not Meant for the Masses, Tim Cook Admits Price Is Too High for Most Buyers

Tim Cook acknowledged that the Apple Vision Pro is not targeted at the masses due to its high price point. Despite poor sales, Apple is working on a cheaper model to be released in 2025, aiming to recapture market...

Solana Shakes Off Pump.fun’s $6.6M Dump, $47M SOL Still at Stake for Whales

Solanas price stayed strong, rising 9.3% for the week, despite Pump.fun selling $6.6 million worth of SOL. With $47 million still held, whales are on high alert for the next market twist. Solana Defies Pump.funs $6.6M...

Shiba Inu’s Shibarium Shocks With 3,370% Transaction Surge—What’s Fueling This Massive Spike?

Shiba Inus Shibarium saw an astonishing 3,370% jump in transactions within days, skyrocketing from 3,690 to over 324,000. The surge hints at growing community adoption, though the exact trigger remains...

BONK Meme Coin Sees 30% Volume Surge After Upbit Listing, Eyes Golden Cross Rally

Upbit has officially listed Solanas meme coin, BONK, for spot trading with the USDT pair, causing a 30% spike in trading volume and a 7% price increase within an hour of the announcement. Investors anticipate further price...
  • Market Data
Close

Welcome to EconoTimes

Sign up for daily updates for the most important
stories unfolding in the global economy.