Socially Democratic

This week, Stephen Donnelly covers election results in the ACT, the NT, and Western Australia.

First-time guest Louise Crossman is a Canberra based political strategist and former president of ACT Labor. She and Stephen discuss the ACT results, including the rise of independents and how Labor almost lost the seat of Bean.

In the Northern Territory Ryan Neve explains how turnout for Labor in remote communities ensured big swings in Li...

Hi Social Democrats,

We’re taking your favourite centre-left podcast out of the studio for our first live audience recording — and you’re invited.

Join us to celebrate the historic landslide victory of the Albanese Labor government and the spectacular downfall of the Liberal Party.

When: 7:00 pm, Thursday 29 May (doors open 6:15)
Where: The Toff, 2nd Floor, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $15 + booking ...

Stephen is back with his old comrades from New South Wales and Tasmania to recap Labor’s wins - including the seats they didn’t see coming.

Todd Pinkerton returns to represent NSW. They cover the role of unions in framing the debate for workers’ rights, the stunning loss of Dickson, ‘campaign effect’, and what it all means for campaigners going forward.

Meanwhile Jack Milroy from Tasmania shares some intriguing intel about Liberal ca...

Social Democrats, pop the champagne!

After five fascinating weeks, we’re taking a victory lap. Delightedly digging into every step, misstep, and seat we didn’t see coming.

So what went wrong for the Coalition’s campaign apparatus? 

And what does it mean that Labor had one of the lowest primary votes and highest 2nd preference votes in history?

Stephen Donnelly is joined by his regular election co-hosts, Jessie McCrone and David Fe...

Stephen Donnelly, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney take us through the final stretch of the Australian Federal Election.

From the price of homes to the price of eggs, Albanese and Dutton have some zesty exchanges in the final leaders’ debate.

Stephen wonders if the Labor campaign is feeling a little too confident.

Jessie shares some intel on the hidden - but highly effective - work of the Labor party’s “Dirt Unit”  - although she pref...

In this mega-episode, Stephen Donnelly goes on a whirlwind tour of Australia’s most hotly-contested seats for Labor. 

He is joined by campaign experts (see below) from each state, who shine a spotlight on the candidates, the constituents, and the issues shaping each electorate.

They share the betting odds and lay their predictions on the table. This is the ultimate election night primer.

***Use the Chapter headings to jump to the seat...

Early voting is now open, and E-Day is drawing near!

Stephen Donnelly, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney are back to unpack the previous week. 

Both campaigns briefly paused for Easter and out of respect for the passing of Pope Francis. Who was helped, and who was hurt by this hiatus? 

The hosts are joined by former digital strategist for Daniel Andrews and Jacinda Ardern, Reed Fleming.  

Reed reveals what both major parties (and a few ...

Happy Easter!
 
In this episode, Stephen Donnelly and resident pop culture expert Tess Farrell review the TV series ‘Say Nothing’, created by Joshua Zetumer, and the film ‘Conclave’ directed by Edward Berger.

‘Say Nothing’ goes inside the Provisional IRA during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
 
‘Conclave’ depicts the highly secretive process of selecting a new pope.
If the Easter holiday has you crav...

This Week:

Labor and the Liberals officially launch their campaigns.

Peter Dutton’s son Harry speaks for the average worker.

Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson wants to gut Free TAFE.

And Jacinta Nampijinpa Price wants to Make Australia Great Again, but not like that. Obviously. 

Stephen Donnely, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney have a lot to cover this week. 

They are joined by Victorian State Correspondent for Guardian Austr...

This week: 

Dutton executes a 10/10 backflip, while Albanese merely tumbles. Who will take home the gold?

Stephen Donnelly is joined again by former Senator and former ALP campaign director, David Feeney, and former Deputy Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews, Jessie McCrone.

They cover the polite and somewhat snoozy first debate,
and the rise and fall of the Liberal party’s disastrous attempt to force public servants back into the of...

“You have an autocrat president next door who is threatening annexation of your country. And it’s not a joke anymore..”

In December of 2024, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned with an approval rating of just 22%. 

His centre-left Canadian Liberal Party had been in government for the last ten years - through COVID-19, the cost of living crisis, housing shortages, and party in-fighting. 

Canada was ready for a change...

Election Countdown 2025 is on!

Stephen Donnelly is joined by former Senator and former ALP campaign director, David Feeney, and former ALP national organiser and Deputy Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews, Jessie McCrone.

They unpack the first week of the campaign, answering questions like:

Key battleground seats to watch?

How will Trump’s assault on our trade agreements influence the campaign?

Do le...

The federal election is on!

And we don’t want to jinx it, but Labor is looking up in the polls. 

Is the spotlight on Dutton and his recent slip ups impacting the Coalition’s numbers? 

Or has the Labor government finally struck a chord with voters on the kitchen table issues?

Trump looms large in this campaign, and Australia’s next PM has a choice to make.

Will they be defiant, like Trudeau? 
Obsequious, like Argentine’s Javier Milei...

Rapha Manajem walks into a bar. 

He picks up a microphone. Amidst the deafening roar of mostly oblivious pub-goers, he manages to entertain two or three people. And for some reason, he keeps going back.

Now he’s a big shot with a recurring spot at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, opening next week. He also just so happens to be a fellow comrade and passionate Labor volunteer and campaigner, which makes him the perfect gue...

“A big reason we’re up against the wall here is, cost of living’s tough. Governments all around the world … have lost some skin. We need a big margin and we haven’t got it.”

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Peter Dutton has vowed to cut public service jobs and repeal popular laws like the ‘right to disconnect’. 

Yet somehow, he still poses a credible threat to Labor this coming election.

Is this a failure of storytelling?

And if so, how can Albanese’s team lead the c...

The year was 2012. A young Benita Kolovos arrives at her high school literature class to find a print-out on her desk. It’s the Julia Gillard misogyny speech. 

When it comes to riveting moments in Australian media, Gillard’s speech has few peers. It was raw, honest, and reached millions of Australian women who were fed up with double standards in the workplace, and in life. 

But one speech can’t fix everything. Year after year, when ...

“Utterly disgraceful…The United States is behaving like a bandit.”

On this episode of Socially Democratic, former federal MP David Feeney pulls no punches when excoriating Trump’s position on Ukraine. 

Plus: listener questions answered. Your primary concern was the new American regime - how the example set by Trump, Musk, and Vance might darken our shores, and how we can stop it. 

Back in Australia, Stephen and David examine how both ...

With the relative decline of mainstream media and the rise of podcasts, influencers, and infinite scrolling, how is the Australian Labor party faring in the race to modernise their political campaigns?

And how can social democratic parties around the world continue to compete and adapt to the ever-changing new media landscape? What role does data analytics play in shaping effective messaging, and driving innovative, efficient campai...

On a cloudy day in Melbourne’s West, campaign workers in clashing t-shirts formed lines outside of schools and community centres. Residents, who often suffer from congested roads, this time navigated foot traffic on their way to the voting booth. 

February 8th, 2025 was the day of the Werribee by-election. It came after long-serving Labor MP, Tim Pallas announced his retirement - kicking off Labor’s first real pressure test of the y...