'America Unravelling' at Queenscliffe Literary Festival

19 Oct 2025
11:15am - 12:15pm
$22 - $30
Queenscliff Town Hall, 50 Learmonth Street, Queenscliff

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It's been less than a year since Donald Trump took his second Presidential victory. How is this administration shaping up for Australia and the world?

RMIT University is delighted to partner with Queenscliffe Literary Festival this October, presenting a special session on the current political landscape in the United States. The session will feature two of Australia's foremost U.S. politics experts: Historian, RMIT alumni and Director of the Australia Institute's International & Security Affairs Program, Dr. Emma Shortis, and renowned writer and former academic historian Don Watson.

Sitting in the interview chair will be RMIT journalism lecturer, radio presenter, and award-winning podcast producer Dr. Dylan Bird.

With the re-election of President Trump, America has entered a tumultuous new era of political strongmanship and an unravelling of previous approaches to foreign policy, climate action, and human rights.

With decades of U.S. political expertise between them, Emma Shortis and Don Watson will unpack what this new era means for Australia and the world.

'America Unravelling' is a partnership event between RMIT University and Queenscliffe Literary Festival.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

'America Unravelling' at Queenscliffe Literary Festival