Show Notes
If you value independent journalism, support this show: https://bit.ly/4rqn9wF In this episode, Antony Loewenstein examines the global surge of far-right populism and its obsessive focus on immigration and Islam across Australia, the US, the UK and Europe. Using recent comments by Pauline Hanson as a starting point, he explores how anti-Muslim rhetoric has been normalised in mainstream media and politics, and why similar language would be unthinkable if directed at other groups. The episode unpacks the deeper forces driving this shift, economic insecurity, media failure, and political opportunism, while challenging the myth that far-right figures represent “ordinary people.” Antony also traces the historical roots of these narratives, from the War on Terror to Australia’s offshore detention regime, and how Western immigration policies have influenced global approaches to borders and refugees. Ultimately, he argues that the current debate is not a calm discussion about immigration, but a broader ideological battle over multiculturalism, colonial legacy, and the kind of societies Western nations want to become.
More from The Antony Loewenstein Podcast
In this conversation, Antony Loewenstein speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and translator Benjamin Moser about his new book Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History. Moser reflects on his personal journey from liberal Zionism to anti-Zionism, the impact of visiting Palestine, and the historical figures featured in his book, including Hannah Arendt and Nan Goldin. The discussion explores the origins of Zionism, the legacy of Theodor Herzl, Jewish identity, antisemitism, the war in Gaza, and the growing global debate around Israel and Palestine. Moser also discusses the reception of his book, criticism from major media outlets, winning the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Susan Sontag, and the moral and political questions facing Jewish communities today.
Three years after October 7, Antony Loewenstein reflects on the attacks, the devastating consequences that followed, and the profound moral and political questions that continue to shape Israel, Palestine and the wider Middle East. From Gaza and the West Bank to Lebanon, Syria and Iran, he examines how the region has been transformed and what the lasting legacy of this conflict may be for years to come.Ask me a question here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDJgrNigh0SvGaGaVIwBo4vePw12F1wv0IBGwAppKbD79s2g/viewform?pli=1 Buy merch: https://antonyloewenstein.bandtshirts.com.au/ Support independent journalism and donate: https://bit.ly/m/theantonyloewensteinpodcast Produced by Lena Helou and Lem Zakharia.
Antony Loewenstein and Lem Zakharia examine Bondi Terror: The Tragedy, The Courage, The Aftermath by Sherri Markson and Alex Ryvchin. They discuss the book’s account of the Bondi attack, its portrayal of antisemitism, and its broader political arguments. The conversation explores competing narratives around Israel, Palestine, media influence, protest movements, and public discourse in Australia. They also reflect on free speech, independent journalism, and why stories like Bondi Terror continue to shape national debate. Ask me a question here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDJgrNigh0SvGaGaVIwBo4vePw12F1wv0IBGwAppKbD79s2g/viewform?pli=1 Buy merch: https://antonyloewenstein.bandtshirts.com.au/ Support independent journalism and donate: https://bit.ly/m/theantonyloewensteinpodcast Produced by Lena Helou and Lem Zakharia.
In this episode of The Antony Loewenstein Podcast, Antony Loewenstein speaks with Palestinian-Australian surgeon Dr. Bushra Othman, editor of The Weight of Witness: The Experiences of Australian and New Zealand Medics in Gaza. Drawing on her three medical missions to Gaza, Dr. Othman reflects on the realities faced by healthcare workers and civilians during the war, the challenges of delivering medical care under siege, and the responsibility of bearing witness to suffering and loss. The conversation explores the stories behind the book, the experiences of Australian and New Zealand medics on the ground, the importance of solidarity and advocacy, and the ongoing efforts to document the human impact of the conflict through firsthand testimony. Ask me a question here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDJgrNigh0SvGaGaVIwBo4vePw12F1wv0IBGwAppKbD79s2g/viewform?pli=1 Buy merch: https://antonyloewenstein.bandtshirts.com.au/ Support independent journalism and donate: https://bit.ly/m/theantonyloewensteinpodcast Produced by Lena Helou and Lem Zakharia.
In this episode of The Antony Loewenstein Podcast, Antony Loewenstein speaks with American-Pakistani journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed about his powerful new book Crossing the Red Line: Biden, Gaza, and Complicity. Drawing on extensive reporting and interviews with current and former U.S. officials, Ahmed examines the Biden administration’s response to the Gaza war, the political calculations behind Washington’s support for Israel, the treatment of Palestinian lives in U.S. policymaking, and the broader legacy of the post-9/11 era. The discussion explores media coverage, intelligence failures, accountability, shifting public opinion on Israel and Palestine, and what the Gaza crisis reveals about American power, foreign policy, and the future of international justice. Ask me a question here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDJgrNigh0SvGaGaVIwBo4vePw12F1wv0IBGwAppKbD79s2g/viewform?pli=1 Buy merch: https://antonyloewenstein.bandtshirts.com.au/ Support independent journalism and donate: https://bit.ly/m/theantonyloewensteinpodcast Produced by Lena Helou and Lem Zakharia.