Episode 16

What happens when political forecasts miss the mark, global rules evolve, and economic models don’t quite capture reality? In this episode, we dive into the major political and economic stories shaping Australia’s role on the world stage. Co-hosts Domenique Sherab and Paul Scanlon take you through a three-part format, delivering insightful analysis and grounded perspectives on the key forces driving markets and policy decisions.

We start by unpacking Australia’s recent federal election, where the Labor Party achieved a historic re-election while the Liberal campaign faced an unexpected and significant setback which caught many by surprise. Next, Domenique and Paul turn their attention to the U.S. lifting long-standing sanctions on Syria, exploring what this move might mean for the region’s recovery, trade opportunities, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Then our focus shifts to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest interest rate cut, highlighting the growing uncertainties in the global economy and the potential return of inflation amid changing trade landscapes.

Wrapping up, the conversation broadens to a global scale with Moody’s recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, ending its AAA status, and what this signals about fiscal trustworthiness and the evolving rules around sovereign debt. Throughout, Domenique and Paul bring a distinctly Australian viewpoint to help make sense of a fast-changing economic environment.