Why the establishment is failing: Inside the populist revolt
What's really driving the rise of Pauline Hanson, Nigel Farage, and the global populist wave?
Internationally renowned political strategist Isaac Levido joins the Menzies Research Centre's David Hughes to break down why voters across Australia, the UK, and the US are abandoning traditional parties in droves.
From masterminding the 2019 Conservative and Liberal Party election wins, to working inside Downing Street, Isaac brings rare, frontline insight to the biggest political question of our time: why are voters so angry, and is anyone listening?
We cover:
Why the social contract between citizens and government has broken down
The tech revolution that's making government look worse by comparison
Why "small target" election strategies are backfiring on the ALP and Starmer's Labour
What Pauline Hanson and Nigel Farage actually have in common
How businesses can protect themselves in an era of voter rage and regulatory risk
"Voters aren't stupid. They're doing everything right — working hard, paying their taxes — and they just can't get ahead."
If you want to understand where Western democracy is heading, this is the conversation to watch.
This podcast was recorded at a Menzies Research Centre event in May 2026.
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Timestamps:
00:00 – Global populism trends and data
02:11 – Introducing Isaac Levido
03:03 – From Regional NSW to the halls of power
06:46 – Why British conservatives keep hiring Australians
10:25 – Can a great campaigner also govern? Lessons from Downing Street
13:09 - How governments should build & spend political capital
15:50 - The "Small Target" trap: how Labor & Starmer won the wrong way
18:34 - Why u-turning politicians are destroying voter trust
23:01 – The establishment has misread voters for decades
26:32 – The tech divergence: why government looks worse by comparison
30:58 - Pauline Hanson vs. Nigel Farage: leaders or movements?
36:36 – What UK business really thinks about a Farage Government
40:41 – Was post-war stability the historical anomaly?
43:50 – How businesses misread their own customers and what to do about it
48:53 – Why companies should stay out of culture wars
52:20 – Closing remarks & will Isaac return to Australia?
6 Mar 2025
"We're actually poorer": The Decline of Australia I Senator Jane Hume
Why are Australians feeling poorer despite their wages increasing? Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume sat down with the MRC's Centre for Youth Policy Director Freya Leach to discuss why Gen Z in particular are feeling the pain of Australia's cost of living crisis.
Senator Hume also shuts down misconceptions that the Coalition's Super for Housing policy will rob potential home buyers of their retirement funding and explains why lifting labour productivity is critical to lifting the standard of living.
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8 Jan 2025
Boris Johnson: Trump, Brexit and Ukraine
One of the world's most recognisable former statesmen dropped by the offices of the Menzies Research Centre in December to record a bonus podcast with our very own Freya Leach.
To mark the recent publication of his new memoir, Unleashed, Boris Johnson sat down with Freya to discuss the reasons behind some of his signature policy positions, from Brexit to his strident support for Ukraine.
Boris Johnson also reveals the Australian influence behind his route to the UK prime ministership and explains why he's optimistic about a second Trump presidency.
Unleashed is available to purchase here: https://www.menziesrc.org/book-shop/unleashed
Sign up to the Menzies Research Centre weekly newsletter here: https://www.menziesrc.org/email
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