This episode of Socially Democratic covers the politics of energy transition — why renewables are not just good for the planet, but smart economics and a political winner heading into the Victorian state election and beyond.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Jono La Nauze, CEO of Environment Victoria, and David McElrea, CEO of the Smart Energy Council.

On Monday afternoon, independent federal member for Indi, Helen Haines, was struck by a vehicle outside her office in Wangaratta. She was flown to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she remains in a critical condition.

Whatever the circumstances, Monday’s events in Wangaratta have shone a spotlight on something that that many of us have been watching with growing concern - threats against elected representatives are rising, offices are being attacked, and violent language is more common in the political discourse.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Labor member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP, for a conversation about Helen Haines, political violence, and the state of our democracy.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with the October Mailbag, and with the Victorian state election just weeks away, this one’s a cracker.

Former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and two-time election-winning Labor leader Michael Gunner joins the ever-reliable Lissie Ratcliff and host Stephen Donnelly to answer your questions.

Three big threads this month: the Nationals and whether they have any idea how to fight One Nation on their own turf. How to hand over power in a Westminster system without handing your party a disaster. And whether minority governments are really as bad as Australian political culture insists they are.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic continues 'The Recount', our month-by-month journey through every federal election since 1972.

On the 18th of May 1974, just 17 months after Labor's historic It's Time victory, Gough Whitlam was forced back to the polls. He hadn't chosen to go early. He'd been pushed by a Senate that refused to pass his legislation, a Country Party senator kept drunk on Townsville prawns, and a Queensland premier who moved faster than his own government.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Dr. Stephen Mills, journalist and former speechwriter in Bob Hawke's office, to examine what they call the 'almost forgotten' election.

Socially Democratic turns its attention to one of the most consequential elections in Israeli history.

On the 27th of October, Israel goes to the polls. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Will Cubbison, political consultant based in Israel and holder of a PhD in political science from George Washington University, to unpack the complexities of Israeli electoral politics ahead of what could be a historic vote.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with the Feeney (McCrone) Files, with Lissie Ratcliff subbing in for David Feeney. 

This month's episode covers three big threads: the media's campaign to blame the Andrews government for Victorian Labor's current polling slump, the Albanese government's immigration announcement and what it means for One Nation's vote, and what it means to be authentic in modern politics.

On the 2nd of December 1972, after 23 years of Coalition government, Gough Whitlam led Labor to victory with one of the most celebrated campaigns in Australian political history. 

But how effective was it at the time? 

And what does the story of that campaign reveal about how elections are actually won?

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Dr Stephen Mills (journalist, former speechwriter in Bob Hawke's office, and author of multiple books on elections) for a deep dive into the 1972 federal election.

Secret Harbour, Labor's Longevity, and other Mailbag Questions with Lissie Ratcliff and Michael Gunner | Australia's Labor Podcast

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with the September Mailbag. 

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by regular guest Lissie Ratcliff, as well as former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Michael Gunner.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is launching something new.

Starting next month, we're embarking on a two-year series called The Recount: a month-by-month deep dive into every single federal election since 1972. That's 21 elections, one per episode, all the way from Gough Whitlam's 'It's Time' to Labor's historic 2025 victory. 

This special episode of Socially Democratic was recorded live at the Victorian Trades Hall Council, as a fundraiser for four Labor women fighting battleground seats in November: Michaela Settle (Eureka), Daniela De Martino (Monbulk), Pauline Richards (Cranbourne) and Belinda Wilson (Narre Warren North).

🙏 A huge thank you to Trades Hall for hosting us. 🙏

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic returns to one of the most important and difficult conversations in Australian public life. In December last year, following the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 Jewish Australians on the first night of Hanukkah, we spoke about the rise of antisemitism in Australia and the Left's role in allowing it to fester. We promised to follow up.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is now in its sixth month of hearings. Over 20,000 submissions have been made in the largest community response to any Royal Commission in Australian history, from a community of just 120,000 people.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with the August Mailbag. It's just Stephen and Lissie this month, with Todd Pinkerton away temporarily. 

Lissie Ratcliff joins host Stephen Donnelly for a packed episode covering teacher strikes in Victoria, the Suburban Rail Loop saga, gambling reform, UK Politics, and a deep dive into the US Democratic primaries.

Socially Democratic goes live at the 50th ALP National Conference Fringe in Adelaide for a special panel on one of the Labor Party's most important and least discussed challenges: how do we grow our membership, and how do we keep people once they join?

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Todd Pinkerton, Director of Campaigns and Strategy at Unions NSW; Bisma Asif, Member for Sandgate in the Queensland Parliament; and Hannah MacLeod, Executive Director SA/NT at the McKell Institute.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic goes live at the 50th ALP National Conference in Adelaide.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by David Feeney and Jessie McCrone for a wide-ranging night of conference trivia, half-year report cards, and hot takes.

Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with a snap episode. Victoria has a new Premier.

On Monday and Tuesday, in a matter of 48 hours, Jacinta Allan was replaced by Ben Carroll, who is now the 50th Premier of Victoria.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by two people who know Victorian Labor politics from the inside: former Victorian State Secretary and MP David Feeney, and former Chief of Staff to the Daniel Andrews - Lissie Ratcliff.

This episode of Socially Democratic is a special two-parter recorded on the eve of the ALP National Conference in Adelaide.

Part one: pollster John Armitage from Qdos Research joins Stephen for a mid-year federal check-in. One Nation is at 30% in Newspoll. The Liberals have collapsed to 19%. And the swing is coming from women.

Part two: Priya Brown from GRA Partners breaks down the Secret Harbour by-election in WA: a long winter campaign in a mortgage-belt seat that One Nation has firmly in its sights.

Socially Democratic is back with the July Mailbag, and we're here to answer your questions on AI regulation, nationalising critical infrastructure, and whether Victorians should be nervous about the state election.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by former Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews and Managing Partner at FMRS Advisory Lissie Ratcliff, and the Director of Campaigns and Strategy at Unions NSW, Todd Pinkerton.

Socially Democratic goes live at the New South Wales Labor State Conference Fringe for a special episode recorded in front of a live audience at Sydney Town Hall.

Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by regular guest and Unions NSW Director of Campaigns and Strategy Todd Pinkerton, Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes, and ALP National Assistant Secretary Rosie Ryan.

Apologies to our listeners for the technical difficulties this week. 

Socially Democratic heads to Victorian Trades Hall for a special episode with two of the most important figures in the Victorian trade union movement.

Luke Hilakari, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, and Wil Stracke, Assistant Secretary, join host Stephen Donnelly to talk organising, digital campaigning, the rise of One Nation, and what happens to working people when AI reshapes the economy.

This is a rare inside look at how Trades Hall went from a place that passed resolutions to one of the most sophisticated campaigning operations in the country.

This episode of Socially Democratic covers a massive month in Australian politics: One Nation's rise, Pauline at the National Press Club, and a Victorian Labor leadership non-challenge that fizzled before it started.

David Feeney is back on the Feeney Files with Jessie McCrone and host Stephen Donnelly.

They cover:

💰 $4 million in 48 hours? One Nation's digital fundraising machine and what it signals.

🎤 Pauline at the Press Club: What she got right, what she got wrong, and the GetUp stunt.

🏛️ The Victorian leadership non-challenge: Why it fizzled and what it means for November.

📣 Luke Hilakari's email: poor form or exactly what needed to be said?

🎯 Stephen's hot take: Victorian Labor currently looks like the Liberal Party.

📰 Plus all your nominations, unanswerable questions, Social Democrat of the Month, and who won the month

Don't miss this ep.

Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.