Menzies Research Centre

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. Join our mailing list: https://www.menziesrc.org/email Read out policy work: https://www.menziesrc.org/home Support the Menzies Research Centre: https://www.menziesrc.org/donate 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?

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. Sign up to the Menzies Research Centre's weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

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

Freya Leach, Director of the Centre for Youth Policy, is joined by Erica Komisar in this bonus episode of the Menzies Research Centre podcast, recorded on the sidelines of the ARC conference in Sydney. Erica is a psychoanalyst who brings fresh insights on how we can better raise our children. Her main work focuses on exposing the link between institutionalised childcare and the rising rates of mental health issues among young people like anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and ADHD. Read Freya's recent editorial on rethinking childcare and suggested policy proposals for strengthening the family unit: https://www.menziesrc.org/latest-research/rethinking-childcare Sign up to the weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

Freya Leach is joined by the MRC's new policy director and chief economist Nico Louw in this fascinating discussion covering the biggest public policy challenges of our time, from the Covid pandemic through to our current economic challenges. Nico, who was senior adviser to Scott Morrison and did several quarantine stints with the former PM, reflects on the challenges of making big policy decisions with little information during the Covid pandemic. He also shares why our inflation woes are homegrown, Australia's productivity problem and the drivers of the nation's housing crisis. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email