Socially Democratic

Meet the man challenging the Libs for the leadership of Tasmania: Dean Winter.

It’s been only 15 months since Jeremy Rockliff was re-elected the Premier of Tasmania, but last month a nail-biting, nearly-tied no-confidence vote in the government threw the state into political uncertainty. 

Opposition Leader Dean Winter was behind that motion. Now Tasmanians are returning to the polls on Saturday 19 July. This week he speaks to us abou...

On May 8, 2025, Vatican reporter Colleen Dulle was in Rome, covering the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor. Her days were long, spent trawling through international coverage, meeting with sources inside the Vatican and other journalists, as well as attending daily Vatican press conferences. 

But once the conclave began, the flow of information screeched to a halt. Millions of eyes watched their only source: the...

Changes are afoot at Socially Democratic HQ - namely, the addition of Jessie McCrone as a regular guest to the Feeney Files.

Which does mean we need a new name. If you have any brilliant suggestions, let us know in the comments. 

This month: 

Why is serious policy reform so difficult in Australia? We ponder the frenzied reaction to Labor’s relatively modest super tax reforms. 

Clare O’Neil thinks we could solve the housing crisis by ma...

Between 😷Covid, 💸cost of living pressures and the 🤖 proliferation of AI, life as a university student looks a lot different than it did even six years ago.  

✊ The National Union of Students [NUS] is the peak body representing around 1 million students in Australia in all areas of education, policy, and student welfare. It’s also a training ground for the future leaders of Australia. 

☀️ NUS President Ashlyn Horton joins Stephen D...

You’ve probably seen it on the news - a shakeup in the Tasmanian Parliament. So what’s really going down in the Apple Isle?

Jack Milroy joins Stephen Donnelly to unpack the events and actors surrounding the no-confidence vote in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff. 

Was it the new AFL Stadium, the budget, or simply the Opposition spotting an opportunity? 

And in a system where major parties increasingly cede ground to crossbenchers - are ...

At the end of all our exploring, we arrive back where we started and know the place for the first time.*

Jessie McCrone and Stephen Donnelly cover the last marginal seats of the election - some of which they did not even know were marginal - in their home state of Victoria. 

What went down in Kooyong? Why are the Liberals losing the Eastern suburbs? What went wrong for the Greens in the seat of Melbourne?

We cover this and more, plus ...

What better way to celebrate our 300th episode than in front of a LIVE audience?

Stephen Donnelly. Jessie McCrone, David Feeney,Benita Kolovos and Reed Fleming all bring their A-game - and a few iconic media grabs - to this celebration of Labor’s cracking campaign and decisive victory.

Between the witty repartee and a bit of tea-spilling from these campaign veterans, the live show panel covers key topics like:

🔥 The Australian Labor ...

This week, Stephen Donnelly covers election results in Queensland and South Australia.

In Queensland, Evan Moorhead covers the massive shakeup in Brisbane, where key seats were snatched from both the Greens AND the Coalition. Including, of course, Peter Dutton’s long-held seat of Dickson.

In South Australia, Matt Clemow breaks down where Labor made inroads to win the traditional blue ribbon Liberal seat of Sturt. After touching on ot...

This week, Stephen Donnelly covers election results in the ACT, the NT, and Western Australia.

First-time guest Louise Crossman is a Canberra based political strategist and former president of ACT Labor. She and Stephen discuss the ACT results, including the rise of independents and how Labor almost lost the seat of Bean.

In the Northern Territory Ryan Neve explains how turnout for Labor in remote communities ensured big swings in Li...

Hi Social Democrats,

We’re taking your favourite centre-left podcast out of the studio for our first live audience recording — and you’re invited.

Join us to celebrate the historic landslide victory of the Albanese Labor government and the spectacular downfall of the Liberal Party.

When: 7:00 pm, Thursday 29 May (doors open 6:15)
Where: The Toff, 2nd Floor, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $15 + booking ...

Stephen is back with his old comrades from New South Wales and Tasmania to recap Labor’s wins - including the seats they didn’t see coming.

Todd Pinkerton returns to represent NSW. They cover the role of unions in framing the debate for workers’ rights, the stunning loss of Dickson, ‘campaign effect’, and what it all means for campaigners going forward.

Meanwhile Jack Milroy from Tasmania shares some intriguing intel about Liberal ca...

Social Democrats, pop the champagne!

After five fascinating weeks, we’re taking a victory lap. Delightedly digging into every step, misstep, and seat we didn’t see coming.

So what went wrong for the Coalition’s campaign apparatus? 

And what does it mean that Labor had one of the lowest primary votes and highest 2nd preference votes in history?

Stephen Donnelly is joined by his regular election co-hosts, Jessie McCrone and David Fe...

Stephen Donnelly, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney take us through the final stretch of the Australian Federal Election.

From the price of homes to the price of eggs, Albanese and Dutton have some zesty exchanges in the final leaders’ debate.

Stephen wonders if the Labor campaign is feeling a little too confident.

Jessie shares some intel on the hidden - but highly effective - work of the Labor party’s “Dirt Unit”  - although she pref...

In this mega-episode, Stephen Donnelly goes on a whirlwind tour of Australia’s most hotly-contested seats for Labor. 

He is joined by campaign experts (see below) from each state, who shine a spotlight on the candidates, the constituents, and the issues shaping each electorate.

They share the betting odds and lay their predictions on the table. This is the ultimate election night primer.

***Use the Chapter headings to jump to the seat...

Early voting is now open, and E-Day is drawing near!

Stephen Donnelly, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney are back to unpack the previous week. 

Both campaigns briefly paused for Easter and out of respect for the passing of Pope Francis. Who was helped, and who was hurt by this hiatus? 

The hosts are joined by former digital strategist for Daniel Andrews and Jacinda Ardern, Reed Fleming.  

Reed reveals what both major parties (and a few ...

Happy Easter!
 
In this episode, Stephen Donnelly and resident pop culture expert Tess Farrell review the TV series ‘Say Nothing’, created by Joshua Zetumer, and the film ‘Conclave’ directed by Edward Berger.

‘Say Nothing’ goes inside the Provisional IRA during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
 
‘Conclave’ depicts the highly secretive process of selecting a new pope.
If the Easter holiday has you crav...

This Week:

Labor and the Liberals officially launch their campaigns.

Peter Dutton’s son Harry speaks for the average worker.

Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson wants to gut Free TAFE.

And Jacinta Nampijinpa Price wants to Make Australia Great Again, but not like that. Obviously. 

Stephen Donnely, Jessie McCrone, and David Feeney have a lot to cover this week. 

They are joined by Victorian State Correspondent for Guardian Austr...

This week: 

Dutton executes a 10/10 backflip, while Albanese merely tumbles. Who will take home the gold?

Stephen Donnelly is joined again by former Senator and former ALP campaign director, David Feeney, and former Deputy Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews, Jessie McCrone.

They cover the polite and somewhat snoozy first debate,
and the rise and fall of the Liberal party’s disastrous attempt to force public servants back into the of...

“You have an autocrat president next door who is threatening annexation of your country. And it’s not a joke anymore..”

In December of 2024, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned with an approval rating of just 22%. 

His centre-left Canadian Liberal Party had been in government for the last ten years - through COVID-19, the cost of living crisis, housing shortages, and party in-fighting. 

Canada was ready for a change...