Dialogues at Fulcrum

Fulcrum editor William Choong talks to Mathis Lohatepanont about the implications of the recent elections in Thailand. Mr Lohatepanont, a frequent contributor to Fulcrum, is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Political Science, University of Michigan.2:10 – A decisive outcome in the recent Thai elections5:08 – Will reported procedural irregularities undermine the election results?8:46 – The key factors behind Bhumjaithai’s rise to prominence14:30 – Bhumjaithai’s adoption of the populist “half-half” policy17:05  – The future of the People’s Party23:27 – Has the Pheu Thai Party reached the end of the road?27:57 – The Democrat Party and its pullback from extinction34:20 – Will Thailand remain stuck at the conservative end of the political spectrum?37:21 – The question of political reforms under a conservative government40:05 – Thailand’s approach towards the dispute with Cambodia, and the popular mood towards the war in IranDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok-Aun speaks with Stephen Olson, Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, on the implications of the US Supreme Court declaring Trump’s IEEPA-based tariffs illegal.2:35 – The crux, surprising and expected elements of the Supreme Court5:47 – Section 122 tariffs (15% for 150 days) – what should Southeast Asian countries do?12:39 – Section 232 tariffs (based on “national interest”) – outlook and implications19:28 – Section 301 tariffs (based on “unfair trade practices”) – outlook and implications23:00 – Premises and outcomes of US trade policy: shifts since Liberation Day28:31 – Domestic constraints on Trump’s foreign policy33:09 – Will the tariff’s effects start to bite in 2026, and what are the political ramifications?35:56 – Financial markets – impact on Trump’s policy and disconnect from real economy?38:30 – New global order / Carney’s speech41:47 – What should ASEAN do?43:22 – China-US rivalry and upcoming Trump-Xi summitDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor and Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, Julia Lau speaks to Dr Ian Wilson about power, politics, and popular culture, including the phenomenon of 'preman' in today's Indonesia.1:35 – Unpacking the causes of the violent protests in Indonesia in August 20259:00 – Prevalence of Preman ('Gangster') politics in Indonesia today 17:56 – Contrasting contemporary Indonesian politics with New Order politics27:50 – Popular culture ('One Piece') and the evolution of protests and resistance in Indonesia's networked society33:18 – The trajectory of Indonesian democracy38:40 – Implications of inadequate efforts to address urban poverty in Indonesia 46:20 – Ian Wilson’s academic journey and tips for aspiring young scholarsDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor Dr William Choong speaks to Dr Napon Jatusripitak, Acting Coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, about the recent political shifts in Thai domestic politics. They examine the rise of Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJP), the BJP’s awkward partnership with the People’s Party (PP), and competition between the country’s political left and right.1:19 – The rise of Thailand’s new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the legacy of the Bhumjaithai party (BJP)7:10 – The breakup of the coalition led by the Pheu Thai (PT) party11:40 – The BJP and People’s Party (PP): “strange bedfellows”21:30 – Weighing the upcoming general elections24:30 – Ruing the future of PT29:50 – Contradictions between Thailand’s political left and right33:30 – Political disillusionment of Thailand’s youth votersDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun speaks with Stephen Olson,Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, on making sense of the Trump tariffs and thinking through the unpredictabilities. 2:38 – How Trump 2.0 differs from Trump 1.0 and Biden10:07 – How to understand the “deals”16:00 – Threat of semiconductor tariffs and forced semiconductor investment in the US19:47 – The transshipment problem23:34 – Southeast Asia’s tariff rates25:59 – Negotiating with the Trump administration; outlookfor Myanmar and Laos29:28 – Implications on trade and export-led development32:30 – US domestic politics and law as possible moderatingforces35:40 – US-China rivalry and role of China in the worldeconomyDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor Julia Lau talks to Dr Yanuar Nugroho about the progress of and myriad challenges facing Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara.1:10 – Overview of Nusantara’s status as a national project under the Prabowo Subianto administration6:55 – Challenges facing Nusantara’s development and “success indicators” to look out for9:10 – Foreign investments…10:20 – Feedback and experiences of civil servants who have moved to Nusantara13:35 – Governance of Nusantara and technical versus political aspects of development19:50 – Environmental degradation, land and indigenous rights, and other concerns in Nusantara25:16 – Strategic recommendations for Nusantara’s progress and developmentDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun and Malaysia Studies Programme Coordinator Francis Hutchinson speak with Liew Chin Tong, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. Their conversation spans Malaysia’s challenges in engineering a second industrial take-off, implementing reforms, and navigating global uncertainties.1:18 – Malaysia and Singapore at this historical juncture3:31 – Scepticism and optimism in politics; Malaysia’s second take-off9:28 – Malaysia’s potential second take-off compared to the first (late 1980s-1997)13:28 – Maintaining neutrality and multilateralism in the current global milieu22:22 – Rafizi Ramli’s resignation as Minister of Economy23:43 – Policies in the second half of the Madani government’s five-year term29:20 – Reformasi generation perspective on the state of reforms36:15 – Top priority institutional reform41:41 – Relations within the Unity Government coalition46:33 – Perikatan Nasional’s cohesion and electoral competitiveness50:57 – When will state elections and 16th General Election happen?Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor William Choong talks to Niclas Kvarnström, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS), about the European Union’s evolving approaches to the Indo-Pacific.1:28 – Niclas Kvarnström’s role as the MD for Asia and the Pacific in the EEAS4:27 – Niclas Kvarnström’s assessment of French President Emmanuel Macron’s keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue7:35 – Views on trade negotiations between the EU and ASEAN member states, and the EU’s place in larger regional trading blocs in the Pacific12:30 – The dichotomous results of the State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025, showing that the EU is Southeast Asia’s second-most-trusted partner, yet ranks low in strategic relevance21:19 – On whether European security forces can continue to participate in the Indo-Pacific given pressing priorities closer to home24:44 – On US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s call for US allies in Asia to spend 5 per cent of their GDP on defence27:30 – What can the EU do to manage hotspots in the Indo-PacificDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok Aun converses with Minister Nik Nazmi about the urgent challenges of sustainability and climate change from Malaysian and ASEAN perspectives.2:28 –  Why write this book?6:26 –  An integrated approach to complex problems10:25 –  Malaysia’s development model – retrospective self-criticism and new framework14:53 –  From activism to government18:25 –  What needs to happen before Malaysia’s next general election22:07 –  Malaysia’s targeted carbon tax plans23:43 –  Malaysia’s response to the US withdrawal from global climate action26:28 –  ASEAN power grid30:07 –  Communicating the message effectivelyDialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 

Fulcrum editor William Choong discusses Australia’s strategic choices amid intensifying Sino-US rivalry and increased geopolitical flux with Prof Nick Bisley.3:08 –  Australia’s “extreme strategic loneliness” under Trump 2.012:50 –  AUKUS submarines: will Australia get them?21:30 –  Is there a method in Trump’s “madness”?28:00 –  Has Trump 2.0 given China a window of opportunity?37:10 –  How can Southeast Asian countries cope in such a changed environment?41:30 –  Wherefore the Quad if the US withdraws from it?Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.