Inside Story

Books & arts Indecent history Susan Lever 8 January 2015 Television | With a third season of Masters of Sex screening this year, Susan Lever charts the highs and lows of a TV drama inspired by real events International Putin’s westpolitik: back to the USSR John Besemeres 17 December 2014 The Russian president wants to restore the old empire. John Besemeres looks at the former Soviet republics he is pressuring to see the world his way International In Washington, a tough two years ahead Lesley Russell 7 November 2014 Low turnout means that the midterm elections offer no mandate to the Republicans, writes Lesley Russell. But there are clear messages for both parties in the results The US midterms: a street-level view Nathaniel Reader 7 November 2014 Nathaniel Reader visited four polling booths in Los Angeles, and found business briskest at a private garage in the city’s northern suburbs

International Not over till they’re over: the countdown to the US midterm elections Lesley Russell 11 August 2014 Although some commentators say the results are certain, writes Lesley Russell, the race that will shape Barack Obama’s final two years in the White House is far from over Books & arts China wakes, Asia quakes, Australia shivers Graeme Dobell 25 July 2014 A contest is under way, writes Graeme Dobell, but it will be more like a nineteenth-century battle than a twentieth-century clash International China’s search for space Kerry Brown 19 May 2014 China’s regional muscle-flexing reflects its feeling that it faces significant geographical and symbolic constraints, writes Kerry Brown International Is it too early to talk about 2016? Lesley Russell 31 March 2014 The next US presidential election is two-and-a-half years away, but some key decisions are likely much sooner, writes Lesley Russell

International Will the DREAM of US immigration reform become reality in 2014? Peter Mares 3 January 2014 Optimism is growing, reports Peter Mares in New York, but getting the legislation through Congress will only be the first of the challenges A “true progressive” takes on New York’s inequality problem Peter Mares 23 December 2013 After serving a maximum three terms as mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg will be replaced by Democrat Bill de Blasio on New Year’s Day. As Peter Mares reports… International Back from the fiscal cliff – but now what? Lesley Russell 23 October 2013 Can Barack Obama turn the chaos in Republican ranks to the advantage of the Democrats, asks Lesley Russell Essays & reportage My cold war: from Brunswick to Berlin (via the Labor split) Geoffrey Barker 27 September 2013 Within months of the end of the second world war, an iron curtain had fallen across Europe. Its impact reached into the inner suburbs of Melbourne, writes Geoffrey Barker