Reformasi Dispatch

Hosted by On The Level Media

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Episodes

212

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Independent and lucid analysis of Indonesian politics, policymaking, justice, and economics featuring Kevin O’Rourke and Erin Cook. The podcasts incorporate exclusive interviews with experts and draws on content from the Reformasi Weekly reports, produced for subscribers since 2003.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 30, 2026Episode 231 hr 24 min

Episode 208 (with Katherine Hasan)

New data provided insights on smog-producing emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx), which we discuss with the analyst Katherine Hasan of the Centre for Clean Energy and Air (Crea). Also: Kevin and Erin delve into the nuances surrounding a moderate-sized demonstration, plans for a commodity trading bourse and cross-border haze from forest-and-land fires. Read CREA's report here: https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EN-CREA_Press-release_First-of-its-kind-satellite-based-analysis-reveals-29-hazardous-NOx-hotspots-across-Indonesia.docx.pdf It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

August 26, 2026Episode 2235 min

Episode 207 (with Maxwell Abbott)

As Indonesia's export control policies increasingly attract attention, Vietnam is tentatively embracing the Korean Chaebol model. Max Abbott, a seasoned analyst of both countries, helps compare and contrast their respective policy approaches. Spoiler: the more market-oriented trajectory happens to be in the Communist country... Watch the YouTube version here: https://youtu.be/JqoB5jbxK18 It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

August 16, 2026Episode 2159 min

Episode 206 (with Thinzar Shunlei Yi)

Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Magnitsky human rights award recipient for Outstanding Young Human Rights Activist Award and activist of the human rights NGO #Sisters2Sisters joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast to share the realities of oppression in Myanmar and the diplomatic gains being made by the junta in Asean and beyond. Also, Kevin and Erin discuss the ouster of Indonesia's central bank governor and the upcoming pre-trial suit of the disgraced deputy attorney general Febrie Adriansyah. Watch the Youtube version here: https://youtu.be/NvJjNcD4rMw It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

August 1, 2026Episode 2051 min

Episode 205

Reliable new polling suggests the national mood may be shifting away from the president. BI's esteemed governor abruptly resigns and attention will focus on whether the central bank will fall fully under personalized political control. MUI discusses Anti-LGBT legislation. A push is underway for recycling and composting in Jakarta. And the ASEAN Ministers Meeting marks another incremental step towards accepting Myanmar's junta. Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y-IgjajkciE It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

July 21, 2026Episode 1936 min

Episode 204

An embarrassment of riches befell the top prosecutor in Indonesia's AGO when police discovered seven suitcases of gold bars in the closet of his golf home. But the prosecutor, Deputy AG Febrie Adriansyah, has not entered custody and his AGO colleagues will ostensibly handle his prosecution. The Reformasi Dispatch podcast delves into the details of what transpired, what it reveals about key security organs and their mutual hostilities -- and what it means for politics. Also: opprobrium for the public works minister, an ammunition factory for Haji Isam and polished viral videos of violence against trans women. Watch it on YouTube as well: https://youtu.be/NxAepA3qJFM?si=TVcEDKv2xl-gYwqh It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

July 12, 2026Episode 1852 min

Episode 203

Reformasi Dispatch discusses: the Nadiem Makarim verdict and its effects on sentiment as well as procurement; the VP sweepstakes ahead of the 2029 scheduled election; the increasing urgency of kickstarting deliberations on a National Elections Law revision; and a spate of visits to Jakarta by heads of state; and a spate of deaths in the training of Red-White Cooperative managers. Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ASEPMbIW2Ew It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

June 28, 2026Episode 1746 min

Episode 202 (with Dédé Oetomo)

In this special Pride month episode of Reformasi Dispatch, Kevin and Erin talk to legendary LGBTQ activist Dédé Oetomo to talk about his activism work, the recent rise of homophobic attacks and his words for future activists. Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/m4Qqz61WI4k It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

June 20, 2026Episode 1648 min

Episode 201

The students are back! And so is Reformasi Dispatch co-founder Jeff Hutton, who rejoins Erin and Kevin after his academic sojourn. He shares his impressions of Indonesia's latest generation of campus youth -- their views, changes over time, and the pressures they face. Plus, insights on the Jakarta protests that producer Steven Handoko covered up close in person. And finally: a look at the government's messaging on the rupiah and conditions for investment. It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

June 9, 2026Episode 1545 min

Episode 200

After a precipitous drop in both the rupiah and the Indonesian Stock Index, Kevin and Erin round up the assorted moves implemented by the government to bolster confidence and restore stability (spoiler: there were none). Next, do a sudden spate of arrests denote rifts between rival elements of the security forces? And what do the contents of suspects' garages tell us? Finally, the Palace reaction to criticism of Prabowo's penchant for Paris, and a ditty about the energy minister pairs a delightful tune with venomous lyrics. It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

May 31, 2026Episode 1441 min

Season 6 Episode 14

As the rupiah continues to slide, the government is exacerbating business sentiment by imposing an export marketing board for palm oil, coal and ferroalloys. Kevin and Erin discuss the background, implications, and outlook in the latest edition of the Reformasi Dispatch podcast on Indonesian politics and policymaking. Also in this episode: a fourth presidential visit to Paris; the Army's Pesta Babi counter-narrative (spoiler: it was Soros); and the EU Parliament calls for accountability for the Andrie Yunus acid attack. It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us. You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!