Reformasi Dispatch
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.
Episodes
150 episodes
Season 4 Episode 42 (with Lauri Myllyvirta)
In this episode: 12% VAT confirmed for 2025, Jokowi's absence from Golkar's event and ouster from PDI-P. And a talk with Lauri Myllyvirta of CREA on Prabowo's ambitious energy transition plan.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go...
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Season 4
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Episode 42
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1:21:04
Season 4 Episode 41 (With Khoirunnisa Agustyati)
In this episode: a welcome volte-face on prisoner exchanges; another rise in fiscal-policy stakes; and a plan for expanding the Army. Also: Khoirunnisa Agustyati of Perludem discussed the regional-head elections and upcoming political-law...
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Season 4
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Episode 41
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1:07:04
Season 4 Episode 40 (With Bert Gochet)
In this episode: Verbal brawls in Manila escalate between Marcos and VP Duterte, preliminary results of Pilkada in Indonesia. Plus, an interview with the economic analyst Bert Gochet on the interactions between geopolitical uncertainties and&nb...
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Season 4
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Episode 40
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1:08:31
Season 4 Episode 39 (with Seth Soderborg)
In this episode: A special episode on the upcoming Pilkada (regional elections) with Seth Soderborg of SNS Analytics.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.infoRead Erin's ...
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Season 4
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Episode 39
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56:51
Season 4 Episode 38 (with Ristian Atriandi)
In this episode: Interview with Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto of Universitas Indonesia on Indonesia and China's joint agreement regarding South China Sea. Also: New SMRC polling on Jakarta race, Prabowo's visit to US.For a free tria...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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49:52
Season 4 Episode 37
Season 4 Episode 37: Prabowo's moves, US election impact, Labor Law, electoral reformsFor a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.infoRead Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut ...
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Season 4
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Episode 37
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34:19
Season 4 Episode 36 (With Anindya Restuviani)
In this episode: Interview with Anindya Restuviani of Jakarta Feminist. Also: inauguration address, cabinet contours, arrest by AGO, BRICSmembership, new agencies. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to
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Season 4
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Episode 36
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1:06:08
Season 4 Episode 35 (with Herald Van Der Linde)
Interview with 'Majapahit' author Herald van der Linde - pluralism, commerce and justice in pre-modern Indonesia. Plus, a look at the likely new cabinet roster with some positive late-stage alterations.For a free trial of Reformas...
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Season 4
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Episode 35
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1:14:30
Season 4 Episode 34
In this episode: Asean Summit, Jakarta governor debate, investigation in South Kalimantan, fiscal deficit outlook, cabinet-roster prognostications.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformas...
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Season 4
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Episode 34
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44:55
Season 4 Episode 33 (With Rio Tuasikal)
This week: Erin Cook talks to Rio Tuasikal on his paper regarding media coverage of AI in Indonesia. Also, Regional-head races, ethanol production, cabinet formation and new legislative leadershipsRead Rio Tuasikal's research on me...
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Season 4
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Episode 33
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1:08:52
Season 4 Episode 32 (With James Guild)
This week: Sri Mulyani speculation, Kiwi pilot released, cabinet rumors and sand exports. Also: Prof James Guild discusses the Widodo-era legacy of infrastructure development.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to
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Season 4
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Episode 32
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55:27
Season 4 Episode 31
This week: the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) takeover, Widodo's offspring under fire, and updates on the politics of regional-head elections.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to refor...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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38:44
The Indonesian Toggle for Democracy (with Wahyu Dhyatmika)
Following the profound setback to democratization from Golkar's takeover, constitutional justices undertook a spirited effort to restore competition to regional-head elections -- only for parliament to countermand the court a day later with a R...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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1:00:59
Golkar In Subordination
President Widodo and Prabowo Subianto need no longer contend with restiveness from Indonesia's second-largest party: Golkar Chair Airlangga Hartarto sensationally resigned and his replacement will be the Widodo-Prabowo loyalist Bahlil Lahadahli...
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Season 4
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Episode 29
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1:13:00
Empty Boxes, Now More than Ever
This week, Southeast Asia's politics witnessed the dissolution of Thailand's most popular party (again), and strides in Indonesia's regional‑head elections to thwart the administration's rivals -- in which case, ballots in November may literall...
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Season 4
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Episode 28
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44:09
The French Connection: Prabowo's State Visit to Paris
Indonesia's president-elect set a distinctive tone by making visits to France, Serbia, Turkey and Russia. Kevin and Erin examine some takeaways (more on the Kremlin call in the next pod.) Meanwhile, President Widodo breaks in the Nu...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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32:48
Trong's Wake and Vietnam's Next Course (with Mike Tatarski)
The passing of the Communist Party's general secretary has the makings of a watershed for modern Vietnam - yet the public domain is distinctly unruffled. To talk through the reactions and implications of the unfolding transition, we reach...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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1:02:58
Horses for Courses: Poll Data on Pole Positions in Indonesia's Upcoming Regional-Head Races (with Seth Soderberg)
In a special 1-hr interview, Reformasi Dispatch consults the Indonesian polling expert, Dr Seth Soderberg, on a new batch of survey findings for gubernatorial contests in five major provinces. With contests taking place in over 570 region...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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1:00:17
Ransomware or Randomware? Indonesia's Bizarre National Data Hack (with Nenden Sekar Arum)
Curious circumstances surround June's hack of a national data center (PDNS II) and Nenden of Safenet, a premier CSO on online rights, joins the pod to help de-encrypt. We discuss the safety protocols, the hackers' demands and where accoun...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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54:12
Myanmar's Myriad Crises (with Ragyeshri Sudaroli); Indonesia's Remorseful Hackers
For a comprehensive overview of the dynamics unfolding in Myanmar, Erin and Kevin consult Apac Assistance analyst Ragyeshri Sudaroli, who underscores the imperative for expanding humanitarian assistance as violence displaces three million Myanm...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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51:10
Myopia on Myanmar: How ASEAN Could Do More (with Kasit Piromya)
Thai politics and contingencies across its Myanmar border are among the topics discussed in our latest podcast with Kasit Piromya, a longstanding activist with ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and a former foreign minister of Thai...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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1:07:27
Particulate Matter Matters: 'Sick Building' Syndrome in Jakarta (with Piotr Jakubowski)
The health consequences of suspended particles in Jakarta's air -- and safeguards applicable indoors -- come under scrutiny in this episode's interview with Piotr Jakubowski of Nafas, a provider of indoor air-quality monitoring and purifying.&n...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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1:11:48
Political Thai-nosaurs: Aversion to Move Forward in Thailand's Establishment (with Titipol Phakdeewanich)
The Reformasi Dispatch podcast delves into turbulence in Thai politics with the director of the Regional Centre for Human Rights Studies at Isan's Ubon Ratchathani University. Amid charges against Thaksin, a move to dissolve Move For...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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46:14
Apocalypse ca-Now-al: Cambodia's Mekong Canal Plan
Imminent excavation to divert part of the Mekong through Cambodia has alarmed Vietnam. Is this a Chinese‑supported stratagem to use water a geo-political leverage? Also, Erin and Kevin discuss high-stakes political wrangling over sh...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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31:22
Old Law, New Law (Outlaw In-Law)
Indonesia's parliament has returned to session and a flurry of bills reveals plenty about the designs of the allied outgoing and incoming presidents. Among them, a 4th bill on a key judicial entity. Also: Erin and Kevin discuss Sing...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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32:42