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CANADALAND

CANADALANDwww.canadaland.com

The best newspaper in Canada is a podcast.


Original reporting, sharp political analysis, and media criticism you won’t get anywhere else.  Keeping you informed about what’s happening now in your country.

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Episodes

How to UnF*ck the CBC

It's so normal to complain about the CBC that it's hard to imagine that one day, maybe one day soon, there may no longer be a CBC to complain about. The Conservatives are campaigning on defunding it. The Mother Corp. itself can’t seem to figure out which way is up, particularly when it comes to television ratings. Sure, radio still pulls in the numbers, but what is the future of radio itself? So, is CBC f*cked, like f*cked as in doomed? How do we unf*ck it? F*ck if I know. So we’re asking you, d...

Mar 03, 202549 minEp. 1116

Screw You, Wayne Gretzky

Why not being American is at the core of Canadian identity.  With Canada’s big win at the 4 Nations and SNL’s 50th anniversary, Canada entered the American zeitgeist. But is there more to Canadian identity than hockey, poutine, and not being American?   Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Rahim Mohamed   Further reading:  Opinion: This was...

Feb 28, 202529 minEp. 1115

Cross Country F*ckUp

Canadians are furious at CBC’s Cross Country Checkup trainwreck.   Plus, why did CBC’s new mandate sit on Trudeau’s desk for months? National Post’s Rahim Mohamed co-hosts.  We want to hear from you! Tell Jesse your plan to “Unfuck the CBC.”   On Thursday, February 27th, 1pm ET/10am PT, go to www.callinstudio.com/show/canadaland   or call us toll-free at 1 888 401 7056 Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical ...

Feb 26, 202539 minEp. 1114

Is There Going to Be a War Over the Arctic?

The Arctic is quickly becoming the center of a geopolitical shitstorm. We’re talking power, resources, and territory at stake. And everyone wants a piece of it. Donald Trump floated taking Greenland and Canada to make his claim. But he’s not the only one. Russia’s making moves. So is China. And Canada? Politicians, left and right, are talking about it. Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Gavin John, a freelance journalist embedded in the Arctic, and asks, what’s really at stake for Canada in the Arc...

Feb 25, 202537 minEp. 1113

Preston Manning goes BEAST MODE

Has everybody lost their minds? Are we buying guns and deploying troops and making plans to fend off a U.S. invasion?  Are some of us pre-emptively surrendering, trying to be the first to bend a knee and curry favour with our inevitable orange overlord?  What happened to our steely northern resolve? We’re supposed to survey the histrionics of our melodramatic American neighbours, and then we make measured, sober, judicious decisions. When did we forget how to do that? Maybe right now w...

Feb 24, 202537 minEp. 1112

Where’s Pierre?

This episode of CANADALAND dives into Pierre Poilievre's recent "Canada First" rally and assesses his rebranding efforts amidst slipping poll numbers. The discussion explores the impact of Trumpism on Canadian politics, the challenges Poilievre faces in shifting his messaging, and the media's evolving narrative around his leadership. It also touches on Canadian identity, sovereignty, and the influence of new media outlets.

Feb 21, 202528 minEp. 1111

Court Shuts Down Podcast That Helped Expose Alberta Scandal

The $6 million lawsuit that killed an indie Alberta podcast.  Nate Pike’s The Breakdown has been covering allegations of corruption in Danielle Smith’s government until a court order forced him to shut down.  Plus, how Donald Trump Jr. hooked Canada’s premiers up with an $85 000 a month lobbying contract. Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown ...

Feb 19, 202530 minEp. 1110

Jagmeet Singh On Why He Won't Step Down

Jagmeet Singh has taken a lot of shit: his nice watch, his ambivalence on taking down the Liberals, and of course his polling. But he says he’s not giving up. He says he’s here to win. Sit down with Noor as she goes past the “corporate interest” talking points and grills the leader on all things NDP. Why doesn’t he have a successor? Why won’t he step down? Why is he so fancy for a lefty? Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Produce...

Feb 18, 202536 minEp. 1109

Did Canada Fund Putin's Propaganda? Or Censor Journalism?

The documentary Russians at War shows the invasion of Ukraine from the point of view of Moscow's troops. The doc was supposed to screen during the Toronto International Film Festival, but organisers cancelled a screening amid protests and over threats to festival operations and public safety. A large part of the film’s funding came through TVO, Ontario's public broadcaster. The filmmaker is a Russian-Canadian, Anastasia Trofimova, who once worked for Russian state-funded broadcaster RT. Trofimov...

Feb 17, 202539 minEp. 1108

Did America Just Dump Us?

Somebody That I U.S. to Know. Jan Wong joins for a special Valentine’s Day farewell to the Canada-US romance.  Plus, is PornHub ethical?    Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Jan Wong Send tips/stories about Girls Gone Wild to [email protected]   Episode image is AI generated.    Further Reading on Our Website   Spon...

Feb 14, 202530 minEp. 1107

The Master Plan of Mad King Donny

Is there order to Trump’s tariff chaos? Jan Wong joins to discuss steel and aluminum tariffs, and whether Trump has a plan behind his bullying and bluster.  Plus, whatever happened with the inquiry into foreign interference in our elections?  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Jan Wong   Further reading:  Carson Je...

Feb 12, 202529 minEp. 1106

Man of Steel, Nation of Bloat

The government hired 110,000 workers over the past 10 years, did we get 110,000 times more efficient? It doesn’t look like it, but veteran public servant Michael Wernick breaks it all down for Noor.  And, yes folks, we’re talking about tariffs again, because Donald Trump enacted a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, with NO exceptions. Plus, our nominations for Fentanyl Czar, and the defamation case against Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, CIJA, and Ezra Levant....

Feb 11, 202528 minEp. 1105

Perverts, Punks, and Queers: a Tribute to the Zine Underground

McInnes and Goldstein both started in zines. The underground DIY magazine culture of the 80s and 90s. Zines were homemade photocopied pamphlets about anything and everything. As long as you had paper, glue, staples, maybe a few shitty drawings, and you could sneak access to a photocopier, you could publish your own zine. Nobody went viral, nobody made money, no one was an influencer, but thousands of people devoted heart and soul to making their own zines. And when they did, well, who even ...

Feb 10, 202535 minEp. 1104

Has Poilievre Peaked?

Poilievre’s slogans can’t compete with “Buy Canadian.”  Trudeau’s speech inspires a groundswell of national unity, while Poilievre watches from the sidelines. The Tyee’s Jen St Denis joins Noor Azrieh for a vibe check on federal politics. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Jen St Denis   Further Reading on Our Website  ...

Feb 07, 202529 minEp. 1103

You Got a Fentanyl Czar, I Got a Plan to Get Us Out of Here

A tariff reprieve and the trade war that wasn’t.  Trump’s tariff threats caused a frenzy of breaking news coverage, but can we really fault Canadian news outlets for reporting Trump’s every move?  Jen St. Denis of the Tyee joins Noor Azrieh to assess the breathless tariff coverage and what we’ve learned so far about covering Trump 2.0.  Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Sam Konnert (Fact Check), max collins (Director of Audio), J...

Feb 05, 202528 minEp. 1102

Three Businesses Jerked Around by Trump

On Saturday, President Trump followed through with his promise of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods and 10 percent on energy. We clapped back with our own. But late yesterday, after a couple of calls between the two leaders, Trump relented after Trudeau said he outlined Canada’s $1.3 billion border plan and also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl. Trump said he’d pause for 30 days.   A trade war is bad, but some businesses might fare better than othe...

Feb 04, 202529 minEp. 1101

A Weird Way to Win the Trade War with Trump

Today’s show is about a novel strategy for Canada to fight back against Trump’s Trade War. Trump is set to slap tariffs on Canada starting Tuesday February 4. Trudeau swiftly answered that tit with tat. Prices go up and nearly everyone loses. That’s how a trade war goes, two countries slap themselves in the face until one of them can’t take it anymore and cries uncle.   The whole thing is just so dumb.  So, is there any other way to fight back? Something smarter?  Novelist, e...

Feb 03, 202532 minEp. 1100

Why Poilievre is “Unaware” of Transgender People

Emboldened by Trump, Poilievre denies the existence of trans people in an interview on CP24. Dale Smith joins to unpack why Poilievre is playing dumb on gender and the serious stakes for trans rights in Canada. Plus, DeepSeek, Energy East, and Jesse responds to angry emails about BMI.   Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Noor Azrieh (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Dale Smith   Further ...

Jan 31, 202533 minEp. 1099

Big Doug Energy

Doug Ford cashes in his “Captain Canada” chips. Following a US media blitz, Ford is asking for a new mandate from Ontarians to bolster his ability to negotiate with Trump. Dale Smith joins to explain why this narrative is nonsense.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Noor Azrieh (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Dale Smith   Further reading:  Doug Ford has gone on ...

Jan 29, 202522 minEp. 1098

Did Jagmeet Singh Miss His Big Chance?

When Justin Trudeau stepped down earlier this month, it should have been the perfect opportunity for Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to swing the narrative. To seize control. But they haven’t done any of that. What used to be Canada’s worker’s party seems like a shell of its former self. Why can’t they reach voters when everything is up in the air? This week Noor sits down with columnist and critic Max Fawcett, and former NDP strategist Mélanie Richer to unpack Singh’s woes. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits:...

Jan 28, 202531 minEp. 1097

Treason! Does Canada Have A Traitor Problem?

This week the government’s long-awaited report on foreign interference will drop. Will it tell us if Canada has a traitor problem? Over the last two years there’s been a slew of headlines around allegedly compromised members of parliament, the machinations of nefarious foreign governments, scorched reputations, the muck has been raked and the mud slung. All of our major political parties have come under fire. And the source of that fire has run the gamut from the upper echelons of CSIS to TikTok...

Jan 27, 202531 minEp. 1096

Zuckerberg and Musk are Just like Edison and Ford: A**holes

Social media is a mess and the tech oligarchs are to blame. San Grewal of The Pointer joins to assess the damage caused when coders replace publishers. Plus, a boomer cell defends us from Trump and the Liberals axe their own tax.  Check out our latest investigation, The Copernic Affair on the Canadaland Investigates feed. Follow The Copernic Affair wherever you get your podcasts: https://canadaland.lnk.to/copernic-affair   Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Th...

Jan 24, 202531 minEp. 1095

The Real Reason Elon Musk Threw Up A Sieg Heil

What Trump’s inauguration lacked in tariffs, it made up for in egregious salutes. The Pointer’s San Grewal joins to critique the Canadian coverage of Trump’s negotiation tactics, and unpack Elon Musk’s dog-whistling antics.     Our latest investigation, The Copernic Affair , launches today on the Canadaland Investigates feed. Follow The Copernic Affair wherever you get your podcasts: https://canadaland.lnk.to/copernic-affair   Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Produ...

Jan 22, 202530 minEp. 1094

Trump Almost Forgot to Bully Us

Donald Trump’s back, but Canada is STILL divided on how to respond. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has gone rogue, Doug Ford just wants everyone to look at his cool new hat. It’s an economic threat, but also threatens to pull our very identity apart. Are we just supposed to sit and wait? To break it down, Noor welcomes Wall Street Journal reporter Vipal Monga, and UBC lecturer Stewart Prest. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Pro...

Jan 21, 202538 minEp. 1093

Terrorist or Scapegoat?

In 1980 someone detonated a bomb outside a synagogue in Paris. Four people were killed. Suspicion immediately fell on French neo-nazi groups. But soon investigators turned their attention to groups from the Middle East. Then the case went cold. For decades. Then, in 2008, the RCMP arrested an Ottawa-based sociology professor. What follows is a twisting tale of extradition, years of interrogation, and ultimately a trial and conviction in absentia. But today the person at the heart of the story, H...

Jan 20, 202532 minEp. 1092

A Conservative on How Canada Is Already F’Ing up With Trump

Why Canada needs to get its sh*t together NOW. Former Conservative MP James Moore joins to consider the response to Trump’s rhetoric, and the economic reality facing Canada in the coming months.   Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Check), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: James Moore   Further reading:  Canada as the 51st State? | TVO Today   Opinion | ...

Jan 17, 202522 minEp. 1091

Should Jesse Run for Parliament?

Amid an exodus in the Liberal Party, Mark Carney teases a leadership bid on the Daily Show, and Jesse ponders a future in politics. Former Conservative MP James Moore joins to break down the Liberal breakdown, and consider the unknown unknowns facing Canadian politics in 2025.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Check), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: James Moore Photo is...

Jan 15, 202524 minEp. 1090

Interview With a Young Lefty

Join Noor Azrieh and Sam Konnert for a discussion to bid farewell to key legislation that is likely to be lost due to Parliament's prorogation. From the Online Harms Act, to clean drinking water for First Nation communities, there’s a lot to mourn. And, how could a new liberal leader possibly win back young men? We speak with Aiden Fox Ivey, who reached out after he heard our interview with a conservative bro. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azri...

Jan 14, 202533 minEp. 1089

The Sweatshop Workers Who Power A.I.

Siri has a body. AI’s most familiar voice is not just a disembodied all-knowing benefactor of trivia, recipes, and everything else you can’t recall (or never knew) at any particular moment. According to Professor James Muldoon, author of Feeding the Machine: The Hidden Human Labour Powering AI, “... AI has a material body and exists only through new chips, servers and cables being manufactured and added to the machine. And just like a physical body, AI's material structure needs constant nourish...

Jan 13, 202532 minEp. 1088

Gaze Ye Upon the Viral Success of Jordan Peterson's Poilievre Interview, and Despair!

Was Pierre Poilievre’s conversation with Jordan Peterson the most popular political interview in Canadian history? Frank Domenic joins to break down what Poilievre’s viral podcast appearance can tell us about the future of media in Canada.  Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Frank Domenic   Further reading:  Canada's Next Prime Minister | Pierre Po...

Jan 10, 202536 minEp. 1087