The CBC is broken: how should it be fixed? Defund the whole thing? Refund the whole thing? Double down on digital? Stop chasing digital relevance? The list goes on and on. You've heard them all. But for a moment, forget about funding or even political bias. Just ask: why does the CBC exist? What is its underlying ideology? Not its political ideology, but its philosophy for why we need it. Does it have one? Does it need one? If it does have one, is it working or is that what needs to change? Davi...
Dec 08, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1276
A story in The Local reveals how AI writing is infiltrating newsrooms, flooding inboxes, and snagging bylines in major outlets. Is the rise of the AI journalist inevitable or is it already here? Jay Caspian Kang of the New Yorker joins to consider if a chatbot could write his column. This episode uses generative AI for the following purposes : Episode tile art Host: James Nicholson Credits: Jules Bugiel (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Director of Audio & Fact Checking...
Dec 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1275
Every year for the past 11 or so years, Canadaland has run a crowdfunding campaign in the fall. We finished up this year’s campaign in late November, and so we wanted to hear from you, about what we should do with all of your hard earned money. After all, Jesse Brown has said that “We work for you.” You filled up the lines for two hours and let Sam know all of your ideas. Here are the highlights. Host: Sam Konnert Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), max colli...
Dec 04, 2025•1 min•Ep. 13
It’s been one year since Trump started threatening Canada’s economy and our sovereignty. But with all this story’s twists and turns, have Canadians grown complacent about what’s at stake? Producer James Nicholson steps into the host’s chair to make a bold case that Canada isn’t just in a tariff war. We’re in a cold war. And we need to start acting like it. American writer and podcaster Jay Caspian Kang weighs in. Host: James Nicholson Credits: Jules Bugiel (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Edito...
Dec 03, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1274
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been pressuring Prime Minister Mark Carney for months on a new pipeline to the BC coast, and after a new MOU, she’s closer than ever. Host Noor Azrieh unpacks this deal with The Hub’s Falice Chin. Plus, a mini cabinet shuffle. And reporter Sam Konnert takes us behind the velvet rope of the Hill’s E-list “exclusive” event. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio E...
Dec 02, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1273
One of the world’s biggest online gaming sites, Roblox, is in the courts. The cases involve the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor, online harassment, and business practices that lead to addiction. That last charge, involving addiction, is connected to an aspect of online gaming that’s passing mostly under the radar. The “gamblification” of games for children. It’s a charge that’s been levelled at not just Roblox but a number of other high profile companies from Microsoft to Ubisoft. Tricks ...
Dec 01, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1272
Canada is pulling back from progressive policies, but were we ever really committed to them in the first place? Whether it’s the reversal on DEI from BMO, RBC, and Shopify or Carney’s shift away from a feminist foreign policy, Canada is quietly pivoting from Trudeau-era progressive policies. Plus, concerns over Quebec’s proposed constitution and the Blue Jays get aggressive in Japan. Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb T...
Nov 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1271
A cocaine lawyer, a crime blog, and a $15 million reward. Eight more Canadians are arrested and a sensational new indictment from Operation Giant Slalom puts the Ryan Wedding case back in the headlines around the world. But how is Ryan Wedding’s background shaping the coverage? Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Morgan Campbell...
Nov 26, 2025•37 min•Ep. 1270
The federal NDP leadership race is officially on. Five candidates want the job, and each of them thinks they know how to rescue a party that's been drifting into irrelevance. In this special episode, Noor sits down with all five contenders (Tony McQuail, Rob Ashton, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, and Tanille Johnston) for an unfiltered, no-notes conversation about who they are, and how they plan on winning. Episode art by max collins. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sa...
Nov 25, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1269
In October, seven OBGYNs at a Kamloops, B.C. hospital signed a letter of resignation. Those seven were the only OBGYNs in the city. We’re used to bad headlines about Canada’s healthcare system. Lack of family doctors, emergency room wait times, delayed procedures, but this was different. Mass resignation threatening an entire branch of treatment for the whole city. The letter of resignation is effectively a protest, a warning. The physicians who signed it say their workload is untenable and is p...
Nov 24, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1268
Is Canada’s A.I. champion eating the news? Canada is betting big on Cohere, but a lawsuit alleges that the company’s flagship LLM is bypassing paywalls and hallucinating content. What happens to the news industry if A.I. continues to run amok? Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Douglas Soltys Additional music by...
Nov 21, 2025•41 min•Ep. 1267
It’s crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! Sign up today and receive a FREE Canadaland merch pack. Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today. To donate funding so we can complete this series, email jesse@canadaland.com Police statistics say that a Jew in Canada is now 9 times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than a Jew in the United States. Others dispute this data, and say antizionism is being conflated with antisemitism. So what’s the truth? Host Jesse Brown begins to invest...
Nov 20, 2025•50 min
CSIS Director Daniel Rogers steps out of the shadows. For the first time in the history of CSIS, Canada’s top spy holds a press conference. His talking points included youth radicalization, Arctic security, and data sovereignty. But why is he talking now? This episode uses generative AI for the following purposes : several instances of voice cloning of host Jesse Brown to use "they" and "them" pronouns when referring to Kristyn Wong-Tam It’s crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! The next 10 peo...
Nov 19, 2025•40 min•Ep. 1266
The budget Carney’s been trying to sell to Canadians finally went to a vote. Sam Konnert brings host Noor Azrieh into the room where it happened. Plus, the Liberals say they’re “taking back control” of Canada’s immigration system. They’re study permits and temporary residents by half. But what happens to the 3 million people already here? Noor talks to immigration expert Rupa Banerjee about whether this is a fix… or the start of Canada’s next crisis. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Sen...
Nov 18, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1265
Noor Azrieh talks to Jesse Brown about his new Canadaland series, What Is Happening Here? It’s no secret that Jesse Brown and Canadaland have had more than a few struggles, online and in the office, since October 7. But, eventually, Jesse Brown swore off Twitter and then the dust (and the office) settled, mostly. Now Jesse is about to launch a new series where he travels across Canada, mic in hand, to talk with rabbis, activists, politicians, scholars, artists, Muslims, and Jews. People whose li...
Nov 17, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1264
Grieving a World Series of feelings. The Blue Jays may have lost, but they inspired coverage that captured our national mood. Reflections on heartbreak, baseball, and the relatable physique of Alejandro Kirk. It’s crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! The next 10 people to sign up today will receive a subscription to Canada’s National Observer PLUS a one-year subscription to Crooked Media. Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today. Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Ju...
Nov 14, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1263
It’s crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! The next 30 people to sign up today will receive a one-year subscription to Tangle News! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 13, 2025•10 min
After months of legal battles, the ostriches are dead. RFK Jr, Dr Oz, Rebel Media, and a motley crew of protestors rallied to save a flock of B.C. ostriches who had contracted avian flu and were subsequently ordered to be culled. What can the story of the ostriches tell us about the loss of public trust, the knock-on effects of COVID, and the horseshoe theory of politics? Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Au...
Nov 12, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1262
There’s chaos in Ottawa! Green Party leader Elizabeth May doesn’t want to ruin Christmas with an election… but she says she will if Mark Carney doesn’t budge. And in B.C., a court ruling is throwing private property rights —and maybe even Canada’s map — into question. Host Noor gets the story from The Tyee’s Andrew MacLeod. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Col...
Nov 11, 2025•37 min•Ep. 1261
Picture yourself driving north of Toronto into big-box suburban territory. You turn off into a little industrial parkade. There's a Keg, a Moxies, and then a stubby beige office building, six storeys high. In a fifth floor suite you will find Canso Investment Counsel Limited. Canso might be the most powerful media company that we have never talked about here at Canadaland. And they may be one of the few companies in Canada that is still making serious money off of Canadian news companies. Who ar...
Nov 10, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1260
Poilievre’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week. With MP Chris d’Entremont crossing the floor and MP Matt Jeneroux puzzling resignation, the Conservative caucus is scrambling. Plus, can the Liberals and NDP actually resonate with young Canadians? It’s crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! The next 20 people to sign up today will receive a FREE one-year subscription to Longview. Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules B...
Nov 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1259
We all have things that we’re experts in. They could be our jobs, they could be hobbies, they could be random bits of information you’ve gleaned from podcasts over the years. So then you find yourself sitting in your car, listening to somebody on the radio yap on about a topic and get it ALL WRONG. Frustrating, for sure. So today, we wanted to hear from you, what does the media get wrong about your area of expertise. And the lines were filled for the whole two hours. Here’s the best of it. Host:...
Nov 06, 2025•3 min•Ep. 12
Carney’s much-anticipated budget is finally here. Will it trigger an election? Rachael Segal joins Noor Azrieh to unpack the “Christmas election” hysteria around the budget. Then, Sam Konnert reports on where the media, the CBC, and Eurovision fit into Carney’s plans. Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Rachael Segal , Sam Konnert Addi...
Nov 05, 2025•41 min•Ep. 1258
Last week, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith used the notwithstanding clause to shut down the teachers’ strike and force them back to work. Why? Host Sam Konnert talks with labour expert Jason Foster about how politicians are quietly learning from each other and testing limits. And he sits down with a teacher to talk about what it’s really like inside Alberta classrooms. Plus: A Liberal Budget that might send us to the polls The Supreme Court controversially strikes down mandatory minimums for chil...
Nov 04, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1257
Is Trump’s crazy train an existential threat to Canada or an existential opportunity? Cory Doctorow gave the world the concept of “ensh*ttification”. Doctorow’s doctrine says there is a gradual but inevitable process by which tech platforms go from marvelous and novel and exciting to, well, they go to sh*t. They get less useful and more spammy. Your Netflix library gets smaller while your monthly fee gets bigger. It gets harder to find the Google link you were looking for underneath all the spon...
Nov 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1256
Carney campaigned on building Canada from within, but now trade dominates the headlines and the talking points. Why aren’t we hearing more about how to future-proof the Canadian economy by focusing on sectors like banking, tech, and clean energy? Plus, potential Poilievre replacements, and fiscal report cards. Host: San Grewal Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Aud...
Oct 31, 2025•35 min•Ep. 1255
Doug Ford has no regrets as his Reagan ad derails trade talks with Trump. He’s once again making the rounds on American media, but is this a win for “Captain Canada” or just another distraction from his failures in Ontario? Plus, why Blue Jays fans are louder on Fox than they are on Sportsnet. We’re doing another call-in show! We’re asking you: What do you think the media consistently gets wrong? If you’ve ever been frustrated by the way something’s been covered because you know better, now is t...
Oct 29, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1254
Justice Minister Sean Fraser just dropped Bill C-14, a new bail reform bill — the third one in seven years. After provinces, cops, the opposition, and Joe Schmoe from the corner store all demanded a crackdown on “catch and release,” the Liberals are trying again to fix Canada’s bail system. But what if the system isn’t actually broken? Host Noor Azrieh talks with criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt about what’s really behind the bail panic. Plus: Doug Ford vs. Donald Trump — a Reagan-themed a...
Oct 28, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1253
The man known as Commander X helped orchestrate some of the most audacious cyber attacks in the world. Attacks against governments and corporations, even ranging as far as whaling ships, satellites, and the Pope. In the U.S. he was a wanted man. The charges against him could have brought decades behind bars. So how did he pull off hiding in plain sight, for years, at a coffee shop in downtown Toronto? Host: Jesse Brown Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce T...
Oct 27, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1252
Canada is renewing trade ties with China and India, but are willing to forget our complicated history with these two nations? Do we even have a choice? Plus, the Globe and Mail returns to China and goes to a fish market, and the CBC’s brave new plan to win over people who don’t like the CBC. Host: Jesse Brown Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Jules Bugiel (Associate producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (...
Oct 24, 2025•43 min•Ep. 1251
