Two of this country’s former top military leaders are facing accusations of sexual misconduct. Last week, recently appointed chief of defence staff Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside after it was discovered he was under investigation by the military's National Investigation Service; his predecessor, Gen. Jonathan Vance is also under investigation for inappropriate behaviour. All of this has had many people wondering: what did Canada’s minister of defence know, and when did he know it? Opposition...
Mar 04, 2021•27 min
DC is in the midst of confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s new cabinet — and some of his picks are generating controversy. Today, a deep dive into just one of the nominees, Neera Tanden. While she may not be a household name, Tanden is a useful lens through which to examine the layers of DC culture. With strikes against her on both the left and right, it’s worth examining why the Biden administration is going to bat for such a polarizing figure. But first, a quick debrief on the Conse...
Mar 01, 2021•38 min
Last week, the federal government unveiled new legislation that would relax penalties for certain drug offences. It doesn’t go as far as decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of certain drugs — something many advocates, municipal leaders, public health officials, even chiefs of police have called for — but could it be a sign of shifting perspectives at the national level? As the opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of Canadians, Rosie and Elamin wonder whether more progressive dr...
Feb 25, 2021•28 min
American Christianity is a complex thing, and there’s plenty of diversity in terms of denomination, theology and belief. But over the last four years, white Christians who describe themselves as Evangelical or born again have consistently rated President Donald Trump highly. In fact, the tightly woven alliance between the religious right, Evangelicals and the Republican Party was fundamental to Trump's success. But as the former president moves on, where does that leave the Christian right? For ...
Feb 22, 2021•29 min
This week saw more calls for Canada to boycott or move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of Beijing. Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said the government of China is engaged in a genocide of its Uighur population, and urged a relocation of the Games — or, failing that, a serious examination of whether Canadian athletes should compete. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Annamie Paul have also called for the Games to be moved elsewhere; a rare coming together of viewpoints among opposition...
Feb 18, 2021•24 min
It was the most bipartisan impeachment trial in U.S. history but in the end, the Democrats could not sway enough Republicans to state that Donald Trump’s actions played a role in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. The U.S. is still coming to terms with the events of that day which left five dead and over 140 injured. While Trump’s acquittal — which allows him to still run for office — might seem like a win for the former president, it is only the beginning of what could be an un...
Feb 16, 2021•28 min
If you’re feeling stir-crazy these days, you’re not alone — Elamin and Rosie are both feeling way overdue for some haircuts. But as provinces all across the country take steps to lift lockdown measures, or in some cases simply allow for more indoor activities, the two can’t help but wonder: is now the time to do it? Coronavirus variants have been detected in seven out of Canada’s 10 provinces, and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledges these more contagious variants could spur ...
Feb 11, 2021•23 min
A battle is underway for the future of the Republican Party, just as former President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is about to begin. This week, we take a closer look at two GOP congresswomen — the Trump-wary Liz Cheney and the conspiracy theory-spouting Marjorie Taylor Greene. The two politicians represent different directions for the Republican party in a post-Trump world, one where the internal divisions in the party seem increasingly difficult to reconcile within the GOP tent. Ela...
Feb 08, 2021•32 min
The Proud Boys, a group operating in Canada, who were players in the U.S. Capitol attack have been listed as a terrorist organization in this country. This makes Canada the first country to take this step. Rosie and Elamin lay out what a terrorist designation actually means, how many new tools it offers the government, and who else was added to the list. (Hint: several white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups.) This kind of designation makes for a strong statement, but what impact might it actually...
Feb 04, 2021•25 min
Since we last checked in President Joe Biden has signed even more executive orders, including directives to advance racial equity and expand health care. He’s also got that big COVID-19 relief bill to get through Congress, and the massive issue of climate change to move up the agenda. By contrast, former President Donald Trump — who faces his impeachment trial on February 8th — had his five lawyers quit this weekend. This week Elamin calls up Seung Min Kim, White House reporter for the Washingto...
Feb 02, 2021•38 min
Two significant news stories have taken over political headlines since Elamin and Rosie dropped their last episode. The first involves some heavy hints from the federal government that tighter travel restrictions are just around the corner. Rosie and Elamin wonder if new COVID-19 variants are behind the push for stricter rules — though as of right now, international travel accounts for less than two per cent of coronavirus cases in Canada. Why has travel become a priority when other methods of c...
Jan 28, 2021•21 min
It's been just under a week since Joe Biden took office as the 46th president of the United States, and already so much has changed. Biden is quickly reversing Trump's policies, working to get major legislation passed to curb the coronavirus and fix the economy. We’re also hearing from people like Anthony Fauci who were muzzled by the Trump administration and are now speaking freely and looking much happier. Trump, meanwhile, has been kicked off social media and he's facing an impeachment trial....
Jan 25, 2021•29 min
There’s a new president in the White House — and one of Joe Biden’s very first executive actions has a big impact on Canada. Revoking the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline was reported as a likely priority early in the week, ruffling feathers in Ottawa and Alberta alike. But how much of a surprise was the incoming president’s move, really? And where can Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney go from here? Rosie and Elamin also have another question to ask: ...
Jan 21, 2021•24 min
It’s almost Inauguration Day, and Joe Biden's formal admission to office is going to look very different from any before it. Not only is it taking place during a pandemic, but also as Capitol Hill and state buildings across the country maximize security following the Jan. 6 riots. Today, Elamin calls up Sabrina Siddiqui, national politics reporter for The Wall Street Journal, to review some of the disturbing new details we’ve learned in recent days. Plus, is Trump’s power really diminishing foll...
Jan 18, 2021•29 min
Quebec: under curfew. Ontario: under a stay-at-home order. Manitoba: under lockdown for an extra two weeks. Many Canadians have seen their public health restrictions grow progressively tighter in recent days, but all this has Rosie and Elamin wondering: how many more tools do politicians have at their disposal? As cases continue to rise and we await more vaccinations — which are still weeks and months away, for most of the population — is trust in people and trust in leadership at risk of erodin...
Jan 14, 2021•24 min
On Wednesday, as we recorded last week’s episode, a mob of pro-Trump extremists shocked the country and the world by breaking into the Capitol building. It’s been a few long days since that violent insurrection and we’ve had some time to assess the political fallout. Elamin calls up Paul MacLeod, BuzzFeed’s Capitol Hill reporter, who was on the scene as the chaos unfolded. Plus, he chats with author and scholar Sarah Kendzior who has been predicting something like this for years. (Fingers crosse...
Jan 11, 2021•44 min
By the time you hit play on this episode, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will likely be preparing for his first call of the new year with premiers, where vaccine rollout is expected to top the agenda. Thousands of doses are still waiting in freezers to be administered, which has Rosie and Elamin wondering: what’s the hold up? And is there more the federal government can do, to speed up getting shots in arms? The two also take a close look at the outrage that continues to simmer over certain publi...
Jan 07, 2021•24 min
It’s a historic day in American politics. Much like the general election, the Georgia Senate runoffs have been high stakes nail biters, with Senate control and a lot of Joe Biden’s agenda hanging in the balance. But now, as Democrats celebrate historic wins in both races, Elamin calls up Josh Wingrove, White House reporter for Bloomberg News, to discuss the importance of this moment. Also today, Congress will meet to confirm the presidential election results. Normally, this is a pretty straightf...
Jan 06, 2021•31 min
Rosie and Elamin answer your burning questions as 2020 comes to a close, including: How is this vaccine rollout gonna go? Are we more or less divided than last year? What might the new year hold for federal parties? And: what are you gonna order when the pubs all open up again? The two take a moment to look back at the year that was, before taking some much-needed time off over the holidays — but know that Party Lines will return the first week of January.
Dec 17, 2020•25 min
Party in the U.S.A. is about to take a short break for the holidays — but before we go, we’ve got to talk about Georgia. On January 5th, Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler will face off against Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in two really important races that will basically decide who gets to control the U.S. Senate. And by extension, of course, Senate control will shape how much Joe Biden will actually be able to get done once he’s in office next month. With the stakes so hig...
Dec 14, 2020•34 min
They did it — just like that, Health Canada approved the Pfizer vaccine before even the U.S. did, becoming the third country to give it the green light. But this is hardly the end of the road. Now comes the transportation, the distribution, the getting needles into arms… and while the feds got to announce the good news this week, it’s the provinces who’ll be taking on a lot of the work from here. Elamin and Rosie dive into what this week’s vaccine approval means for the Liberal government, the p...
Dec 10, 2020•27 min
The holidays, like everything else, are going to be different this year. Many will be coping with the loss of a loved one. Others who've lost their jobs will be struggling to put food on the table. And in just a few weeks, about two dozen federal aid programs are set to expire. Experts are predicting widespread hardship in the U.S., unless something is done. This is the context in which the Democrats and Republicans are negotiating a brand new stimulus package. Today Elamin calls up Marissa Evan...
Dec 08, 2020•32 min
Larger deficit? Check. Some stimulus funding, down the line? You bet. A fully fleshed-out plan to support more women through the “she-cession”? Not exactly. Rosie and Elamin map out where expectations didn’t quite match up with reality in this week’s federal economic update, billed as a glimpse into the government’s plans to shape a post-pandemic recovery. Perhaps what’s most apparent following the update is where political parties stand, as the Conservatives used the opportunity to press the Li...
Dec 03, 2020•22 min
Things have been moving quickly since Joe Biden’s transition team got the long-awaited access they need to reboot the U.S. Government. The President-Elect has already formally announced some of his cabinet picks. And now we have a pretty good idea of what his foreign policy and national security team is going to look like. There are also some names trickling out on the domestic front. John Kerry. Jake Sullivan. Janet Yellen — and those are just the Js. These are the people now tasked with gettin...
Dec 01, 2020•32 min
If you’re feeling a little déjà vu, you’re not alone. Rosie and Elamin feel it, too. The Prime Minister has returned to the front steps of his home to deliver regular addresses to Canadians… just like he did, back in March. Has his message changed? Are people listening? The two take stock of Trudeau’s move as more provinces enact stronger public health measures. They also look ahead to next week’s big numbers — the ones that have been growing since March: the ballooning federal deficit. Next Mon...
Nov 26, 2020•25 min
President-Elect Joe Biden can now formally begin the transition process, but that doesn’t mean Trump is giving up the fight. Trump’s legal team is forging ahead with a string of court battles, despite a growing number of both legal losses and high-profile Republicans coming out in support of the handover. This is far from the end of the story. Biden-Harris and their transition team face the difficult task of tackling a pandemic that is raging on and preparing for a complicated vaccine rollout. T...
Nov 24, 2020•38 min
It’s a question at the top of Elamin’s mind, and it’s even the Last Call question for the week: who do you look to for public health advice, as you figure out how to go about your day during the pandemic? Do you tune into local guidance? Or are you more often paying attention to what your province or territory has to say — whether it’s coming from a premier, or a top doctor? And what if their messaging sometimes differs? Elamin and Rosie explore how some premiers have recently responded to criti...
Nov 19, 2020•22 min
It has now been a week since U.S. media networks called the election for Joe Biden. At this point, Biden’s powering ahead with the transition as much as he can. But Donald Trump still has not conceded. And he's still saying, without evidence, that the election was stolen from him. And not only is he talking (and tweeting) about it, he's also fighting the outcome in court and purging top officials. Although several Republicans believe a formal transition process should begin, few are actually cha...
Nov 16, 2020•49 min
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” the Prime Minister said with cautious optimism this week. As news broke of Pfizer’s promising preliminary results with its COVID-19 vaccine — of which Canada has already secured millions of doses — even Elamin and Rosie have been feeling a little relief, these last few days. But what plans might the federal government have for the eventual rollout of a vaccine? And how is procurement going with other potential vaccine candidates? The two lay out what ...
Nov 12, 2020•22 min
It’s the first episode in which we can say it: Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. Yes, there will be challenges to come — including legal challenges from a defiant incumbent — but for now we’d like to focus on the significance of this historic moment. Today Elamin calls up Baratunde Thurston, the Emmy award-winning host of ‘How to Citizen with Baratunde’ and ‘We’re Having A Moment’ who believes “we've taken a step toward resolution, toward peace, toward democracy, toward ...
Nov 10, 2020•37 min
