There’s new required reading for followers of Alberta Politics in the form of the book “Blue Store - The Rise & Fall of Jason Kenney” and we were able to sit down with one of the editors of the boom, political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt! Not only does Dr Bratt share how this book, which is a compilation of essays by renowned political experts from across the province came to be, but he also shares his thoughts on the upcoming provincial election and why this book is so important to understand...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 23
On this weekly run down of the major events in Alberta politics, we take a look at the impact of a drop in oil prices, UCP staffing scandals, the impact of exploitive political leadership on radicalization our weekly round up of Danielle Smith Scandals plus a look at Rachel Notley's recent award show appearances! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 5Ep. 24
On this episode we sit down with renowned economist Dr. Trevor Tombe to try and get some context and make some sense of the new provincial budget! Dr Tombe also addresses Alberta's reliance on the revenue roller coaster and provides some suggestions as to how our province could potentially get off of it! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/theb...
May 06, 2023•52 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Prejudiced Pastor Predicament! Alberta's Surpreme Court Challenges! Oil's well not ending well! Danielle Smith's Drug Problem! We try and make sense of all of these and more with Politico Sarah Biggs and we have an in-depth discussion with Ziad Fazel on how Danielle Smith's drug deal went so sideways. As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebrea...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 42 min•Season 5Ep. 26
With all of the recent disinformation and hate directed towards the LGBTQ2S+ community by questionable "pastors" and right wing media outlets, we decided to go right to the source to find out what the "Reading with Royalty" events are all about! To do this we sat down again with Drag King Shane Onyou to get the inside story on "Reading with Royalty", Drag Culture and the upcoming Trans Day of Visibilty on March 31st! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce h...
May 06, 2023•39 min•Season 5Ep. 27
With Transgender Day of Visibility coming up in March 31st, we sat down with advocate Mattie McMillan to have a chat dispelling some myths, addressing some misinformation and a whole lot more! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you’re listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a ra...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 28
Another intense couple of days in Alberta politics! If the continued fallout from the recording with Danielle Smith's recorded conversation with extremist pastor Artur Pawlowski wasn't enough, this week also saw multiple UCP candidates resign, a UCP Minister who bowed out of politics dance back in, an increase to the carbon tax and apparently the last of the "Last of us" in Alberta! We break down all of this and more before we open up the conversation to our twitter spaces guests for their thoug...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 52 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Another intense couple of days in Alberta politics! If the continued fallout from the recording with Danielle Smith's recorded conversation with extremist pastor Artur Pawlowski wasn't enough, this week also saw multiple UCP candidates resign, a UCP Minister who bowed out of politics dance back in, an increase to the carbon tax and apparently the last of the "Last of us" in Alberta! We break down all of this and more before we open up the conversation to our twitter spaces guests for their thoug...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Season 5Ep. 30
There is no shortage of inaccurate misconcepions, misiformation and stigma when it comes to disorders like Tourette's and OCD. We sat down with Julian Fletcher from the Tourette's and OCD Alberta Network to dispel some of those myths and stigma and learn how family, friends, educators and all Albertas can help people navigating these disorders. As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at...
May 06, 2023•36 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Alberta politics only continues to get more dramatic and dynamic as we the province slouches towards the next election and we try and make sense of it on our weekly roundup! This last week saw the further privatization of EMS, worsening toxic spills up North, Danielle Smith continue to self immolate (and try and walk back her publicly stated goals of adding user fees to healthcare) and the UCP go on the offensive with the NDP in a profoundly out of context way! Plus we round out the last half of...
May 06, 2023•2 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Over the last while, Steve Boots has made a major name for himself with his insightful and comedic TikTok videos on Alberta politics! We wanted to know more about what drives Steve's advocacy and where he draws his inspiration from, so we sat down for a chat with him! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you’re listening to th...
May 06, 2023•44 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Fingers are flying in Alberta politics as we take a look at the events of the last week! Danielle Smith is under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner, but what does that really mean? Plus Smith and the UCP clamp down hard on media questions and it appears that one of the individuals that was appointed to Smith's newly announced Council on Multiculturalism and Inclusion was rejected by the UCP as a candidate for sharing anti-semantic, holocaust denying memes... Plus we're joined by AISH advoc...
May 06, 2023•2 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 34
With Alberta politics in what is quite possibly it's most extreme and polarized state in living memory, we sat down with the co-editors (and contributors) of a new book that tries to make sense of it all called "Anger & Angst: Jason Kenney's Legacy and Alberta's Right", Trevor W. Harrison and Ricardo Acuña! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.c...
May 06, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 35
The "election season" is only continuing to heat up and in the weekly roundup we do our best to break it all down! Between Danielle Smith doubling down on only taking one question per reporter going forward, the bizarre last minute changes to a major event in Calgary, another UCP candidate being disqualified, Smith's council member stepping down after we highlighted his racist ramblings, the shocking leak that the UCP is looking at how to force treatment of people against their will, there's no ...
May 06, 2023•2 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 36
The Honorable Thomas Lukaszuk served a decade and a half in the Alberta Legislature with multiple Conservative Governments and under 5 premiers. He served as an MLA, a Minister and as the Deputy Premier and observed Danielle Smiths rise to power as leader of the opposition and her fall from it when she crossed the floor. In this no holds barred conversation, we sit down with Thomas to hear why he is so alarmed by the prospect of Smith being elected in May that he has not only endorsed the NDP, b...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 5Ep. 37
It's Election eve! With a writ drop expected for Monday, May 1st Alberta Politics is getting ready to gear up to top speed and we're back with our weekly recap! Danielle Smith doubled down on forced treatment early on in the week, but that was just the start! We also saw a major announcement about a new arena in Calgary as well as another series of scandals from UCP candidates, including Smith herself as she posed for pictures with a convoy organizer who is still facing legal consequences! All t...
May 06, 2023•2 hr 17 min•Season 5Ep. 38
It's our first episode of the 2023 election! We're only 3 days into the campaign and so much has happened already! Danielle Smith appeared at a press conference and saw her shadow which means there's at least 3 weeks left of campaign drama! The NDP continue to work on their audio issues! Tax breaks! The UCP get corrected on how they interpreted a report by the same folks who did the report for them! Plus Artur is guilty! All this an our regular call in where we hear from you on what you're conce...
May 06, 2023•2 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 39
It's our first episode of the 2023 election! We're only 3 days into the campaign and so much has happened already! Danielle Smith appeared at a press conference and saw her shadow which means there's at least 3 weeks left of campaign drama! The NDP continue to work on their audio issues! Tax breaks! The UCP get corrected on how they interpreted a report by the same folks who did the report for them! Plus Artur is guilty! All this an our regular call in where we hear from you on what you're conce...
May 04, 2023•2 hr 1 min
It's Election eve! With a writ drop expected for Monday, May 1st Alberta Politics is getting ready to gear up to top speed and we're back with our weekly recap! Danielle Smith doubled down on forced treatment early on in the week, but that was just the start! We also saw a major announcement about a new arena in Calgary as well as another series of scandals from UCP candidates, including Smith herself as she posed for pictures with a convoy organizer who is still facing legal consequences! All t...
May 01, 2023•2 hr 17 min
The Honorable Thomas Lukaszuk served a decade and a half in the Alberta Legislature with multiple Conservative Governments and under 5 premiers. He served as an MLA, a Minister and as the Deputy Premier and observed Danielle Smiths rise to power as leader of the opposition and her fall from it when she crossed the floor. In this no holds barred conversation, we sit down with Thomas to hear why he is so alarmed by the prospect of Smith being elected in May that he has not only endorsed the NDP, b...
Apr 27, 2023•1 hr 23 min
The "election season" is only continuing to heat up and in the weekly roundup we do our best to break it all down! Between Danielle Smith doubling down on only taking one question per reporter going forward, the bizarre last minute changes to a major event in Calgary, another UCP candidate being disqualified, Smith's council member stepping down after we highlighted his racist ramblings, the shocking leak that the UCP is looking at how to force treatment of people against their will, there's no ...
Apr 24, 2023•2 hr 1 min
With Alberta politics in what is quite possibly it's most extreme and polarized state in living memory, we sat down with the co-editors (and contributors) of a new book that tries to make sense of it all called "Anger & Angst: Jason Kenney's Legacy and Alberta's Right", Trevor W. Harrison and Ricardo Acuña! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.c...
Apr 20, 2023•56 min
Fingers are flying in Alberta politics as we take a look at the events of the last week! Danielle Smith is under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner, but what does that really mean? Plus Smith and the UCP clamp down hard on media questions and it appears that one of the individuals that was appointed to Smith's newly announced Council on Multiculturalism and Inclusion was rejected by the UCP as a candidate for sharing anti-semantic, holocaust denying memes... Plus we're joined by AISH advoc...
Apr 17, 2023•2 hr 14 min
Over the last while, Steve Boots has made a major name for himself with his insightful and comedic TikTok videos on Alberta politics! We wanted to know more about what drives Steve's advocacy and where he draws his inspiration from, so we sat down for a chat with him! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you’re listening to th...
Apr 13, 2023•44 min
Alberta politics only continues to get more dramatic and dynamic as we the province slouches towards the next election and we try and make sense of it on our weekly roundup! This last week saw the further privatization of EMS, worsening toxic spills up North, Danielle Smith continue to self immolate (and try and walk back her publicly stated goals of adding user fees to healthcare) and the UCP go on the offensive with the NDP in a profoundly out of context way! Plus we round out the last half of...
Apr 10, 2023•2 hr 13 min
There is no shortage of inaccurate misconcepions, misiformation and stigma when it comes to disorders like Tourette's and OCD. We sat down with Julian Fletcher from the Tourette's and OCD Alberta Network to dispel some of those myths and stigma and learn how family, friends, educators and all Albertas can help people navigating these disorders. As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at...
Apr 06, 2023•36 min
Another intense couple of days in Alberta politics! If the continued fallout from the recording with Danielle Smith's recorded conversation with extremist pastor Artur Pawlowski wasn't enough, this week also saw multiple UCP candidates resign, a UCP Minister who bowed out of politics dance back in, an increase to the carbon tax and apparently the last of the "Last of us" in Alberta! We break down all of this and more before we open up the conversation to our twitter spaces guests for their thoug...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 41 min
March 29th was quite a day for Danielle Smith and the UCP... Not only did the story break that Danielle Smith had an extended call with controversial street "preacher" Artur Pawlowski (who was at the center of anti-health measure protests and faces charges for his role in the illegal Coutts blockade), but with it further details for how deeply Smith has claimed to try and influence the prosecution of lawbreakers. And if that wasn't enough, it also the exposure of a video from a UCP candidate tha...
Mar 30, 2023•1 hr 52 min
With Transgender Day of Visibility coming up in March 31st, we sat down with advocate Mattie McMillan to have a chat dispelling some myths, addressing some misinformation and a whole lot more! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you’re listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a ra...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 12 min
With all of the recent disinformation and hate directed towards the LGBTQ2S+ community by questionable "pastors" and right wing media outlets, we decided to go right to the source to find out what the "Reading with Royalty" events are all about! To do this we sat down again with Drag King Shane Onyou to get the inside story on "Reading with Royalty", Drag Culture and the upcoming Trans Day of Visibilty on March 31st! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we’re trying to produce h...
Mar 27, 2023•39 min
