This week's question was struck a chord: name the one thing you like best about winter. It's a pretty soft question but you delivered again, lots of answers and many of them quite poetic in their description of what many think strikes to the heart and soul of being Canadian. Plus, it being Thursday, the Random Ranter is by with his latest take on EVs, electric vehicles.
Encore Presentation. A young Canadian medic fighting with the Ukrainians takes us inside the story with his first-hand account of what it's like at the frontlines of the war. His name is Brandon Mitchell and he's from Miramichi, New Brunswick. His story is one that tells us what this war is really like.
For the most part the old saying that foreign policy isn't what Canadians vote on, but does that mean Canadian governments and political parties take a pass on worrying about foreign matters? Time for another great Moore Butts conversation, this time #13 of our series. Former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and former principal secretary to the prime minister Gerald Butts take us inside the process.
Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power has been tenuous at best for the past year, but even more so after the past few days. There's a sense that the prime ministership of Israel may be slipping away from him. Dr. Janice Stein has her weekly Monday take on the Middle East story, the Ukraine-Russia war, and a very bleak outlook from the new Defence Secretary in the United Kingdom.
John Kennedy used to say, aside from indigenous people, we are all either immigrants or descended from immigrants. That was true in the US and it's true in Canada. So how do we resolve what is becoming a major issue in Canada -- immigration? Plus, the Liberals have a cabinet retreat next week, so what? Will it make a difference? And, what now for Rachel Notley? Bruce and Chantal on all these and more.
This week's question was this: If you could name one thing to make us better communicate with each other, what would that change be? Do you have the answer to polarization? You sure offered a lot of possibilities and today we air them out. Plus the Random Ranter in a way you've never heard him before. Literally.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on May 15th. Our two political heavyweights, Conservative James Moore and Liberal Gerry Butts, move their latest non-partisan discussion to the question of lies and their growing place in modern politics. Like it or not the lie is in the toolbox of politics and Donald Trump isn't the only one using it. How did that happen and where does it lead? Those are the questions we tackle in Moore-Butts #8.
Donald Trump wins the opening round in the race for the Republican nomination for the US presidency. But does that mean it's all over already? One of the best analysts I know is our guest today. Someone who has covered Trump, someone who understands politics and history and where the two intersect. He's Keith Boag former CBC Washington correspondent and former CBC Chief Political Correspondent in Ottawa.
It's our regular Monday discussion with foreign affairs expert Dr Janice Stein. On topic. today: Taiwan, the Houthis, and a two-state solution for the Middle East. It's a master class in geopolitics. Also, we'll unveil this week's big question that you have a chance to answer and win a coveted prize!
Ed Broadbent and Jean Chretien. Two giants on the country's political landscape, but are they symbols of an era long past? Bruce and Chantal have their thoughts on that, plus how significant are the changes taking place in the prime minister's office? Also, does Canada have a position on genocide in the Middle East?
This week's question was a popular one: "What one change would you make to Canada's news media?". People from coast to coast to coast wrote in with their thoughts and some pretty good ideas. Also today the Random Ranter makes the case for Canada's teachers -- what he thinks they need.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on November 28th. Some say it's the scourge of our times, but if so what can be done about it? Lee McIntyre is an American philosopher and author who's written extensively on the issues of truth and disinformation. He's studied the impact of both and shares his thoughts about how best to deal with them.
The former senior Conservative cabinet minister takes aim at some of her former colleagues, both Liberal AND Conservative for wasting time on non-issues and ignoring the important ones, especially one issue in particular. It's a kind of Lisa Raitt "unplugged" episode and she doesn't hold back. Plus, a look at six good news stories we've missed.
The United States Secretary of State is on a week-long dash through seven mid-east countries desperately trying to prevent a wider war than the one already underway between Israel and Hamas. Janice Stein walks us through the challenges he faces, plus her latest assessment of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and the importance of this week's upcoming election in Taiwan.
Both the Liberals and the Conservatives appear to have stumbled in the holiday season and the question now, is will they pay for the slip-ups? Trudeau in Jamaica, again -- and a Conservative frontbencher calls for Canada to withdraw from the UN. Bruce and Chantal handle both of those issues and more as Good Talk kicks off the 2024 season.
The question to you was "Name the one change you would make to Canada's political system". And you had answers, lots of them and today we scan the mail and award one of the suggestions with a special prize. It's a new format for the Thursday edition of the Bridge. But the Random Ranter remains in place!
After more than a dozen year end interviews by some of Canada's political leaders, who benefited most? The leaders? The media? The public? That and more about the relationship between the media and the leaders with a former bureau chief at the Canadian Press and the CBC in Ottawa, Rob Russo. WE cover a lot of ground, so enjoy.
In our first episode of a new year, we ask the provocative question about whether the world is moving towards expanded conflict. Not just Israel-Hamas, not just Russia Ukraine but beyond. Dr Janice Stein is with us for her weekly discussion but this time she includes a segment she made popular in the past, "What are we missing?" touching upon an area she feels we just aren't talking about enough.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on December 5th. Some of my favourite stories are about the history of Canada's Arctic and almost all of them have been written by Ken McGoogan. He's our guest today with his exciting new book Searching for Franklin. If you think you know the Franklin story you'll want to hear this, if you don't know it. this just might get you hooked.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on December 22nd. It's that time of year when the Good Talk panel convenes to talk about the year-end position on the political landscape in Canada. Bruce and Chantal with their thoughts about the leaders and the parties, with some questions unlike any we have asked before. Good fun and good analysis all rolled into one.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on December 12th. James Moore and Gerald Butts are back with us for the Moore Butts Conversation #12. We talk a lot about polls but what happens behind the scenes when the polls are released? What do the public and the press not see when the numbers cause chaos in one party or another? These conversations are one of the reasons The Bridge continues to be ranked #1 by Apple in their lists of which Canadian political podcasts Canadia...
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on October 17th. What happens behind the closed doors when a government faces a crisis -- who says what, and what are the do's and don'ts of crisis management? Former Harper cabinet minister James Moore and former Trudeau principal secretary Gerald Butts take us inside with their latest "conversation".
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on September 11th. In the tenth instalment of what has become a very popular conversation, former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and former principal secretary to prime minister Trudeau Gerald Butts focus on helping us understand political trends. Today, again burying their partisan feelings, the two look at the issue of how to campaign in an era of polarization.
Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on December 21st. Your letters this week are very moving, your memories of holidays past for family and friends. I thank you for all of them. I'll read as many as I can today and I'll pick one to be the recipient of the new book by Mark Bulgutch and myself, "How Canada Works". And of course the Random Ranter with his take on this time of year.
It's that time of year when the Good Talk panel convenes to talk about the year-end position on the political landscape in Canada. Bruce and Chantal with their thoughts about the leaders and the parties, with some questions unlike any we have asked before. Good fun and good analysis all rolled into one.
Your letters this week are very moving, your memories of holidays past for family and friends. I thank you for all of them. I'll read as many as I can today and I'll pick one to be the recipient of the new book by Mark Bulgutch and myself, "How Canada Works". And of course the Random Ranter with his take on this time of year.
It's the final regular episode of Smoke, Mirrors and The Truth and we focus on some comments Justin Trudeau made in his annual year-end interview with podcaster Terry DiMonte. The prime minister is clearly worried about the influence the American right is having on Canada. Are we seeing a preview of the next election campaign? Bruce is here with his collector's edition of SMT!
It's an end bit special today as we approach the holidays. Topic One is that old daydreaming habit many of us have when we fly on a passenger jet -- if something happens to the pilots, could we takeover even with no real flying experience? A surprising number of us think we could. That's just one of more than half a dozen end bits you will find interesting.
The accidental killing of three Israeli hostages by Israeli troops has led to new calls, many from Israelis, for a ceasefire in Gaza. Would Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu agree, would Hamas agree? Those questions and many more for our regular Monday guest Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto. Plus, the latest from Ukraine.
As the year closes some Liberals seem to have their bounce back, while some Conservatives are a bit anxious. The CPC still has a double digit lead in the polls which is more than enough for a majority, but as Yogi used to say, it certainly "ain't over till it's over". Bruce and Chantal have lots on this and more.
