The Breakdown With Nate Pike

Almost 2 years ago we did a deep dive on the Western Standard and where they get their funding from, despite claims they accept no government funding whatsoever.As we finally got our FOIP results back after involvement from the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, this is a follow up on the 100's of thousands of taxpayer dollars that the Western Standard has recieved from Danielle Smith's government!And on that note...If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

May the 4th be with you for this galactic sized episode!!We take a look at the latest in Alberta coal mining, we circle back to our deep dive on The Western Standard, Smith's half a million plates and rugs, we take a look at Smith's re-writing of democracy with her Bill 54, the ongoing Saga with Pete Guthrie and his shocking schism with the UCP, and we continue our deep dive on the former AHS CEO's lawsuit and the government response as well as the launch of her go fund me at www.saveathana.comOn that note...If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Time for another live Alberta Politics roundup!This time around we take a look at the building frustration with the UCP, both internal and external, with Albertans blasting Smith's office for fundraising for an alt right US media outlet while Alberta taxpayers footed the bill, the UCP's court loss on the coal mine file, the whole Saga with Pete Guthrie and his shocking schism with the UCP, the departure of Alberta's CMOH and consequent apparent unmuzzling and we continue our deep dive on the former AHS CEO's lawsuit and the government response!On that note...If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Oh we've got a spicy one for you here!A couple of weeks ago, Andrew Longhurst released his latest research that shows that chartered surgical facilities in Alberta haven't delivered as promised!Little did we know when we booked this interview that it would come the day after Danielle Smith announced massive changes that expand the role of profitized medicine and surgery in Alberta, but as luck would have it that's exactly what happened.Plus we solve health care! (Kinda)If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

In a province where the amount disabled Albertans receive from AISH is well below the poverty line, the UCP have launched a multi-pronged attack against the stability and security of the disabled in our province.To get a better grasp of the brutal clawback of federal supports intended to lift up disabled Albertans, the defunding of grassroots support groups and more, we're joined on this episode by disability self advocates Mike, Mary and Kavin as well as the executive director of the now defunded and shuttered Southern Alberta Individualized Planning Association which had been providing educational workshops for people with disabilities!To donate to the fundraisers Mike mentioned in this episode, you can visit https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/light-the-way-for-self-advocacy/ & https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-safeIf you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Time for another live Alberta Politics roundup!This time around we take a look at the UCP's short lived move to take popsicles away from kids fight cancer, Danielle Smith's bizarre tour with far right influencers and how they reacted, Donald Trump's tariffs not being the big win Smith claimed them to be and we start our Part 1 of a deep dive on the former AHS CEO's lawsuit and the government response!On that note... If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

As we head towards the end of the month we're also reaching the end of our series on coal mining on the Eastern Slopes, but we're not quite done yet!In the fourth part of our interview series we sit down with former 2 term Lethbridge Mayor, Chris Spearman who paints a very clear picture of the economic risks that coal mining presents to southern Alberta's, particularly in regard to agriculture and the booming agri-food industry! If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

We're continuing our firehose on coal in Alberta!Bill Trafford was one of the members of the Coal Policy Commiter that saw protections reinstated to protect the eastern slopes and is the president of the Livingstone Landowners' Group, which represents landowners and supporters of the Livingstone-Porcupine area of Alberta.He joined us to share his story and to offer some optimism and hope for Albertans looking to push back against the UCP's plans to expand coal mining!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With more and more news every day being broken on the "Corrupt Care" scandal and allegations on government corruption being made on what seems like a daily basis inside of the Alberta Legislature, many Albertans are asking if anything can be done...So to find out, we sat down with the folks from AB Resistance to get the latest update on their efforts to initiate recall petitions across Alberta and it how they're getting started in Calgary Bow!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive on coal in Alberta, with a conversation with biologist and environmental scientist Lorne Fitch!Lorne has been following the impact of coal mining in Alberta for the last 50 years and for his work on conservation he has been part of three Alberta Emerald awards, an Alberta Order of the Bighorn Award, and a Canadian Environmental Gold Award, with additional recognition from The Wildlife Society, the Society for Range Management, the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Alberta Wilderness Association. Lorne lives in Lethbridge, Alberta.So while the UCP are certainly trying to paint a picture for Albertans that coal can and will be mined safely, Lornes research and experience tells a very different story! If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's finally Part 1 of our deep dive on coal in Alberta!Throughout March we're going to be presenting a series of interviews on the incredible danger that coal mining in the eastern slopes, and particularly Grassy Mountain presents to Alberta!For our first conversation, we're extremely excited to present a conversation with an incredibly powerful voice, Adam North Peigan!In this conversation, not only do we get into the real risk and exploitation that First Nations have dealt with in regards to Grassy Mountain, but we also peel back the layers much deeper and get into the history and complexities of First Nations leadership and representation.If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

We're back after being silenced by a court order and we have a few things to say!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

An update form the show.

If the wheels came off of Alberta Politics last week, this week Alberta Politics went full Ford Pinto and blew all the way up!Former Justice Minister Kaycee Madu was sanctioned and fined, Take Back Alberta and David Parker were fined over $100,000, Trump announced a new round of tariffs after the UCP attended a taxpayer covered prayer breakfast, Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed Trump's annexation threats are real and then Carrie Tait with the Globe and Mail blew the absolute lid off of the ongoing scandal involving the UCP and MHCare!We do our best to try and make some sense of it all!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government... You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Here we go again with another whirlwind week in Alberta Politics that by necessity includes all of Canada and the United States!We start with a follow up on the overwhelming condemnation of Smith's taxpayer funded $2 Million COVID report before we take a look at the many stories falling through the cracks while all eyes are on the economic trade war that Trump has started before we also turn our attention to the last week in the trade war with the Tariffs officially in play!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Well that was a week...Trump's Tariffs! Nazi Salutes! COVID Report! Also, is Smith using taxpayer money to travel around on the taxpayers dime to beef up Kevin O'Leary's AI venture? And what is going on with this government and coal mines! Plus, should we maybe at least be taking a little seriously the threat that Trump wants to take over Canada using economic force and is actually taking the steps to do it?If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It seems like someone has cut the brakes on Alberta Politics!From the start of the week with Smith's cell phone presser to address her Mar A Lago visit to her standing alone against confederation and everything in between, we've got you covered with our Alberta Politics Roundup! Plus we also reveal the results of two of our FOIP requests, with the first pulling back the curtain on the UCP government funding yet another right wing media group that claims to not take government funding and the second seeming to show that the UCP government took the lead on their objections to national Pharmacare from big business!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Well that escalated quickly!The Prime Minister steps down, Trump says he's serious about making Canada the 51st state and Danielle Smith's surprise vacation appears to have included an official stop at Mar a Lago to plead for Alberta's oil and gas.Plus the UCP give themselves a raise, healthcare gets cut, Marco goes to jail and a whole lot more!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government... You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's our first episode of 2025 and we're kicking it off with an Alberta Politics Roundup!Does changing a slogan fix the underlying problem? Why does Jordan Peterson seem to think racism in Canada has only been a problem since 1998? How crazy is the UCP travel itinerary?And what's up with the apples? If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

What does 2025 hold for progressives?To try and get a handle on what the future of progressive politics might need to look like in the current political climate, we sit down with Political Scientist Dr. Lisa Young for a conversation you absolutely don't want to miss!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's our last live episode of the year!We start with an update on the $6 million lawsuit against Nate and the show and we simply can't say thank you enough for all of the support we've received! Nate gets into that and then we try and throw together a bit of a town hall with the help of semi-retired politico Sarah Biggs!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's been not just quite a week but quite a year! To help make sense of the "year" part, we are extremely excited to welcome back to the show Political Scientist Dr Duane Bratt!Dr Bratt takes us through his top five biggest events in Alberta politics and shares what he's watching as the year turns over from 2024 to 2025!If you're able to support our legal defense fund to fight back against the $6 Million lawsuit against us by Sam Mraiche, the man who imported Vanch masks and the Turkish Tylenot as well as who hosted MLA's and Ministers in his skybox as he had business with the government...You can do that at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Welcome to the episode where Nate gets sued for $6 Million by Sam Mraiche, who became famous for importing Vanch Masks, childrens medication's from Turkey and hosting UCP Government members in his elite skybox during hockey games!(And our regular Alberta Politics roundup)Nate takes us through the lawsuit, his response and then...(As if that wasn't enough)We take a look at border comms blunders, massive changes to homeless funding in Alberta, the latest news for the Alberta Pension Fund and the bait and switch that the UCP tried to pull with the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine!If you can help with the legal defense fund, you can do it at www.savethebreakdownab.ca!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

As we head into the end of the year, we're dropping what is likely to be one of our most controversial episodes, but it's also potentially one of the most insightful and informative of the year as well!Because in this episode we sit down with conservative political organizer Kris Moen and new UCP member Andrea Willman, both of whom wrote policies in the hopes of seeing get debated on the floor of the recent UCP AGM!In this extended conversation we get into their thoughts on the new directions the UCP is heading and perhaps most importantly why they have chosen to invest their energies in a party that is advancing policies some of which they strongly disagree with in ways that they both express concerns with.Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Time for another live Alberta Politics Roundup!Despite the fact that the end of the legislative session is over, the last week in Alberta politics has been as busy as ever!In this episode we take a look at the EMS Crisis, Rachel Notley's resignation and the building calls for Naheed Nenshi to run in a Byelection, the drama coming our of the Edmonton Police service, the rapid fire developments on border security and the latest in the Green Line debacle!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads all at @thebreakdownab!

It's the return of our live Alberta Politics Roundup!This week we take a look at the bizarrely contradictory decision by the province to eliminate 70% of photo radar, the impact of the new impact assessment regulations for renewable energy in Alberta, Danielle Smith's roll out of the Sovereignty Act and her new border security measures and a whole lot more!Don't forget to look for our call in section later on in the week where we get into a Tylenot update and hear a heartbreaking story from one of our regulars. You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads all at @thebreakdownab!

With changes to FOIP legislation, the surprise firing of the AIMCO board, a UCP legislative agenda that's entirely about social regression with nothing to address cost of living and a byelection looking in Lethbridge, we figured it was time to sit down for another conversation with Alberta Party leader Lindsay Amantea! Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Albertans have been facing steadily increasing insurance costs since the UCP came to power. Recently the UCP announced that they would be moving Alberta to “no fault” insurance, but what does that mean and does it actually translate into cheaper insurance for good drivers? Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca! If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With so many conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation being shared both intentionally and unintentionally, how are Albertans supposed to navigate the minefield that our information ecosystem has become?In this episode we sit down with renowned expert in navigating that minefield, Timothy Caulfield to try and figure exactly that out!From his Univeristy of Alberta bio..."Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy for over 20 years (2002 - 2023). His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and public health policy has allowed him to publish almost 400 academic articles. He has won numerous academic, science communication, and writing awards, and is a Member of the Order Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry."You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Blue Sky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Welcome to our new episode, a conversation with NDP MLA's Janis Irwin and Rakhi Pancholi!In this episode we get into the sweeping changes that the UCP are introducing to Alberta's political landscape, including the changes to electoral boundaries, the Freedom Of Information Act, changes to the conflict of interest act, anti trans policies and more!We also take some time to talk about what issues the NDP would like to see government pursuing instead of making government more opaque and less accountable to Albertans!You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca! If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

What are parental rights?With Danielle Smith and the UCP using parental rights as a justification for pushing forward policies that many legal scholars are condemning as being gross violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we wanted to get a better understanding of what "parental rights" even mean and where they start and stop.In order to do that, we're sitting down with legal scholar and award winning advoacte, Florence Ashley!Florence served as a clerk in the Supreme Court of Canada under Justice Sheilah Martin and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, so she's more than qualified to walk us not only through "parental rights" but also the reality of what the "notwithstanding clause" actually is!You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads and now BlueSky!

Time for another Alberta politics roundup!In this episode we take a look at the onslaught of ABPoli news, including the UCP's reaction to emission reduction regulations, the introduction of halal mortagages to crown corporations, the changes to FOIP laws, the UCP adding two seats to the legislature, the redrawing of electoral maps, and a whole lot more!You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Remember all that curriculum kerfuffle?Jason Kenney campaigned on running the ready to be implemented curriculum through the shredder, but what the UCP brought forward initially was the dumpster fire to end all dumpster fires. The UCP took the social studies curriculum back and rewrote it, but how does that new curriculum measure up?To find out we're super excited to welcome back to the program none other than curriculum expert, Dr. Carla Peck!Plus, we get into what Danielle Smith's new changes to education and education delivery mean for how education can be developed and implemented going forward!You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With the Danielle Smith bringing forward her new Bill of Rights and her long feared anti-Trans, anti-parental choice legislation, we sat down with lawyer and legal scholar Dr. Lorian Hardcastle to get a sense of what the legal implications of this legislation is and perhaps most importantly, how can it be challenged!You can donate to skipping stone at https://www.skippingstone.ca/legalfundDon't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Betcha didn't see this coming! (we sure didn't) With Alberta rolling back human rights and access to abortion increasingly on the table, we sat down with Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Federal NDP MP Leah Gazan to hear what the federal NDP are planning to try and ensure that access to healthcare doesn't fall victim to the agenda of social regressives!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

We're back with another Live Alberta Politics Roundup!With the confluence of Danielle Smith's leadership review, the UCP AGM and the Legislature returning to session, there's no shortage of things to talk about! We start with our regular look at the events of the week before we do a deep dive on several of the new pieces of legislation, including the Bill(s) of Rights and the three anti-trans pieces of legislation. From there we take a look at a sampling of the policies passed at the UCP AGM before we follow up on last weeks Skybox episode with a new FOIP and...A correction? Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

On October 26, 2024 the new grassroots org "Alberta Resistance" held their first event and invited our host Nate Pike to close out the evening. ABR has generously provided the audio of Nate's speech to us as there have been more than a few requests by people who were unable to attend. This is not an "official" Breakdown episode, so we're presenting it as a bonus episode!To learn more about the folks at AB Resistance visit https://www.abresistance.ca Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca! If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

What are all of the hidden connections in the skybox photo from the Vancouver Semi-Finals?Tonight, we finally peel back as many layers as we (legally) can and explore the vast network that ties together the infamous Tylenot debacle, the sub par Vanch masks from the beginning of he pandemic and the trails that lead into the offices of multiple ministers and even the Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith's office! Strap in and take as many breaks as you need!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

As Alberta continues to see Danielle Smith and the UCP put forward polices that don't appear to be based on what's best for the province but rather that cater to the extreme right wing of the UCP, many people are asking what can possibly be done...And a grassroots org called Alberta Resistance is apparently stepping forward to try and present Albertans with some options!To learn more about their efforts and their launch coming up on October 26th in Calgary, we sat down with founder Marg Toker and David Gray!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With labour shortages plaguing healthcare and the Alberta government taking a stunningly rigid and inflexible approach to negotiations, particularly in ensuring that Alberta's healthcare workers are paid fairly, we sat down with Health Science Association President Mike Parker for a deep dive on negotiating with Smith's UCP, the dangers of uberizing health care and the lack of an evidence based approach to Alberta's health care challenges! Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With the healthcare crisis only worsening, we sat down with former Alberta Medical Association Dr Paul Parks for an unleashed conversation on healthcare in Alberta!In this conversation we cover the recent healthcare announcements from the UCP claiming to address the healthcare crisis (they don't), the priorities that the UCP is choosing to pursue, the worsening crisis in Edmonton hospitals, forced treatment and the UCP's regressive trans healthcare policies!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's time for another Alberta Politics Roundup and FOIP reveal!We run through some of the bigger and more embarrassing moments in Alberta Politics, including the Western Standards new government funding, Vote tabulators, the marching on of the Free Alberta Strategy before we take a look at the FOIP we recieved back that again appears to prove on other lie in th ongoing skybox scandal!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It was another whirlwind week in Alberta Politics and we're back to try and break it all down!With the facade dropping on why healthcare workers aren't getting paid, the announcement that Danielle Smith considers the Sheriffs her own provincial police force, vote tabulators, anti-trans policies and more there's no shortage of things to talk about!Plus what's the deal with the Free Alberta Strategy?Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

With Danielle Smith announcing over $8 billion dollars to go towards building new public, charter and private schools, we sat down with Alberta Teachers Association Local 38 President to get her read on Smith's announcement, Smith's claims that education has only been in crisis for the last 18 months and the state of classrooms in general! Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

By special request!We've split off our segment from Sunday where we begin the deep dive on Danielle Smith's Skybox Scandal, starting with our recent FOIP that appears to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that while the UCP wrote new "ethics" rules, it didn't take them long at all before they completely violated them! Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Not only is this another Alberta politics roundup, but we're also starting to peel back the layers of the UCP Corruption onion, and it's a lot worse than you think!We start with our regular run down of the week in Alberta politics, including The Rebel's official designation as being part of the 1%, Danielle Smith's week of dogwhistles, the recent school construction announcement and a lot more! From there we get into our recent FOIP that appears to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that while the UCP wrote new "ethics" rules, it didn't take them long at all before they completely violated them as we do the first of a series of deep dives on the skybox scandal!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Hold my hand is an advocacy organization that works to build community for families with disabled kids and also to advocate for changes to prevent those kids from falling through the cracks!In this extremely important conversation, we chat with Hold My Hand leaders about their work, the challenges faced by disabled kids and their parents, the lack of supports available and the difficulties in accessing them! *Warning - This episode includes the subjects of abuse and sexual assault.Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It seems like last week everyone was in court!The Coutts Convicts got sentenced, a former justice minister got sanction and the published of the Western Standard, Derek Fildebrandt was in court facing allegations of threatening kids with death! Plus there was the continued Green Line drama and Danielle Smith leaned heavily into xenophobic and racist dog whistles on the immigration file!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

Can you deal with bad faith actors in good faith?On this breakdown of Alberta Politics, we take a look at the Western Standards latest taxpayer funded funding, the seeming cronyism continues in the war room, changes to accessing education, Jennifer "Poop Cookies" Johnson's impending return to caucus and cabinet and...We do a semi deep dive on both the Green Line debacle in Calgary and Danielle Smith's broken promises to Alberta's Muslim community!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

It's time for another Alberta Politics Roundup and this one is an absolute MONSTER!There's all kinds of news with "Take Back Alberta", Alberta is rolling out a new Bill Of Rights (of some kind?), healthcare is in crisis and so much more!Plus we break down Danielle Smith's recent exclusive town hall in Drayton Valley and we dissect the extraordinarily bad and revealing fiscal update that ended up having almost nothing to do with Alberta's projected deficit and debt and everything to do with the continued revalations around Danielle Smith's Skybox Scandal with the man who brought Alberta the Turkish Tylenot!But you're definitely going to want to stick around for the end!Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!

We're solving education in Alberta with ATA President Jason Schilling! (We come up with solutions at least, there's still a "political will" problem...)In this episode we get into the challenges that students and teachers are facing as they return to school, including a very intense discussion on Danielle Smith's new outing polices. Don't forget, we have merch that's available at https://www.abpoli.ca/category/the-breakdown-ab!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 and we can now accept e-transfers at info@thebreakdownab.ca!If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!