Podcast appearances and mentions of jen gerson

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Sept. 5, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson talk about the sudden flurry of announcements from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Matt wonders if any of these promises will actually lead to results, while Jen says her 100-day countdown for Carney begins now. Matt also points out an amusing way the current PM reminds him of his predecessor.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Universities Canada. Canada has promised millions of new homes, shorter waits in health care and stronger defence. But promises don't design and engineer roads, staff clinics or secure networks — people do. That's why we need a clear, coordinated system to attract and retain the world's best talent, while creating more opportunities for Canadians. The best and brightest should always see Canadian universities as their first choice. It's time to put talent at the centre of Canada's priorities. The path forward starts with training people — and Canada's world-class universities are ready to lead the way.To learn more, visit Univcan.ca.Next, the conversation shifts to law and order. A recent quote from a senior police official in the GTA has sparked outrage, and with good reason. While both Matt and Jen can imagine a very narrow context in which the chief's point might hold, they agree he was mostly wrong — and with a spate of terrible crimes in southern Ontario in recent days, his timing could not have been worse.PLEASE NOTE: Chief MacSween issued a statement while this episode was being edited. You can read it here: https://x.com/chiefmacsween/status/1964047883457421469This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada's own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.We can and should have programs that expand domestic wood use, advance biomass use and pulp market opportunities, and cut red tape and regulatory barriers. The government of Canada has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.The hosts next turn to Kevin Roberts, who had been invited to address the Carney cabinet. The man's deep ties to the far right of U.S. politics make him a lightning rod, and it's no surprise he was controversial. Still, Matt and Jen argue Canada might have been better off if Carney had actually heard him out.All that and more on the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out at ReadTheLine.ca.

In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson sits down with former Alberta deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who is the lead of Forever Canadian — Keep Alberta in Canada - a petition to force the question of separation to the table before the separatists have a chance to take a crack at it. Lukaszuk speaks about his time in office, his goals with the petition, and his oftentimes testy relationship with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Aug. 22, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson have lots to talk about. And carefully avoid confessing to any crimes.The show opens with breaking news: Canada is dropping many — though not all — of its retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Matt and Jen agree the economic impact is limited, but the political optics could be rough for a prime minister who built a reputation on opposing Washington. This leads naturally into a discussion about when it's fair to start judging Mark Carney's performance. Jen presses Matt on what Canadians could reasonably have expected by now; Matt, in turn, asks her how long she's willing to wait before demanding results.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada's own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.We can and should have programs that expand domestic wood use, advance biomass use and pulp market opportunities, and cut red tape and regulatory barriers. The government of Canada has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.Next, the hosts turn to a controversial story out of Lindsay, Ontario, where a man has been charged after using a knife against a home invader. With key details still missing, both Matt and Jen caution against rushing to judgment, but they stress that Canadians need stronger protections for people defending themselves. They stop short of calling for U.S.-style “castle laws,” but argue that Canada must do much better in balancing the scales between citizens and criminals. They share a few stories of their own experiences. Very carefully share them.This episode is also brought to you by Airbnb. To solve the housing crisis, Canada needs 5.8 million new homes by 2030. And while some think short-term rentals like Airbnb are taking homes away, that's just not the case. Because — according to Statistics Canada — the number of Airbnbs that could be converted into long-term homes amounts to only 0.6 per cent of Canada's housing stock.How can you solve the problem when you're focused on less than one per cent of the housing market?To learn more, visit Airbnb.ca/closerlook.Finally, the episode closes with a quick take on Pierre Poilievre's victory in a new Alberta riding. What does it mean? What doesn't it mean? And why are so many people working overtime to spin this into a seismic event? Matt and Jen break down the hype and the reality, and they don't mind pointing out who looks silly in the process.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out and like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca and follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app. New episodes drop every Friday. And also! Help The Line grow. Share us with a friend, or two. Spread the word.

In this conversation, Jen Gerson and Karen Valis delve into the multifaceted world of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring its implications on human cognition, creativity, and mental health. They discuss the evolving role of AI engineers, the limitations and capabilities of AI, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use. The dialogue highlights the psychological impact of AI on individuals, particularly in terms of cognitive offloading and dependency. Vallis emphasizes the importance of understanding AI as a reflection of human behavior and the potential risks and benefits of AI companionship. The conversation concludes with reflections on the future of AI and its relationship with humanity.Karin Valis is a freelance Berlin-based machine learning engineer and writer with a deep passion for everything weird. She writes Mercurial Minutes.

This episode of The Line Podcast was recorded Friday, August 15th, with Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson — newly back from her vacation.We start off with a look at how the Toronto International Film Festival has managed to completely beclown itself in an utterly avoidable controversy over the airing of a film depicting one family's nightmarish experience during the October 7th attacks. TIFF eventually gave way and did the right thing — but only after waiting long enough to damage its own credibility and, tragically, worsen antisemitism. Matt also has some strong words for those who see creeping fascism everywhere except in the surging hate directed at Canadian Jews.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.In our second segment, we dig into a report from the U.S. State Department that levels some sharp criticisms at Canada. Jen goes through what's in the report and points out that there are some honest truths Canadians should take seriously — but it's also amateurish, lacking nuance, and, coming from the Trump administration, not exactly a credible assessment.This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada's own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.We can and should have programs that expand domestic wood use, advance biomass use and pulp market opportunities, and cut red tape and regulatory barriers. The government of Canada has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.We wrap up on a more philosophical note. As Jen noted in a column published this week, The Line has just hit its fifth anniversary. We talk about how it all started, what our lives and the world looked like back then, what's changed since, and why The Line now needs to pivot — both to fend off attacks from the right and to begin repairing some of the social damage our politicians caused during COVID, damage they've neither apologized for nor made any effort to fix. This episode is also brought to you by Airbnb. To solve the housing crisis, Canada needs 5.8 million new homes by 2030. And while some think short-term rentals like Airbnb are taking homes away, that's just not the case. Because — according to Statistics Canada — the number of Airbnbs that could be converted into long-term homes amounts to only 0.6 per cent of Canada's housing stock. How can you solve the problem when you're focused on less than one per cent of the housing market?To learn more, visit Airbnb.ca/closerlook.Check us out and like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca and follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app. New episodes drop every Friday. And also! Help The Line grow. Share us with a friend, or two. Spread the word.

In this episode of On The Line join Jen Gerson as she delves into a fascinating conversation with Professor Avi Loeb, a renowned astrophysicist, about the mysteries of interstellar objects and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. It's no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis. Some think that short-term rentals such as Airbnbs are the problem. But the total amount of Airbnbs that could be converted into long-term homes accounts for only 0.6 per cent of Canada's housing stock. In reality, Airbnbs play a key role in stimulating local economies across Canada, with Airbnb guests generating an estimated $10.8 billion in visitor spending. Learn more at Airbnb.ca/closerlook.Leob is best known for his work arguing for the possibility that many recently discovered interstellar objects, like  Oumuamua may, in fact, be extraterrestrial in origin. Either space trash from a distant civilization or even an intelligent probe. He's back in the news this week with thoughts about a recently discovered object now heading toward our sun known as 3I/ATLAS. This episode is also brought to by the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's Sault Ste. Marie, in 1820. In the early 1800s, on the St. Mary's River, Métis traders moved fur, fish, and goods through the water highways of the Upper Great Lakes. Before Confederation, there was a country being built with supplies brought one canoe at a time. Today, Métis governments like the Métis Nation of Ontario are building again. Canada is investing billions to strengthen the economy against tariffs. To last, this next economy must include the people who built the first one. The MNO is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to work with Métis governments to improve consultation and partnerships on major projects and expand investments in Métis businesses and communities. The Métis were here at the beginning building this great country. And they're still here, ready to build again. Learn more at OntarioMétisFacts.com.Oh, and he has some things to say about academia and the general incuriosity of the scientific establishment.  Discover insights into the scientific community's approach to anomalies, the potential of alien technology, and the importance of maintaining curiosity in the face of skepticism.

For OTL this week, we have Brandon Forsyth, a book buyer at Indigo. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. It's no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis. Some think that short-term rentals such as Airbnbs are the problem. But the closer you look, the clearer it gets. Attempts to lower rents by regulating short-term rentals have failed in cities like New York City – which is experiencing record high rents a year after doing so. Canada doesn't need more regulation; it needs more supply. And Airbnbs that could be converted into long-term homes account for only 0.6% of Canada's housing stock. Learn more at Airbnb.ca/closerlook.In this wide-ranging conversation Jen Gerson and Forsyth chat about his recommendations for fiction and non-fiction summer reads. This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's Sault Ste. Marie in the 1850s. The Upper Great Lakes and rivers of northern Ontario are bustling during the summers with the sound of paddles. Sault Ste. Marie, Fort William, Fort Frances. For Métis voyageurs, these were the highways of a growing trade. Summer was for moving canoes packed with salted fish and furs. Stops were made at supply depots run by Métis families. And a thriving economy was built on a network of Métis communities stretching across the Upper Great Lakes westward. These Métis routes became the arteries of Canada's first economy. This July, while Canadians enjoy their vacations, remember the Métis who spent summers building Canada's first economy. To learn more, visit OntarioMetisFacts.comThen they get spicy, talking about deeper trends driving book sales in the culture. Gerson offers a host of opinions on what genres of books are good and bad, as well as whether or not Millennials have a writing voice. Strong arguments are offered on whether adults should be reading childrens' books. Forsyth's book recommendations: FICTIONSLOW HORSES by Mick HerronMURDERBOT by Martha Wells KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez NON-FICTIONTHE CRISIS OF CANADIAN DEMOCRACY, Andrew Coyne MORAL AMBITION by Rutger Bregman EMPIRE OF AI by Karen Hao CHILDREN LIKE US by Brittany Penner KING OF KINGS by Scott Anderson

Carney's sprawling ethics screen covers over 100 companies and reveals the details of what went into his blind trust. Did he lie to Canadians about his conflicts of interest? Jen Gerson joins to make sense of the documents. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate Producer) Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jen GersonPhoto: REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth Further reading: Carney to recuse himself from dealings with over 100 companies in sprawling government conflict screen - National PostCarney's ethics filing shows more than 100 entities under conflict-of-interest screen - The Globe and MailInvestigation: What Mark Carney Won't Say About Brookfield - CANADALAND [Podcast]Ethics Screen - List of Companies [PDF]Ethics Screen - List of Investments [PDF]https://x.com/HertzBarry/status/1945113658247311799 That white guy who can't get a job at Tim Hortons? He's AI | CBC News Sponsors: oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Squarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.CarGurus: Buy your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus.ca If you value this podcast, Support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. Everyone agrees that Canada needs to take real action to tackle the housing crisis, but only a few people argue that short-term rentals like Airbnb are part of that solution. Countless experts have argued that short term rental regulation is nothing more than a distraction, with the Harvard Business Review recently saying that “Put simply, restricting Airbnb is not going to be an effective tool for solving the housing-affordability problems.” This makes sense when you consider two key statistics: Canada needs 5.8 million homes to reach affordability by 2030, and Airbnb's account for only 0.6% of Canada's overall housing stock. The closer you look the clearer it gets that Canada needs bold action that addresses the entire housing market, not just 0.6% of it. Learn more at Airbnb.ca/closerlook.In this week's On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks to journalist and author Paul Palango, whose recent book, Anatomy of a Cover Up, lists shocking allegations about the 2020 Nova Scotia massacre. This episode of On The Line is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 1849. Before court cases and commissions, before Canada was Canada, Métis communities in the Upper Great Lakes wrote petitions. Métis men signed their names beneath a statement to the Crown. They wrote to protect their rights, and their identity. They wrote because they would not be ignored. They were hunters, trappers, fishermen, voyageurs, and War of 1812 veterans. Like their cousins in Red River, who'd petition and resist inthe decades that followed, the Métis in the Upper Great Lakes knew how to use the tools of diplomacy.To the West, in Batoche, St. Albert, and the Red River, Métis leaders like Louis Riel also wrote to be heard. They too signed their names with pride and called on governments to honour promises. This was how the Métis asserted themselves, again and again, from the Upper Great Lakes to the Rockies.The Métis built Canada's first economy, and willand never stop reminding the Crown of its promises.Learn more at OntarioMétisFacts.com.During the worst shooting in Canadian history, 22 people were killed in two separate shooting sprees by Gabriel Wortman. Palango has written two books on the subject, and alleges that not only was Wortman likely an informant or agent of the RCMP, but also that the police force acted improperly to prevent crucial details about the shooting from coming to light. 

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on time on June 20, 2025 — so don't blame us for any catastrophes — Jen Gerson returns from covering the G7 and offers a rare dose of optimism: she's impressed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Matt Gurney remains skeptical but gives credit where it's due — Carney has handled everything so far with a steady hand. The question is: can he survive an actual crisis? Or even just some fairly normal politics? This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.The hosts also reflect on Justin Trudeau's deepening irrelevance and how Carney's basic competence is already reshaping perceptions. Trump left the summit early, and nobody cared. Jen thinks the British still don't get what's changed. And Matt raises, almost as an aside, an important question. Where are the Conservatives? Where is Poilievre? Has anyone noticed? Does anyone care?In the second segment, the tone shifts. Jen and Matt dive into the ongoing full-scale war between Israel and Iran. Matt lays out the strategic and regional context, while Jen reflects on the eerie echoes of 2003 and Iraq — and why that comparison may do more harm than good this time. They check in on their personal Doom Leaderboards, and while neither thinks the Third World War is imminent, Matt raises the chilling possibility that we may be closer to a nuclear weapon being used than at any point since the Cold War.Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca and follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app. New episodes drop every Friday. Don't forget to leave a nice review, and as always, like and subscribe. 

In the latest episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson is joined by Dave Cournoyer — Alberta politics watcher, writer at daveberta.ca, and longtime chronicler of this province's wilder turns — for a conversation that cuts through the noise and gets to the big question: what is actually going on in Alberta right now?This episode is brought to you by the Metis Nation of Ontario. It's the Abitibi River, Northern Ontario, 1854. They called it “the Long Portage.”From the banks of the Abitibi River, Métis voyageurs hauled heavy freight canoes and Hudson's Bay Company trade goods across miles of forest and muskeg. Their hard work linked Fort Albany and Moose Factory along the James Bay coast with Lake Timiskaming. And, from there, the entire northwest.As the HBC moved inland from Moose Factory to open and work at posts to the south and west, the Métis “Factory Boys” and their families cut the trail, built the storehouse, and ran the trade. They were guides, interpreters, diplomats, and entrepreneurs.And they endured. The Métis remained in northern Ontario and in the story of how this country was built. Because Canada is not Canada without the Métis. Today, Métis rights are a settled fact of law in Ontario.This Indigenous Peoples Month, visit OntarioMétisFacts.com to learn more.The conversation opens with a serious look at the growing undercurrent of separatist sentiment inside the United Conservative Party. They unpack the emotional pull of independence, the logistical realities of separation, and why this movement — once fringe — is now creeping toward the mainstream. They also explore the federal government's role in fuelling some of this rage, and how Alberta's energy economy keeps acting as both asset and anchor.And then, the inevitable question that must be asked in any progressive conversation in this province: where the hell is Naheed Nenshi? Jen presses Dave on why the Alberta NDP is missing in action while the UCP is rolling out wildly controversial ideas. The moment is ripe. The opportunity is obvious. And yet... nothing.As always, like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca. You can also follow us on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Share it with a friend, post about it online, or shout it across the parking lot outside the nearest community centre in Calgary. We'll take it.And don't forget: On The Line drops Tuesday mornings on audio, with the video version rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and across our social channels. Prefer to watch? Stay tuned tonight — and follow us to catch the drop.Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.

In this engaging conversation, Jen Gerson and royal watcher Patricia Treble, author of WRITE ROYALTY on Substack, discuss the recent visit of King Charles III to Canada, focusing on the significance of his throne speech and its geopolitical implications. They explore the role of the monarchy in Canadian sovereignty, the authority of King Charles in delivering the speech, and the reactions from both Canadian and British perspectives. The discussion highlights the evolving relationship between Canada and the monarchy, emphasizing the importance of the crown in contemporary Canadian identity.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the  Métis Nation of Ontario. In Northern Ontario, a Métis harvester checks his snares as his ancestors have done for generations. Meanwhile back in town, Métis leaders gather with government officials. They've been doing this for decades. Not because they were asked politely. But because the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2003 that Métis communities in Ontario exist, their Indigenous rights are real, and they must be respected. Métis rights in Ontario are settled in law and governments have a duty to consult them before decisions impacting their way of life are made. Whether it's a new mine, transmission line, or legislative changes meant to fast-track projects, consultation with Indigenous peoples, including the Métis, cannot be skipped. The Métis helped built this country. They must be included in its growth. Visit OntarioMétisFacts.com to learn more.In the second segment, they talk Royal Tea! Particularly the latest with William and Catherine; Meghan Markle/Sussex's latest projects, and Prince Harry whining on the BBC about his security needs. 

In this episode of On The Line, The Line's Jen Gerson interviews David Perlich, a CBC producer and Vatican analyst, about his experiences covering papal conclaves. They discuss the intricacies of the conclave process, the role of Cardinals, and the dynamics of voting for a new pope. Perlich shares insights from his time in Rome, the historical significance of the events, and the unique pressures faced by cardinals during the election. The conversation also touches on the cultural implications of having an American pope and the broader context of religion and politics.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Innovative Medicines Canada. With a new government in place, one thing remains clear: Canada must continue to prioritize patients and healthcare innovation. Innovative Medicines Canada is focused on collaborating with all levels of government to improve access to life-saving medicines and develop a healthcare system that prioritizes patients, ignites innovation, and drives economic growth. Canada's innovative medicines sector plays a critical role—not just in health outcomes, but in keeping us competitive on the global stage. That's why, even during a moment of political change, Innovative Medicines Canada is staying focused on the issues that matter most to Canadians. And as Canada moves forward with national pharmacare, Innovative Medicines Canada believes it's possible to expand access without limiting choice—by strengthening what works and fixing what doesn't. Visit innovativemedicines.ca to learn more. In the second segment, they talk about how Perlich went from a gay southern Alberta farm boy, to almost-Jesuit, to a CBC producer and in-house Vatican analyst. They discuss the secular culture of newsrooms, and why journalists more inclined to view religion as a mental illness can't tear themselves away from the spectacle of a conclave. Lastly, they dig into the geopolitical implications of an American pope. Is he a Woke Pope? Or do Vatican politics transcend the earthly realm and the culture wars? As always, like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca. You can also follow us on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Share it with a friend, post about it online, or just drop it into the group chat. You know the one.And don't forget: new On The Line episodes drop Tuesday mornings on audio, with the video version rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and across our social channels. Prefer to watch? Stay tuned tonight — and follow us to catch the drop.Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.

In this episode of On The Line, Israeli ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed sits with Jen Gerson to discuss the evolving situation in Gaza, the ongoing hostage crisis, and Israel's strategic objectives in the region. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Innovative Medicines Canada. With a new government in place, one thing remains clear: Canada must continue to prioritize patients and healthcare innovation. Innovative Medicines Canada is focused on collaborating with all levels of government to improve access to life-saving medicines and develop a healthcare system that prioritizes patients, ignites innovation, and drives economic growth.Canada's innovative medicines sector plays a critical role—not just in health outcomes, but in keeping us competitive on the global stage. That's why, even during a moment of political change, Innovative Medicines Canada is staying focused on the issues that matter most to Canadians. And as Canada moves forward with national pharmacare, Innovative Medicines Canada believes it's possible to expand access without limiting choice—by strengthening what works and fixing what doesn't.Visit innovativemedicines.ca to learn more.Jen asks him outright if Israel can really trust America as its primary and most crucial ally. Moed highlights Israel's unique legal framework that accommodates diverse religious courts, contrasting it with Western perceptions. The discussion shifts to Canada's emergency visa program for Gaza residents, addressing the challenges faced at the Rafa border crossing. Moed also touches on geopolitical tensions affecting Canada's sovereignty and the international community's response. Finally, the conversation explores economic innovation, with Moed sharing insights on Israel's resilience and collaborative spirit in technology and problem-solving.For more, visit ReadTheLine.ca. 

Canadian journalist Jen Gerson joins Hugh to talk about the results of Monday's federal election, which confirmed the once-unlikely comeback of the Liberal party led by former central banker Mark Carney. Gerson explains the unique challenges facing this vast, dispersed country whose relationship with its closest ally - the USA - has collapsed since the election of Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson reunites with journalist Justin Ling for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the federal campaign — and the increasingly surreal experience of covering it.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Westinghouse. Canada's energy future is being shaped by the choices we make today. Westinghouse is 100% Canadian-owned and brings the world's most advanced, operational Gen III+ reactor — the AP1000® — proven, safe, efficient, and ready now. It can be brought online within a decade, delivering clean, reliable power when we need it most. Canada needs energy. Westinghouse is ready. Learn more at westinghousenuclear.com/canada.They start with a deep dive into media access and how different parties are managing (or dodging) scrutiny. The Liberals are tightening the screws. The Conservatives are sticking to their message. Everyone's walking a careful line — and that's changing the way the campaign feels on the ground.They also touch on the recent leaders' debate: what worked, what didn't, and how each leader showed up. Ling has thoughts on Mark Carney's strategy, Pierre Poilievre's performance, and what the entire spectacle tells us about voter sentiment heading into the final stretch. The two also explore Canadian housing policy, debate stage dynamics, and the often awkward role of the Debate Commission in the new media age.This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's 1833 in Penetanguishene, five years since the Métis were forced to relocate from their home on Drummond Island. Métis families had petitioned for a church. They wanted ceremony and community. With their own hands, they raised St. Ann's — a cedar log church where baptisms, marriages, and kinship ties would bind the Métis community across the generations. But they had no priest. So, they began to write letter after letter, advocating for the Métis community. Eventually, a priest arrived, beginning to formally record long-existing relationships within the Métis community, and generations of Métis families' stories to come. Two hundred years later, St. Ann's Church is now built of stone, but the Métis community in Penetanguishene will never forget its humble origins, which rallied their community in the wake of their 1828 relocation.Historic Métis communities in Ontario are real. They are resilient. And they played an important part in building Canada. Learn more at OntarioMetisFacts.com.Later in the episode, Jen is joined by Mike Colledge from Ipsos for the weekly update on the issues that are motivating the electorate as we head into the home stretch of this election. Mike looks into Ipsos's archive of data and gives Jen (and the listeners) a read on what the numbers are showing — and why tone, not just policy, might decide this election.As always, like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca. You can also follow us on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Share it with a friend, post about it online, or just drop it into the group chat. You know the one.And don't forget: On The Line drops Tuesday mornings on audio, with the video version rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and social media. If you're more of a watcher than a listener, keep an eye out tonight — and make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it.Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.

In the latest episode of On The Line, we take a look (through our fingers, which are covering our eyes) at what's happening with the markets, and whole economies, around the world. Guess we'll be delaying retirement a few extra years, eh? This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Westinghouse. Canada's energy future is being shaped by the choices we make today. Westinghouse is 100% Canadian-owned and brings the world's most advanced, operational Gen III+ reactor — the AP1000® — proven, safe, efficient, and ready now. It can be brought online within a decade, delivering clean, reliable power when we need it most. Canada needs energy. Westinghouse is ready. Learn more at westinghousenuclear.com/canada.To unpack all that is happening, Jen Gerson speaks with Professor Barry Eichengreen. The professor is an American economist and economic historian who is the George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. And he is worried that this is the big one, an economic crisis to rival the Great Depression. He highlights the volatility in the markets, the weakening of the U.S. dollar, and the potential for long-term damage to international economic relations. The discussion also touches on the role of cryptocurrencies and the challenges faced by Canada in navigating these turbulent economic waters.This episode is also brought to by the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's Sault Ste. Marie, 2025. In a quiet room filled with maps, parish records, and the voices of history, a story long denied is finally told. For too long, Métis communities in Ontario had been questioned, overlooked, and denied. But after reviewing more than 50,000 pages of evidence, visiting the seven historic Métis communities in Ontario, and hearing from 160 Métis Nation elders, youth, scholars, and leaders — the truth is clear. The Métis National Council's Expert Panel report is the most comprehensive, transparent, and objective study ever conducted on Métis Nation communities in Ontario. The report rejected politically motivated misinformation. And it confirmed that the seven historic Métis communities in northern Ontario are — and have always been — part of the larger Métis Nation and meet the National Definition of Métis. For the Métis Nation of Ontario and their citizens, this report was a vindication. For more, go to OntarioMetisFacts.com.After that, Jen is joined by Mike Colledge from Ipsos, to provide an update on what issues are driving the electorate. Mike looks inside Ipsos's vast stores of data and shares with Jen what one of the next major issues in Canada could be: social cohesion.As always, like and subscribe at our main page, ReadTheLine.ca. You can also follow us on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode. Share it far and wide. Spread the word of The Line.

The federal election looms closer and Canadians prepare to head to the polls as significant news happens around them. After a devastating weekend for the markets following the most recent tariff announcements last week, Tamara Cherry chats with political watcher Jen Gerson, co-founder of The Line and co-host of The Line podcast.

Recorded in the last-pre-election days on March 21, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson look around and realize that this is as calm as their lives are going to be for about a month. And that's just sad.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.Your hosts start the podcast this week by talking about Mark Carney. They review his first few days in office, and find some good and some bad. They see some signs that he could mature as a politician. They also see some evidence that he needs that maturing to happen. Could Carney win? Absolutely. Could he lose? Also absolutely. We definitely see and even admire the Liberal battle plan, but it's risky.This episode has also been brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Forestry supports 200,000 Canadians in hundreds of communities, generating $87 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in exports — including $29 billion to the United States. It's also key to addressing some of our biggest challenges. We need an action plan for our forest sector and its employees, one that will help build the homes we need with Canadian wood, reduce the risk of wildfires and create more family-supporting jobs right here at home. To learn more about what forestry can do for Canada, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.Then onto the Conservatives. There are definitely some signs that the Conservatives are, finally and belatedly, beginning their pivot away from the kind of campaign they wanted to run toward the kind of campaign they need to run. The Line is starting to see the outlines of a new CPC campaign take shape. One that can win. But they're also still seeing signs of internal divisions and a degree of leadership paralysis. Much like with Carney, they conclude that Poilievre can win, or lose.This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by Environmental 360 Solutions. Ontario's recycling system is failing local businesses and benefiting large American recyclers. Over $10 million a year is being collected from Ontario consumers in mandatory fees for tire and battery recycling but much of the work is being outsourced to American recyclers. This is starving local Ontario companies of opportunities to do that work and keep good jobs in the province. Worse, enough mandatory fees have been collected from consumers to recycle 100% of the materials, but only a fraction of this work is actually being done. Ontario's recycling regulator is finally taking action, issuing penalties to the companies collecting the recycling fees, but in turn these companies are using these mandatory fees, paid by Ontarians to fund recycling programs, to cover the fines. The result? Ontario consumers are enriching unscrupulous industry participants and American recyclers, undermining recycling, job creation, and investment in Ontario. It's time for real accountability in the recycling industry. Click here to learn more.Last but not least, Jen gives Matt an update from Alberta, where she is looking for any signs of a truly building secessionist movement ... and not finding one. She lays out how that could change, and how it could change fast. Matt wraps up with a quick word on some developments in the other provinces. Lots going on.Like we said, folks, our Aprils are ruined. Because all of the stuff, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out at ReadTheLine.ca, and share our pain.

In this week's episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks with Adam Sadinsky, a refugee lawyer and member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers about the Safe Third Country Agreement — and why lawyers like him think it needs to be radically altered in the Donald Trump era. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the United States threaten jobs and investment, Canada's own approval processes and regulations are blocking critical projects that increase our self reliance. The Canadian government has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/They discuss how the agreement was established, its impact on refugee claims, and the differences in how Canada and the U.S. handle asylum seekers. The conversation also touches on recent changes in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration and how these changes affect Canada's responsibilities towards refugees. This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. In 1967, government officials ordered a Métis village on Agawa Bay to move to clear room a provincial park. For generations, Métis families had lived along the shores of Lake Superior. Suddenly, they were forced to pack their belongings, and then, the government officials burned their homes. These Métis families, already pushed off their River Lots in Sault Ste. Marie generations earlier, had no choice but to leave. But they did not disappear. The Métis of Agawa Bay lost their homes, but never their identity. For more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/, and check out the brand-new song here https://youtu.be/uhsILAMMi2U?si=jicYoUpoH7LHbZ8F about this story by Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume “One of These Days.” Adam Sadinsky recaps the complexities of the Safe Third Country Agreement and its implications for asylum seekers in Canada. He highlights the challenges faced by refugees, the capacity limits of the Canadian refugee system, and the political dynamics surrounding immigration policy. The discussion also touches on legal challenges to the agreement and the need for reforms to better accommodate those seeking refuge in Canada.As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news.In this episode, Matt Gurney speaks with Richard Shimooka, a Canadian defence expert and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. They talk about the state of world affairs, especially after last week's dramatic Oval Office shouting match. They agree that America isn't turning into a dystopia, but it's absolutely returning to isolationism. And what's that going to mean for little ole us?This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the United States threaten jobs and investment, Canada's own approval processes and regulations are blocking critical projects that increase our self reliance. The Canadian government has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/Matt and Richard spend a long time talking about the state of the Canadian military today — what can it do, and what can't it do? They also talk about the decades of political decisions that led us here. What is the military for, and what do the politicians think it's for? When you ask those questions, you don't always get the same answer! And that's a problem.This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. In 1879, food supplies ran out in Sault Ste. Marie and Bruce Mines. Survival hinged on teams of Métis mail carriers travelling 600 kilometres by dogsled through winter storms to restock stores. Through skill and sacrifice, Métis kept people alive so the Upper Great Lakes in what is now Ontario could grow and thrive. To learn more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/To wrap up, they talk about the kind of military that Canada should have. What does it need to be able to do? Why will our European allies probably not like the answer? And how can we start to reduce the amount of leverage that this White House, and any future White House, will have over us? By becoming stronger at home. But that won't be easy.As always, like and subscribe. Visit our main site at https://www.readtheline.ca/. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news.In this episode, Jen Gerson speaks with Duncan Dee, an airline analyst and former chief operations officer of Air Canada. Jen shares her recent harrowing experience with air travel, highlighting the inefficiencies and frustrations faced by travellers in Canada. They discuss the broader implications of air travel networks, the impact of any disruption at major hubs like Pearson Airport, and the need for more regional airports. The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn't when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It's time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. Go here to learn more.https://www.mpa-canada.org/press/ottawas-streaming-regulations-will-hurt-canadian-consumers-and-workers/?utm_source=the_line&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=sa_mpac_choice&utm_content=canadianThey chat about the recent crash of Delta Endeavor Flight 4819 at Pearson, which shut down two runways at the airport for days. This was just the latest in a rash of terrible aviation tragedies, and it was wonderful that no one died in the Toronto crash. But the aftermath was a sight to behold. They discuss the poor communication by the airport authority (and Canadian officialdom in general), and why the airline networks are less resilient to shocks like a major airport closing two runways than they used to be. At Fort Frances, a group of Métis leaders signed the “Halfbreed Adhesion” to Treaty 3 with Canada in 1875, becoming the only Métis community in Canada to be included as a distinct Métis party to one of the Numbered Treaties. By standing together, they ensured their place in Canada's story—one that will never be erased. For more information, visit https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/They also touch on a recent announcement of a $3.9 billion plan to .... announce another plan in five years for high-speed rail between Toronto and Montreal while asking the perennial Canadian question: Why don't we build stuff good here? Sigh.As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. And this week, in something of a break from the routine, we're here with good news. There are ways we can build this country and make it stronger. And a group of Canadians isn't waiting for a task force or government panel to do it. They're getting to work.The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn't when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It's time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. To learn more visit  https://www.mpa-canada.org/press/ottawas-streaming-regulations-will-hurt-canadian-consumers-and-workers/?utm_source=the_line&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=sa_mpac_choice&utm_content=canadianOur guest is Daniel Debow. He's a long-time Canadian tech entrepreneur. He gives his own abbreviated bio during the pod, so don't worry about the CV. What matters is that Daniel is part of a group of Canadians who are all volunteering their time to create policy papers on things Canada can do, quickly, to become more competitive. They're calling it Build Canada, and you can read about it at BuildCanada.com. Their focus is on growth. As Daniel notes, the difference between two-per-cent growth and four-per-cent isn't two per cent. It's 100 per cent! What are areas where Canada can make big changes fast, to become more prosperous in a fast-changing, dangerous world?This week's episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis in what is now Ontario have always fought for their rights. In 2003, they took that fight to the Supreme Court and won. To learn more about their journey, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/Daniel talks about how the experience of COVID-19 showed him what Canada can accomplish, but also how hard it is to get Canadians to see a threat coming. He shares some of what he and his fellow volunteers are focused on, and talks about whether tech is really right-wing. And he also talks about the surprising amount of hate mail he's been getting since the project was announced. Matt welcomes him to the club on that one.As always, like and subscribe and check out our main page at https://www.readtheline.ca And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. In this episode, Jen Gerson interviews Rob Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, and director at the Centre of Military, Security and Strategic Studies, to discuss Arctic sovereignty and security. Is Trump serious about Canada becoming a 51st State — and if so, what does the Arctic have to do with his overall strategy? The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn't when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It's time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. To learn more visit https://www.mpa-canada.org/They talk about Arctic geopolitics, particularly in light of climate change and the shifting military dynamics involving the U.S., Canada, Russia, and China. With a growing potential for conflict in the region, Canada's military unpreparedness has never been more obvious, or more alarming to our allies in Washington. This week's episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis in what is now Ontario were not just traders or voyageurs — they were strategists and warriors ready to defend their lands and water from invaders, who chose self-determination and freedom from the United States generations before Canada even existed. To learn more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/They also talk about America's rapidly shifting foreign policy goals under the second Donald Trump administration, the notion of hemispheric security as laid out recently by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, the urgent need for Canada to bolster its military capabilities, and the dangers of complacency in the face of emerging threats. As always, like and subscribe. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.On The Line will be distributed through the same channels as The Line Podcast, which will continue to release episodes on Friday. To never miss an episode of either of our offerings, you should obviously sign up at https://www.readtheline.ca/ but you can also follow us at the most popular podcast viewing/listening destinations.

Thanks for checking out our first regular episode of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. And this week, well. Like, look around. OMG.The week's episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Motion Picture Association of Canada. For decades, Ottawa controlled what is “Canadian” and what isn't when it comes to series and movies available to Canadians. The rules are out of date and costing Canadians opportunities. It's time for Ottawa to focus on helping Canadian film and TV workers, and encourage efforts to showcase Canada. To learn more visit https://www.mpa-canada.org/All kidding aside, and we suspect our viewers and listeners will understand, we had to change our plans like nine times before recording this, trying to keep up with developments. But we stuck the landing! Our first guest is Stephen Gordon, a professor of economics at Laval University. He joins this week's host Matt Gurney to talk about what Trump's tariff war would mean for Canada. How it would hurt. How Canada would adapt. How you can adapt. And also what could happen if this resumes and escalates. It's not great news. But it might not be as bad as you fear.For clarity: when we recorded this, the tariffs were still happening, but we knew there was a chance they'd be lifted. There was a lot going on! We treated it as something that would happen, but Stephen also told us why even the U.S. would be keen to avoid them …This week's episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. The Métis in what is now Ontario were not just traders or voyageurs — they were strategists and warriors ready to defend their lands and water from invaders. Their contributions in the War of 1812 shaped the borders of a future Canada. To learn more, go to https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/Our next guest is P.J. Fournier, creator of 338Canada. (Check out his main page at 338Canada.com, and also his newsletter at 338Canada.ca.) P.J. gives us an update on federal polling, and addresses why some of it seems so wonky. He also gives us an update on two provinces — Ontario already has an election underway, and next door in Quebec, an unpopular premier is no doubt watching to see if his pal Doug pays a price for calling an early vote ... As always, like and subscribe and check out our main page at ReadtheLine.ca. And we'll see you next week for the next installment of On The Line.

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Jan. 24, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson make some utterly bonkers proposals. And they want you to make some, too. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/ Your hosts get you started by talking about the latest developments in the ongoing Liberal leadership race. They make some observations and get you all caught up on the latest from Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, but what they really ask for, and they're asking you, too, are suggestions on radical things Canada can do to become ruthless scary. Literally. How can Canada fight? How can we make Donald Trump think twice? How can we make China and Russia decide we aren't worth the hassle of messing with. This would require some pretty radical changes, but if our politicians mean it when they keep saying that all options are on the table, well, great. Let's put some absolutely psychotic stuff on the table and dare the world to respond."Canada's back" needs to stop being a promise and a quip, an applause line for preening Canadian officials basking in the warm glow of cozy international summits. "Canada's back" needs to become a threat. We've got some ideas. What do you have?This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by TikTok Canada. TikTok Canada has a team of hundreds of local employees supporting the success of Canadian creators, businesses and advertisers. The federal government, however, has ordered TikTok to shut down its Canadian offices. Shutting down TikTok Canada doesn't make Canadians safer — but it does eliminate jobs and investments in this country. Learn more at https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/They wrap up by getting everyone caught up on what the premiers are up to. Some of it is good. We just aren't sure a lot of it is deliberate.Anyway. Make Canada Scary Again.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like, subscribe, and visit us for more at https://www.readtheline.ca/

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Jan. 17, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson try and remember all the things that happened this week. Because it was a busy one!This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at https://www.unsmoke.ca/First, your hosts spend some time discussing the (at last) official start of Mark Carney's political career. They talk about the choice to launch on Jon Stewart's American late-night show, and it was indeed quite the choice. They talk about polls which show a slight tightening of what had seemed an imminent Conservative landslide, but they aren't sold on it yet (though the Liberals will bounce a bit, we suspect, especially as the leadership race gets attention). They talk about Carney's resume, and Pierre Poilievre's, and why they aren't as mismatched as some want you to believe. And Matt notes that he hasn't seen progressive voters as excited about a replacement candidate since ... the summer. With Kamala Harris. Remember how that turned out?This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by TikTok Canada. TikTok Canada has a team of hundreds of local employees supporting the success of Canadian creators, businesses and advertisers. The federal government, however, has ordered TikTok to shut down its Canadian offices. Shutting down TikTok Canada doesn't make Canadians safer — but it does eliminate jobs and investments in this country. Learn more at https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-ca/tiktokcanada-notice-to-challenge-local-shutdownJen and Matt then gab about why they think it would be good for national unity if "Team Canada" didn't seem to always mean "Alberta sacrifices." Seriously. Can someone let us know when anyone is proposing an export ban on Ontario auto parts or B.C. lumber or Atlantic fish? STOP IT. YOU ARE RUINING THE COUNTRY.Last but not least, they offer their final thoughts on the Biden years and the imminent re-inauguration of Donald Trump. We're sure it's gonna go great!Sigh.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. As always, like, subscribe, and visit us for more at https://www.readtheline.ca/

If you follow Canadian politics — and even if you don't — you probably know that we are in a historic moment in this country. Just over a week ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he would be resigning as leader of the Liberal Party and intended to step down as prime minister as soon as a new leader was in place. Parliament is now prorogued until March 24, at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. Our guest on the podcast today is a veteran Canadian journalist. She returns to the show to unpack all of the mind-boggling developments.Jen Gerson is co-founder and co-editor of The Line, a popular Canadian commentary platform.You can find Tara Henley on Twitter at @TaraRHenley, and on Substack at tarahenley.substack.com

Happy holidays. We're on a break, but we thought you might enjoy this episode from our friends at CANADALAND. It's a conversation about Substack's role in the future of journalism, featuring Paul Wells, The Line's Jen Gerson and Substack founder Chris Best. If you like this episode, you can subscribe to CANADALAND for more like it. CANADALAND credits: Host & Publisher: Jesse Brown Senior Producer: Bruce Thorson Audio Editor & Technical Producer: Tristan Capacchione Production Manager: max collins   We'll be back with a new episode of the Paul Wells Show next week.

In a conversation that took place less than three hours after Chrystia Freeland resigned from the federal cabinet, Paul Wells is joined by Justin Ling and Jen Gerson to discuss what this astonishing news means for the Liberal Party and the Trudeau government. Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Dec. 13, 2024, Jen Gerson comes crashing back down to reality. Last week, she was feeling better about everything. She thought Trudeau was figuring it out. She thought the premiers were going to play their parts. She thought Team Canada would rally to take on Donald Trump.She doesn't think that anymore. Matt Gurney is glad to have her back.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.There's a lot else to discuss. They deal with breaking stories not once but twice during this episode. The federal government has ordered the post office back to work. They chat about that briefly. Jen's Christmas cards are saved, to Matt's enormous relief. They also react to a new poll showing that Canadians are feeling pretty down on their country. They also chat a lot about how different premiers are responding to Donald Trump's tariff threats. Doug Ford and Danielle Smith take some criticism. Scott Moe gets some praise. Francois Legault gets laughed at, but also gets some praise.This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by the Digital Media Association. Costs are going up everywhere, and now streaming could cost you more. Why? Because the federal government has decided to tax your streaming services.This new tax could make life even more unaffordable. To learn more, visit ScrapTheStreamingTax.ca.Also on the agenda today: is Trump going full manifest destiny on us, or is he just trolling Trudeau? Or both? How is Trudeau handling it? What do we make of rumours coming out of Ottawa about Chrystia Freeland being on the way out and Rachel Notley on the way in?And, also, while we're on the topic: don't shoot CEOs. Just don't.All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Like, subscribe, share, leave glowing reviews and as always, visit us at ReadtheLine.ca for more.If you think you can handle it.

Journalists have flocked to Substack. Abandoning legacy titles to pursue self-puslishing freedom at the occasionally controversial app. Substack has incubated Bari Weiss's Free Press and Andrew Sullivan's The Weekly Dish. Here in Canada, a lot of names that Canadaland listeners may be familiar with are thriving on Substack: Terry Glavin, Sam Cooper, Justin Ling, Jen Gerson and Paul Wells to name a few..Valued at 650 million dollars and lauded as a threat to Twitter. It is a rare sign of hope and innovation and a working revenue model in a very desolate media landscape. And all of that has come with the usual share of controversies.Top of that list was their “Nazi problem.” They garnered headlines and debates about freedom of expression when it was revealed that there were, yes, Nazi Substacks charging money. And the parent company, apparently taking their cut of those profits. Today Substack founder Chris Best joins Jesse Brown to debate Substack's controversies and discuss its possibilities with leading Canadian Substackers, Jen Gerson of The Line and Paul Wells. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Featured guests: Chris Best, Jen Gerson, Paul WellsFurther reading:The Line — SubstackPaul Wells — SubstackSponsors:AG1: Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for a free gift with your first subscription, in addition to the Welcome Kit with Vitamin D3+K2. Head to https://drinkag1.com/canadaland to start your holiday season off on a healthier note, while supplies last.Oxio: Canadaland listeners get their first month of internet free at https://canadaland.oxio.ca, use the promo code “Canadaland”CAMH: CAMH is building better mental health care for everyone to ensure no one is left behind. Visit https://camh.ca/canadaland to make a donation.Be part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a yearly Canadaland Supporter today and get 3 months of perks and benefits for free. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Nov. 15, 2024, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson take in a week that was incredibly busy, but also felt shockingly quiet. Maybe it's because we're all still deafened by all the news from last week?This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.First up: a quick review of what U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has already announced in terms of key staffing positions in his cabinet and White House political team. Some of them are very good, even if they might pose particular problems for Canada. Others are just bonkers. Jen remembers enough of Trump 1 to suggest that the bonkers is the point. Feature, not bug.Matt takes over then and offers Jen a theory. He has been reading up about why certain large U.S. cities moved sharply toward the GOP this cycle, and agrees with an American columnist who suggested it was a rejection from the actual policy failures of progressive municipal leaders in the U.S., who are too captured by the appeal of what they're trying to do in theory to ever admit that it's failing in practice. Matt warns that that is likely to play out in Canada, and they then chat about how, across a number of fronts, Canada works in theory. But not in practice. And if we're going to survive Trump 2, we want to survive in practice. Not just in theory.Next: two grim stories out of the GTA this week remind us anew of why our Jewish friends and family are so stressed out these days. It's not encouraging, folks. The trendlines are bad. Then Jen wraps it all up by proposing a radical suggestion: don't ruin Remembrance Day by trying to make it into something it's not. Just let it be what it is.Dangerous thinking, eh?All that, and more, the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Like, subscribe, share, leave a glowing review, and as always, check us out at our main website, ReadTheLine.ca.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Nov. 8, 2024, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson provided viewers and listeners with the scintillating experience of a sustained bout of silence, because they have no idea what to say.Like, they also talk and stuff, but, like, wow. Right?This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.First up: a chat about the vibe. The feels. What they are thinking and feeling since the decisive electoral victory of Donald Trump over Kamala Harris this week. They take a look at the latest available numbers, and note the broader societal and political trends that they speak to. They discuss Trump's failures as a human being, and why the Democrats still somehow managed to convince 75 million people that they were fine, or even virtues. They talk about history, and how it feels when one age transforms into another.It's all very uplifting.Next: they zoom in on Canada, and speculate about what's next for us. Trump won't have Canada at the top of his shit list, but we might not be all that far from the top, given how Justin Trudeau and his government have made many public comments about Trump that we suspect the president-elect remembers. We talk about how Canada actually (and sincerely!) excelled at adapting itself to a global order that is now dead, and how we should have begun hedging our bets years ago. But we didn't, so now we need to adjust right now, all at once. And we aren't sure the Trudeau government will survive the G-forces such a sudden pivot is going to create.Last up, and still on the topic of a changing world, your hosts note with alarm and sadness the pogrom in Amsterdam this week. And they add it to the list of things that Canadian officials ought to be worried about, but don't seem to be.All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Like and subscribe! Tell all your friends! And check out the rest of our work at https://www.readtheline.ca/

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded during the week of Oct. 28, 2024, Matt Gurney finds a way to make a podcast without Jen Gerson. And, it turns out, it involves bringing in Jen Gerson.Okay, okay, let us explain: this episode of the podcast is different than normal since Jen is in Israel. So for the first segment, she joins Matt from her hotel room in Jerusalem for a talk about what she has seen overseas (and she has seen more than planned!) and also, how it's left her feeling. Feeling about the conflict itself, of course, but also feeling about humanity. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.Matt still had a whole podcast to fill, though, so after his chat with Jen, he got by with a little help from his friends. First up was David Shipley, an old friend and colleague of Matt's who is a former reporter, former soldier and, today, a cybersecurity expert at Beauceron Security, where he is co-founder and CEO. David recently saw a story in the CBC that made his blood run hot — the Canada Revenue Agency has timidly and belatedly acknowledged a major error, and the official reaction was ... nothing? No one cared. David wants us to get mad. Matt thinks he's right.Next, Matt is joined by two friends, who happen to be seasoned political operatives. He has been wanting to get someone to answer — on the record! — a question about what it feels like to lose a campaign. What it feels like when a war room knows it's all going wrong. When the bad news keeps coming. When a winnable campaign starts to slip through your grasp. He has had a hard time finding people who wanted to talk about that — because, honestly, it's asking them to relive something that was upsetting and maybe even traumatic.But he finally found his people! Mitch Heimpel is a regular contributor to The Line, and a consultant today, but spent years inside the Conservative Party of Canada as a staffer and war-room guy. He's with public-affairs firm Enterprise Canada. Erin Morrison has been a political communicator and strategist in two legislatures and at the House of Commons for over a decade, working for multiple NDP leaders. She's been the director of communications and campaign deputy director on campaigns across Canada and federally. She's the founder of Morrison Comms Inc.It's an unusual episode of The Line Podcast, but we think a pretty good one, and we hope you enjoy it. God willing, Jen will be back to Calgary safe and sound by next week, and we'll get back to our normal episodes, but we hope this one tides you over. Like and subscribe! Tell all your friends! And check out the rest of our work at ReadtheLine.ca. 

October 7th coverage in Canada was caught between memorializing a tragedy and reporting on an escalating war. Jen Gerson joins to discuss whether both should happen at the same time. Also, duly noting what happens when a hurricane hits a news desert. Plus, Jesse shares some updates about Canadaland.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor/Mixer), max collins (Production Manager), Jesse Brown (Editor) Guest: Jen Gerson Further reading: Vigils in Canada mark one-year anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks - The Globe and Mail Are Canada's Jews at a tipping point? Most are anxious, many are fearful, and some have moved away - National Post Meteorologist becomes emotional giving Hurricane Milton update | BBC David Suzuki, Peter Mansbridge, and other prominent ex-broadcasters are calling out CBC. Here's why | Toronto Star #22 CBCecrets: Mansbridge's Oil Pay Makes the News - Canadaland Sponsors: CAMH: CAMH is building better mental health care for everyone to ensure no one is left behind. This Mental Illness Awareness Week, your donation to CAMH will be matched. Visit camh.ca/canadaland to double your impact.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offerArticle: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout If you value this podcast, Support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest, Labour-Day-weekend edition of The Line Podcast, recorded late on August 29th, 2024, Jen Gerson visibly wilts before Matt Gurney's eyes as the summer-time cold she's battling decisively wins that battle. But before Jen collapses, they start with a quick political round-up from the provinces: chaos in B.C., shock among Ford critics in Ontario, and a controversial announcement in Alberta that Jen agrees may be bad, but not for the reasons people are saying. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.From there, your Line editors talk about the summer — not like what they did during the summer, but how they felt the political vibe is as the summer (alas) draws to its conclusion. They both agree that the federal Liberals more or less did what they needed to do. They survived! But they glance at the latest polls and conclude that we're likely right back where we left off at the end of June, with the Liberals once again facing down reports of internal discontent and mutinous feelings while the CPC maintains a lead in the 15-20 per cent range. They end with something of a pop quiz from Matt to Jen, and she was really delighted to be hit with a surprise question as her immune system collapsed in real time. But they both shared their best guesses on what Justin Trudeau's "Hail Mary" play will be in what time he has left. Matt suggests we're already starting to see it, in fact.All that, and much more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. To subscribe and read more, check us out at https://www.readtheline.ca/NOTE FROM THE LINE: With the long weekend upon us, The Line is returning to a normal publication schedule as of Tuesday (assuming Jen isn't in a coma). There will be no written dispatch this weekend, but we'll get one out early next week. And then back to the grind. We hope our readers, listeners and viewers had an amazing summer, and thank them, as always, for their support.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded a day earlier than normal on August 22nd, 2024, after Jen Gerson offers up some shockingly TMI stuff, your hosts start by noting, with amusement, that Jagmeet Singh, leader of the federal NDP, tried once again to tweet about how mad he was at Justin Trudeau and got zapped by Twitter's crowd-sourced fact-checking service. The Twitter hivemind, in its wisdom, noted that as Trudeau's confidence-and-supply agreement partner, Singh could hold Trudeau to account basically whenever he wanted. How strange that Singh seems to keep forgetting that. Nothing lasts long on Twitter, Matt Gurney notes. But it was glorious.This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.After that, your Line editors move on to another big chat involving federal politics this week. Charles Adler, long-time broadcaster, has been appointed to the Senate. After Gurney makes a personal disclosure, Gerson takes the lead on a discussion about accountability, bias and the currying of favour, and why all members of the press wince a little bit when one of them makes the jump to political life. She also establishes what Gurney has dubbed the Gerson Scale for political ickiness. From there, they move onto the rail lockout (for the record, this was recorded before the federal government announced that it would use its powers to end the disruption; as we prep this podcast for publication on Friday, it's not yet clear if the trains will actually start running -- everything is moving fast on this one, folks, so bear with us). They don't talk about the disruption itself so much as how vulnerable (or not?) our supply chains are, and how strange it is to live in a time where the average Canadian has to spend so much time thinking about supply chains! It didn't used to be this way.They end with what Gurney dubs a "vibe check." Ontario premier Doug Ford has taken a step that will close down a series of controversial safe injection sites in Toronto, and Gurney believes that this speaks to a bigger, broader cultural shift that's underway. That big ole pendulum is just swinging hard back to the right, ain't it?All that, and much more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. To subscribe and read more, check us out at ReadTheLine.ca.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 16th, 2024, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson bring the heat. Actually, Matt's just melting visibly onscreen without air conditioning. (He explains, don't worry. At least his microphone is fixed?) More seriously, your hosts talk about two damning stories out there right now on the immigration front. The first is the latest on the arrest of two apparent/alleged/etc ISIS terrorists who were planning an attack (police claim) on Toronto. This is a bit awkward since both men were fairly recent arrivals to Canada, and obtained Canadian citizenship after one of the men (allegedly!) took part in a brutal ISIS execution video in 2015. Oops. Also, the UN is slamming Canada's temporary foreign workers laws as being akin to modern day slavery. And honestly, The Line thinks that's pretty fair, when you consider the rules.Then, Jen goes off on "Raygun," the Australian breakdancer. Like, she really goes off on her. It was ... surprising. So enjoy that, we guess.Finally: a couple of media stories. Your Line editors note, with regret, the closing of CHML 900, a news-talk radio station in Hamilton, Ontario, that had been operating for 97 years but can no longer survive in the modern media environment. Your hosts explain why. Matt then tells Jen about the brave editorialist who apparently took on Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and won, according to Twitter. Matt checked out the editorial, thinking he was going to read a smackdown of the CPC boss ... and came away less than impressed. He explains why.All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Take care, and as always, like, subscribe, share, and visit our website at ReadTheLine.ca.

Important correction: During this episode, Line editor Gurney utterly brain cramped and repeatedly referred to Jeff Simpson when he meant Lawrence Martin. No excuses. Just a mortifying flub. Mea culpa.In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 2, 2024, your hosts Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney discuss Jen's column this week, but they also discuss the broader problem with Canadian governance these days: disasters aren't to be learned from, they're to be blamed on someone or something else. There are undoubtedly things we should learn from the recent devastation of Jasper. We should learn them before something terrible happens to Banff, just to cite one example. But will we? Of course not. The fire in Jasper, like everything else, is just an opportunity for us all to convince ourselves that we're perfect and the other bastards are to blame again.They also discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, and wonder if something even more awful will have happened by the time anyone actually ends up listening to it. They also make a heartfelt appeal to Canadians, in response to the latest wave of awful antisemitism: maybe don't firebomb and deface Jewish sites? Like, you know, just ... don't? It's not helping! Just a thought!They wrap up with a chat about the latest media news. Matt is less than impressed with a column he read recently, though he thinks we should put it into a museum as a perfect example of how selfish, petty and petulant many Canadians remain. We are, he says, a very spoiled and childish country. They also talk about a new report on the first year for the Canadian media since the Online News Act passed. It hasn't gone great!All that, and more, in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Take care, and as always, like, subscribe, share, and visit our website at  ReadTheLine.ca.

All this talk of major leaders resigning, but it's the Mayor of Kamloops BC, Reid Hamer-Jackson, who has our attention. In a raucous ‘resignation related” press conference, Hamer-Jackson singles out one Kamloops media member, radio host Brett Mineer, in particular. Plus, Kamala Harris replaces Joe Biden, and the Canadian media revives her tenuous connections to Canada. Shouldn't we be pressuring Trudeau to step aside? Jen Gerson explains why messianic ego and the Liberal's lack of grit will keep Trudeau in place until the next election. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Jen Gerson Further reading on our website Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer!AG1:Canadaland listeners get a free 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/Canadaland.Squarespace:Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. If you value this podcast, Support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, early releases, bonus content, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and our exclusive newsletter. More than anything, you'll help keep our work free and accessible to everybody during Canada's journalism crisis. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on July 19, 2024, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson try and wrap up their thoughts on Quite The Week! in U.S. politics. Your Line editors are not Americans, and generally leave American political analysis to those who actually live in that country. But we can't avoid the events in the U.S. They're too big and too important. So, as a compromise, they tried to mostly stay on the topic of what Quite The Week! in the U.S. will mean for us. They also talk about Biden, his options, and why there is literally no position The Line can take on Trump that will please everyone. It's just too hot a topic.They then move on, back to the relative safety of Canadian politics, and note that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a move to (politically!) kneecap Mark Carney. They think that's shrewd, but they also think that that confirms what they've suspected: Trudeau won't go unless he's forced out. Also: best wishes to Seamus O'Regan. To wrap up: a cyber catastrophe and the warning we won't heed, Toronto floods and we won't learn from that either, and Matt has to remind Albertans that he loves them (because he's about to say something that will piss them off). But, for her part, Jen agrees.All that, and more, in this episode of The Line Podcast.Take care, and as always, like, subscribe, share, and visit our website at ReadTheLine.ca.

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on July 12, 2024, Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney discuss the likely fate of Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of finance. For those who remember what happened to her predecessor, Bill Morneau, a certain news story in the Globethis week — wherein sources close to the PMO said they're getting fed up with Freeland's terrible communication skills — suggests that bad things are headed the deputy PM's way. Your hosts talk it out — if she does lose her gig at Finance, does she go entirely out of cabinet? Take a different portfolio? Does she quit? Is this deliberate leaking to spook her into quitting, or a genuine leak from chatty insiders? Also, as Gurney notes, if the PMO is mad at her for being a bad communicator, they should blame themselves. She's always been a bad communicator. If they're just noticing that now, that's their fault. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.They also talk about this week's NATO summit. Gurney recaps his column, published in The Line on Friday, and they also chat about what Trudeau has gotten right on defence. He has gotten things right! But he's also demanding full credit for a promise that, to be blunt, simply isn't very credible, and he's also taking swipes at NATO's two-per-cent target itself. Which is weird .... since he committed his government to it! No one is asking Justin Trudeau to do anything that Justin Trudeau hasn't pledged to do, and Justin Trudeau is apparently unhappy about that. That's something we should reflect on. That's something the PM should reflect on. They wrap up the episode by talking about some of the stories that crossed their desk this week. Shocking revelations about the personal life of Canadian literacy icon Alice Munro are forcing a necessary reevaluation of her legacy. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre received a less-than-friendly reception when he spoke at a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations; your hosts get into that a bit as well. And lastly, the political fate of Joe Biden might already be sealed, and there isn't much that the Democrats can do about it ... probably. Take care, and as always, like, subscribe, share, and visit our website at ReadTheLine.ca.

It's been nearly four years to the day since the Liberal government prohibited more than 1,500 types of firearms and set in motion a “buyback” to confiscate the lawfully-owned guns from their owners. Since then, not a single gun has been acquired. In fact, Alberta and Saskatchewan have put up roadblocks making it next to impossible for the government to confiscate guns in those provinces, and now Canada Post has said it wants nothing to do with the buyback, dashing federal hopes that the Crown corporation could manage the firearm pickups and transfers. True North's Andrew Lawton weighs in. Also, a massive U.N. summit has convened in Ottawa with the goal of setting up a “plastics treaty.” Andrew discusses with Chris DeArmitt of Phantom Plastics. Plus, is defunding CBC as easy or desirable as it sounds? Andrew shares an interview with Jen Gerson, co-founder of the Line, recorded at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference. Antisemitism has become the new normal in Canada with the tacit or even explicit endorsement of political leaders. Andrew talks about it with author and broadcaster Dahlia Kurtz, author of the new book “Dear Zionist, You Are Not Alone.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jen Gerson of “The Line” readily admits to being a mouthy babe, but only when she writes, she insists she is actually shy. Jen says she's just opinionated, not trying to change anyone's mind. She argues that's not a journalist's job, that only activists try to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”. Well, call us afflicted! Her writing makes us think. Jen has written for The New York Times, The Economist, Macleans, the National Post and The Globe and Mail. Now, she co-hosts “The Line” on Substack with Matt Gurney, and is writing a book about the Satanic Panic! We ask her about the Q-Anon Satanic cult accusations now being slung at the Democrats, and the ongoing attraction of moral panics and conspiracy theories. It seems we eat up all the sex and violence. Amongst all of this, we talk about the changing views on immigration, and how it's catnip for both Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre. You should subscribe to The Line's Substack, and their podcast. You can watch this episode on YouTube. A Transcription of this episode is located on our episode page. We love writing and would love for you to read what we write. Sign up for our Substack Newsletter. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Wendy and Maureen at womenofir@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone agrees that Canada has a housing crisis, but coming to consensus — and executing on — solutions is not quite so easy. Alberta looked to put up a wall between the federal government and municipalities this week, and Premier Danielle Smith joins The House to talk about why. Then, the federal housing minister responds.The public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections also had some big-name witnesses this week — not least the prime minister. Canada's former top spy sits down to walk through what we learned.Plus — some of the top movers and shakers from the Canadian political right gathered in Ottawa for a conference this week. Two journalists break down what they focused on, and what it could mean for a future Conservative government.This episode features the voices of: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Housing Minister Sean Fraser Richard Fadden, former NSIA, former head of CSISCampbell Clark, The Globe and Mail Jen Gerson, The Line

How bad is foreign election interference in Canada? What are we learning from the inquiry underway in Ottawa? Do polls even matter 18 months out from an election? What does Anthony Housefather's decision to stay a Liberal MP say about the future of that party, if anything? And, is it possible Naheed Nenshi isn't the saviour many are saying he'll be for the Alberta NDP?  5:15 | Political writer Evan Scrimshaw looks at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's testimony at the foreign interference inquiry, the latest federal polls (17:40), Housefather's decision to remain a Liberal following the Palestine statehood vote (26:00), Rachel Gilmore calling out Pierre Poilievre's communications team (34:45), and why Evan thinks Naheed Nenshi's Alberta NDP leadership campaign is "a sinking ship" (45:30).  READ EVAN'S WORK: https://scrimshawunscripted.substack.com/ 1:01:35 | Real Talker Wendy responds to Jen Gerson's April 9 appearance on the show, and tells us why she sold her car...for good. NO MINIVAN? NO PROBLEM: https://youtu.be/4osV6Xy9Bys?si=5b94VXRPCPekxTdt 1:10:20 | Real Talker Jim from Vernon has a theory about why cancer rates are up around the world.  EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  1:14:20 | Real Talker AJ shares his powerful personal story about organ donation.  EVENING OF HOPE - APRIL 20: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/evening-of-hope-tickets-797818335117?aff=efbevent FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj  REAL TALK GOLF CLASSIC = JUNE 20: https://ryanjespersen.com/real-talk-g... REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch QUALIFY FOR EXCLUSIVE PERKS! BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

As regular readers of Tara's Substack will know, this spring Tara has been writing the Massey Essay on the state of the media — a partnership between Massey College at the University of Toronto and the Literary Review of Canada, where it's published. The annual essay honours the legacy of the long-time CBC producer Vincent Massey Tovell. This year's essay explores the collapse of public trust in the media. Leading up to its publication next week, we will be re-running podcast interviews with some of the journalists that helped shape Tara's thinking for this essay. Starting with today's conversation — one of Lean Out's most popular episodes on the Canadian media (which originally aired in July of 2023). Jen Gerson is a Calgary journalist, and co-founder of the Canadian outlet The Line. You can find Tara Henley on Twitter at @TaraRHenley, and on Substack at tarahenley.substack.com

Justin Trudeau's said it a million times: eight out of ten Canadians receive more from the Canada Carbon Rebate than what they pay in carbon taxes. If that's true, why aren't more Canadians on board with the Liberal government's approach to climate action? Is it possible the rebate itself is actually the biggest problem with the carbon tax? Political columnist Jen Gerson makes that argument in this super-sized episode of Real Talk.  5:00 | But first...should parents be charged when their children commit heinous crimes? Ryan and Johnny take a look at sentencing hearings for James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose son Ethan killed four schoolmates in Oxford, Michigan in November 2021.  9:50 | Real Talkers have a LOT to say about the tragic death of 11-year-old Kache Grist, who was killed by two Cane Corsos owned by his dad's roommate. Ryan reads emails to talk@ryanjespersen.com.  GO FUND ME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-costs-for-kache 29:20 | Jen Gerson tells us what prompted her to co-found The Line, one of Canada's most-read sources of online conservative commentary. She explains why she thinks the carbon tax rebate is actually the biggest problem with the carbon tax (44:25), and gives us her take on Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek's biggest mistake (1:25:20).   READ THE LINE: https://www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson-the-problem-with-the-carbon FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch QUALIFY FOR EXCLUSIVE PERKS! BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen  THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Let's skip two years of horse race punditry and commentary. It's over already. Barring some unforeseeable act of God, Pierre Poilievre is not just going to win, he is going to stomp to victory. The Liberals will likely be rebuilding from close to scratch and this country might be looking at a good long period of right wing rule. What does that look like? What does it mean for housing, crime, and the media landscape?Today on the show, Jesse speaks with prominent journalists, Jen Gerson, Paul Wells, and Stephen Marche to find out more.Host: Jesse Brown Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Further reading: Conservatives open up a 19-point lead over the Liberals — Abacus DataJen Gerson's Substack — The LinePaul Well's SubstackStephen Marche's websiteSponsors: Squarespace, Douglas, CFUV, Better HelpIf you value this podcast, support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.