UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck

Episode 316 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck dives deep into Vancouver's City Hall soap opera, a wave of journalists jumping into politics, the slow walk to a Liberal majority, and a war with no end game in Iran.Here's what's inside:⚖️ Sean Orr Sues Ken Sim — The councillor launches a GoFundMe to sue the mayor for defamation after the drug dealer comments. George questions whether it'll succeed, raises campaign finance red flags, and explains why the city will likely cover Sim's legal costs. Meanwhile, the affordable housing debate that started it all is completely buried.🏛️ Vancouver's 2026 Election Chaos — Too many parties, too many candidates, and the left keeps splitting the vote. George breaks down why ABC could still win despite Ken Sim's implosion, and why celebrity name recognition alone doesn't win council seats.🗞️ Journalists Jump Into Politics — Frances Bula, veteran civic affairs reporter, announces a run for Vancouver council. Janet Brown enters the race in Surrey. George compares the policy wonk versus retail politician skill sets and shares his own 2011 campaign strategy of winning through micro-markets.🇨🇦 Crossing the Floor to a Majority — A Nunavut NDP MP joins the Liberals, the first New Democrat to cross. Three Conservatives already have. Carney's now within one or two seats of a majority, with by-elections set for April 13th. George disagrees with floor-crossing on principle. Jody says this one actually makes sense given Nunavut's unique position.🇳🇴 Carney Heads to Norway — The PM visits the North, then flies to Norway to talk oil, pipelines, and resource management. George points out Norway's $5-trillion sovereign wealth fund, no debt, and protected coastline as the model Canada should follow.💣 Iran War Escalates — The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Ships are being attacked. Terror threats emerge on US soil. No congressional approval, no stated end game, and a new reason every day for why the US and Israel went in. George says Netanyahu benefits from regional chaos and Trump thought it would be as easy as Venezuela.📍 From a GoFundMe lawsuit at City Hall to a war with global supply chain consequences, Episode 316 covers it all.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Sean Orr's GoFundMe Lawsuit Against Ken Sim 05:00 – Political Mudslinging & the Lost Housing Debate 07:00 – Journalists Enter the Race: Frances Bula & Janet Brown 10:00 – Celebrity vs Policy Wonk: Who Wins Council Seats? 13:00 – How George Won in 2011: Micro-Market Strategy 16:00 – Crossing the Floor: NDP MP Joins the Liberals 18:00 – Carney's Path to a Majority 20:00 – Norway Trip & Resource Management Lessons 22:00 – Iran War: No Plan, No Approval, No End Game 24:00 – Strait of Hormuz, Oil Prices & Global Fallout 28:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 315 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck goes from a Vancouver City Hall apology tour to the end of daylight saving time to an actual war breaking out in the Middle East.Here's what's inside:🏙️ Ken Sim's Full Mea Culpa — After video surfaced of the mayor himself calling Councillor Sean Orr a drug dealer, Sim held a second press conference and went full apology mode. Orr rejected it. George breaks down the crisis comms strategy and what Sim should have said instead.🏘️ Affordable Housing Gets Lost in the Spin — The controversy started over housing for seniors and people with disabilities. Not SROs, not the Downtown Eastside. Jody's frustrated that the real issue got buried under political mud-slinging.🕐 BC Kills Daylight Saving Time — Premier Eby announces BC will spring forward one last time and stay on permanent daylight time. 97% of the public wanted it. Every business group, the airport, and the border opposed it. George predicts Eby will reverse it within a month under pressure from Washington State.⚽ Granville Street Goes Pedestrian for FIFA — Vancouver plans to close Granville to traffic for the World Cup fan zone. George and Jody reminisce about the 2010 Olympics energy and hope FIFA brings the same magic. The new PNE amphitheatre — $184 million, triple the original budget — will host a 10,000-person fan zone.🏴 Musqueam Agreement — The federal government quietly dropped a First Nations ocean and waterway management deal on a Friday afternoon. MP Wade Grant and Musqueam leaders try to calm the backlash while the news gets buried by the weekend's war coverage.💣 US Launches War on Iran — Operation Fury begins. Six US service members killed, over a thousand Iranian casualties, and no clear articulation of an end game. Congress wasn't consulted. George and Jody debate whether toppling the regime is justified when there's no plan for what comes next.🇨🇦 Carney's Global Trade Blitz — While the US wages war, Canada's Prime Minister is in Australia, Japan, and India signing defence and trade deals. Saskatchewan farmers get canola relief through a China deal. The steel and auto sectors still suffer, but momentum builds.📺 Media Landscape Shifts — CNN may become Fox 2.0 under new ownership. Netflix circles displaced journalists. YouTube lands the Academy Awards through 2030. Christy Noem gets fired. Her replacement can't tell Iran from Iraq.📍 From Ken Sim's apology to a new war in the Middle East, Episode 315 is the wildest UnSpun yet.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Ken Sim's Drug Dealer Video Surfaces 03:00 – The Full Mea Culpa Press Conference 07:00 – Affordable Housing Lost in the Spin 08:00 – BC Kills Daylight Saving Time Forever 11:00 – Granville Street Pedestrian Mall & FIFA Fan Zone 14:00 – PNE Amphitheatre & 2010 Olympics Nostalgia 18:00 – Musqueam Waterway Deal Buried on a Friday 20:00 – US Launches War on Iran 23:00 – No End Game, No Congressional Approval 25:00 – Carney's Trade Blitz: Australia, Japan, India 27:00 – Poilievre in London, Conservatives Adrift 28:00 – CNN, Netflix & the New Media Order 30:00 – Christy Noem Out, MMA Fighter In 31:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 314 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck swings from Olympic hockey outrage to Vancouver City Hall scandal to the geopolitical chess game Canada's playing on the world stage.Here's what's inside:🏒 US Hockey Team's Locker Room Moment — The men's Olympic gold medal team's call with Trump and Cash Patel goes sideways. The women's team laughs it off in real time. Jody goes deep on why "locker room talk" stopped being an excuse decades ago. Some players are apologizing. Most aren't.🏙️ Councillor Lenny Zhou's WeChat Scandal — A Vancouver councillor goes on WeChat in Mandarin and calls fellow councillors drug dealers and users. He apologized — but only because he got caught. Mayor Ken Sim's response? A thank-you note for saying sorry. Then he literally ran from the media.🌎 Mexico Under Siege — George just got back from Puerto Vallarta as cartel violence erupted. Buses, banks, and taxis on fire. Tourists watching from hotel rooftops. A bizarre personal encounter with what may have been a cartel message at a resort.🇨🇦 Canada's Unity Surge — Polling shows Canadians more united than they've been in decades. Mark Carney's approval hits record highs, Poilievre drops to minus 16, and defence deals with South Korea, Norway, and the UK fly under the radar.🇺🇸 Trump's State of the Union — Ten thousand words, zero connection to reality. George and Jody break down the "bizarro world" speech, the sycophant applause, and why Andrew Scheer's "where's the deal?" line may be the worst political read of the year.🤖 AI, Anthropic & Pete Hegseth — The US Defence Secretary pressures Anthropic to loosen AI safeguards while Canada pushes to tighten them. Jody and George discuss what that means for the future.🏛️ Vancouver's Official Development Plan — A massive public hearing on March 10th will codify the Vancouver Plan into policy. Over 130 development projects are in the pipeline for 2026, double last year. The sidewalk budget triples — but it'll still take 500 years to catch up.⚽ World Cup & ICE in Vancouver — Pete Fry's motion to ban US immigration agents from Vancouver during the FIFA World Cup gets ruled out of order. George calls it performative. The question remains: what happens at the border?📍 From Olympic hockey scandal to Vancouver's biggest planning decision in 40 years, Episode 314 is packed.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Trump's State of the Union Spin 02:00 – US Hockey Team's Locker Room Disgrace 07:00 – Councillor Xo's WeChat Scandal 11:00 – World Cup, ICE & Vancouver Border Politics 13:00 – Lenny Zhou, Drug Slander & Ken Sim Runs Away 17:00 – Carney's Record Polling & Canada's Unity Moment 20:00 – Poilievre's UK Trip & Conservative Collapse 22:00 – Andrew Scheer's Worst Take of the Year 25:00 – Trump's Bizarro State of the Union 27:00 – Vancouver's 130 Development Projects & the ODP 29:00 – AI, Anthropic & the Hegseth Problem 31:00 – Final Thoughts & the Vancouver Plan

Episode 313 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck drops on a news-heavy day — from Olympic heartbreak to Prince Andrew's arrest to Conservatives jumping ship to the Liberals.Here's what's inside:🏒 Women's Hockey Heartbreak Canada loses the Olympic gold medal to the USA in overtime after holding a 1-0 lead until 40 seconds left in the third period. George blames the Canucks curse. Jody's devastated but hopeful for the men's tournament.🔄 Conservative MP Crosses the Floor Edmonton Conservative MP joins Mark Carney's Liberals, citing the Davos speech as the turning point. George hates floor-crossing on principle — but predicts the MP will get an ambassadorship or a soft landing for his trouble. Poilievre calls it "dirty backroom dealing."🎤 David Letterman in Vancouver Jody sees Letterman live at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre filming with Zach Galifianakis. Both go hard politically — Letterman apologizes for Trump, Zach calls Poilievre "Vladimir Poutine." The sold-out crowd cheers. The separatists in the room were not feeling it.📺 Colbert vs. CBS Stephen Colbert was ordered not to air his interview with Texas Senate candidate Colin Allred — so he talked about it on air and dropped it on YouTube instead. The interview got 10 times the eyeballs. Same Streisand Effect that boosted Jimmy Kimmel.💸 BC Budget Disaster The NDP delivers another brutal budget. George blames a decade of no big projects, increased government staffing by 30%, and thwarting real estate development. Hidden in the fine print: property tax deferral rates jumped from prime minus 2% to prime plus 2%.👮 Surrey Police Budget Cut The province pulls $46.95 million from Surrey's police transition. George predicts policing will be 40-50% of Surrey's budget within three years.👑 Prince Andrew Arrested On his 66th birthday, formerly known as Prince Andrew gets a knock at the door — not gifts, but cops with a warrant. Charges include extortion and selling state secrets. George says Fergie's next. Meanwhile, America still has zero arrests from the Epstein files.🇰🇷 South Korea's Insurrection Sentence The former South Korean president just got life in prison for insurrection. George asks: sound familiar?🇨🇳 China's Green Leap Jody reflects on how much her worldview shifted after visiting China — it's now easier to travel there than to the US. Meanwhile, Trump's pushing "big beautiful coal" and bringing back DDT while China builds massive solar and wind farms.🗳️ Action Soothes Anxiety Jody quotes Scott Galloway: when you feel helpless, do something. Stay on the platforms. Call things out. Democracy depends on people showing up.📍 From Olympic heartbreak to royal arrests to BC's budget mess, Episode 313 is packed.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Women's Hockey Heartbreak 03:00 – Conservative MP Crosses to Liberals 06:00 – David Letterman in Vancouver 09:00 – Letterman Built the Trump Brand 10:00 – Colbert vs. CBS Censorship 13:00 – Streisand Effect Strikes Again 15:00 – BC Budget Disaster 17:00 – Property Tax Deferral Change 19:00 – BC Conservative Leadership Matters 21:00 – Surrey Police Budget Cut 22:00 – Prince Andrew Arrested 24:00 – South Korea's Insurrection Sentence 25:00 – Stay on the Platforms 28:00 – China vs. US on Climate 32:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 312 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck opens with condolences and closes with corruption — a full rollercoaster from local to international chaos.Here's what's inside:🏈 Super Bowl Recap Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots. Bad Bunny's halftime show stuns with 360 sugar cane dancers. Canada gets a shoutout. And the team's owner, Jody Allen — sister of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen — raises the trophy while the Epstein cloud hangs over Bill Gates.💔 Tumbler Ridge Mass Shooting British Columbia mourns after a mass shooting in a small mining town of 2,000 people. Nine dead including the alleged shooter, 25 injured. The RCMP keeps details close — confusing American media used to instant coverage. George and Jody praise Canadian politicians for not politicizing the tragedy.🏙️ Another Mayoral Candidate One City's William Azaroff enters the Vancouver mayoral race. George jokes that at this point, who isn't running? Maybe Jody and George should run as a duo — she does public hearings, he does the events.🏗️ Granville Street Transformation A major development gets the green light near the Commodore Ballroom — but George argues Granville should be hotels, not rentals. Residents will just complain about noise. Make it like Times Square. Also: orphan properties still block progress across downtown.💸 Vancouver House CAC Scandal The city wasn't tracking Community Amenity Contributions properly. George breaks down how CACs became cash grabs instead of actual amenities like parks and public art. The chandelier under the Granville Bridge? Originally valued at $5 million — and the accounting is a mess.🏦 NATO Bank to Vancouver? There's talk of bringing a NATO-affiliated centralized bank headquarters to Vancouver. George notes: if Alberta keeps pushing separation talk, head offices will flee — just like they left Montreal in the 1970s.🎰 Casino Expansion Concerns The Parq wants to double in size. River Rock already gutted its entertainment spaces for more slot machines. George worries Vancouver casinos are heading the same ugly direction.⚖️ Congress Votes Against Trump Tariffs Republicans flip — the Senate votes to strike down Trump's emergency tariff order on Canada. It'll likely get vetoed, but it's a crack in the dam.📜 Pam Bondi's Epstein Circus The Attorney General refuses to answer basic questions about Epstein co-conspirators while survivors sit behind her ignored. The UK strips Prince Andrew's titles. France and Norway take action. Meanwhile, one woman sits in jail in America. Where are the men?🧊 ICE Leaves Minnesota After disastrous optics, ICE pulls out of Minnesota. George: "They'll just pop up somewhere else to torture people."🇨🇦 US Meddling in Alberta American officials are meeting with Alberta separatists. George says the ambassador should face consequences — this is an attack on Canadian sovereignty.📍 From Tumbler Ridge to Granville Street to the Epstein hearings, Episode 312 is packed with everything you need unspun.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Super Bowl & Bad Bunny 03:00 – Tumbler Ridge Tragedy 06:00 – New Mayoral Candidate 07:00 – Granville Street Development 10:00 – Vancouver House CAC Scandal 13:30 – NATO Bank to Vancouver? 15:00 – Casino Expansion Concerns 19:00 – Congress Votes on Tariffs 20:30 – Pam Bondi's Epstein Testimony 25:00 – Survivors Ignored 27:00 – ICE Leaves Minnesota 30:00 – US Meddling in Alberta Separation 32:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 311 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck goes hyperlocal on Vancouver controversies before diving into BC's provincial mess and the chaos unfolding south of the border.Here's what's inside:🐕 Pacific Spirit Park Victory Jody wins one for the dog owners. Metro Vancouver backs down on restrictive leash rules after community pushback. The secret? Personalized emails with solutions — not copy-paste campaigns. Rebecca Bligh gets credit for bringing common sense to the table.🏊 Kits Pool Lifeguard Challenge Jody officially asks: Has Vancouver Park Board posted lifeguard job openings yet? Every year they claim they can't find staff — but only advertise days before opening. Free Kids Pool!🎆 $2 Million Fireworks Gamble Ken Sim announces city-funded fireworks — but is it good policy or election-year politics? George breaks down the math: $2 million equals a quarter percent of property tax. Where's it coming from? And why wasn't it in the budget?💸 BC's Budget Catastrophe Tens of billions in debt, highways washed out, wildfires, trade chaos — but also massive government bloat. George goes off: the NDP has done nothing significant since 2017 except "pavement politics." No big projects, no economic stimulus, no plan.⚖️ BC Conservatives: Too Extreme? The opposition can't capitalize because they're obsessed with culture wars instead of fiscal policy. Trans athletes in school sports? Four kids in the whole country. George and Jody ask: where does the political middle go?🇨🇦 Harper Backs Carney Stephen Harper publicly endorses Mark Carney as the leader Canada needs — right after Poilievre's divisive convention speech. Jason Kenney and George W. Bush now look moderate by comparison. The Overton window keeps shifting.⚽ Pete Fry's ICE Motion The new mayoral candidate puts forward a motion to ban ICE from FIFA events in Vancouver. One problem: the U.S. isn't even playing games in Canada. George calls it pure political spin.📜 Epstein Files Keep Coming Almost all the files are out — and only one person is in jail: Ghislaine Maxwell, now in a "country club" prison with yoga and a dog. The Clintons are set to testify. EU countries are launching their own investigations. The redactions still protect powerful names.📍 From dog parks to billion-dollar deficits to global scandal, Episode 311 covers it all with the unfiltered spin you expect.💬 Tell us in the comments: Should Vancouver fund fireworks? Is BC's budget fixable? And who's hiding behind those Epstein redactions?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Free the Dogs: Pacific Spirit Park Win 05:00 – Kits Pool Lifeguard Drama 06:30 – $2 Million Fireworks Debate 11:00 – BC's Budget Disaster Explained 15:00 – NDP's 10 Years of "Nothing" 17:00 – BC Conservatives Too Extreme 19:30 – Harper Endorses Carney 22:00 – Poilievre's Convention & Stolen Ideas 24:00 – Pete Fry's Mayoral Launch & ICE Motion 27:30 – Epstein Files & Global Fallout 32:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 310 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck kicks off the new year with a bang — from Davos diplomacy to Alberta separatism to Vancouver's crowded mayoral race heating up fast.Here's what's inside:🌍 Carney's Davos Speech Goes Viral Mark Carney delivers a self-written speech at the World Economic Forum that trends worldwide. "Canada is open for business" — a roadmap for trade diversification without once naming Trump or the U.S. Polling shows his approval surging coast to coast (except Alberta, down 5%).🚗 Chinese EVs & Trade Pivots Canada opens the door to 40,000 Chinese electric vehicles, South Korea makes a deal, and the UK's Keir Starmer lands in Beijing. The message is clear: if the U.S. shuts doors, Canada will find new ones.🤝 First Ministers Meet Monthly David Eby, Mark Carney, and Danielle Smith sit down together as premiers commit to monthly in-person meetings while CUSMA hangs in the balance. George explains why face-to-face diplomacy changes everything.⚠️ Alberta Separation Talk Eby calls Alberta separatists "treasonous," First Nations leaders remind them the land stays put, and George unpacks why this feels more like a protest vote than a real movement.🗳️ Poilievre's Leadership Review The Conservative convention kicks off with a Friday vote on Pierre Poilievre's leadership. His polling is terrible, and there's talk of removing abortion and DEI protections from party policy. George predicts he'll survive — but not for long.📱 Media, Bots & the Fight for Truth Only 38% of social media users are real people. Jody explains why staying active on platforms like Twitter matters more than ever, while George calls out CBC for leaving the space to bots and billionaires.🏙️ Vancouver's Mayoral Race Explodes Pete Fry expected to announce Friday. Shauna Sylvester publicly warns him not to run. Karim Allen adds Victoria Young to his slate. Colleen Hardwick circles again. And Jody pitches George Affleck for mayor (yes, really).📍 From Davos to City Hall, Episode 310 is packed with the spin you need stripped away.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com

Episode 309 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck is a holiday edition that covers everything from BC weather disasters to provincial political turmoil to some alarming new US travel requirements.Here's what's inside:🌧️ Atmospheric River Returns Jody shares her 2021 PTSD as another atmospheric river slams BC and Washington State. Boulders on highways, flooded roads, and the question nobody wants to ask: are we prepared? George thinks we need better warnings. Jody thinks we need boats.🏛️ BC Conservatives: What Comes Next? With Rustad gone, the party faces a long road to rebuild. Could Brad West make a provincial play? What about Eleanor Sturko? George explains why the leadership race could take months, the party is broke, and the path to victory runs through the Lower Mainland, not the far right.⚖️ Land Rights and Pipeline Politics Brad West is making noise on the Richmond land rights issue and First Nations consultation debates. Meanwhile, the pipeline to the north coast remains stalled. George argues Canada needs to get its resources to market or risk economic stagnation. Jody asks why there's only one proposed route through some of the most dangerous waters on the coast.🛃 New US Tourist Rules The US is rolling out invasive new travel requirements: five years of social media history, 10 years of email addresses and phone numbers, IP addresses, family member information, fingerprints, and DNA. George figures Canadians are next. Both hosts wonder if this podcast alone could get them flagged at the border.🇺🇸 Tourism Collapse Hits Washington State A Washington State senator pleads for help as Canadian tourism drops 30%. The Port Angeles to Victoria ferry lays off 30% of staff. Tariffs and hostility are crushing border state economies while Canadians book trips to Chile, Spain, and Germany instead.🍽️ Grocery Prices Still Climbing A quick nod to the ongoing affordability squeeze. Jody's Christmas roast is still $100. The cost of living conversation continues.📍 From flooding highways to fractured parties to fortress America, Episode 309 wraps up the year with classic UnSpun honesty.📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Holiday Edition Kickoff 01:00 – Atmospheric River Hits BC 04:00 – Weather Preparedness (Or Lack Thereof) 07:00 – BC Conservative Leadership Chaos 10:00 – Could Brad West or Eleanor Sturko Run? 14:00 – Pipeline Politics and Land Rights 18:00 – Rebuilding the BC Conservatives 20:00 – US Travel Rules Get Invasive 24:00 – Canadian Tourism Drops 30% 27:00 – Holiday Wrap Up

Episode 308 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck kicks off with a victory lap — George called it again. John Rustad is officially out, Surrey's police budget explodes, and American politics somehow gets even stranger.Here's what's inside:🏛️ John Rustad Removed as BC Conservative Leader The BC Conservative caucus finally pulls the trigger. Rustad gets labelled "professionally incapacitated," refuses to accept it, tweets that he's "not going anywhere," and then... goes. Trevor Halford steps in as interim leader. George breaks down the timing — and whether Rustad delayed his exit just to collect a bigger paycheque.🗳️ What Comes Next for BC's Opposition? With Rustad gone, the Conservative Party of BC faces a leadership race while Premier Eby sits comfortably unchallenged. George explains why clinging to power never works and why some politicians just don't know when to leave.🚔 Surrey Policing Budget Blows Up Brenda Locke is furious. The Surrey Police Service budget comes in way higher than expected — exactly what George predicted months ago. The transition from RCMP continues to cost taxpayers, and questions mount about accountability.💵 Grocery Inflation vs "Affordability" Jody and George dig into the gap between official inflation numbers and what people actually pay at the checkout. A Christmas roast that cost $40 two years ago now runs $100. The word "affordable" sounds fancy — the reality is just expensive.🇺🇸 Trump Falls Asleep in Congress While Republicans push through their agenda, Trump literally dozes off during a caucus meeting. The same guy who mocked "Sleepy Joe" can't stay awake. Meanwhile, healthcare premiums climb and the Epstein files deadline looms.⚖️ Costco Sues Over Tariffs Costco files a lawsuit demanding their tariff payments back, betting the Supreme Court will rule the tariffs illegal. If they win, the government's already spent the money.📍 From BC's political upheaval to American absurdity, Episode 308 is classic UnSpun — sharp, funny, and unfiltered.💬 Tell us in the comments: Was Rustad's exit overdue? And should Canada follow Costco's lead on tariffs?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – George Was Right Again 01:00 – Rustad Removed as Conservative Leader 04:00 – "Professionally Incapacitated" Drama 07:00 – Trevor Halford Takes Interim Role 10:00 – Surrey Police Budget Explodes 15:00 – Why Politicians Can't Let Go 20:00 – Trump Falls Asleep in Congress 26:00 – Inflation vs the Grocery Basket 29:00 – Costco Sues Over Tariffs 31:00 – Epstein Files Deadline & Final Thoughts

Episode 307 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck delivers a packed week of drama — a surprise pipeline agreement, a budget that’s “zero” in name only, poll shocks in Vancouver, and another chaotic turn in US politics.Here’s what’s inside:🛢️ A New Pipeline to BC’s North Coast Alberta and the federal government sign a major memorandum to advance a new pipeline route to the BC coastline. Premier Eby is boxed in, environmental groups are furious, and First Nations partnerships could flip the politics on its head.🇨🇦 Carney Balances Climate & Industry The Prime Minister argues Canada must lead on both resource extraction and environmental standards. Jody breaks down why Asian markets want Canadian oil specifically because of Canada’s ethical standards. George explains how you can’t pay for environmental change without resource revenue.🏛️ BC Politics: Rustad in Trouble, Eby Unchallenged Rustad’s party is cracking from within — caucus splits, angry riding associations, fundraising problems. Meanwhile, Eby sits comfortably with no effective opposition. A snap election becomes more plausible by the day.🏙️ Vancouver’s Budget Games Ken Sim passes his “zero” budget, despite rising fees, higher police spending, and vague details. Eight political parties at City Hall accuse each other of spin while residents complain about affordability, crime, and basic services falling apart.💵 Park Board Fee Hikes Fees and parking costs at community centres, VanDusen Garden, and the Conservatory all go up — while the Park Board insists it’s making recreation “more affordable.” The irony is not subtle.🚓 Crime Numbers Don’t Match Reality Eighty percent of residents don’t bother reporting break-ins or smashed windows. Vancouver Police drop 93,000 calls per year. Crime stats look rosier, but the streets say otherwise.🗳️ Election 2026: Pete Fry Rising, Ken Sim Falling New polling from George's new organization, AccountabilityVancouver.com, shows Pete Fry leading despite not announcing a run. Vancouver Conservatives poll strongly without a real party structure. Rebecca Bligh and others barely register. ABC’s support depends entirely on dumping or keeping Ken Sim.🇺🇸 US Politics: Violence, Veterans & Chaos Two National Guardsmen are murdered in DC — shortly after Trump called the city “the safest place in America.” Veterans warn service members not to obey illegal orders, Trump responds by calling them traitors, and the 2024 race grows more unstable.📍 From a surprise Western pipeline deal to Vancouver’s crumbling services to another wild week in US politics, Episode 307 is packed.💬 Tell us in the comments: Should the BC pipeline be built? And is Vancouver ready for the 2026 election chaos already brewing?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Pipeline Deal Surprise 03:00 – Carney’s Climate vs Industry Pitch 07:00 – BC Politics: Rustad Splinters 10:00 – Eby and the Federal Game 16:00 – Vancouver’s “Zero” Budget Debate 17:00 – Park Board Fee Hikes 19:00 – Crime, Calls & Reality 22:00 – Accountability Vancouver Launch 24:00 – 2026 Mayoral Polling 27:00 – US Violence & Veterans Warning 30:00 – Trump, Threats & Turmoil 31:00 – Final Thoughts

Episode 306 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck delivers a full sweep of Canadian political drama — from Parliament’s budget brinksmanship to BC’s pipeline fight to Vancouver’s ongoing crime and budget struggles.Here’s what’s in this week’s episode:🇨🇦 Budget Day Theatre in Ottawa The federal government survives by the slimmest margin. Conservatives stall, the NDP abstains to avoid an election, and Elizabeth May steps in to keep Parliament standing. Even Richard Gere turns up in the middle of it all.📉 Poilievre’s Numbers Slide Support drops while internal confidence wavers. The Conservatives don’t want an election, can’t afford one, and know the timing would hurt them.🇺🇸 US Shutdown Ends Snowbird travel from Canada collapses as Canadians avoid the US. Florida officials openly beg us to return. Meanwhile, Trump unleashes personal attacks on reporters — including the now-infamous “Quiet Piggy” comment.⚠️ Epstein File Fallout More leaks, more denials, and a growing political storm on both sides of the border. Jody and George break down the power networks, the silence, and why this scandal will reshape politics.🛢️ Pipeline War: Alberta vs BC A proposed Alberta–BC pipeline triggers immediate opposition from Premier Eby and environmental groups — even as some First Nations support it. Canada’s economic future and energy security hang in the balance.⚡ BC Drops EV Mandate The province backs away from its 2035 zero-emission vehicle commitment. Jody and George dig into the contradiction: blocking pipelines, scrapping EV rules, and still claiming to be climate leaders.🏙️ Vancouver’s Budget Strain Sim’s “zero increase” budget falls apart under questioning. Police spending climbs 4.8 percent, staffing grows, and residents face worsening conditions downtown.🚓 Crime and Disorder Dealers operating openly, buildings taken over, extortion spreading from Surrey, and almost no police presence. The crew explains how basic enforcement and street maintenance could reduce crime dramatically.🗳️ Vancouver’s Mayoral Race Grows Ken Sim plans to run again. OneCity introduces a new candidate. Greens make moves. Too many parties, too much confusion — and voters feeling overwhelmed.📍 From federal brinkmanship to provincial stalemates to Vancouver’s street-level reality, Episode 306 covers it all.💬 Tell us in the comments: Should Canada build the pipeline? Should Vancouver overhaul its budget process? And how do we fix street-level crime?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Budget Day Chaos 04:00 – Conservatives Duck the Vote 07:00 – NDP Abstentions 10:00 – US Shutdown Ends 14:00 – Pipeline Politics Heat Up 17:00 – BC Scraps EV Mandate 19:00 – Vancouver’s “Zero” Budget 22:00 – Crime and Disorder 26:00 – New Mayoral Candidates 29:00 – Epstein Fallout 33:00 – Final Thoughts

In Episode 305 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, it’s a wild ride from City Hall to Washington, with detours through measles outbreaks, LNG politics, and billion-dollar hypocrisy.Here’s what’s inside:🏙️ Vancouver’s Budget Showdown — 650 speakers lined up, 300+ have spoken, and nothing’s changing. George explains why these “consultations” are theatre and why the city’s budget has tripled since 2007 — with little to show for it. 💰 Zero Tax, Full Spin — Remember Ken Sim’s “0%” budget? Turns out staffing exploded by 750 people in three years. Policing alone costs $500 million — nearly the city’s entire budget back in 2007. 🚗 Signs, Tickets & Bureaucratic Madness — Too many bylaws, too few potholes fixed. From parking tickets to beach booze bans, Jody and George ask: when did common sense die in Vancouver? 🏊 The Pool That Still Isn’t Open — Another week, another saga. The aquatic mess continues while park board dysfunction deepens. 🦠 Measles Is Back — Anti-vax spin from decades ago resurfaces, putting kids and vulnerable people at risk. Jody goes off on misinformation and the consequences of bad science gone viral. ⚡ Carney’s Big Bet — The Prime Minister announces new fast-tracked infrastructure projects, including LNG and hydro expansion in BC. George calls it “finally some movement,” while Eby faces protests from within. 🌲 Environmental Divide — First Nations say yes to development; activists say no to everything. The crew debates how Canada can grow responsibly without strangling itself in red tape. 🌍 Ethical Oil & Global Reality Check — China’s going green faster than anyone expected. Canada still can’t build a bridge on time. 🇨🇦 Pierre Poilievre’s Flatline — Same slogans, new slump. Jody wonders if the opposition leader’s message has expired. 🇺🇸 U.S. Chaos — Government shutdown ends in surrender, Epstein documents keep leaking, and Washington’s hypocrisy hits new lows. George shares stories from the “fundraiser circuit” that sound straight out of a Netflix drama.📍 From City Hall’s budget circus to the global power grid, UnSpun Ep. 305 is packed, blunt, and brutally honest.💥 Subscribe, comment, and tell us: Should Vancouver rethink how it spends—or just start over?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – 650 Speakers & a Broken Budget 03:00 – Vancouver’s Spending Triples 06:00 – Signs, Fines & Parking Nonsense 09:00 – Pools, Potholes & Priorities 11:00 – Measles Returns to Canada 13:00 – Mark Carney’s Big Infrastructure Push 17:00 – LNG, Hydro & Environmental Divides 20:00 – China’s Clean Energy Leap 22:00 – Trudeau, Poilievre & Political Denial 25:00 – U.S. Shutdown, Epstein Fallout & Power Games 30:00 – Final Thoughts: Spin, Truth & Accountability

This week on UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, Vancouver’s city hall turns into a shell game, provincial politics melt down, and a 900-page court ruling shakes up land ownership in BC.Here’s what’s inside:🏙️ Ken Sim’s Numbers Collapse — New polls show the mayor’s support tanking below 20%. George breaks down ABC’s implosion and what the new “Deputy Mayor” appointment really means. 👋 Sarah Kirby-Young Steps Up — She’s now deputy mayor for the rest of the term. Promotion… or setup for succession? 🌿 Pete Fry’s Green Ambition — Backed by every level of the Green Party, Fry’s playing coy about a 2026 run while floating a youth vote motion that has Vancouver buzzing. 🗳️ Voting at 16? — Fry’s proposal to lower the municipal voting age sparks mixed reactions — from parents to politicians. Jody’s inbox explodes, and George calls it “a stunt with potential.” . 🏡 City Staff Living Elsewhere — Turns out a Vancouver councillor never lived in the city. George’s take: “If you don’t live here, you shouldn’t run here.” 🏞️ Park Board Referendum Dead (Again) — After endless debate, the province kills the vote citing First Nations consultation. The city’s legal confusion deepens. 🌊 Richmond’s Land Rights Bombshell — A surprise court ruling grants ancestral claims to a large section of Richmond land, blindsiding homeowners and sparking outrage. George and Jody unpack the legal chaos and the failure of BC’s reconciliation process. Social Media Sanity — Jody reads an email questioning why she blocks trolls. George’s answer: “Hate’s not a conversation.”📍 From Vancouver’s city hall crisis to the Richmond land rights shockwave, Episode 304 might be the most UnSpun yet.💥 Subscribe, comment, and tell us: Should 16-year-olds vote? Should Vancouver councillors have to live in Vancouver?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – New Deputy Mayor: Sarah Kirby-Young 02:00 – Ken Sim’s Polling Plunge 06:00 – Pete Fry, Green Party & 16-Year-Old Voters 10:00 – Empty Homes Tax Debate 13:00 – City Councillor Caught Living in North Van 17:00 – Park Board Referendum Killed by Province 22:00 – Richmond Land Rights Ruling Explained 27:00 – Nuclear Power, Oversight & Bureaucracy 30:00 – Social Media Blocking & Final Thoughts

In Episode 303 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, it’s city hall mayhem, provincial implosions, and a federal plan that’s literally going nuclear (in a good way).Here’s what’s inside:🏙️ Vancouver’s Political Freefall — New polling shows Ken Sim’s support collapsing, with only 30% of voters wanting him back. George breaks down why the mayor’s “supermajority” has evaporated.🌿 Pete Fry’s Green Tease — The Green Party of Canada, BC, and Vancouver all back Pete Fry for a possible mayoral run… but he’s coy about actually running.🏗️ Housing Headaches — Sim loses a key vote on creating a city-owned housing corporation after his own ABC caucus fractures. Should governments be building market rentals at all?🏞️ Park Board Panic, Again — Pay parking, paranoia, and people convinced Ken Sim’s secretly plotting condo towers in Stanley Park. (He’s not.)🏙️ Surrey’s Stadium & Costco 2.0 — Brenda Locke revives Doug McCallum’s dream project: a 10,000-seat arena and another Costco. Chaos meets construction.⚡ Provincial Meltdown — John Rustad’s BC Conservatives implode while David Eby faces strikes, ballooning budgets, and a cabinet that’s lost control of spending.🔌 Canada Goes Nuclear — The federal government’s new small modular reactor plan sparks debate. George says it’s about time — clean, efficient, and not your grandpa’s reactor.📍 From city hall squabbles to the future of clean power, Episode 303 is pure UnSpun: fiery, funny, and unfiltered.💥 Subscribe, comment, and tell us: Should Vancouver go nuclear — in power or in politics?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Vancouver Polls & Ken Sim’s Slump 02:00 – Pete Fry’s Green Party Endorsement 06:00 – Downtown Eastside Drug Bust & Safety Debate 09:00 – Park Board Paranoia Returns 12:00 – Surrey’s New Arena & Costco 2.0 15:00 – Ken Sim’s Housing Vote Failure 17:00 – John Rustad’s Leadership Collapse 19:00 – BC’s “North Coast” Power Grid & Budget Woes 25:00 – Nuclear Energy: Canada’s Big Bet 29:00 – AI, Strikes & Big Government Bloat

In Episode 302 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, the Park Board soap opera hits a new twist, BC’s liquor shelves run dry, and the global stage gets even stranger.Here’s what’s inside:🏞️ Park Board Meltdown, Again — Ken Sim backtracks on supporting the province’s Park Board referendum over “respect for First Nations” — leaving everyone confused. George unpacks the real political motive behind it.🗳️ Referendum Spin — How a single yes/no question could decide the future of Vancouver’s parks… depending how it’s worded.🏊 Vancouver Aquatic Centre Scandal — A class-action suit reveals the city claimed to have “data” that didn’t exist. $175M for a smaller pool? Taxpayers aren’t swimming in confidence.🏙️ Municipal Moves — Richard Stewart retiring in Coquitlam, endorsing Craig Hodge for mayor. A rare example of smooth political succession in BC.🍷 BCGEU Strike Expands — Liquor and cannabis distribution grinds to a halt, restaurants run out of wine, and the government holds firm at a 3.5% offer. George explains the political math behind it.🌍 Trump, Carney & the Nobel Race — Trump wants a peace prize after brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Norway says… “uh, no.” Meanwhile, economist Peter Howitt wins Canada a Nobel instead.🇨🇳 Trade Turbulence — As U.S. tariffs rise and auto plants move south, Canada flirts with China again. Is it strategy or desperation?💉 Flu Season Alert — Jody shares a PSA on COVID and flu shots, while George fights off a cold (and a birthday hangover).📍 From Vancouver’s endless Park Board drama to the chaos in Washington, this one’s classic UnSpun: local frustration meets global absurdity.💥 Subscribe, comment, and tell us: Should the Park Board survive the referendum? And will BC ever fix its booze shortage?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance📬 Follow George: @george_affleck🌐 unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters:00:00 – The Park Board Gift That Keeps Giving03:00 – Ken Sim vs. The Province (and First Nations?)08:00 – The Aquatic Centre Scandal & Missing Data13:00 – Coquitlam’s Leadership Change18:00 – BCGEU Strike Hits Restaurants22:00 – Nobel Peace Prize Snub & Trump’s Ego25:00 – Protests, Peace & Portland Dinosaurs27:00 – Mark Carney vs. Trump in Egypt29:00 – Trade Trouble & China’s Comeback30:00 – Flu Shots, COVID Boosters & George’s Birthday Cold

In Episode 301 of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, Vancouver politics meet global chaos once again — and yes, George was right… again.Here’s what’s on the rundown:🏞️ Park Board Referendum Confirmed — Christine Boyle proposes a citywide vote on dissolving Vancouver’s Park Board. George called it months ago. The spin? A supposed $70M in “savings” — spread over 10 years.💰 Zero-Tax Budget Reality Check — Ken Sim’s 0% property tax increase is official. What gets cut? Hundreds of jobs, mid-management positions, and maybe public patience.🏙️ Zoning & the Broadway Plan — Council greenlights sweeping rezonings with no public hearings. Developers cheer, NIMBYs panic.📉 Polling Problems for Ken Sim — His approval rating tanks while new mayoral contenders circle. Youth voters are angry and engaged.🌊 Eby vs. Danielle Smith: Pipeline Showdown — Alberta wants to push a new pipeline through BC; Eby says no. Smith’s elbows are up, but so are BC’s boundaries.🇨🇦 Mark Carney in DC — Canada’s PM navigates Trump’s ego with calm diplomacy as the U.S. flirts with tariffs and tantrums.🏅 Trump’s ‘Peace Prize’ Moment? — A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas sparks talk of a Nobel nod for Trump (yes, really).✈️ U.S. Shutdown Fallout — Air traffic delays, frozen paycheques, and total dysfunction in Washington.⚽ Local Laughs — George goes to a Whitecaps match (“there was beer!”), Jody discovers “Gander” — Canada’s new social platform.From the park board referendum to world peace and potholes, this one’s peak UnSpun.Subscribe, comment, and tell us: Would you vote to kill the Park Board? And should Canada jump in as Middle East peacekeepers?Follow Jody: @jodyvance Follow George: @george_affleck unspunpodcast.com⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – George Was Right (Again) 01:00 – Park Board Referendum Confirmed 04:00 – Ken Sim’s 0% Budget Explained 07:00 – Zoning, Broadway Plan & NIMBYs 10:00 – Ken Sim’s Polling Nosedive 11:00 – Eby vs. Danielle Smith Pipeline War 14:00 – Trudeau, Carney & Trump at the White House 17:00 – Pierre Poilievre’s Identity Crisis 22:00 – Trump’s “Peace Prize” Moment? 26:00 – U.S. Shutdown Chaos 28:00 – Whitecaps, Beer & Gander Social Media

This week on UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck, it’s local politics colliding with global headlines — and yes, we go from Vancouver City Hall straight to the United Nations.Here’s what we cover:🏙️ Vancouver’s Mayoral Shake-Up — Rebecca Bligh launches Vote Vancouver and sets her sights on Ken Sim. Is this Vision 2.0 or a real new player in 2026? ⚖️ Conservative Turmoil — John Rustad survives a leadership review, but ejects Eleanor Sturko. Party unity or caucus meltdown? 🍷 BCGEU Strike Escalates — Liquor distribution blocked, restaurants squeezed, and taxpayers wonder: why not privatize? 📮 Canada Post Bleeding Cash — $1B in losses, rural closures, and why it still matters for small towns and national unity. 🌐 The UN General Assembly — Trump blusters, Carney soothes, and Canada searches for trade partners while pipelines still stall. 🏥 Care Home Crisis — Jody shares a personal story on BC’s long-term care shortage and the brutal reality for families. 📺 Jimmy Kimmel Returns — Millions head to YouTube after Sinclair/Nexstar blackouts, Disney loses billions, and Jody ends up in Newsweek after canceling her Disney+ subscription. 🎶 Sarah McLachlan Steps In — The Canadian icon joins Kimmel on his comeback night after ditching her Disney premiere.📍 From liquor lines to global diplomacy, UnSpun breaks down the spin every week.💥 Subscribe, comment, and let us know: Should Canada Post survive? Should Jimmy Kimmel move to streaming for good?📬 Follow Jody: @jodyvance 📬 Follow George: @george_affleck 🌐 unspunpodcast.com

This week’s episode of UnSpun with Jody Vance and George Affleck swings from Vancouver’s park board meltdown to global free speech battles — all the messy politics you need in under 40 minutes.Here’s what’s on deck:🌲 Stanley Park & Surrey Swap — The Bright Lights fundraiser bails on Vancouver, heading to Surrey instead. The train’s still broken, the park board is still flailing, and Kits Pool has become the symbol of civic neglect. 🏛️ Ken Sim vs. David Eby — The mayor wants the park board gone, the premier’s stalling, and George has an unfiltered solution: put it to a referendum. 👴 Richmond Without Brodie — After 25 years, Mayor Malcolm Brodie steps aside. What happens in a city without party politics? ⚖️ Rustad’s Conservative Drama — Membership scandals, leadership reviews, and a caucus on the brink. George explains why losing your team means losing your career. 💸 BC’s Budget Bombshell — Record deficits, collapsing property transfer tax revenue, and whether the Bank of Canada’s small rate cut can actually save homeowners. 🏗️ Housing & Development Freeze — Projects canceled, inventory bottlenecks, and why governments never build when it matters most. 🌍 Carney Meets Eby — Pipelines, LNG, and Canada’s resource future. Can BC balance union jobs with environmental politics? 🎤 Jimmy Kimmel Suspended — A joke, a pivot, and a corporate backlash spark a bigger fight over free speech, comedy, and creeping state-TV vibes.📍 From Vancouver’s crumbling pools to Washington’s late-night purge, Jody and George cut through the noise with their signature spin.💥 Subscribe, comment, and let us know where you stand — Park Board referendum? Pipeline push? Comedy censorship?📲 Watch, share, and subscribe – and don’t forget to visit UnSpunPodcast.com

Season 8 is here — and Jody’s back from a very unexpected detour in China. From being stranded in Chengdu to Air Canada chaos, it’s been a summer of surprises.But the headlines at home? Even bigger.This week, we dig into: ✈️ Jody’s wild Air Canada/China travel saga 📦 BCGEU strike + liquor store showdown 🍁 Pierre Poilievre’s rocky footing & Mark Carney’s rise 🏗️ Housing, density, and why Vancouver can’t get towers vs. gentle density right 🏘️ Rental surge vs. ownership collapse — who actually benefits? 🏛️ Ken Sim’s “cringe factor” + why Vancouver voters are over it 📉 The future of BC politics: John Rustad, EB, and the immigration spinFrom pipelines to party politics, NIMBY wars to rental booms — it’s a jam-packed return episode.💥 Bottom line: Canada’s housing, labour, and political systems are colliding. And the fallout? It’s coming fast.📲 Watch, share, and subscribe – and don’t forget to visit UnSpunPodcast.com

Welcome to UnSpun – your go-to podcast and YouTube show for politics, media spin, and keeping Vancouver honest. While technically on hiatus, Jody and George couldn’t stay silent this week — because what’s happening at Kits Pool is peak Park Board nonsense. We’re talking about an Olympic-sized outdoor pool in the middle of a record heat wave that’s… EMPTY. But somehow also “sold out.” Reservations, lineups, session closures, 30-minute shutdowns five times a day… it’s a mess. And it’s been a mess since COVID. In this special summer episode:
 🏊‍♂️ Why the reservation system is killing access
 📉 The lifeguard excuse that doesn’t hold water
 🧾 George’s CBC interview + Park Board’s lack of data
 📣 A motion is coming Monday — here’s how YOU can help
 📬 We give you the email addresses. Send one now.
 🔥 Plus: A quick breakdown of David Eby’s cabinet shuffle This is about more than just Kits Pool. It’s about common sense, public access, and basic accountability.