The Strategists

How do political campaigns actually win once the voting starts?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips unpack the strategy behind the federal NDP leadership race as voting begins, check in on the budget fight unfolding in Nova Scotia, and talk about the rarely discussed cost of maintaining a political image in the age of constant cameras.First: the mechanics of a ranked-ballot leadership race. What do campaigns actually do once voting begins? How do second-choice alliances form behind the scenes, and why do turnout and member mobilization matter more than anything else in the final weeks?Then: Nova Scotia politics. Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender joins the show to explain how public protests forced Premier Tim Houston’s government to partially reverse controversial budget cuts, and why telling human stories can still change political outcomes.Plus: the cost of a political face. From wardrobe budgets to cosmetic procedures to the constant scrutiny of cameras and social media, the panel discusses the financial and personal pressures women and gender-diverse politicians face that most voters never see.Leadership race strategy, opposition politics, and the realities of modern political image.Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.caGuestMLA Claudia Chenderhttps://www.claudiachender.ca/Mentioned in this episodeLeft East to West Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/5GLYrK3yElLMVYAML7W1gtShannon's Substackhttps://shannonphillips.substack.com/p/a-middle-power-but-actually Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about a floor crossing that’s shaking up the political landscape and what it says about where things are heading. They also talk about how the move cost Avi Lewis an endorsement in the federal NDP leadership race and what it might mean for the campaign heading into the final stretch. And will Zain finally solve the growing crisis surrounding his basketball team?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.If you're female and would like to play basketball with Zain Velji for Leader, email playwithzain@zainforleader.caJoin our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4016: Is the Alberta NDP’s Message Landing?Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into the growing conversation around the Alberta NDP’s strategy and whether Naheed Nenshi is breaking through with voters. They talk about polling, leader favourables, opposition tactics, and how an opposition actually builds momentum between elections. Is the NDP stuck in the mid-cycle doldrums or facing a real strategic problem? Should the party focus on energizing the base or targeting swing voters in Calgary? And at what point does Carter start invoicing the NDP?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s referendum gambit and the fight over Alberta’s immigration questions. What’s the smartest way to run a No campaign? Should the NDP lead the fight or stay in the background? And will Carter ever forgive Shannon for ranking Honeycrisp apples number one?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Alberta’s immigration referendum questions actually about immigration, or about politics?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward are joined by Dr. Bronwyn Bragg, a human geographer at the University of Lethbridge who studies labour migration and precarious work.First, the politics behind Alberta’s proposed immigration referendum. The panel breaks down what the questions actually say and what they imply. How do complicated policy issues become simple political narratives? And what happens when those narratives start shaping public opinion?Then, the economics beneath the rhetoric. Using Brooks, Alberta and the meatpacking industry as a case study, Bronwyn explains how temporary foreign workers fit into the province’s labour market and why industries that depend on migrant labour are often missing from the political conversation.Finally, facts, feelings, and the politics of immigration. When economic anxiety and housing pressure collide with political messaging, why do facts often fail to change minds? And what responsibility do political leaders have when public debate moves from policy into identity?Immigration policy, labour markets, referendum strategy, and a reminder that behind every political talking point are real communities and real people.Welcome to Balance of Power.Guest:Bronwyn Bragg, PhDhttps://bronwynbragg.caHave a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we governing for the moment? Or reacting to it?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down three political pressure points, and what they reveal about leadership in high-stakes moments.First: The fallout from the Tumbler Ridge tragedy in B.C. After reporting revealed OpenAI had flagged violent content from the alleged shooter but did not alert authorities, the panel digs into AI regulation, public safety, and the politics of crisis response. How fast can governments realistically move? And when international media drives the story, does that change the pressure on Ottawa?Then: Alberta’s referendum fight. With multiple groups organizing against separatism, and others pushing citizen initiatives of their own, is decentralized activism a strength or a liability? What does effective organizing actually look like before the writ drops?Plus: a new segment, The Opinionati. When progressive columnists publicly question Naheed Nenshi’s leadership, what happens inside caucus? Is this a real warning sign — or just the hyper-engaged political class talking to itself? And if there is a pivot coming, what would it look like?AI, organizing, narrative control, and a reminder that sometimes the most strategic move is to touch grass and calm down.Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about whether Mark Carney should go early, how opposition parties actually win a legislative session, and why Danielle Smith’s referendum fight might be exactly the battlefield the ANDP has to choose. Should Carney pull the trigger now? Is floor crossing “fine” when Pierre says it is? And how different would the trajectory of the nation be if Shannon had paid attention in those Olympic bid meetings?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Patreon teaser, Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s nine question referendum gambit and the politics of putting Alberta on the ballot. Is this a distraction, or the agenda? How are the questions framed to win? And will Carter ever see his daughter again?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Jeneroux’s decision to spend less time with his family by crossing the floor to the Liberals, rogue MP Jamil Jivani, and Danielle Smith’s looming televised address. Is Mark Carney quietly outplaying everyone? Is Poilievre losing control of his caucus? And what exactly is a banana plus one?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Strategists Media Corporation, in association with The Strategists Podcast Network, presents Balance of Power, a new series offering a fresh lens on the forces shaping Canada’s future.Are we misreading the political moment?This week, Annalise is away and Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward are joined by pollster and data scientist Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies, to cut through three dominant narratives: Alberta separatism, immigration backlash, and the supposed rightward shift among young voters.First: new reporting reveals Alberta separatist organizers meeting with officials at the U.S. State Department. How seriously should we take the movement? And what happens if it collides with Trump-era trade politics?Then: immigration. Is public concern rooted in xenophobia, the pace and direction of recent policy, economic anxiety, or all three? The panel examines what the data shows, why “out of control” has become such a powerful frame, and whether progressives may be reinforcing the very fears they’re trying to counter.Plus: are Gen Z voters really drifting right? Kyla shares research challenging the “young men gone conservative” narrative and introduces a revealing contrast in Canadian politics: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro.Finally: Pierre Poilievre’s rough week, polarizing favourables, and what happens when a campaign narrative flips.Welcome to Balance of Power.Guest:Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay StrategiesSubstack: relaywithkyla.substack.comHave a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Patreon teaser, Stephen Carter and Zain Velji dive into whether looks still shape political destiny, unpack the machinery of campaign makeovers, and debate what “electable” means in 2026. They also turn to the quieter question of who really runs campaigns, and who gets paid to do it. Do voters want someone who looks like them, or someone just a notch better? Has the definition of electability changed? And did Shannon just seize the means of podcast production?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps Carter in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Strategists Media Corporation, in association with The Strategists Podcast Network, presents Balance of Power, a new series offering a fresh lens on the forces shaping Canada’s future.Is Alberta separation gaining ground, and can it be stopped?In the debut episode of Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips unpack new polling showing 29% of Albertans would vote to leave Canada, and why that number could shift quickly in a referendum. They debate the messaging war behind separatism, the silence from business leaders, and what a Brexit-style shock could mean for the province.Plus: what an Edmonton community league on the brink of closure reveals about volunteer burnout, third spaces, and the state of democratic participation.And finally, Mark Carney’s new national auto strategy — billions in public money, shifting EV rules, and a fundamental question: if companies want to sell cars in Canada, should they be required to build them here?Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon Phillips and Stephen Carter do a weekly separatist checkup and debate what responsibility political commentators, operatives, and public figures have in moments like this. From there the conversation turns south, literally, as they examine Jamil Jivani’s trip to Washington. Will there be a separation referendum regardless of how the signature drive ends? What did Jamil hope to accomplish by going rogue? And which halftime show did Carter actually watch?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ministry of Podcasts: Episode 5Be it resolved that the Minister of Podcasts, Stephen Carter, together with the Chair of Oral Questions, Zain Velji, do hereby call this sitting of The Ministry of Podcasts to order, notwithstanding heckling from the floor or ambient jackhammering.Be it further resolved that the House shall receive evidence from the duly sworn Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary, Corey Hogan, on matters including but not limited to:The structural failure of Question Period and why 35 seconds is enough time for a slogan but not an answer,The strange experience of attending a Conservative convention as a Liberal observer,The risks of pretending separatism is just another wedge issue that will go away,And the difference between winning the moment and accidentally torching the country.And be it further noted that testimony was provided without central messaging, written talking points, or permission from anyone in authority, and was instead governed by lived experience, and a dangerous amount of strategic clarity.Therefore be it finally resolved that this episode, while lacking a formal agenda, shall be entered into the record as a cautionary tale, a media briefing, and a reminder that short-term tactics age quickly, but constitutional consequences do not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon Phillips and Stephen Carter discuss a Conservative movement that has decided it will not pivot, will not moderate, and absolutely does not care who hates it for that choice. What does it mean when a party re-ups the leader voters say they don't like, even after winning the argument on the issues? Is wrapping yourself in the flag a real political move or just vibes? And did Stephen Carter get something right even with his brain frozen? Stick around to the end to find out.Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips discuss Alberta separatism going international after reporting reveals meetings with U.S. officials, and what the different levels of government can, and shouldn't, do in response. How does a fringe movement become a foreign policy problem? What's the right move when separatist politics go too far? And does a producer organizing events without asking the hosts count as treason?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips discuss a federal stress test unfolding on two fronts: The killing of a Minneapolis man by federal immigration agents and open U.S. interference in Alberta's separatism debate. What happens when American political actors start shaping domestic politics? Why isn't there a more serious political pushback in the US after another fatal federal law enforcement shooting? And is anyone even pretending this is normal anymore?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspodAudio excerpt from "Unless You Are Free" by Ani DiFranco & Utah Phillips (Fellow Workers, Righteous Babe Records) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Canada’s new world order as Mark Carney cuts a landmark trade deal with China and openly acknowledges that Washington is no longer a reliable partner. Stephen and Shannon break down what all of this means for Alberta separatism, NATO, and the future of Canadian sovereignty. Can Canada expand trade without selling out workers and Ontario auto jobs? Are Chinese EVs actually "spy cars," or is America now the bigger security risk? And if Carter is convinced he’ll need his bug-out plan, is that the strongest argument that we won’t? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dig into Alberta's latest separatist referendum push and ask the two questions that actually matter: is it inevitable, and is it likely? They break down the math behind the new 177,000-signature threshold, the organizational reality facing separatist groups, and why last summer's "Forever Canadian" petition may have been lightning in a bottle rather than a new normal.What political price does the UCP pay for flirting with separatism? Do pro-Canada forces need to organize again, or is ignoring the petition the smartest strategy? And if this thing somehow makes it to a referendum, which of the three hosts is least emotionally prepared to live through the campaign without yelling at strangers on the internet? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check the Orthodox Boxing Day deals, lower your expectations accordingly, and get ready as The Strategists unpack the year that was in the Flair Airlines* Better Late Than Never Holiday Spectacular. Stephen Carter, Shannon Phillips, and Annalise Klingbeil try to make sense of the last year in politics. From delayed responses and rare perfect landings to middle-seat nightmares, political rebirths and obituaries, Zain Velji keeps everybody in line.*not our sponsorJoin our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also watch our episodes on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.