The North State

In August of 2021, an Edmonton statue dedicated to Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian fascist and Nazi collaborate, was spraypainted with the words "ACTUAL NAZI." In October of 2022, Edmonton journalist and founder of The Progress Report Duncan Kinney was arrested for the act. Over the next four years, the Edmonton Police Service treated the statue as a war memorial, defacement of which carries a maximum of 10 years prison sentence. Edmonton police also surveilled Kinney and his family. On October 19, 2026, Kinney pleaded guilty to the charges and a still from surveillance footage shows him taking a photo of the graffiti. Shama Rangwala, associate professor at York University, joins Scott to discuss this issue, police overreach and what aspects in this story should be prioritized the most.Follow Shama on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/Artwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Reuters Institute's 2026 Digital News Report found that social media and video channels finally overtook official news sites and channels for how people get their news in the digital space. After many disastrous "pivot-to-video" moments in recent media history, social platforms require a TikTok-esque vertical video for journalists to spread their work. How does this shape news? Is it ethical to remain on platforms that openly push far-right fascist ideas? What role does advertising play? Arts and culture journalist, co-founder of New Feeling and author of A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Electronic Music in Canada from 1945 to 1985 Michael Rancic joins Scott to discuss these nuances and what needs to be considered in the conversation around use of social media platformsCheck out A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Electronic Music in Canada from 1945 to 1985Check out New FeelingFollow Michael on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/social-media-now-the-tail-that-wags-the-dog-ft-michael-rancic-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has had a rollercoaster ride of a political career. Moving from news media to Wildrose Party leader, to disgraced floor-crosser, back to news media and then to leader of the province, her far-right populism has been key to her political success. But where would smith be without the platform provided by Canada's news corporations? Jeremy Appel, independent journalist behind The Orchard and author of the new book Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle Smith joins Scott to discuss the fundamental role that news outlets played in getting Smith to lead the province of Alberta.Check out Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle SmithCheck out The OrchardFollow Jeremy on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/how-news-media-made-danielle-smith-ft-jeremy-appelArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tô Lâm, president and general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited Canada on September 24. It was Canada's first official state visit of 2026 and the first time Canada welcomed a Vietnamese president to the country. Though the visit largely flew under the radar, the visit signalled a new chapter in Canada-Vietnam relations. Why did arch-capitalist Prime Minister Mark Carney build a bridge with communist Vietnam? Mike Tatarski, Ho Chi Minh-based independent journalist behind the Vietnam Weekly podcast and newsletter, joins Scott to discuss Vietnam's geopolitical approach, their response to Trump tariffs and what this visit means for both countries moving forward.RSVP Here to Join The Catch Live in Toronto October 27Check out Vietnam WeeklyFollow Mike on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/canada-and-vietnam-bffs-ft-mike-tatarski-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORRECTION: Scott mistakenly said that the policeman who exchanged gunfire with the Belleville synagogue shooter died as a result. This is incorrect. He is recovering in hospital. The episode has been updated to reflect this. We apologize for the error.Protestors chanted slogans condemning a former Israeli ambassador who defended military killings and mocked Palestinian victims. Leader of a federal party with five seats uses Yom Kippur to denounce the state committing violence in the name of his religion. Both of these are obscured, distorted and lambasted as pinnacles of antisemitism by pro-Israel voices. Three years into a Zionist genocide, outrage is continually directed at those who oppose Israel's extermination campaign, written under the guise of concern for antisemitism. Alex Cosh, news editor at The Maple, joins Scott to disentangle the overarching Zionism in the latest attacks in the right-wing press.Follow Alex on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/zionist-canadian-outlets-throw-their-weight-around-ft-alex-cosh-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.