The Munk Debates Podcast

Andrew and Rudyard begin today’s show with Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to bring down fuel prices ahead of the midterms. Trump is once again putting Putin’s interests ahead of Ukraine’s and showing his admiration for authoritarian leaders whom he wishes to emulate. The move risks bolstering Putin and increasing pressure on Ukraine, while Trump shifts blame for the war’s continuation and rising oil prices onto Zelensky and Kyiv — scapegoating Ukraine for a crisis of America’s own making.In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to Alberta’s upcoming referendum. Beyond separation, the vote could bring questions of immigration and federal equalization to the fore. Andrew sees the referendum as a cynical attempt to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment and fuel resentment toward Ottawa. He argues that referendums do little to resolve underlying tensions, instead creating a platform for new grievances.Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rudyard and Janice begin today’s show with Trump’s mixed messaging on Iran. While Trump has suggested that military action may be delayed until after the midterms, reports indicate that the U.S. military is preparing for potential strikes. With Trump’s statements increasingly difficult to take at face value, the focus shifts to more concrete signals, such as military deployments. Meanwhile, Iran’s economy is under mounting pressure, with oil exports halted and the economy in free fall. Having challenged Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. appears to have gained leverage, while Tehran shows signs of wanting a deal.In the second half, Rudyard and Janice turn to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navanethem Pillay, the South African jurist who chaired the UN commission that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Is Oslo’s Nobel Committee increasingly using the prize to send political messages, including messages critical of Israel? Is this part of a broader effort by liberal institutions to push back against great powers retreating from the liberal, rules-based international order? And by taking a position on such a contentious issue, is the Nobel Committee influencing public opinion at the expense of due process and open debate?Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rudyard and Andrew focus today’s show on the separatist movements gaining traction across Canada. Quebec voters appear poised to elect a separatist government, potentially setting the stage for another referendum in the coming years. What do we know about PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon? And how might Mark Carney’s popularity in Quebec affect Plamondon’s separatist ambitions?They then turn to Alberta’s upcoming referendum and ask how strong the separatist movement is without Justin Trudeau in office. National unity, they argue, is closely tied to a sense of national purpose, drive and ambition. If major projects continue to move forward in Alberta, could they help strengthen the case for a united Canada? And what should we make of reports that separatist leaders have been meeting with members of the GOP in Washington? Andrew remains optimistic that Canadians’ commitment to the rule of law will ultimately favour the federalist position and help hold the country together.Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rudyard and Janice begin today’s show with news that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is being deployed to the Middle East and the signal this is sending to Iran and the region. With Tehran facing a blockade and struggling to earn hard currency, the U.S. calculation points to escalation after the midterms. What could a major Democratic victory in the midterms mean for Trump’s ability to pursue military action? And could another impeachment actually make Trump more aggressive and less constrained?In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice turn to Israel’s upcoming elections and the electoral prospects of the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs. Both face the prospect of minority governments, leaving Arab parties as potential kingmakers. Could Israel end up with another hung parliament, with Bibi at its head and figures such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich continuing to play a role in government?For many centrist and liberal Israelis, this represents a nightmare scenario and proof that this election is existential: if the Netanyahu bloc prevails, Israel’s ability to remain a liberal democracy will cease to exist.Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we expect from a make-or-break federal budget delivered in the middle of a trade war? Rudyard and Andrew look at the growing appetite in the business community for broad tax reform—and ask whether now is the moment for Canada to make itself as competitive as possible for investment. If the government wants to deliver meaningful tax cuts, they argue, it will need to tackle spending, including business subsidies, so that companies make investment decisions based on economics rather than government incentives. And with Carney’s government far ahead in the polls and a “wolf” named Trump at the door, is there any better time for the government to spend its political capital on bold economic reform?Given the government’s retreat from climate commitments, rollback of the capital-gains tax increase, support for pipeline building and moves on immigration reform—is this really a Liberal government? Andrew argues that it is much easier for a Liberal government to do conservative things than for a Conservative government to do conservative things. With Carney enjoying extraordinary freedom of movement, almost akin to a wartime situation, he is taking full advantage of it. But where does that leave the Conservatives?Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.