Each week, the Maclean’s Ottawa bureau sits down with Cormac Mac Sweeney to discuss the headlines of the week. This week, no story has dominated headlines more than Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s claims about his role in a critical battle during the war in Afghanistan. The minister has apologized, but the calls for his resignation continue. Cormac speaks with retired general Lewis Mackenzie, who tells us why he doesn’t think the troops have lost trust in the minister.

Soon, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains will be launching a competition for a billion-dollar fund that will help create so-called superclusters. So what the heck are they? And how does the government think this will help our economy? Bains is here to discuss.

As the Conservatives prepare to choose their new leader, the party is doing a bit of soul-searching, trying to find its identity in an ever-changing political climate. Maclean’s columnist Scott Gilmore explains how he’s been trying to help by hitting the road for conversations on the future of conservatism in Canada.

We end the show speaking with the Washington Post‘s Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, Ann Telnaes. She tells us about the controversies, challenges and art of her craft during the time of Donald Trump.

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The full episode

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Part 1. Why the troops still trust Harjit Sajjan

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2016. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

This week, no story has dominated headlines more than Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s claims about his role in a critical battle during the war in Afghanistan. The minister has apologized, but the calls for his resignation continue. Cormac speaks with retired general Lewis Mackenzie, who tells us why he doesn’t think the troops have lost trust in the minister.

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Part 2. What is a “supercluster”, anyway?

Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

Soon, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains will be launching a competition for a billion-dollar fund that will help create so-called superclusters. So what the heck are they? And how does the government think this will help our economy? Bains is here to discuss.

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Part 3. Scott Gilmore on revamping Canadian conservatism

As the Conservatives prepare to choose their new leader, the party is doing a bit of soul-searching,