Sandy and Nora talk politics

Hockey is Canada and Canada is Hockey. This adage is seemingly lodged in the brains of a few too many people in Canada, making an adult discussion about misogyny and racism in sport an almost impossible discussion. Sandy and Nora break down how Don Cherry entered sainthood, Jessica Allen dodged being fired, and how the right-wing mob is clinging to a Canada that never has existed.The post Episode 83 – hockey, whiteness and Canadian identity appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora break down the sentiment behind Ok Boomer and challenge people to think about how to make our campaigns and organizing work into multi-generational spaces that can bring people together and make our work stronger.The post Episode 82 – Ok Boomer? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the Toronto Public Library held an event that violated its own policy to not allow events that would have the effect of discriminating against someone based on gender identity or gender expression. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the politics of so-called free speech, actual free speech and why people who are afraid of cancel culture are actually just afraid to defend their arguments.Update — Nora incorrectly stated that the Murphy event in Vancouver was cancelled. SFU cancelled the talk but the Pan Pacific hosted the event anyway: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/protesters-gather-at-gender-identity-speaker-s-talk-despite-location-switch-1.4667969The post Episode 81 – Cancel culture is not a thing appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how knowledge is disseminated and coopted, and how oftentimes we blame other leftists for forces that are highly coordinated and manipulated by the right. We also check in with how Justin Trudeau is doing!The post Episode 80 – does the left really eat itself? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandy and Nora (but especially Nora) stayed up late to give you instant analysis of Canada's new federal minority government. They talk about the winners (the Liberals, social movement activists) the losers (media and Maxime Bernier) and remind everyone that this result is good news for anyone looking to affect change.The post Episode 79 – Election's over. What does anything mean? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the radical possibilities of community, the joy of being social active and why artists need to engage in politics. And, because there is still an election on, we also talk about Justin Trudeau's right-ward shift in the campaign.Show note: we talk about the lawsuit launched by the CBC against the Conservatives. After this was recorded, it came out that Rosemarie Barton may not have even known that she was being named in a lawsuit. If you're interested in this curious tale, Jesse Brown has been writing about what is known: https://www.canadalandshow.com/cbc-lawsuit-against-conservatives-has-damaged-rosemary-barton-brand/The post Episode 78 – Live Show at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandy and Nora stayed up very late to bring you a hot-off-the-press analysis of the only English-language federal election debate. You'll hear why Jagmeet Singh won and why no one should consider voting Liberal if they're progressive.The post Episode 77 – debate night and the fall of Canada's old order appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Nora and Sandy look at how climate change and gun violence are being used (or ignored) by the parties to seek support.The post Episode 76 – climate change and gun violence in #elxn43 appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It feels like so long ago: Justin Trudeau in Blackface hit the election cycle like an atomic bomb. What did journalists miss? How bad was the coverage? And what does this affair tell us about who Canada really is?The post Episode 75 – #BlackFaceTrudeau and Canadian white supremacy appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about Andrew Scheer's racist/homophobic candidate problem, each of the party's strategies to win and why Brampton is such an important place.LIVE SHOW ALERT!!Here's everything you need to know about our upcoming live show in Toronto on Oct. 12. See you there! https://www.facebook.com/events/1957725264331031/The post Episode 74 – a truly boring election appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Vancouver Sun's decision to publish (and then unpublish) an opinion piece advocating full-score white nationalism, and the problems that politicians face when they call themselves progressive but support increasing police budgets (and are then called out).The post Episode 73 – Letting the mask slip appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how progressives should orient themselves towards the federal election. Hint: drop the partisanship, get involved in a local campaign if the candidate is worth your time and don't imagine that voting is the sum total of democratic involvement.** RE: Nora's comment about the per vote subsidy clarification: Harper axed it. Trudeau never brought it back.The post Episode 72 – try not to despair with an election in the air appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandy and Nora track the rise in talking about antifascists as being terrorists. From Maxime Bernier's PP party to Donald Trump, we ask: where is the mainstream left defending antifascist resistance?The post Episode 71 – fascists vs. antifascists appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate the summer, Sandy and Nora talk about time off: vacations, sick days, taking days off just because you have a right to not work from time to time — get your hammock and the coldest drink you have, and think about all the things you would do with more time off work.The post Episode 70 – we need more time off appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Green Party, what is it good for? Sandy and Nora ask this question in earnest and conclude that it might be time for Canada's partisan left to get serious about fighting for what they say they believe in.The post Episode 69 – It's time to talk about the Greens appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July is the perfect month to take some time and reflect on how deeply we all truly are screwed, thanks to the overwhelming power that social media plays in our lives. If governments don't figure out how to regulate this power, we can say goodbye to democracy.The post Episode 68 – will social media be the end of democracy? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indigenous Peoples' Month in Canada comes to an abrupt end with Canada Day on July 1 – who are the agents working hard to erase Canada's genocidal history and present? And how can we combat the talking points that obscure, hide or make it dangerous to talk about genocide and colonialism?Please, please read the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing Indigenous Women and Girls https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/The post Episode 67 – Canada's genocide denial complex appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been a recent burst of street violence perpetuated by the same individuals, looking to fight with social activists. The response from the police – indifference and violence against the targets of this violent – reminds us that we need to understand the role that police play in society, and they they aren't there to protect us.To read the report back from what happened in Hamilton, please go here (image is from here too) https://itsgoingdown.org/hamilton-pride-2019-reportback/The post Episode 66 – arresting the left, protecting the right: the problem with police appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Toronto Raptors became Canada's team, and the fervor and culture around the team tells us a lot about ourselves. Sandy and Nora talk about pop culture – sport, music, TV and image – and how the left ignores the lessons we can learn from pop culture at its peril.The post Episode 65 – why does the left ignore pop culture's lessons? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(This episode's title was not approved by Sandy)This episode is a difficult one. Nora and Sandy talk about the struggle for access to abortion, how the struggle differs in Canada and the United States, and why so many people are fighting so hard to make abortion illegal.We reference this radio feature from CBC's The Sunday Edition: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-june-3-2018-1.4685998/50-years-ago-the-women-of-canada-s-abortion-caravan-stormed-parliament-for-reproductive-rights-1.4687293 The post Episode 64 – we gotta fight for our rights to abooooortion appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is from the Q&A in Ottawa. The topics covered include: the fall of the post-war, liberal order, student organizing against Doug Ford, financial literacy and why white women dominate not-for-profits.To hear the first part of this live event, please click here: https://sandyandnora.com/episode-62-its-time-for-radical-worker-action/The post Episode 63 – the fall of the liberal order and … financial literacy again?! appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 62 is a live show! Recorded live in Ottawa on May 8, Sandy and Nora talk about organizing across difference and the lessons that we can still learn from the Winnipeg General Strike.Episode 63 will be the audience Q&A and will come out next week.Thanks to the Mayworks festival for organizing this event and to everyone who came out!The post Episode 62 – It's time for radical worker action appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest story from the 2019 budget barely made the news — the Liberals are tightening border security and making it much more difficult for people to seek asylum, including making it illegal to claim asylum from the United States. Sandy and Nora examine these new anti-refugee policies (including Doug Ford's cuts to legal aid) and ask progressives to do what they can to make noise to oppose these new policy measures. The post Episode 61 – Are the Liberals bowing to white nationalists? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When should we engage with an idea, and when is engaging with an idea admitting that the idea isn't racist trash? There's no consensus on where the lines are, and so Sandy and Nora explore this debate, test the boundaries and discuss why debate for debate's sake is boring.The post Episode 60 – debating debates appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandy and Nora talk Alberta — finally! There are many lessons to be learned from how the Alberta NDP governed, how Jason Kenney governs himself, and what they've said is in store for Alberta under a UCP government. We dive into the details and project what this all means for the upcoming Canadian election.In the show we mention this fundraiser: Climate Justice Edmonton's “War Room” fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/war-room-to-beat-kenneys-war-roomAnd we mention this podcast: Welcome to Hellberta! from the Alberta Advantage podcast: https://albertaadvantagepod.com/2019/04/19/predictably-welcome-to-hellberta/The post Episode 59 – Can we learn from what just happened in Alberta? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Doug Ford released his new budget. In it, his government committed to changing how universities and colleges are funded, by referring to “performance outcome” … two words that when placed beside one another, become so meaningless that it's almost funny to read in a budget.Sandy and Nora are sounding the alarm — this is literally the end of higher education as we know it, and they explain why.The post Episode 58 – the end of public higher education in Ontario appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Nora explains what the CAQ's religious symbol ban is, where it comes from and how organizing is going to stop it.Since we recorded this, nothing has changed from the legislative side. A rally was held in Montreal this past weekend to oppose the religious symbols ban. More voices have come out to oppose the ban.The post Episode 57 – Fighting Québec's religious symbol ban appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking about systemic racism in Canadian media is a bottomless well of content. This week, Sandy and Nora discuss Pam Seattle's apology, CityNews' apology and why apologies aren't going to fix the racism that is embedded in Canada's media landscape.This week's photo is from a 2002 cover of Maclean's Magazine. Same as it ever was.The post Episode 56 – the unbearable whiteness of Canadian media appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite their best efforts, the Liberals are still stuck in the SNC-Lavalin scandal. And they've trotted out some old timers to help push their narrative into the mainstream press. Sandy and Nora talk about the strategy of hiding behind women to burn other women, hiding behind racialized women to burn other racialized women, and why the Liberal Party they want you to know is very different than the Liberal Party they really are.The post Episode 55 — Liberals tokenize to make SNC affair go away appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been a difficult week, especially if you have been watching the rise of organized white supremacists for years. In this episode, Sandy and Nora dissect how the media and politicians have failed so badly at grasping this threat, and conclude with things that are giving them hope.The post Episode 54 – global terrorism's white face appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attacks on free speech abound! But where are the Free Speech CrusadersTM? Sandy and Nora talk about the ways in which speech is limited, and how the left needs to build support around individuals who have their free speech attacked.Here is the GoFundMe that we reference in the episode: https://www.gofundme.com/legal-fees-for-free-speechThe post Episode 53 – fReE sPeEcH appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Liberals melting down and the Conservatives more brazen in their support for racist organizing, the NDP is at a critical juncture. There is a path toward victory — will the NDP take it?The post Episode 52 – the NDP at a crossroads appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From SNC-Lavalin to the Yellow Vest Movement, Canada's Two Natural Governing Parties (TM) are in a deep dive into those things that are more Canadian than Tim's and hockey: racism and corruption. Sandy and Nora walk you through it all.The post Episode 51 – Corruption and racism, as Canadian as Maple Pie appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk paywalls. On their always-free, listener-funded platform, they talk about what's wrong with a society that makes access to news based on ability to pay, and why we need free news now more than ever.Nora's note — at one point, Nora says IP and not ISP. She knows.The post Episode 50 – free the news appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode covers white male rage, from the unspeakable horror inflicted by killers like Bruce MacArthur and Alexandre Bissonnette, to the structural violence inflicted by mainstream politicians — and how Maxime Bernier sits in the middle of this continuum. Bernier's political success hinges on his ability to capture the far right — Sandy and Nora explore what this means, and what we must resist.The post Episode 49 – the political party of white male rage appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bell Let's Talk happened again this year. Sandy and Nora deconstruct the campaign and examine how it gives cover for Bell, for politicians and for police to say they support mental health service while actively maintaining the system that makes life harder for so many.The trial for the murder of Abdirahman Abdi is underway in Ottawa.DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 48 – Let's Talk Bell Let's Talk appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, journalists were played by an invented viral controversy. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the racist and women-hating Covington Catholic School teensand why we need journalists to be better at understanding what goes viral, and why.Here is the link that Sandy references in the episode: http://sandyandnora.com/episode-47-covington-maga-teens-buy-their-redemption/DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 47 – Covington MAGA teens buy their redemption appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part 2 of 2 episodes on the Ford government's higher education announcement, Nora and Sandy break down “voluntary student unionism” and how making democratically-decided mandatory student fees optional will send a decisive blow to everything from your campus press to the services of the student union.Check out part 1 here: http://sandyandnora.com/episode-45-doug-ford-reduces-tuition-fees-smashes-osap-screws-student/DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 46 – Doug vs. student democracy appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for Sandy and Nora's first show of 2019, Doug Ford wages war on higher education. Sandy and Nora break down this announcement and offer arguments for how to push back against a Liberal frame that is just as much to blame.This is part one of two — tuition fees and grants. In part two, they breakdown voluntary student unionism and how to mount an effective fightback.DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 45 – Doug Ford reduces tuition fees, smashes OSAP, screws student appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2018 was the kind of year that you can only salute by paying homage to anger. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about anger and how it can be used to ignite and inspire social change.DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 44 – we get angry appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clothes make the man, so the saying goes. That's the underlying philosophy to who should wear what in our halls of power. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about women who are bucking the political status quo, and why in Quebec, a t-shirt has been enough to start a political earthquake among the province's gatekeepers.The post Episode 43 – The Emperor's Clothes appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Nora and Sandy debunk the racist rhetoric that surround so-called “anchor babies” and eviscerate the Toronto Star for publishing a report full of technical issues, on its front page.The post Episode 42 – Far right rhetoric on the front page of the Toronto Star appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government legislated striking postal workers back to work this week. Despite the fact that 1. mail has continued to be delivered and 2. that the right to strike is protected by the Charter, everyone's favourite fauxminist has put the boots to CUPW members' necks and forced an end to their rotating strikes.Sandy and Nora decode what all this means, and why our right to strike is a right that needs to be vigourously defended.Photo courtesy of the Canadian Association of Labour MediaThe post Episode 41 – You gotta fight for your right (to strike) appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's scary times in Ontario and Doug Ford has his foot on the gas. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about his party's attack on government watchdogs and Trans and gender non-conforming Ontarians, and ways in which we can fight back.DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 40 – Doug Ford dougs forward appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part 3 of 3 of Sandy and Nora's Nov. 2 live show in Toronto, the audience exchange continues. It starts with a critical question: how can activists navigate spaces like a university, when the university claims to want to fight oppression while at the same time, reinforcing it? There is also a discussion about the necessity of using moments of success to fight for more and mobilize others, and how that even when a campaign seems like an impossible victory, the long-game tells us that nothing is impossible.Listen to the first half of the Q&A here: http://sandyandnora.com/episode-38-toronto-live-show-qa/The post Episode 39 – Sandy and Nora live in Toronto Q&A part 2 appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should progressives engage with the mainstream media? How do we make space for families in our movements? How do we gauge success? In Part 2 of 3 of our live event in Toronto, Sandy and Nora cover a wide range of topics that are mostly unrelated to the Munk Debates. You don't need to listen to Episode 37 to enjoy this, but we recommend you do anyway!Stay tuned for Episode 39 – the second half of the Q&A. DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 38 – Toronto live show Q&A appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Toronto on Nov. 2, Sandy and Nora take on The Munk Debate. From Frum and Bannon to Bay Street's continued colonial exploitation of locations across the globe for mining, they tie together extremely obvious links that everyone in the mainstream media somehow forgot the week prior to this debate.Special thanks to the Black Liberation Collective at Ryerson, volunteers at CJRU and Noah for capturing this sound, staff at the Ryerson Student Centre and the folks who arrived early enough to help us set up and take down the chairs. It was greatly appreciated.This is part one of two parts. The second part, the Q&A, is Episode 38.  The post Episode 37 – Sandy and Nora vs. The Munk “Debate” appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many listeners have asked: what is civil disobedience? Sandy and Nora talk about what it is, what it isn't, how to do it and how to be effective. Get in touch if you have your own favourite story of civil disobedience!The post Episode 36 – What is civil disobedience? appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the fallout from the Toronto election, and how progressives need to think about fighting the rising visibility of hatred in the GTA.And: MARK YOUR CALENDARSYou're invited to a live show in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 2. Please RSVP here so we can order enough food: https://www.facebook.com/events/1874457432673162/The post Episode 35 – How to fight hate in Toronto appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the feminist movement, and how distorted our lens on Kavanaugh is due the absence of an effective feminist presence in social movement organizing. They also touch on Quebec politics and CBC's decision to not air a debate because John Tory wont agree to debate Jen Keesmaat one on one.Note from Nora: much to my embarrassment, I misstate Tori Stafford's name in this episode, and I couldn't edit it out. The overall intervention was important enough to leave with the error, which I regret.DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe post Episode 34 – Kavanaugh (and wtf CBC?) appeared first on Sandy & Nora Talk Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.