The Line Podcast

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded a day early on April 2nd, 2026 ahead of the Easter long weekend, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open by saluting the departure of Artemis II on its journey to the Moon. Jen finds herself unexpectedly emotional about it, and the hosts spend some time reflecting on why moments like this matter — and why it’s still important to hold on to a sense of hope. It really is the best side of America (with a little bit of Canada!) on display. And then there is the other side of America! They check in on the state of the war in the Persian Gulf, as well as a recent speech by Donald Trump that neither host found particularly reassuring. The overall trajectory worries them, though Matt does offer some grounded analysis. Put simply, he’s not expecting Canada to be leading any clearance mission through the Strait of Hormuz.From there, Jen provides an update from Alberta, where recent developments have left her feeling vindicated, albeit in a grim way. They discuss at some length why Jen struggles to convince people of things that are quite obvious; Matt pivots from political analysis to therapy and encourages her to be more comfortable accepting that you can’t always argue people into seeing things your way.The conversation then shifts to federal politics, with Matt arguing that Mark Carney needs to tighten up his government’s communications before he starts squandering some of the advantages he still enjoys early in his mandate. All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all our Line family!YouTube:Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode, where Jen Gerson spoke with Jason Kenney about separatism, federalism and his own role in shaping what Alberta politics has become.Happy Easter and Passover and enjoy the long weekend. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today on On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with former Alberta premier Jason Kenney for a conversation about the rise of separatist sentiment in Alberta.Kenney, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, has found himself cast as an unlikely spokesperson for conservative federalists in the province as efforts continue to gather signatures for a referendum on separation. He reflects on the deeper roots of Alberta populism, including the merger of the Wildrose Party and the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, and how those political currents have shaped the province’s modern identity.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Dominion Dynamics. Canada has never had true sovereign awareness of our North. Vast parts of our country are a blind spot. And when you can’t see your own territory, you can’t defend it, secure it, or respond when threats emerge. Dominion Dynamics is changing that. Dominion Dynamics is building a sovereign command and control capability that lets Canada and its allies see, respond, and defend across every domain. Dominion is starting in the Arctic, where extreme cold demands technology no one else can deliver. See everything. Defend what matters. Dominion Dynamics. Learn more at DefendtheDominion.com.Gerson presses him on how things reached this point. Why have successive generations of Alberta leaders sought to tap into populist anger? And is there a risk that this time, the politics of western alienation have been pushed too far?It’s a direct and unsparing conversation about grievance, identity, and whether Alberta’s long-running tensions with Ottawa are now entering a more dangerous phase.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 26th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with what they’re calling Mark Carney’s new China problem. They both understand why the government is trying to maintain a workable relationship with China, but they’re struck by how one Liberal MP, Michael Ma, ended up sounding very much like someone echoing Beijing’s preferred talking points. They’re careful not to accuse Ma of anything beyond saying something China would have been happy to hear, but they also note that the Conservatives are likely to seize on it and not let go. What sweet revenge that will be (given which party Mr. Ma oh-so-recently belonged to).More broadly, the conversation widens into a darker assessment of Canada’s political health, with Matt arriving at a bleak conclusion: our only remaining, functional mechanism of domestic political accountability increasingly seems to be ... the United States.From there, the hosts turn to the latest Air Canada bilingualism controversy, centring on Air Canada. Jen offers a characteristically blunt take: Canada keeps returning to language fights, she argues, because they function as a kind of political comfort food — something familiar and easy to argue about while avoiding much harder conversations about a world that is becoming more unstable and dangerous. Matt doesn’t have much of a rebuttal to that. Maybe the Americans can fix that for us, too?Finally, the discussion shifts back to the United States. Pierre Poilievre’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience gets a positive review from both hosts, who see it as a smart move. Jen also shares highlights from a recent trip south, including a rare opportunity to tour the West Wing and the Oval Office. She comes away with a mix of impressions — some good, some less so — and offers a few observations that listeners won’t hear anywhere else.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube:Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode, where Jen Gerson chats with Lucy Hargreaves, CEO of Build Canada, a non-partisan group focused on tackling the country’s productivity challenges. Of which there are many!Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson speaks with Lucy Hargreaves, CEO of Build Canada, a non-partisan group focused on tackling the country’s productivity challenges.They dig into a deceptively simple question: why Canada no build good? From stalled projects to brain drain, they explore what’s holding the country back and whether the so-called lost Trudeau decade has left deeper structural problems than many are willing to admit. Hargreaves, a former Liberal staffer, also reflects on her own disillusionment with the previous government and what changed her perspective.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Dominion Dynamics. Canada has never had true sovereign awareness of our North. Vast parts of our country are a blind spot. And when you can’t see your own territory, you can’t defend it, secure it, or respond when threats emerge. Dominion Dynamics is changing that. Dominion Dynamics is building a sovereign command and control capability that lets Canada and its allies see, respond, and defend across every domain. Dominion is starting in the Arctic, where extreme cold demands technology no one else can deliver. See everything. Defend what matters. Dominion Dynamics. Learn more at DefendtheDominion.com.From there, the conversation turns outward. Is Donald Trump really driving Canada’s economic anxieties, or has he become a convenient scapegoat for problems that are largely homegrown? And what does Hargreaves make of the new Mark Carney government — does it represent a real shift, or more of the same?It’s a grounded conversation about productivity, politics, and whether Canada is capable of getting its economic house back in order.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to break down the latest in politics and geopolitics.First up is Gregory Jack, senior vice president of public affairs at Ipsos, for a full update on the federal polling landscape. The latest numbers show the Liberal Party of Canada opening up a significant lead, raising questions about what has gone wrong for the Conservative Party of Canada and why Pierre Poilievre appears to be reinventing himself yet again — even if the effort doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction. Gurney and Jack also dig into the latest polling on separatist sentiment and political change in both Alberta and Quebec, and what those numbers do and don’t actually mean.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. In a volatile world, Canada has to focus on what we can control right here at home. Prime Minister Carney says a country that can’t build itself has few options. The forest products sector provides the literal building blocks for our country — from the lumber and wood products to build new homes and infrastructure; to pulp and paper for household and business use; to therenewable power we need to support energy security.We’re already a global trade success story, and we’re ready to do more to build a resilient, self-reliant country.It’s time to focus on Canada’s domestic strengths. Learn more at www.fpac.ca.After that, Matt is joined by David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security and the show’s go-to cybersecurity guy, to discuss the cyber dimension of the new Persian Gulf war. Shipley explains how the conflict opened with a remarkably effective cyber campaign by Israel and the United States, but is now evolving into a cycle of retaliation. That includes Iranian counterattacks and a particularly damaging strike against a major U.S. medical company, offering a glimpse of how cyber warfare increasingly intersects with real-world conflict.All that, plus the usual On The Line conversation about politics, strategy, and the strange times we’re living through. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 13th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with federal politics. Mark Carney appears to be on track to secure a majority government, and your hosts wonder whether he truly deserves it. Has the country actually improved much over the last year, or have the Conservatives simply squandered their opportunity not only to win, but even to hold him to a minority? They also discuss the government’s latest Arctic announcement, which Matt notes isn’t especially new. He’s frustrated that a leader recycling old announcements may still lock up the majority that will allow him to govern largely as he wishes for the next three years.The conversation then turns to the war in the Middle East. Jen brings some personal perspective to the discussion — many listeners may not realize that she lived in the region early in her career and still has many friends there. She shares some of what she’s hearing from people close to the unfolding conflict. At the same time, both hosts reflect on how strange the war feels from afar. Perhaps, they suggest, all of us — hosts and audience alike — are slowly becoming desensitized to events that would have seemed shocking and horrific not that long ago.The final segment takes an unexpected turn. It starts with Matt throwing Jen a conversational curveball: Hitler. You’ll have to tune in to hear exactly why that came up. But while they’re recording, breaking news emerges from Toronto, and the discussion shifts abruptly. Matt vents some frustration about what he sees as inadequate action to protect the city’s Jewish community, and some of that frustration spills out on air. He also makes, only reluctantly, an observation that he hopes no one in the White House hears, in case they use it against us. Jen laughs. She likes the chaos.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube:Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode, where Jen Gerson sits down with Michael Geist, a professor at the University of Ottawa and one of the country’s leading voices on digital policy.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with Michael Geist, a professor at the University of Ottawa and one of the country’s leading voices on digital policy.They begin with the latest United States Trade Priority Report, which singled out controversial Canadian legislation such as Online Streaming Act (Bill C‑11) as a major digital dispute complicating negotiations between Canada and the United States. Gerson asks whether the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated to the point where Canada now feels compelled to defend objectively terrible legislation simply on principle. It certainly seems that way.This episode is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Government can’t control the global markets, but it can control the efficiency of our own regulatory system. It’s been over 150 days since the Red Tape Review, and Canada’s forest products sector is ready to move from intent to outcomes. We’re advocating for practical fixes — like reducing duplication and improving coordination — so we can get projects built at the speed of business. With greater regulatory efficiency, we can better compete with the Americans and Europeans, grow jobs, bring more of Canada to the world, and secure a stronger Canadian economy.Let’s get to work. Visit www.fpac.ca to learn more.From there, the conversation turns to the apparent resurrection of the Online Harms Act, which many observers assumed had died on the order paper. Instead, it may be finding new life following reports that Jesse Van Rootselaar had been flagged by OpenAI as a potential risk before the shooting rampage in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.Finally, Gerson and Geist discuss Bill C‑4 and the Senate of Canada’s effort to block what critics describe as an outrageous move by the House of Commons of Canada: legislation that would carve out a special exemption allowing political parties to avoid the privacy rules that apply to nearly everyone else. The result is a sharp conversation about digital governance, political incentives, and whether Canada is drifting into a regulatory posture that’s increasingly hard to defend.For more like this, be sure to like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter. Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected]. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 6th, 2026, your hosts agree at the outset to avoid talking about Alberta for once, because Jen really needs a break. Fortunately, there was plenty else happening this week.Today’s episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Engage, the new door-to-door canvassing app from Geppetto Technologies. Engage makes it effortless to go knock doors and connect with your community. With a fragmented media landscape, endless spam phone calls, and social media echo chambers, the best way to reach people is at their doorstep. The Engage app makes it happen. Your canvassers will be ready to go in seconds using Engage’s user-friendly interface. We seamlessly connect with your campaign’s digital infrastructure to help you collect valuable data. Quickly track support, volunteers, signs and issues to set up a strong get-out-the-vote effort. With upcoming municipal elections in BC and Ontario, there’s no better time to get started with Engage. Made in Canada, built and supported by experienced campaigners. Ready for a winning ground game? Visit goknockdoors.ca for your demo.They begin with a quick tour of the current geopolitical landscape and what it means for Canada. Much to Jen’s disappointment, it leaves the country in a position where our new prime minister is starting to sound a lot like our old one. Jen generously volunteers to head to Ottawa and fix the Carney government’s communications problems herself. Matt suggests the real issue is that the government communicates well only when it’s confident the public will like what it has to say. The moment it has to juggle competing domestic priorities — as happened recently with the India trip and the new war against Iran — the messaging turns muddled and incoherent. Matt ultimately agrees with Jen: she’d better get to Ottawa and sort it out.From there, the hosts turn to Pierre Poilievre’s recent trip to Europe. Matt gives the effort some credit, even if it arrives a year or so late in terms of helping the Conservatives form a government. Jen is less charitable. She argues that Poilievre has already burned through several full personality reboots, and worries that each one seems suspiciously calibrated to whatever happens to be trending in right-wing social media echo chambers.Finally, Matt and Jen have some fun with a column in The Globe and Mail and what they consider a wildly exaggerated response from the ambassador of the United States in Ottawa. The laughs give way to a more serious discussion about information echo chambers, and how ideas that sound outrageous to outsiders can be wildly popular — and profitable — within a loyal online tribe. That dynamic, they conclude, may be great for engagement metrics, but it’s a terrible way to run a civilization.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube (Video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode, where Matt Gurney spoke with Bill Roggio, editor of The Long War Journal, and Kaveh Shahrooz from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, on what’s next in Iran.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In today’s episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to discuss the new war unfolding in the Middle East.First up is Bill Roggio, editor of The Long War Journal and a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Roggio gives Matt the view from the United States: why Washington chose to strike now, the risks of an early withdrawal, and why he doesn’t see a coherent plan to actually win this war on the ground. In his view, the groundwork for success should have been laid months ago. Roggio makes clear that he wants a better future for the people of Iran, but he’s not convinced the U.S. fully understands what it has stepped into.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. In a volatile world, Canada has to focus on what we can control right here at home. Prime Minister Carney says a country that can’t build itself has few options. The forest products sector provides the literal building blocks for our country — from the lumber and wood products to build new homes and infrastructure; to pulp and paper for household and business use; to the renewable power we need to support energy security.We’re already a global trade success story, and we’re ready to do more to build a resilient, self-reliant country.It’s time to focus on Canada’s domestic strengths. Learn more at www.fpac.ca.Then Matt turns to Toronto and his old friend Kaveh Shahrooz of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. A member of the Iranian diaspora, Shahrooz has been in contact with family in Iran as well as with members of the community here in Canada. He describes a moment filled with both optimism and fear. For the first time in nearly 50 years, there is real hope that change may be possible — but he cautions that any transition will likely involve dealing with deeply compromised actors who have done terrible things.It’s a sobering, dual-perspective conversation about strategy, uncertainty, and what change might actually cost.It’s a heavy episode, but we hope you enjoy it or learn something from it. And as always, like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter. Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected]. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 27th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with a close look at what Pierre Poilievre had to say at the Economic Club in downtown Toronto this week. Matt liked much of the speech, aside from one section he considers pure fantasyland. Jen is far less impressed overall. Both hosts agree the message might have landed better a year ago, and both detect lingering signs of denial when it comes to how Conservatives are interpreting what’s actually happening in Washington.They then head south, metaphorically, as Jen dissects the State of the Union delivered by Donald Trump. Matt didn’t catch the entire speech but offers a few observations about Trump’s delivery that Jen happily builds on. The conversation widens to include the Democrats, who, in the hosts’ view, seem unusually committed to missing opportunities that are right in front of them.In the final segment, Matt and Jen turn to new polling that shows something odd unfolding out west. The Liberals are gaining traction in places where they traditionally struggle. Jen thinks she understands why. Even people who would never vote Liberal are quietly telling her they find themselves liking Mark Carney. The episode wraps with a brief discussion of Alberta’s latest provincial budget, which Matt, speaking as an Ontarian, finds contains more than a few familiar elements.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube (Video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Jen Gerson spoke with Jesse Brown, founder of Canadaland, on the explosion of antisemitism in Canada since the Oct. 7 attacks.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with Jesse Brown, founder of Canadaland, to talk about his latest series, What’s Going On Here.Brown’s new project examines the rise of antisemitism in Canada in the wake of the war in Gaza, and asks difficult questions about where the line lies between legitimate political protest and harassment of Jewish Canadians. What is protected expression? What crosses into intimidation? And how should media outlets cover an issue that is as emotionally charged as it is politically volatile?This episode is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. Government can’t control the global markets, but it can control the efficiency of our own regulatory system. It’s been over 150 days since the Red Tape Review, and Canada’s forest products sector is ready to move from intent to outcomes. We’re advocating for practical fixes — like reducing duplication and improving coordination — so we can get projects built at the speed of business. With greater regulatory efficiency, we can better compete with the Americans and Europeans, grow jobs, bring more of Canada to the world, and secure a stronger Canadian economy. Let’s get to work. Visit www.fpac.ca to learn more.Gerson presses Brown on his reporting, his critics, and the broader reaction to the series. They discuss media blind spots, public backlash, and whether the country is prepared to have an honest conversation about what’s happening on its streets and campuses.And yes, at one point, Gerson asks the question some of Brown’s critics have raised more bluntly: is Jesse just crazy?As always, like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 20th, 2026, Jen Gerson regretfully informs Matt Gurney that the province of Alberta is, politically speaking, on fire. (Matt thinks she meant politically speaking.) Matt is suitably alarmed. Jen walks him through her concerns in detail, reading direct quotes from recent statements that do little to reassure either of them. Matt responds with what he considers sage advice from the deepest, darkest corner of Laurentian Canada — fully aware of how warmly that kind of guidance is usually received in Alberta.From there, the hosts pivot south of the border. Donald Trump, following up on similar remarks once made by Barack Obama, is now talking about aliens. The Line, as longtime listeners know, enjoys a good alien discussion. But both hosts wonder whether this sudden extraterrestrial enthusiasm might be serving as a distraction from more terrestrial problems, including renewed attention on the Epstein files, signs of growing anti-Trump organization within the Republican Party, and a significant loss at the Supreme Court of the United States, where a six-to-three majority struck down the president’s tariffs.Finally, a quick check-in on developments at home. Matt and Jen touch on floor crossing, Jamil Jivani’s trip to Washington, and Matt’s mixed feelings about Canada’s new defence industrial strategy — grateful that it exists, concerned about how it will unfold.All this and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube:Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Jen Gerson spoke with Paul Hughes in Kharkiv, on his experiences as a Canadian volunteer in Ukraine’s ongoing defence against Russia’s invasion.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today on On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with longtime friend and Calgarian Paul Hughes, who left his comfortable life in Alberta to help in Ukraine at the outbreak of war four years ago.Hughes, joined early on by his son Mac, has witnessed both the extraordinary courage and the relentless heartbreak of the Ukrainian people. His son was seriously injured. Hughes himself was kidnapped by Russian forces. And even now, speaking to Gerson from a darkened apartment in Kharkiv, he describes living under regular bombardment, air raid sirens, and the aftermath of assaults that have left whole neighbourhoods without electricity or heat.This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products Association of Canada. In a volatile world, Canada has to focus on what we can control right here at home. Prime Minister Carney says a country that can’t build itself has few options. The forest products sector provides the literal building blocks for our country — from the lumber and wood products to build new homes and infrastructure; to pulp and paper for household and business use; to the renewable power we need to support energy security.We’re already a global trade success story, and we’re ready to do more to build a resilient, self-reliant country.It’s time to focus on Canada’s domestic strengths. Learn more at www.fpac.ca.The conversation is unflinching about the toll of war — physical, emotional, and moral — but it also explores why Hughes remains. He reflects on what years on the ground have taught him about resilience, civic duty, and what happens when a country’s sovereignty is tested by force.They also turn the lens back home. Hughes shares how his experience in Ukraine has shaped the way he thinks about the separatist tensions now brewing in Alberta, and what Canadians may be taking for granted about the fragility of national unity.Note: CBC Radio recently profiled Hughes’ experience with the Russians in an article referenced in this episode: “300 missions in, this Canadian volunteer says he’ll stay in Ukraine until he’s asked to leave.”As always, like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 13th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a look at Donald Trump leaning hard into his Art of the Deal approach to pressure Canada over the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Neither host is impressed, and neither thinks the tactic is likely to succeed. They also discuss the threat to pull out of the CUSMA trade agreement and suggest that Trump may eventually discover that constant escalation dulls the impact of his own threats. That said, they do offer appropriate gratitude to the six Republicans who joined Democrats in the House to vote against tariffs on Canada. Six out of 218. How reassuring.From there, the conversation turns to the recent tragic mass shooting in Canada. Both hosts are troubled by the familiar rush to judgment that follows these events, but also by the reluctance in some quarters to discuss facts that are plainly relevant. They argue that the shooter being trans is as important to understand as if the shooter were an incel, a white supremacist, or inspired by the Islamic State. These are not taboos; they are data points. If the goal is to understand the roots of violent crime, then nothing material to motive or ideology should be off limits.Finally, Matt and Jen spend a few minutes contemplating the alternate universe in which Calgary is currently hosting the Winter Olympics. They wonder what that might have meant for Alberta’s mood and for Canadian identity more broadly. Unfortunately, both hosts confirm that they are stuck in this timeline with the rest of you. And they aren’t happy about it.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.YouTube:Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Jen Gerson and Stéphane Dion, author of the Clarity Act.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today on On The Line, host Jen Gerson speaks with Stéphane Dion — noted federalist, former Liberal Party leader, academic, and diplomat — about what secession from Canada actually entails as separatist sentiment gains renewed attention in Alberta.As the architect of the Clarity Act, Dion brings a unique perspective to the debate, walking through the legal, political, and practical realities of what separation would really mean. Jen presses him on a question that comes up often in these discussions: why does Canada appear to have a kind of national suicide pill embedded in its own legislation?From there, the conversation broadens into a more philosophical discussion about federalism, national unity, and what the promise of Canada still offers to people who live and work in Alberta. It’s a sober, clear-eyed look at secession not as a slogan or protest gesture, but as a serious and consequential act — and at why Dion believes the Canadian project remains worth defending.As always, like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 6th, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with another close look at separatist pressures in Alberta and the political forces forming around them. Jen spends considerable time unpacking how the various players are organizing and aligning, and both hosts admit they’re surprised the federalist side isn’t better coordinated. That said, they do have a few thoughts about who could step in to do that work, if anyone is willing to take it on.From there, the conversation turns to the 20th anniversary of the election of Stephen Harper. Both Matt and Jen reflect on how early they were in their careers at the time, assuming they’d even started yet. They discuss Harper’s legacy and the conservative movement he shaped, noting that in some ways the party has remained adrift since his departure (though that might be changing a bit). At the same time, they point out that Harper has been sending unusually clear signals, by his own standards, about his views on current political events — including a striking and heartfelt declaration in favour of a strong, united Canada.Finally, the hosts take a quick look at recent developments in the crypto space. Jen approaches the topic from a political angle, while Matt looks at it through a more sociological lens. Whether it’s Bitcoin, AI tools, or the next new technological obsession, both agree there’s always room for responsible and productive use. The problems start when disaffected people wrap their entire identities around these tools and turn them into substitutes for meaning.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. YouTube (Video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Matt Gurney and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today on On The Line, Matt Gurney is joined by Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, for an extended, wide-ranging conversation recorded in the library of the Royal Canadian Military Institute in downtown Toronto. The discussion ranges across geopolitics, the state of the world, the state of Canada’s navy, what’s going right for the fleet, and what still needs to improve.First, a correction from your host. During the conversation, Matt incorrectly stated at several points that Canada intends to procure 15 new submarines. Admiral Topshee was too kind to interrupt him during the recording, but the correct number is 12. That mistake was entirely Matt’s, and he regrets the error.With that out of the way, the conversation spans the globe. Admiral Topshee discusses what’s happening in Europe with Russia and Ukraine, and in the Pacific, where growing Chinese power and influence is challenging long-held assumptions about global security. There’s also extensive discussion of the Arctic, why it matters, and what is changing there. Procurement comes up as well — shipyards, new ships for the fleet, and what it will actually cost to deliver on plans that now enjoy broad political support.They also spend time on what Canada itself needs to sustain a much larger navy and armed forces. Do we have enough bases? Enough reservists? Are people being enrolled into the navy quickly enough? And how, realistically, could Canada expand its forces rapidly in a time of war?It’s a long, free-ranging conversation about geopolitics, the evolution of warfare, and the future of the Royal Canadian Navy. Check it out today on On The Line. And special thanks to the Royal Canadian Military Institute for hosting this recording of the podcast. As always, like and subscribe.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on January 30, 2026, one of your hosts starts with a literal public safety announcement. Line editor Gurney was the victim of attempted identity theft this week (like he doesn’t have enough going on) and some Line readers may have received bizarre messages claiming to be from me. They weren’t! He promises!From there, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson start with a sharp and unsparing look at Alberta separatism. Jen is in no mood for half measures, especially when it comes to Premier Danielle Smith’s refusal to firmly commit herself. As she sees it, people who style themselves as free speech warriors don’t get to hide behind mealy-mouthed statements when it actually matters. She also takes direct aim at what she calls the loser energy of the separatist movement itself. Matt agrees, adding that many of the separatists he encounters remind him of the gun-ban obsessives or bike-lane warriors in other parts of the country — people whose entire identities are wrapped up in a single cause, and who spend enormous amounts of time constructing elaborate arguments to justify what is, in reality, an emotional state. Both hosts close the segment by wishing, once again, that Canada had a serious and functional ability to monitor foreign interference, because if this movement grows, they strongly suspect outside actors will be eager to help it along.Later, the conversation turns to the Conservative Party of Canada, which is gathering in Calgary to review Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. There’s no obvious threat to him, but Matt argues the party has wasted the last nine months pretending the election result was a fluke, largely because that fantasy spared them from having to make difficult decisions. Unfortunately for the Conservatives, the facts haven’t changed. If anything, the hosts note that Mark Carney is settling into the job better than expected. He still makes the occasional rookie mistake, but overall he’s performing competently and growing into the role. That leaves the CPC with a real problem: it now needs a credible plan to defeat a capable Liberal government while also navigating the chaos of a disruptive Trump presidency.Finally, the hosts circle back to the China deal they didn’t have time to fully address last week. Matt says he’s listened carefully to both the boosters and the critics, and has come to an inconvenient conclusion: he agrees with all of them. The deal contains real opportunities and real risks, and Canada may not be ready for what comes next. As both hosts note, we are entering a geopolitical era where being wealthy and strategically important can make a country a very attractive target, especially when caught between competing hostile powers. It’s a position many other countries have experienced before. Maybe, they suggest, it’s time Canada started asking the Poles or the Israelis for advice.Enjoy all this and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe.YouTube (Video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Jen Gerson speaks with Gregory Jack from Ipsos about some new polling on the actual level of separatist sentiment in Alberta.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

This week on On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with Gregory Jack, senior vice president of public affairs at Ipsos, to talk about separatist sentiment in Alberta and Quebec — and what it actually means.Ipsos has just released an in-depth survey examining support for separation in both provinces. As in previous polling, about 30 per cent of Albertans say they would vote to leave Canada. But Jack explains why that topline number can be misleading. His team went a step further than most previous surveys, stress-testing separatist sentiment by attaching real-world consequences to the idea, such as the loss of a Canadian passport.When respondents were forced to grapple with those trade-offs, support for separation dropped by roughly half. The results suggest that a sizeable share of self-described separatists are less committed to independence than they are frustrated with Ottawa — angry, alienated, but not necessarily eager to form a new country.That matters, because separation is no longer a purely theoretical debate. Alberta separatists are currently moving ahead with a petition process that could eventually lead to a provincial referendum. And south of the border, American commentators have begun weighing in, confidently asserting that Albertans would jump at the chance to join the United States — a claim Jack methodically fact-checks.It’s a grounded, data-driven conversation about grievance, identity, and how easily political frustration can be mistaken for genuine separatist resolve.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on January 23rd, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson are finally reunited after Matt’s long absence. Matt briefly explains where he’s been (you can see his full statement here) and thanks The Line’s audience for their patience and support before the conversation turns to the biggest stories of the week. As Jen notes, it’s a perfect moment for Matt to be back. With sudden, serious talk about insurgency, warfare, geopolitical conflict, guns, emergency preparedness, and civil defence, all the subjects Matt has been nerding out about for decades have abruptly become relevant. She jokes that it would have been a shame for him to miss this moment, especially as the Canadian military has quietly been gaming out insurgency and resistance scenarios in the unlikely but no-longer-unthinkable event of a U.S. invasion. Matt, unsurprisingly, has a few thoughts.From there, the hosts turn to Mark Carney’s speech in Davos. Jen argues it was really aimed at a European audience and may have doubled as a victory lap. Matt agrees, but adds that Washington was clearly part of the intended audience as well. Still, both hosts think the most important audience is here at home. Everyone seems to agree that major changes are coming and that major changes are needed. The open question is who is going to start proposing them, especially the ones that will be politically painful.Finally, Matt and Jen dig into comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting Alberta wants to join the United States. Jen is skeptical. Matt, meanwhile, wonders how nice it would be if Canada had a reliable way of noticing when large amounts of foreign money were flowing into the country to influence domestic politics. It’s a pity, really, that we haven’t already spent years seriously debating foreign interference in Canadian democracy.In any case, your hosts are happy to be back together. Enjoy all this and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe.YouTube (Video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode with Jen Gerson talking to Chris Ragan, economics professor and founding director of McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy, about what the hell is happening down south with the Federal Reserve.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

The world is burning, and so we don't blame anyone for missing another piece of really bad news. Jerome Powell, the head of the U.S. federal reserve, is being threatened by criminal indictments in connection with recent testimony about an expensive office renovation. Powell has come right out and said the threats are nothing more than an attempt to put external pressure on the fed to lower the interest rates, which might temporarily goose the economy for Donald Trump heading into the midterms. In this episode of On The Line, host Jen Gerson sits down with economics professor and founding director of the McGill School of Public Policy Chris Ragan. They get right into the weeds, explaining who Powell is, why he matters, and what economic implications might be of a much less independent fed. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Breaking news: Canada agrees to cut its tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products — and Ontario premier Doug Ford is positively pissed.In this week’s show, host Jen Gerson sat down with The Line Alberta’s Rob Breakenridge to tape a live episode at the Saskatchewan Crops Forum. It was recorded in front of a live audience in Saskatoon on Wednesday, and what a topical moment to be chatting with the agriculture sector! As the pair gabbed, agriculture really was one of the top issues of the day. Mark Carney and a delegation of ministers were just setting off on what now appears to be a successful trip to thaw relations between Canada and China. Meanwhile, news that Canada will reduce its tariffs on EVs in exchange for a more favorable export market for agricultural products came as Canadian-American relations continue to fray.Oh, and then the two Calgarians lamented the city’s ongoing water restrictions, and the city’s report outlining its failures. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today on On The Line, host Jen Gerson is joined by Heather Exner-Pirot, Director of Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about geopolitics, energy, and whether the sky is really falling.Exner-Pirot does her level best to check some of Gerson’s winter blues as they work through the implications of the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. It’s grim news for Venezuela, and the conversation reflects growing evidence that Washington’s actions are being driven by a mix of greed, urgency, and a remarkably thin after-plan. Every passing hour seems to underline how little thought has gone into what comes next.But while Gerson is deeply skeptical about American competence and intentions, Exner-Pirot is far less alarmed about what this episode means for Canada — particularly for Canadian energy and resource industries. In some respects, she’s even optimistic, arguing that U.S. policy has a tendency to swing hard before snapping back toward something more pragmatic once reality intrudes. Canada, she suggests, may ultimately benefit from that correction.Gerson isn’t convinced, and she pushes hard on whether this faith in eventual American course-correction is warranted, or simply a comforting story Canadians tell themselves. It’s a sharp, good-faith disagreement about risk, realism, and how much trust Canada can afford to place in its closest ally during a period of global instability.As always, we’ll leave it to you to decide who’s right.With this episode, The Line’s podcasts are back for 2026. Hope you didn’t miss us too much, and don’t miss an episode. Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca, follow us on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review. Audio drops every Tuesday morning, with video rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and our social channels. Catch it wherever you listen or watch.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of 'On The Line Podcast,' hosts Jen Gerson and Andrew Potter discuss trade, immigration, and the attempts to "Globalize the Intifada." Firstly, on the trade file, US trade rep Jamieson Greer has issued a list of grievances. The Americans are villainously committed to giving Canadians more options for eggs, chicken, and dairy. StatsCan shows a dramatic drop in immigration as the LIberals reign in a system gone pear shaped. And lastly, what do the young think "Globalize the Intifada" really means? KeywordsUS trade demands, supply-managed dairy, Canadian immigration, anti-Semitism, collective responsibility, national identity, global conflicts, multicultural society, Jen Gerson, Andrew PotterChapters00:00:00 US Trade Demands and Implications00:00:00 Immigration Policy Challenges00:00:01 Rising Anti-Semitism and Collective Responsibility Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

Today On The Line, host Jen Gerson talks to Brandon Forsyth, long time book buyer at Indigo. They chat about the hottest books heading into the Christmas season which, if you're anything like us, you are absolutely not yet prepared for. He's a list of kids' books, fiction, and non-fiction for the readers in your life. (Note, no, we at The Line are not taking any cuts for any of the books suggested. We just like books and reading. And if your family is like ours, books are pretty much what you all give to one another anyway.) Books mentioned: Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/dont-trust-fish/9780593616673.htmlInvestiGators by John Patrick Green https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/investigators/9781250219954.htmlImpossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/impossible-creatures---indigo-exclusive-edition/9781774888957.htmlThe Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-poisoned-king---indigo-exclusive-edition/9781774888964.html The Secret Of Secrets by Dan Brown https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-secret-of-secrets-a-novel/9780385546898.htmlWild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/wild-dark-shore-reeses-book-club-pick-a-novel/9781250827951.htmlHeated Rivalry by Rachel Reid https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/heated-rivalry-now-streaming-on-crave-and-hbo-max/9781335534637.html The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-wealthy-barber-2025-indigo-exclusive-the-fully-updated-all-time-canadian-classic/9781068975004.htmlWhat A Ride by Andrew Podnieks https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/what-a-ride-the-thrilling-toronto-blue-jays-of-2025/9781552673973.htmlBook Of Lives by Margaret Atwood https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/book-of-lives-a-memoir-of-sorts/9780771096433.htmlThe Prime Ministers by JRM Stewart https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-prime-ministers-canadas-leaders-and-the-nation-they-shaped/9781998365777.html Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In Today's The Line Podcast, recorded Dec. 12, 2025, host Jen Gerson is joined by special guest Andrew Potter to discuss this country's culture of complacency. We were once a nation that put its engineering achievements -- such as the Syncrude oil sands on a stamp. Now, the very idea that we should strive to be a culture that builds things, grows, and prospers has been sublimated by a culture that prizes symbolic action and good intentions over good outcomes. They talk about the curious case of B.C. passing laws that then have an effect on laws. Seven years ago, the province implemented DRIPA, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People drafted by the U.N. -- despite concerns that the law would be used to undermine B.C.'s own legislation. The law was essentially null in force, a symbolic gesture, the province's NDP government assured at the time. Until, of course, it wasn't. Oops. Lastly, they discuss the future of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who just lost another MP to floor crossing. Will the leader be able to survive if the Liberals chip away at enough of the Conservative caucus to form a majority? And, perhaps more importantly, is Pierre Poilievre a winner? #Canada #Politics #JenGerson #AndrewPotter #PierrePoilievre #MarkCarney #Liberals #JustinTrudeau #DRIPA Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe

In this episode of On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs. Darrell and Matt have both just returned from the Halifax International Security Forum, where Darrell presented a major new global survey to policymakers, military leaders, and security experts from around the world. Matt and Darrell walk through the findings and what they reveal about how people are thinking about security in 2025.The survey spans tens of thousands of respondents across dozens of countries, capturing public attitudes on personal safety, geopolitical risk, great-power tensions, cyber threats, and the fragility of the international order. Darrell explains which fears are rising, which regions are most anxious, and why public confidence in institutions continues to erode. He and Matt also discuss where the public is ahead of political leaders, where it may be misinformed, and what this means for democracies trying to navigate an increasingly unstable world.The conversation turns to why global anxiety is becoming a kind of background condition, what the survey suggests about Canada’s place in the world, and how governments should respond when citizens see danger everywhere but trust almost no one to handle it. They also talk about the challenge Donald Trump poses to Canada — especially because he’s asked some fair questions for which we don’t have good answers.Oh, and also — if you enjoy this, you’ll enjoy Darrell’s new book. Check it out!New episodes of On The Line drop every Tuesday. Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca, follow us on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review. Audio drops every Tuesday morning, with video rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and our social channels. Catch it wherever you listen or watch.YouTube (video goes live in 30 minutes):Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe