The Strategists

Stephen Carter and Zain Velji finally expose the truth behind the Corey Hogan campaign. The gang discusses how "star" candidates affect volunteer turnout, before diving into a retrospective on the national campaigns. What were the highlights? What were the lowlights? Any why does Zain have such a soft spot for Jagmeet? Corey isn't getting any sleep tonight, but Annalise is here to ask questions and maybe get answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zain Velji and Stephen Carter talk political ads, platforms, and predictions. With more unsolicited advice for the campaigns than you can shake a Kory Teneycke at. Are party platforms still relevant? Why are everyone's ads so bad right now? And should you contact your doctor if the urge to vote conservative lasts more than 4 hours? Annalise does her best, but Zain and Carter have other ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zain Velji and Stephen Carter discuss "Buttongate" and how the parties should handle it. Then it's on to talking about recent polling developments before ending off on debate prep for the leaders. Are campaign "War Rooms" still relevant? How excited should people get if the polls tighten? And what skulduggery is Carter saving for his memoirs? Corey Hogan is out knocking on doors in the dead of night. Zain and Stephen feed the content machine as best they can. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zain Velji and Stephen Carter discuss Stephen's recent campaign loss in the Vancouver by-election before turning attention to the federal election campaign. Oh, wait - Corey is here too? For the start? Well, he probably wants something. Let's see what it is. Maybe he'll stick around to hear about how Carter lost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan is allegedly the new Liberal candidate in Calgary Confederation. Up is down, down is up. Zain and Stephen assemble to ask if this happened, how this happened, and to create as much chaos as possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss whether the ballot question is set, if public criticisms of the Conservative campaign are sincerely well intentioned, and how Jagmeet Singh can get back into the game. Is affordability doomed to be just one bullet under a bigger issue called "Trump"? Can early public discussion about campaign challenges strengthen a campaign? And why is Zain not buying domains somehow more dangerous than Zain buying domains? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No time to wait for Stephen Carter. Zain and Corey assemble to talk about Pierre Poilievre's big swing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the launch of the federal election, asking whether campaigns matter at all before settling into the Conservative and Liberal messages, star candidates and Danielle Smith's March surprise. Are the Conservatives leading with their chin? What kind of amnesia do Canadians need to feel like the Liberals represent change? And when did Mike Myers and Stephen Carter get so old? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about Prime Minister Mark Carney's swearing in and the inevitable federal election. What does the Cabinet tell us about where the Liberals are going? Can Canadians be sold on the virtues of non-partisanship? With a week to go until a federal election - are Canadians ready? And what sub-basement apartment will Stephen Carter call in from next? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the conclusion of the Liberal leadership race and what's next for Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre. What lessons can be learned from the leadership announcement event? Should Carney immediately call an election? Has Pierre Poilievre found his line of attack? And should Zain be concerned about how many people want to host The Strategists? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan talk about the start of Trump's 25% tariffs against Canada and the end of Trump's support for Ukraine's defensive war against Russia. Washington D.C. guest stars as a place Stephen and Corey went on a Segway tour in 2015. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the French language Liberal Party of Canada leadership debate before turning their attention to Trump's new tariff threats, Poilievre's pivot (?) and Ruby Dhalla's disqualification. What should the candidates do differently in Tuesday's English language debate? Is Donald Trump the President who cried "tariff"? And why didn't Carney reply to the moderator by saying "I don't know, Pierre, how much does a hack question cost at the hack question store?" Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Zain Velji and Stephen Carter diving into all things strategy—without Corey to weigh them down, they’re free to live out the true spirit of the podcast. We cover Trump, the Liberals, Axe the Tax, Canada First, Carney, Gould, Crombie, and more—plus an insensitive sponsor ad and doxxing of family members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan talk about the allegations of major scandal at Alberta Health Services. What's to be made of Smith's statement on the matter? What's to be made of the NDP response? Can Carter avoid "false, baseless and defamatory" commentary? Zain Velji isn't here and neither is Annalise Klingbeil. Giddy up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about America announcing tariffs and Canada announcing retaliation. How did the Prime Minister do? What do Poilievre, Smith and the Liberal leadership candidates need to do now? What kind of consensus needs to be built? And do you think Carter is going to try to undercut Hogan by offering to run the campaign for $39 million a month? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about recent developments in liberal leadership politics before diving deep into the brands of the six candidates. Who's got the best handle on their brand? What even makes a good political brand? And did you take the under on last week's over/under question? We hope so. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the strategy of responding to continued Trump threats, how (or if) the Liberal candidates should navigate the same, how (or if) the Liberal candidates should separate from Trudeau and much more. Has Danielle Smith been put in a box of her own making by Trump declaring he doesn't need Canadian oil? Is hope good for the Liberals - even if it's delusional? And over/under on 2.5, how many Liberal leadership candidates are going to take up this once-in-a-lifetime hosting opportunity? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the First Minister's Conference and the consensus that wasn't. Will Danielle Smith's position be a winner in Alberta? If you're Smith, Nenshi, Ford or Trudeau - what do you do now? And do we think with 10 more minutes we could have gotten Stephen Carter to realize the awful truth about his past? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about Danielle Smith meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and the first days of the Liberal Party of Canada leadership campaign. Is it good for Smith that she got a meeting with Trump - or bad for Canada? Why are the Liberal leadership hopefuls waiting to launch their campaigns when there's such a compressed time frame? And should Zain and Corey have pushed Stephen to name two more names? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get your novelty New Year's Tie out of that box in the garage and pretend it's going to all be different this year because it's time again for The Strategists to unpack the year that was in their annual Holiday Spectacular. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the best and the worst of the year, write political obituaries and talk about the year-to-come in this regular-length special. In the commercial spirit of the season, our sponsor* tells us exactly what to do while Zain Velji keeps everybody in line.*not our sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the race for the race - and the increasingly public debate about how the Liberals should set the rules for the Leadership Contest to come. Are letters from Calgary MP George Chahal and former senior staffer Gerry Butts signs that the race has already begun? How do you structure a contest when you might be in the polls in a month and still set your party up for success? With the Liberals so down in the polls, why should anyone care? And can you imagine the parallel universe episode where Stephen Carter's phone doesn't ring? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk Singh's NDP revoking confidence, the threat of a spring election and what all the parties should be doing right now - plus a rundown of Trump's expansionist ambitions and Rep. Matt Gaetz' crimes and near-crimes. Should Pierre Poilievre be "constrained by the reality of the situation"? What does it even mean to be an ally of the United States in 2024? And in your head, is Zain's moustache as NC-17 as it is in real life? It isn't. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter convene to talk about Chrystia Freeland's bombshell resignation as Canada's Finance Minister - just hours before she was to present the Fall Economic Statement. Did Trudeau do this to himself? What are the rumours flowing through Ottawa right now? And if Zain won an Oscar, can we agree it would be for a technical category and not acting? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the Dairy Queen on Centre Street. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.