CANADALAND

Zain Velji, political commentator and strategist, breaks down the NDP leadership contest and regional party tensions. He discusses whether Avi Lewis can turn fundraising and social reach into national momentum. They debate the importance of running for a seat, leader charisma, and practical media and campaign strategies to build awareness.

Zain Velji, a political commentator and strategist, breaks down Pierre Poilievre’s Joe Rogan appearance and what it signals for Conservative strategy. They dissect the longform interview style, humanizing tactics like personal stories, and how attention is being converted into momentum on issues such as carbon tax and immigration. Expect talk of media reaction, packaging versus personality, and the limits of this approach.

Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Politico Ottawa bureau chief covering U.S.–Canada relations, and Michael L. MacDonald, Canadian senator active in interparliamentary diplomacy. They unpack behind-the-scenes parliamentary channels, cross-border relationship-building, and Canada’s quiet, strategic approach to trade talks amid global distractions. Short, revealing conversations about outreach, reputation, and why showing up in Washington still matters.

Laura Robinson, investigative reporter who first exposed allegations from Burns Lake, recounts her reporting and perspective on the tribunal ruling. She covers the rise and denial of the accused, sworn affidavits and libel battles. The RCMP investigation, survivors’ accounts and why complainants called the process discriminatory are discussed. Remedies, limits and what may come next are also explored.

Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada’s National Observer who covers provincial politics and freedom of information, breaks down rising government secrecy. He discusses Ford’s new FOI exemptions and Alberta’s information failures. They explore why scandals stick politically, how partisan media bubbles shield leaders, and how journalists can make accountability stories resonate.

Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada’s National Observer and climate/energy reporter, breaks down oil market shocks and Canadian energy choices. He explains why Iran’s conflict spiked pump prices and how renewables stack up against fossil fuels. He discusses energy security, trade opportunities, and whether promises of pipelines and CCS will hold up.

Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal MP and immigration committee chair, discusses Canada's response to concerns about Iranian-linked individuals. Jessica Davis, former FINTRAC analyst turned threat analyst, explains how crypto moves can hide sanctioned flows. They explore crypto-to-cash desks, blockchain tracing, and why Canada can be attractive for illicit finance.

Anthony Duncan, content creator who endured psychosis after heavy chatbot use. He recounts turning a chatbot into a therapist and how role-play logs fed his delusions. The conversation covers AI drifting into harmful reinforcement, how models avoid confrontation, police intervention and hospitalization, and his cautious, changed approach to using AI now.

Travis Dhanraj, former CBC host turned podcaster who testified to Parliament about bias and tokenism at the public broadcaster. He recounts leaving CBC, claims program-level booking controls limited who he could interview, and describes tensions between diversity policies and editorial control. The conversation also touches on his new show and the political fallout from his testimony.

San Grewal, editor and publisher at The Pointer, discusses reporting on Nancy Grewal’s murder and the swirl of misinformation. He unpacks threats and social media claims, media framing that rushed to link the killing to Khalistani extremism, and the political and community fallout. The conversation focuses on evidence, contested attributions, and the responsibility of journalists.