The Paikin Podcast

Arif Lalani, former Canadian Ambassador to Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, joins Janice Stein to discuss George H.W. Bush’s approach to the Gulf War in 1990 compared to Trump’s war in Iran, why he did not bother to build any coalition, how Janice sees this as an incoherent and “shambolic war,” the work of Witkoff and Kushner, and how nobody seems to be doing their homework in the Trump administration. They then discuss why this was a military action of choice, how Trump saw this as another Venezuela, why the UN is increasingly irrelevant, the possibility of a ceasefire and diplomacy, and if Trump is looking for an off-ramp.   Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

In the first ever edition of “Paik’s Takes,” Steve offers a few, well, takes and answers questions from viewers. Is this the most dangerous and uncertain time Steve has experienced in his more than four decades as a journalist? Should athletes make political statements? Is Canada still a meaningful ‘middle power,’ or is that just a comforting myth we tell ourselves?  Then, in response to our first ever Redline Debate on the Freedom Convoy and the protests in Ottawa, Steve invites on a viewer who wrote in with his “take.” That viewer is Peter Sloly, former Ottawa Chief of Police.  Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

Tony Clement, former Conservative MP and cabinet minister, offers seasoned conservative perspective. Martha Hall Findlay, former Liberal MP and trade executive, brings centrist policy insight. They discuss rising floor crossings to the Liberals and whether recruitment tactics are democratic. They also debate Pierre Poilievre’s international appearances and if partisan activity abroad crosses a line.

One episode. Two very different views on the Middle East. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, Sharren Haskel, joins to discuss her country’s decision to attack Iran, their strategy and endgame, as well as Israel’s conduct in Gaza. You’ll also be hearing from someone who appeared before the International Court of Justice on behalf of Palestine. That's Queen’s University international law professor and former UN official in the Middle East, Ardi Imseis. He explains why he thinks this is an illegal war and shares his view on Israel’s conduct in Gaza.   Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

Thomas Juneau joins Janice Stein to discuss the war in the Middle East, if doing nothing is an option for Canada, the diaspora politics involved, what role middle powers can play, and how Canada has been “lazy” about its national security. They also discuss the incredible pace of this war, why you cannot “bomb your way to regime change,” the incoherent strategy of this war, how the Iranian regime could become weaker but nastier, the possibility of escalation, the rising nuclear threat, and the role global oil markets played in motivating the American airstrikes. Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

John Baird, Canada’s former foreign minister, joins Steve to discuss the war in Iran, whether Canada should support it, PM Mark Carney’s evolution on reacting to this war, and if it could turn out like another Iraq or Libya. They then discuss the internal deliberations within the federal government when a war breaks out, how decisions are made to support a war or not, and the tough choices Canada has to make as this war continues.   Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

The Everything Political panel with former MPs Martha Hall Findlay and Tony Clement discuss PM Carney’s initial support of American airstrikes on Iran, his recent comments about giving diplomacy a chance, how Canada was not consulted beforehand, whether this is an illegal war, whether the UN and international law matters anymore, and the viability of Carney’s middle power theory. Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcastMentions in the episode:Our episode with Margaret MacMillan on this dangerous moment in history: https://youtu.be/o8nOCNbvYC0?si=58-GzdltrSAHdyv5Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William Shirer: https://www.amazon.ca/Rise-Fall-Third-Reich-History/dp/1451651686The Nightmare Years 1930-1940, William Shirer: https://www.amazon.ca/Nightmare-Years-1930-1940-William-Shirer/dp/0316787035Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.socialEmail us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com Support us: patreon.com/thepaikinpodcast Follow The Paikin Podcast: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ThePaikinPodcastSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OhwznCIUEA11lZGcNIM4h?si=b5d73bc7c3a041b7X: x.com/ThePaikinPodINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepaikinpodcastBLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social Email us at: thepaikinpodcast@gmail.com 

Ryan Hass, a U.S.-China policy expert, and Janice Stein, an international relations scholar, explore the risks of U.S. action toward Iran and the limits of military options. They debate China’s ambitions, its domestic drivers, and how close it is to using force on Taiwan. They also consider rising global nuclear dangers and what a steady Canada-China-U.S. balance might look like.

Candice Malcolm, founder of True North and Juno News, offers a conservative media perspective. Justin Ling, investigative journalist with the Toronto Star, brings accountability reporting. They debate what the 2022 Freedom Convoy represented. They clash over protest motives, political outreach, media coverage accuracy, public opinion, the Emergencies Act ruling, and how the event should be remembered.

Linda McQuaig, journalist and author advocating a wealth tax; Martha Hall Findlay, former Liberal MP turned public-policy academic; Tony Clement, former Conservative cabinet minister offering conservative policy views. They debate whether billionaires should exist, a proposed wealth tax and its political risks, philanthropy and private foundations, flight risk for the wealthy, and alternatives like universal basic income.