

The Paikin Podcast
Epicentre Media
Facts are facts but every issue has multiple sides, and Steve Paikin wants to hear them all. From Canadian politics to seismic global changes to signature one-on-one interviews and redline debates on the most hot-button issues, The Paikin Podcast helps you understand the world today, with balance and context.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 7, 2026 • 36min
Ashley Prime: Will King Charles Push Back on Trump?
Ashley Prime, former UK diplomat who has served all over the world, including in China, Italy, Jamaica, and Canada, joins Steve to discuss King Charles’s visit to America, if he will push back on Trump and defend Canada, PM Starmer’s plunging popularity, what Brits think of the Iran War, and why many people feel “politically homeless” in the UK. They also discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, the “useful idiots” in Britain, why PM Starmer – after Brexit – is saying Britain needs to get closer to Europe, how Brexit killed the Tories, PM Starmer’s failure to stick up for Canada during Trump’s initial 51st state rhetoric, and if Canada can still rely on Britain.
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

Apr 2, 2026 • 50min
Everything Political: Can Avi Lewis Save the NDP?
Kathleen Monk joins the Everything Political panel with former MPs Martha Hall Findlay and Tony Clement to discuss the NDP convention, Avi Lewis’s first ballot victory, whether he is the right choice to rebuild the NDP, and the passing of his father Stephen Lewis. They also discuss how the NDP can be relevant again, the equity card moment at the convention, whether the NDP will be about “the factory floor or the faculty lounge,” if they have learned lessons from Mamdani’s rise in New York City, where Lewis will find a seat, and where exactly the NDP go from here.
Restaurant Canada's manyhandswork.ca
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

Mar 31, 2026 • 1h 1min
Kathleen Wynne & Philippe Couillard: Are Canadians Losing Trust in Democracy?
Former premiers Kathleen Wynne and Philippe Couillard join Steve Paikin at York University’s Glendon College to discuss the rise of populism in Canada, decreasing levels of trust in government, and the threat populism poses to democracy in Canada. They also discuss where things went wrong, rising levels of inequality, the disenchantment young people feel with the political system, why young folks are skewing right, and what can be done to restore trust in democratic politics.
Panelists also include Obama Foundation scholar Victoria Kuketz and Allen Sutherland from the Institute on Governance.
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
Mar 26, 2026 • 42min
World on Edge: Could Trump Learn from Bush’s Gulf War in 1990?
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

Mar 24, 2026 • 48min
Paik's Takes: World Disorder, Political Athletes, Policing Protesters, and Canada's Middle Power Mirage
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
Mar 19, 2026 • 57min
Everything Political: Carney the Convincer, Floor Crossings, and Mr. Poilievre Goes Abroad
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.

Mar 17, 2026 • 1h 9min
Is Israel’s War in Iran Illegal? | Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister & International Law Professor
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
Mar 12, 2026 • 44min
World on Edge: Long War in Iran, Islamic Republic 2.0, and Canada’s Choices
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
Mar 9, 2026 • 38min
John Baird: Should Canada Support the Iran War?
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

Mar 5, 2026 • 51min
Everything Political: Carney’s Backpedal on Iran, WWIII, and the Middle Power Doctrine
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


