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A report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that Carney’s is pushing for Canada to join the EU as an “associate member.” Carney says he’s pursuing an “unique alliance,” rather than membership.

As Carney heads to France to address the EU parliament on Thursday, questions swirl around what exactly this new relationship between Canada and the EU will entail.

Meanwhile, the President of the EU parliament announces a new “antenna” office in Ottawa.

Jan Wong joins Jesse Brown to consider the likelihood of Canada’s European future.

Host: Jesse Brown
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Julian Abraham (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Jan Wong

Further reading:
Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU - WSJ
Carney says Canada planning to discuss 'unique alliance' with EU, but not membership | CBC News
Why PM Carney’s trip to Europe this week has just taken on more importance - CTV News
EU Parliament to open office in Canada – POLITICO
‘Associate member’ of the EU? Why not, Canada? - The Globe and Mail
Chinese cargo ship completes first regular Arctic voyage to UK on 'Polar Silk Road' - ABC News
Justin Trudeau to launch his own production company at Toronto film festival - National Post


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South of the border, billionaires are getting eaten alive. Up here, Mark Carney is trying to court them. This week, host Sam talks to three wealthy Canadians who think that's a mistake, and who are actually asking the government to tax them more.

Host: Sam Konnert
Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Claire Trottier, Emma Davis, Floyd Marinescu

Background reading:
The Rich List - Macleans
I’m giving the CRA an extra $1M this year. Crazy, right? - Toronto Star
The troubling rise of income and wealth inequality in Canada - Policy Options
Do Billionaires Really Move To Avoid Wealth Taxes? - Forbes
Capital gains tax hike would greatly reduce Canada’s competitiveness - Fraser Institute
CEO pay hit a record high in 2024 - Canada's National Observer
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It is the biggest leveraged buyout in history.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) just bought EA Games: one of the world’s biggest video game companies.

PIF joined forces with two American investment firms (one run by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner) to buy the gaming giant for $55 billion.

But this could be about a lot more than just video games.

EA has more than 700 million players worldwide, and it’s collecting vast amounts of data on them.

What are the national security and privacy implications of a foreign sovereign wealth fund controlling a company with all that data?

And given EA has a Canadian subsidiary with Canadian employees and, of course, Canadian players — how has the Canadian government scrutinized this deal?

Host: Gemma Boothroyd
Credits: Gemma Boothroyd (Reporter), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Chad Galloway (Audio Editing & Production), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Fact checking by Julian Abraham
Additional music by Audio Network
Image by Saudi Press Agency

More information:
Saudi-led group completes $55bn purchase of gaming giant EA - BBC
Executions in Saudi Arabia hit highest number on record in 2025 - The Guardian
The Kingdom Came to Canada: How Saudi-Linked Digital Espionage Reached Canadian Soil - The Citizen Lab
After 25 years, I’m breaking up with The Sims. Here’s why you should, too | Jordan Erica Webber - The Guardian
Prime Minister Carney deepens partnership with Saudi Arabia across trade, education, technology, and critical minerals
The CFIUS Review That Will Never Be - Vinita Singh for Lawfare
Postponement Of Saudi Arabia’s Esports Nations Cup Heightens Concerns About Gulf Sport - Simon Chadwick
Canada strengthens guidelines on foreign investments in the interactive digital media sector
National security decisions | Investment Canada Act
The Gaming Industry: A Behemoth With Unprecedented Global Reach
Saudis Weigh Merging EA With Savvy to Create Global Gaming Giant

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A trend of “Blame Canada” memes is causing a schism amongst conservatives.

Far-right conservative influencers are gleefully amplifying MAGA-style messaging around Carney and Canada, while more moderate conservative voices are calling them “traitorous.”

Under Pierre Poilievre, the CPC embraced right-wing influencers, offering them “content creator” passes and access to events, but now they’re trying to distance themselves.

Is the turf war between establishment conservatives and edgy memelords overblown?

Harrison Lowman of the Hub joins Julian Abraham to explore the AI slop that is dividing conservatives in Canada.

Host: Julian Abraham
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Harrison Lowman
Photo: Donald Trump Truth Social Post (likely generated by A.I.)

Further reading:
Ben Woodfinden: 'Blame Canada' conservatives are no better than woke statue topplers - National Post
The Conservative civil war has only just begun | Canada's National Observer
Richard Warnica: Canada’s conservatives have a problem with reality - Toronto Star
Marc Nixon on X: "Mark Carney THROWN into Lake America 🇺🇸🤣" / X
Marc Nixon on X: "😭🤣🔥 you can’t run from the MEMES Even if you try" / X
Brian Lilley on X: "Calling Canada shitty and cheering on a foreign leader attacking ours all in one video. This is so incredibly stupid." / X
https://x.com/truckdriverpleb/status/2094879782320124375
An island is floating around a B.C. reservoir — and it keeps disappearing | Globalnews.ca
In cod we trust - Canadian Affairs

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If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

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As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the CBC’s longstanding policy towards reporting on acts of terrorism suddenly became an international story.

A leaked internal CBC memo that instructed journalists not to refer to 9/11 as a terrorist attack without attribution sparked backlash on both sides of the border.

In the context of the trade war, CBC’s journalistic policy became a flashpoint for Republicans, with US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra suggesting it further jeopardized trade relations between Canada and the US.

Jen Gerson of The Line joins Julian Abraham to explain how the CBC escalated trade war tensions (even if it didn’t intend to) and what happens next now that the CBC changed its policy towards 9/11.

Host: Julian Abraham
Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)
Guest: Jen Gerson
Photo: Ken Lund

Further reading:

9/11 wasn't a 'terrorist attack,' according to the CBC | Toronto Sun
How and why CBC News will adjust its 9/11 language guidance - CBC
How CBC News uses the words 'terrorist,' 'terrorism' - CBC
CBC changed its terrorism policy for 9/11—but still not for Hamas - Canadian Jewish News
The CBC’s 9/11 terrorism scandal revealed the public broadcaster is operating in a separate reality than the public - The Hub
Opinion: CBC's refusal to distinguish between terrorism and war shows it can't think critically - National Post
Avi Benlolo: CBC's editorial choices around Islamic terror need to be investigated - National Post
Some voters alarmed by self-declaration requirement on mail-in ballots for Alberta referendum | CBC News
N.S. energy minister resigns after backlash over misogynistic rap lyrics - Halifax | Globalnews.ca

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If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

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