CANADALAND

Did we just dodge WW3? As Iran retaliated against Israel with an unprecedented barrage of drones and missiles, deciphering facts from fakes and misinformation seemed trickier than ever. Is this the new digital fog of war?

Bill Maher somehow still exists, and now he’s roasting Canada for all the wrong reasons. What Bill Maher gets wrong about Canadian “Zombie Lies”?

Plus, is Rick Ross an anti-semite? Jesse weighs in on the Drake beef. 

Want your audio story on CANADALAND? Submissions for the Local Correspondent Audio Contest are now open! To learn more, visit canadaland.com/audiocontest and follow @CanadaLabs on Instagram to stay in the loop.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proolx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guest: Rahim Mohamed 

Further reading: 

• As Iran attacked Israel, old and faked videos and images got millions of views on X 
• Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral | WIRED
• 'If One of Those Missiles Hit Tel Aviv We Would Be in a Very Different, Devastating Situation' - Podcasts 
• Rick Ross Calls Drake 'BBL Drizzy' and OVO the 'Pastrami Posse' - XXL
• New Rule: Whoa, Canada | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) [VIDEO]
• Bill Maher warns Americans about Canada: ‘Yes, you can move too far left’ - National | Globalnews.ca  

Sponsors: CAMH, Douglas. Squarespace

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.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve long heard about how the news business is failing - layoff after layoff, media execs have claimed that they have had no choice but to make cutbacks.

In Bell’s latest round of 4800 layoffs, CEO Mirko Babic defended his decision to a parliamentary committee, claiming the company was struggling in a tough economic environment - and that news was part of what was bringing them down.

But is that the full story? 

Because before Google and Facebook ate up advertising dollars, the Canadian media companies of the 90s made a bad bet. And it failed to pay off. 

And now… the news industry is taking the fall. 

Further reading:

• Corporate ownership of media has failed Canadians, Marc Edge, Canadian Dimension, 2024
• Bell Media Has Cut 1 In 4 Positions Since 2020 as Parent Company Keeps Dividend Rolling, The Deep Dive, 2024
•  Media convergence, acquisitions and sales in Canada, CBC, 2010
• Convergence after the collapse: The ‘catastrophic’ case of Canada, Marc Edge, Media, Culture and Society, 2011
• Financialization and the “Crisis of the Media”: The Rise and Fall of (Some) Media Conglomerates in Canada, Dwayne Winseck, Canadian Journal of Communication, 2010

Host: Jesse Brown & Cherise Seucharan

Credits: Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Sponsors: Betterhelp Douglas Indochino

Additional Music by Audio Network.

Support Canadaland at canadaland.com/join

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Etienne Côté-Paluck, rédacteur en chef d’HAÏTI MAGAZINE et HAITI WEEKLY, des publications du collectif haïtien DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO, rejoint Emilie pour une discussion sur l’actualité de la crise qui se passe dans la ville et dans le pays.

Etienne Côté-Paluck, editor-in-chief of HAÏTI MAGAZINE and HAITI WEEKLY, publications of the Haitian collective DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO, joins Emilie for a discussion about what’s actually going on in the country.

Animation : Emilie Nicolas

Générique : Tristan Capacchione (Production), André Proulx (Coordonnateur à la production), Karyn Pugliese (Rédactrice en chef) 

Coanimation : Etienne Côté-Paluck

Pour en savoir plus :

• Haïti Magazine
• Haiti Weekly

Si vous appréciez ce podcast, soutenez-nous ! Vous obtiendrez un accès en prime à toutes nos émissions gratuitement, y compris les premières diffusions et le contenu bonus. Vous recevrez également notre lettre d'information exclusive, des rabais sur les produits dans notre boutique, des billets pour nos événements en direct et virtuels, et surtout, vous ferez partie de la solution à la crise du journalisme au Canada. Vous ferez en sorte que notre travail reste gratuit et accessible à tout le monde.  

Vous pouvez écouter sans publicité sur Amazon Music, inclus avec Prime.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support us! You'll get bonus access to all of our shows for free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also receive our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch in our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and most importantly, you'll be part of the solution to the journalism crisis in Canada. You'll help keep our work free and accessible to everyone.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A spectre is haunting Canada — the spectre of Communist China.

Finally, a proper inquiry into election interference by China featuring testimony from Trudeau and his top aides, but, at this point, will anyone even care? 

Rebel News personality David “The Menzoid” Menzies is arrested yet again at a protest in Toronto, which raises larger questions about how police are selectively enforcing the law at contentious public rallies. 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guest: Harrison Lowman

Further reading: 

• PMO, top ministers and senior officials received 34 briefings on foreign interference since 2018, CSIS says - The Globe and Mail 
• PM tells foreign interference probe government's hands are tied on intelligence leaks to media | CBC News 
• Prime Minister Trudeau tells foreign interference inquiry recent elections were ‘decided by Canadians’: Live updates - The Globe and Mail 
• Justin Trudeau blames racism for allegation that China helped Liberal MP get elected 
• Deportation hearing set for truck driver in Humboldt Broncos bus crash | CBC News 
• Soldiers had to rely on food donations because of lack of military support during Ottawa training   
• Rebel News personality charged after incident at pro-Israel rally on Sunday 

Sponsors: CAMH, Calm, Article 

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.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadians have long thought of themselves as peacekeepers. But can we still make that claim today? Amid all of the the outrage towards our government over its relationship with Israel, are any protesters calling on Trudeau to send peacekeeping troops over there to intervene? When the guns finally fall silent there will likely be a call for some sort of peacekeeping force. But will Canada still be ready, or even willing, to resume our traditional role?

There's really just one statistic worth sharing here to illustrate that Canadians have lost nearly all capacity for peacekeeping. In the mid 1990s, there were over 3000 Canadian troops deployed as UN peacekeepers around the world. Today there are 60. That means we’re now at 2% of our former capability. What the hell happened? 

We go looking for an answer for you today from Walter Dorn, professor of defense studies at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces College. Professor Dorn is an expert in arms control, international criminal law, just war theory, peace operations and the United Nations.

To learn more:

• Professional website — Walter Dorn

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Squarespace, AG1, Oxio, Better Help

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.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Canadians prepare for a rare celestial event–a total solar eclipse–Jesse has one message: don’t look up!

On Monday, the price of carbon increased, and so did prices at the pumps. Carbon Tax savant Max Fawcett explains why it’s terrible politics, but still a great policy  

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proolx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guest: Max Fawcett

Further reading: 

• Why next week's solar eclipse has scientists so excited - CBC News
• Preparing for a total eclipse of the sun, 1979 - CBC [Video]  
• Han Dong says international students voted en masse in his 2019 Liberal nomination - National Post
• Secret RCMP report warns Canadians may revolt once they realize how broke they are - National Post 
• For sale by Canada: books by notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones - CBC News
• Axing serious climate action with lies. - Uncommons

Sponsors: Douglas, Rotman, Athletic Greens 

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.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Question: what is Canada's greatest contribution to the world of comedy? Is it Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live, which launched the careers of comedians like Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, and Norm MacDonald? What about Samantha Bee, who broke into the boys club of late night political satire? Nathan Fielder who may have redrawn the lines of reality itself, exposing the absurdity of modern life with his bizarre, intricate pranks? Professor Stephen Leacock, the Mark Twain of Canada?

Or is it a hidden-camera, prank comedy show that has been seen by millions and millions of people from all over the world?

Just For Laughs Gags has been running for almost 25 years, and it had no reason to stop, except that its parent company filed for creditor protection under Canada’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act on March 5, 2024. What was Gags and what will be missed if it never gets produced again?

Today on the show, we hear from the people that made it, and from people that were pranked by them.

To learn more:

• Just for Laughs: Gags – 15 years growing around the world — Radio Canada International
• Just For Laughs Gags YouTube Channel — YouTube
• Joke's on us: Just for Laughs Gags is a heinous Canadian cultural export — National Post
• The cost of cringe: Does Just for Laughs: Gags go too far? — National Post

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Reporter, Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Special thanks: Tamara Wise

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Article, Squarespace, AG1

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.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Il y a du pouvoir dans la réappropriation de son propre récit - c'est pourquoi Beata n'a pas seulement écrit un mémoire sur son expérience de fuite du Rwanda, mais aussi un recueil de poésie. Elle a cherché à retrouver des images qu'elle croyait exister, capturées par la BBC, d'un convoi de camions dans lequel elle était cachée pour fuir le pays - ce qui l'a menée à en découvrir davantage.

La conversation examine le rôle des médias occidentaux dans le reportage sur le Rwanda à l'époque. Où se trouvait la presse internationale pendant le génocide et pourquoi le récit était-il si incomplet ? Pourquoi ce génocide n'a-t-il pas été empêché malgré les avertissements plus d'un an auparavant ?

There’s power in re-appropriating your own story - which is why Beata has not only written a memoir about her experience fleeing Rwanda, but a book of poetry as well. She sought to track down footage that she believed to exist captured by the BBC of a convoy of trucks she was hidden in to flee the country - which led her on a path to discover more. 

The conversation examines the role of western media reporting about Rwanda at the time. Where was the international media during the genocide and why was the narrative so incomplete? Why wasn’t this genocide prevented despite warnings over a year prior?

Animation : Emilie Nicolas

Générique : Aviva Lessard (Production), Tristan Capacchione (Production technique), André Proulx (Coordonnateur à la production), Karyn Pugliese (Rédactrice en chef) 

Coanimation : Beata Umumbyeyi Mairesse

Pour en savoir plus :

• Culbuter le malheur
• Le convoi

Si vous appréciez ce podcast, soutenez-nous ! Vous obtiendrez un accès en prime à toutes nos émissions gratuitement, y compris les premières diffusions et le contenu bonus. Vous recevrez également notre lettre d'information exclusive, des rabais sur les produits dans notre boutique, des billets pour nos événements en direct et virtuels, et surtout, vous ferez partie de la solution à la crise du journalisme au Canada. Vous ferez en sorte que notre travail reste gratuit et accessible à tout le monde.  

Vous pouvez écouter sans publicité sur Amazon Music, inclus avec Prime.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support us! You'll get bonus access to all of our shows for free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also receive our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch in our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and most importantly, you'll be part of the solution to the journalism crisis in Canada. You'll help keep our work free and accessible to everyone.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are New Zealand libertarian think-tanks so into Canada’s Indigenous skyscrapers? In the midst of an ongoing housing crisis, is the Squamish Nation’s Sen̓áḵw project the future of Indigenous land development?

As Deadspin’s new ownership pivots to gambling referral, we consider how broadcast bingo supports Indigenous radio. Is “Radio Bingo” a replicable model for diversifying media revenue?

Host: Jonathan Goldsbie

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Co-host: Robert Jago

Further reading: 

• There’s one government in Canada that’s actually beating back the housing crisis, and it’s not Justin Trudeau’s Liberals or Doug Ford’s Conservatives – Toronto Star
• Vancouver’s new mega-development is big, ambitious and undeniably Indigenous – Maclean’s
• A Village Burned (2022) – Land Back (CBC Podcasts)
• A Canadian housing development shows how the value of indigenous land can be unlocked – The Post (NZ)
• Global Affairs confirms Canadian death in Lebanon, 8th since Israel-Hamas war began – The Canadian Press
• Deadspin Is Becoming a Gambling Referral Site – 404 Media
• Radio bingo sees a surge in interest during pandemic in small towns (2021) – The Globe and Mail

Sponsors: Douglas, Calm 

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.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When governments and corporations want to stay on top of the “threats” posed by protest movements — from climate campaigns to animal-rights advocacy — there’s one company that they tend to turn to: Welund. Founded in the UK in 2007, it expanded to North America about a decade later, setting up shop in Calgary (where it’s now called Foresight Reports). So who are they? And what does it mean when public-sector bodies farm out their intelligence gathering to a private firm?

To find out, we put our own open-source intelligence skills to the test.

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading:

• Secretive intelligence firm with Alberta government contract spying on journalist Brandi Morin — Ricochet
• The Private Intelligence Firm Keeping Tabs on Environmentalists — Mother Jones
• BAE spy named by campaigners is friend of leading Tory — The Guardian
• BP paid ex-MI6 spy firm to snoop on green campaigners — openDemocracy
• Ep. 35 - Larry Hardcastle — Brilliant Business Podcast
• Information commissioner finds feds withheld details of relationship with private spy agency — Ricochet
• Foresight Reports website — Welund North America

Sponsors: Squarespace, AG1, Better Help

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.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.