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Clearing The Benches
Clearing The Benches episodes
- Taxing the super wealthy - With Claire Trottier
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman are joined by Claire Trottier from Patriotic Millionaires to talk about the biggest issue facing both Canada and the world right now, the extreme gap in wealth distribution between the rich and poor.
Topics- Being born wealthy
- Unfairness of the system
- Obfuscating well-paid working class with the wealthy
- How to tax wealth
- Fear of capital flight
- Does philanthropy work?
- Instability is driven by inequality
- Normalizing monetizing your attention
Follow the hosts on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
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Claire Trottier is a scientist, former professor of microbiology, and a passionate advocate for the wealthy paying their fair share into society. She works with Patriotic Millionaires and several other organizations to work towards a better, more equitable future for all.
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Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
34 min - BONUS - Things are heavy, let's talk about it
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman get together to chat about how crazy everything is right now, and what to think about it.
Most importantly, it's important to take your little joyful moments where you can.
46 min - What art tells us about ourselves - with Max Kerman of Arkells
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman are joined by Max Kerman, the lead singer of Arkells to talk about Canadian art in the modern age. How important is supporting artists as Canada faces new challenges? We'd argue; instrumental. We also talk about Max's first book; Try Hard
Topics- Purpose and artistic creation
- The process of growing as an artist in Canada
- How AI is affecting arts and culture
- Feeling the pulse of Canada
- Art as connection
- Bridging generational divides through art
Follow the hosts on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
---
Max Kerman is the lead singer of Canadian band Arkells, and wrote a book about his creative journey called Try Hard. Buy it here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/744570/try-hard-by-max-kerman/9780735248854
---
Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
51 min - BONUS - Canada to recognize Palestine's statehood
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has followed the leadership of Emmanuel Macron from France and Kier Stormer from the United Kingdom in cautiously announcing the intention to recognize Palestine as a state amid the ongoing genocide executed by Israel, with the help and funding of the West.
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman talk through difficult topics regarding Canada's part in the genocide in Gaza, what it means to recognize Palestine as a state, breaking the programming we receive growing up whether Jewish or not, and the fallout with the USA if Canada goes this route.
Follow the hosts on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/steveboots.bsky.social
---
Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
58 min - Carney Caving to Trump - With Taylor Noakes
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman are joined by Taylor Noakes, independent journalist and public historian who refuses to sugarcoat reality, but continually sees through an optimist's lens. We're talking about Mark Carney's actions as Prime Minister compared to the mandate he was elected to serve.
Topics- Belated Canada Day thoughts - (00:00)
- Digital Service Tax being dropped - (02:18)
- Canada acting weaker than we are - (09:16)
- What happened to "Canada is not for sale"? - (19:11)
- Opportunity exists in crisis - (28:15)
- Spending on the future - (39:16)
- NDP must learn to listen first - (50:35)
- Our history has solutions - (59:35)
Follow the hosts and Taylor on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/taylornoakes.com
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Taylor Noakes is one of Canada's most intrepid journalists covering a wide range of topics. Find his work on his website: https://taylornoakes.com/
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Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
1 hr 17 min - Canadian Security & Should we build Nukes? - with Julian Spencer-Churchill
Andrew Berkshire & Dave Kaufman are joined by Dr. Julian Spencer-Churchill, Associate Professor of Political Science at Concordia University, former Army Operating Officer of the 3rd Field Engineering Regiment, and expert on nuclear technology and the politics surrounding nuclear weapons.
With ongoing aggression by the USA against Canada, several op eds have been published in major media outlets suggesting Canada should build nuclear weapons to defend itself, so Andrew reached out to Dr. Spencer-Churchill to examine how realistic that idea is, whether it makes sense, and how vulnerable Canada is.
Topics
Can Canada create a nuclear arms program? Would it make sense?
America sees Canada as immature and insecure, why? And how does that relate to Carney's Liberal government's priorities?
Expanding on Canada's historical political, cultural, & security priorities.
What happens if the United States of America invades Canada?
Finding a path forward for Canada to avoid conflict.
Follow the hosts on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
---
Dr. Julian Spencer-Churchill is an expert in international relations, the politics surrounding nuclear technology, and game theory. You can find more expansive breakdowns on all the topics we covered in breakdowns he's written and linked on his linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-spencer-churchill-10897922b/
---
Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
40 min - Corporate Control in Canada - With Nora Loreto
Andrew Berkshire and Dave Kaufman are joined by Nora Loreto, the host of Canada's most popular daily news podcast, aptly named The Daily News, and a firebrand of journalistic integrity. We're talking about how corporations have eroded our social safety net and institutions.
Topics
Nora's new book Canada in Decline - Book 2 - Corporate Control
How Canada's economics developed post WWII
Corporate control over Canadian healthcare, education, and housing
How to solve the housing crisis
Hope for the future, and building a better world
Follow the hosts and Nora on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/nolore.bsky.social
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Nora Loreto is one of Canada's boldest thinkers, and you can find her work on her website: https://noraloreto.ca/
---
Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
1 hr 19 min - BONUS - Steve Boots on Mark Carney's Cabinet
Prime Minister Mark Carney has named his cabinet after winning the Canadian federal election and forming a minority government. Some positions that were dropped pre-election are back, things are shuffled around, so what are Canadiens supposed to take away from this?
To help figure that out, educator, former teacher, and Canadian politics content creator Steve Boots joins Andrew Berkshire for quick bonus run through the cabinet appointees.
Why is there a minister of AI but not a full minister for labour? Is the housing file in good hands? What should Canadians take away from the more progressive wing of the Liberal caucus being essentially tossed out of cabinet?
Follow the hosts and Steve on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/steveboots.bsky.social
---
Steve Boots is a citizen journalist with a background in education, he takes a nuanced look at Canadian politics and news basically daily on his youtube and twitch channels.
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Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
Read less
27 min - The Canadian Political Landscape - With Erica Ifill
The brilliant and bold journalist Erica Ifill joins Dave Kaufman & Andrew Berkshire on Clearing the Benches to talk about the Canadian political landscape.
Topics
Prime Minister Mark Carney's handling of Donald Trump.
Is the root cause of far-right politics as simple as misogyny?
The pathway from Nationalism to racism
Borders are bullsh*t
The political choice of AI
An examination of what the NDP could do to move forward.
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Follow the hosts and Erica on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/berkshire.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/davekaufman.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/wickdchiq.bsky.social
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Erica Ifill is an award winning Canadian political columnist, economist, and host of the Bad + Bitchy Podcast.
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Clearing the Benches is a high concept Canadian political discussion show, where Dave Kaufman (The Kaufman Show) and Andrew Berkshire (Game Over Network) put their heads and rolodexes together in an attempt to discuss ideas and concepts that are being missed in legacy media coverage.
Subscribe. rate the show, and tell your friends about it.
---
Check out Game Over Network if you're into hockey! https://www.thegameovernetwork.com
---
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearing-the-benches/id1809780678
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CNfnD5a8v8kO9SInrvJoo?si=2edf706bc0454059
Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/19e5a278-9270-4426-82b2-cb9006afb12e/clearing-the-benches
1 hr 24 min - BONUS - Canadian Election Reaction
Dave Kaufman and Andrew Berkshire got together for a zoom call the day after Mark Carney's Liberal Party of Canada won a minority government in a general election.
While Pierre Poilievre was soundly defeated in terms of seats, the popular vote showed some worrying signs for the country.
Dave & Andrew have a quick chat about where we are as a country, and what the next steps might be.
30 min
About Clearing The Benches
From the publisher's feed
American aggression has put Canada into an existential crisis, with most of us too worried about threats to our sovereignty to focus on our own laundry list of critical issues we must tackle. Our…
politicians are unable or unwilling to have these important conversations, so we must.
Join independent journalists Dave Kaufman and Andrew Berkshire as they ask the questions our leaders and institutions fail to address, enlisting the help and perspectives from experts and advocates across the country.
Clearing the Benches is where you will find Canadians unafraid to ask why, and undaunted in exploring bold, transformative change so that our neighbours and communities can thrive going forward.
If our leaders won't lay out a long term vision for the people of this land, we will do our best to help your find yours.
Join us as we leave no stone unturned, honestly examining the landscape and potential future we can build together.