Gloves Off

As America pulls back from its traditional alliances, what does that mean for Canada and the future of the global order?

In this extended interview, Stephen Marche revisits his conversation with Julianne Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former senior Pentagon official. Smith explains how the Trump administration has transformed America’s relationships with its allies, why trust in the United States has eroded, and how Canada and other middle powers are responding.

From NATO and European defence to Canada’s growing ties with the European Union and Nordic countries, Smith explores whether middle powers can build a new “third pole” of global influence—and whether the existing international order can survive America’s retreat.

What happens when America’s allies start building a world without America at the centre?

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 8 "What Are We Fighting For?"

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: a linguistic analysis of how the concept of "sovereignty" has changed over time, based on how it has been used in the House of Commons since 1900.

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In this extended interview,Stephen Marche speaks with Tim Mak, Editor of the Kyiv-based publication The Counteroffensive about Ukraine’s drone war and the future of warfare. They explore how Ukraine’s decentralized defence-tech ecosystem is driving rapid innovation—and what Canada can learn as it prepares to dramatically increase defence spending.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 5 "How Canada Wins at Defence" 

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including a Canadian history of dual usage technologies and a Chart that tries to imagine the sheer scale of the military budget.

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Anthony Dworkin of the European Council on Foreign Relations about whether Canada and Europe can build a new middle power alliance in a world increasingly shaped by U.S. and Chinese power.

Dworkin explains Europe’s “trade bazooka,” the tools available to resist economic coercion, and how Canada could work with Europe and other like-minded countries on trade, defence, technology, energy and strategic autonomy.

ECFR Papers Referenced: 

-Brussels hold’em: European cards against Trumpian coercion

-Beijing hold’em: European cards against Chinese coercion

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 2 "How Canada Wins at Alliances"

Visit our website-gloves-off.ca-for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including an interactive map outlining the number of international agreements Canada has made since Carney took office and a explanation of variable geometry

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Gil Durán, author of The Nerd Reich about Silicon Valley’s radical turn against democracy. They explore the rise of tech oligarchs, the political power of billionaires, the weaponization of social media, and what Canada can do to reduce its dependence on American technology.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 7 "How Canada Beats Tech Influence"

Visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: an analysis of what some of America's largest technology groups are asking for when it comes to CUSMA renegotiations

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From our Canadian podcast friends at Canadaland: 

As Canada inches closer to China’s “global swagger” to escape the US’s orbit, do we even know who we’re dealing with? Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Jonathan Cheng, The Wall Street Journal‘s China Bureau Chief, a Canadian who’s been based in Beijing since 2019, to get an inside look at China’s current confidence, its trade posture, and what Beijing actually thinks of Canada.

For more go to Canadaland

Episode originally aired May 26, 2026

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In this extended interview, economist Dan Ciuriak speaks with Stephen Marche about what a trade war with the United States would actually mean for Canada—and why the bigger opportunity may be building new markets, strengthening our economy, and taking control of our digital future.

Visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues including four charts illustrating how Canada’s trade exports are diversifying beyond the United States 

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S2 Episode 8 aftershow with Stephen Marche, Vass Bednar and Jon Shell. The trio dives deeper into the issues of each Gloves Off episode, bringing a mix of insight, expertise, and strong opinions (held at varying degrees) to their lively discussion.

Canadian Shield Research:

-Canada's 2026 Sovereignty Obsession is Unprecedented

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Season 2 wraps with a look at what the future could hold for a middle power alliance and what Canada’s role might be in it.

The people applauding Carney’s Davos speech were the same people who built and ran the system that led to Brexit, Trump, and more. How can middle powers win without returning to globalization and the same old system? How can they not just gain power but exert that power, and to what ends? These questions and more are considered by guests Alastair Campbell, a longtime British politico who served in the Tony Blair administration and now co-hosts The Rest Is Politics podcast; historian Rutger Bregman, author of Utopia For Realists and head of The School for Moral Ambition; and Julianne Smith, former United States Permanent Representative to NATO. 

Featuring (in order of appearance): Julianne Smith, Alastair Campbell, Rutger Bregman

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: a linguistic analysis of how the concept of "sovereignty" has changed over time, based on how it has been used in the House of Commons since 1900.  

Follow us on YouTube where you can watch our aftershow Cross Check that drops each Thursday with Vass Bednar and Jon Shell

Rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts and/or e-mail us [email protected].

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S2 Episode 7 aftershow with Stephen Marche, Vass Bednar and Jon Shell. The trio dives deeper into the issues of each Gloves Off episode, bringing a mix of insight, expertise, and strong opinions (held at varying degrees) to their lively discussion.

Canadian Shield Research:

-Big Tech’s CUSMA Wish List

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Host Stephen Marche traces the rise of a global right-wing influence project — funded by tech billionaires like Elon Musk and philosophically rooted in anti-democratic thinkers — that is actively working to end liberal democracy worldwide…and Canada is not immune. 

Paris Marx (author of Hyperscale, and host of the Tech Won't Save Us podcast) and Gil Duran (author of Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy) join to ponder if tech is incompatible with democracy, and to envision a path forward for the enduring sustainability of democratic institutions.  

Featuring (in order of appearance): Aalia Elachi, Paris Marx & Gil Duran

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: an analysis of what some of America's largest technology groups are asking for when it comes to CUSMA renegotiations

Follow us on YouTube where you can watch our aftershow Cross Check that drops each Thursday with Vass Bednar and Jon Shell

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