Dean Blundell and disinformation expert Marcus Kolga analyze a pivotal day for democracy as Trudeau steps down, Trump calls for Canadian annexation, and European leaders confront Musk.

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Musk's unprecedented reach into Congress to scrap a budget bill is America's first look at what authoritarian rule under Donald Trump and Musk will look like.

This week, Elon Musk's unprecedented intervention in America's budget process exposed what our investigations have warned about: the emergence of an unelected power center with direct ties to the Kremlin.

For months, we've documented how Vladimir Putin's influence operation successfully installed what amounts to a shadow presidency in the United States. The evidence is now impossible to ignore:

But this week's power play over the federal budget demonstrates something even more concerning: Musk now wields unprecedented control over executive policy, legislative priorities, and information flow through X/Twitter - all while maintaining his position at SpaceX and other strategic companies.

Center for European Policy Analysis Senior Fellow Olga Lautman explains why this matters: "Who is our president? Trump occasionally puts out messages on social media, but it seems Musk is driving the car."

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing a rebellion by some of his Liberal Party MPs. Zev Shalev and Dean Blundell debate Donald Trump and Elon Musk's role in the PM's troubles. In this episode of Narativ, we dive into the political upheaval in Ottawa as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership faces a critical challenge. Following the resignation of Deputy and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, some liberal MPs are calling on their leader to resign. Guest Dean Blundell, a prominent political commentator, joins from Toronto to discuss the repercussions and the underlying foreign influences impacting Canadian politics. The conversation explores the implications of Freeland's resignation, Trudeau's political strategies, and the broader international geopolitical subtext involving the United States and Russia.

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Donald Trump is Backing Putin and Selling Out Ukrainians. My guest is Volodymyr Dubovyk, a Senior Fellow at CEPA. In South Korea this week, the specter of authoritarianism briefly materialized when Prime Minister Yoon declared martial law. Although it lasted only hours, Yoon may have felt encouraged by the incoming Trump administration. While democratic forces prevailed in South Korea this time, Ukraine's situation is very different.

In Kyiv, we witnessed something previously unthinkable: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has steadfastly maintained Ukraine's right to complete territorial integrity since Russia's invasion, appeared to blink against Putin.

Zelenskyy's new apparent openness to the temporary Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory marks a dramatic shift in position—one that reveals both the mounting pressure on Ukraine's military and democracy and the growing recognition of the evaporating Western resolve.

The Trump administration is stumbling over itself in floating peace proposals that align with Russian interests, even before potentially taking office. They even dispatched their new advisor to the Kremlin, only to be dismissed by Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.

However, this dismissal wasn't a rejection of diplomacy but a calculated message. Why rush to negotiate when military realities and global dynamics increasingly favor Russian objectives? 

It seems unavoidable that we will march into 2025 in a manner reminiscent of how the world marched into Munich in 1938. 

Just as Chamberlain convinced himself that sacrificing part of Czechoslovakia might satisfy Hitler's ambitions, we are watching the potential next U.S. administration craft peace proposals that would effectively validate Putin's territorial conquests.

Get used to it, folks—we're witnessing a seismic shift in the global democratic order. It’s the first time we've sacrificed the principles of territorial integrity and democratic self-determination, which are the cornerstones of the post-World War II international system. These principles are being reconsidered in real time.

So yes, elections have consequences, and these developments do not make one feel very good. However, there is a lesson in the events that just happened in South Korea: it took a unanimous vote of parliament and some street protests, but martial law only lasted six hours, and now Yoon faces impeachment. 

Putin may feel emboldened by recent events and by Zelenskyy's apparent concession, but he is still facing the resolve of the Ukrainian people. When people stand up to these paper strongmen, they are often defeated. When the rule of law is maintained, strongmen will back down.

When the American people apply pressure—publicly and through the media—we too can urge Donald Trump to protect the people of Ukraine and never surrender.

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READ MORE OF OLGA LAUTMAN’S WORK AT HER SUBSTACK.

This revealing episode deconstructs the sophisticated Russian influence operation that delivered Trump's 2024 victory. While conventional wisdom suggests Harris lost due to poor messaging and economic concerns, our investigation exposes a military-grade information warfare campaign orchestrated by the Kremlin and executed through Elon Musk's media empire.

Expert guest Olga Lautman explains how Russia spent over $45 billion building an "information laundering machine" that weaponized X/Twitter and right-wing media to divide American voters systematically. The operation included a sophisticated $45 million psychological warfare campaign targeting specific demographics with contradictory messages, coordinated bomb threats in Georgia, and strategic algorithm manipulation.

Most chillingly, Putin's likely successor, Nikolai Patrushev, issued what amounts to a mafia-style threat, declaring Trump has "obligations to fulfill" after receiving Russian help. We explore what these obligations likely entail: a $2 trillion "shock therapy" economic plan designed to destabilize America, withdraw from global leadership, and enable Russian expansion.

As Germany prepares for potential war and Russia eyes further territorial gains, we examine how America faces its greatest crisis since the Civil War. This wasn't just election interference—it was a carefully orchestrated operation to capture American democracy itself. With expert insight from Lautman, we discuss what to expect in the coming months and how Americans can resist as their country faces unprecedented challenges.

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"To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. And as a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."

These chilling words, delivered by Nikolai Patrushev—Putin's likely successor and former head of the FSB—confirm what our three-year investigation has uncovered: a sophisticated Russian influence operation with Elon Musk at its center, designed to deliver both the presidency and America's future to Vladimir Putin.The Web of Influence

Our investigation reveals three interconnected operations:

Eight years ago, I wrote "The Russia House," detailing Russian influence in Trump's first administration. Many called it impossible. Now, Putin's top security official openly declares that the President-elect has "obligations that must be fulfilled."

This isn't just another story about Russian interference. It's about the systematic dismantling of American democracy through economic warfare, information manipulation, and direct control of government operations.

When I wrote The Russia House eight years ago, it was a warning. Tonight's story is different. This isn't about what might happen—it's about what is happening right now, in plain sight, and what will happen if these plans are allowed to proceed.

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The Trump Campaign attracted some Black, Hispanic, and Jewish voters, says Carl Allen, author of "The Polls Weren't Wrong."

Trump's path to victory in 2024 wasn't through his base alone—it was through precision targeting of key demographic groups that traditionally lean Democratic. The margins were razor-thin, but the strategy was effective.

Trump started with his rock-solid 47-48% base. They needed new voters outside of their base. They targeted demographics in traditional democratic demos. 

- Young Black men: Support doubled from 15% to 30%

- Hispanic men: Achieved majority support

- Jewish voters: Showed increased support amid Gaza conflict

"Trump didn't overwhelmingly win these groups," Allen explains. "He squeezed an extra 2-3% here and there. But 2% of a small group, plus 2% of another small group—it adds up."

Perhaps most striking was how Trump won the economic narrative. Despite often vague policy proposals ("concepts of a plan," as Allen puts it), Trump successfully conveyed a simple message: he's better for jobs and wallets.

"We're reaching this point where perception outweighs policy," Allen notes. "The perception of a candidate's position is far more important than their actual policies."

The interview reveals a sobering reality: Democratic policies on abortion, minimum wage, and economics poll well individually. Yet the party struggled to translate this into electoral victory.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, the final margins tell the story:

- Trump: ~49.5%

- Harris: Just under 49%

Pennsylvania saw Trump just over 50%, Harris at 48.5%.

The data suggests this wasn't just an Electoral College victory—Trump appears positioned to win the popular vote for the first time since 2004. It's a watershed moment that demands Democratic soul-searching about messaging and voter outreach.

As Allen observes: "Traditional media is fading in importance... authentically reaching people, that's where podcasts have an advantage over things like commercials and mainstream cable news appearances."

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What began as a day marked by Russian interference - from FBI warnings about Russian-originated bomb threats at polling stations to debunked deep-fake videos - ended with an electoral outcome that seemed to follow a Russian-crafted narrative.

Our show began confidently at 9:30 PM ET, with Dean Blundell and Spencer “Spenny” Rice joining me to witness what we expected to be a historic victory for Kamala Harris. The mood was light, even celebratory. "Dancing in the streets by 11:30," we predicted.

But as the night progressed, the numbers shifted dramatically. One by one, the critical swing states fell: Michigan (+90,820 for Trump), Wisconsin (a razor-thin +29,797), Pennsylvania (+153,204), and Georgia (+117,384).

By the time foreign policy expert Rick Petrie joined our panel, what had started as a celebration had transformed into growing concern about the integrity of what we were witnessing. 

By morning, what seemed impossible at 9:30 PM had become reality - Donald Trump had secured victory in nearly every battleground state, with margins that defied both polling and campaign internal numbers.

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This week, Elon Musk confirmed his support for implementing $2 trillion in federal budget cuts, which he describes as necessary "shock therapy" for the U.S. economy. Musk laid out his vision at Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, stating, "Your money is being wasted. We'll get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook".

When asked directly about the economic impact of these cuts, Musk responded, "Sounds about right," to the prediction of severe market disruption and economic contraction. The proposed $2 trillion reduction represents nearly one-third of the current $6.13 trillion federal budget.

Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement these cuts. The Wall Street Journal reported that throughout this period, Musk maintained regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his first deputy, Sergei Kerienko, since late 2022.

The economic model for these cuts appears to mirror the "shock therapy" policies implemented in Argentina under Javier Milei, which has led to:

- Inflation at 230%

- Unemployment rising from 12% to 18%

- Poverty increasing from 42% to 53%

Musk has become Trump's most prominent financial backer through his America PAC, contributing $118 million of his own money. This level of financial support, combined with his proposed role overseeing budget cuts, would give him unprecedented influence over both fiscal policy and public discourse through his ownership of X/Twitter.

The proposed cuts would require significant reductions to core government services, including Medicare and Social Security, and eliminating multiple federal agencies. While critics argue this would cause severe economic disruption, Musk maintains these measures are necessary for long-term prosperity.

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Dean Blundell joins Zev Shalev for the third installment of Narativ Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a list of members of Parliament who are either actively engaged with or at high risk of foreign interference, putting Parliament Hill in crisis. The bombshell disclosure came at Canada's Foreign Interference Inquiry, during which Trudeau expressed frustration at Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre's continued refusal to receive top-secret security briefings about the threat.

I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, and/or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada, who are engaged or at high risk of, or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference," 

PM Justin Trudeau under oath.

The Prime Minister emphasized that his government has directed CSIS to inform the Conservative Party leader about these security risks, but Poilievre's refusal to receive classified briefings means "nobody in his party, nobody in a position of power knows the names of these individuals and can take appropriate action."

The revelations come amid mounting evidence of Indian government interference in Canadian politics. The RCMP has uncovered evidence linking Indian government agents to a campaign of violence, including homicides, coercion, and extortion on Canadian soil.

In a dramatic development, Trudeau confirmed he confronted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these allegations during what he described as a "very uncomfortable" conversation at the G20 summit. The Prime Minister disclosed that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada had allegedly leveraged their positions to engage in clandestine intelligence-gathering activities.

Adding to the growing scandal, recent reports indicate that Arpan Khanna, who served as Pierre Poilievre's Ontario co-chair during his successful leadership campaign, is under investigation by CSIS for potentially receiving support from the Indian government. 

Khanna's nomination in the Oxford riding has come under particular scrutiny. Two senior riding officials resigned in protest, claiming the party leadership "hijacked" the process to favor Khanna.

Dean Blundell, a legendary figure in Canadian broadcasting who hosted the boundary-pushing morning show on Toronto's 102.1 The Edge (2001-2014) and later Fan 590, has transformed from self-described "shock jock" to one of Canada's most important investigative voices through his Dean Blundell Show podcast and Crier Media empire. Under the Crier Media banner, which operates dozens of podcasts and works with a collective of reporters, journalists, and lawyers while maintaining complete independence by refusing government funding, Blundell has emerged as a leading investigator of foreign interference in Canadian politics, breaking significant stories about threats to democracy that mainstream media outlets often hesitate to cover, including early reporting on Pierre Poilievre's refusal to obtain national security clearance and exposing connections between Canadian conservative movements and international actors.

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