There’s still plenty to unpack following Sunday’s bombshell Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, which shed light on their departure from the same royal family that is intrinsically tied to Canada’s system of government. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the revelations of racism this week, and how they square with his own desire to address systemic racism and the legacy of colonialism in this country. Elamin and Rosie examine whether it’s enough to spur change in the monarchy, and other institutions grappling with systemic discrimination.

The two also take a deep breath and remember where they were a year ago, when COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic. Things changed in a matter of news-packed days, but as Rosie and Elamin point out, even more has changed over the course of the last 12 months. Tell us what changes or experiences you’ll remember most from the past year by tweeting @RosieBarton and @elamin88 using the hashtag #PartyLines — they’ll share some of your reflections on next week’s episode.

South of the border, there’s a battle brewing for the most basic expression of democracy — voting.

And there’s never been more at stake.

Former President Donald Trump has repeated false allegations that the 2020 election results are fraudulent due to massive, widespread voter tampering. This has inspired a wave of voter restriction measures at the state level — 43 states in all — and if passed, could represent some of the most restrictive voting laws since the Jim Crow era.

At the same time, the U.S. Senate is about to debate one of the most important civil rights bill in a generation, one that could bring substantial protections to voters and help stop the barrage of restrictions.

But passing it will be extremely difficult.

Elamin is joined by Michael Mark Cohen, a professor in American Studies at the University of California Berkeley, and Michael Barajas, a reporter for the Texas Observer.

Two of this country’s former top military leaders are facing accusations of sexual misconduct. Last week, recently appointed chief of defence staff Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside after it was discovered he was under investigation by the military's National Investigation Service; his predecessor, Gen. Jonathan Vance is also under investigation for inappropriate behaviour. All of this has had many people wondering: what did Canada’s minister of defence know, and when did he know it? Opposition parties hoped to find answers this week as former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne testified before a House of Commons committee — and that testimony did not look good for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Rosie and Elamin break down what came out of the committee, what it says about the state of Canada’s military and what kind of change might be necessary after years of efforts to root out sexual misconduct among their ranks.

The two also check in on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as the feds expect about 945,000 doses to arrive this week alone. As more jurisdictions are able to start vaccinating more people, are governments prioritizing those who need it most?

DC is in the midst of confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s new cabinet — and some of his picks are generating controversy.

Today, a deep dive into just one of the nominees, Neera Tanden. While she may not be a household name, Tanden is a useful lens through which to examine the layers of DC culture. With strikes against her on both the left and right, it’s worth examining why the Biden administration is going to bat for such a polarizing figure.

But first, a quick debrief on the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which marked Donald Trump’s first public appearance since he left the presidency and clearly signalled that cult of personality continues.

For insight, Elamin calls up Katelyn Burns, a freelance journalist and contributing writer to Vox and Medium, as well as Sabrina Siddiqui of the Wall Street Journal.

Last week, the federal government unveiled new legislation that would relax penalties for certain drug offences. It doesn’t go as far as decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of certain drugs — something many advocates, municipal leaders, public health officials, even chiefs of police have called for — but could it be a sign of shifting perspectives at the national level? As the opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of Canadians, Rosie and Elamin wonder whether more progressive drug policy could be around the corner.

But first: the two turn their attention to Alberta, where Premier Jason Kenney’s government is delivering their 2021 budget. It comes at a time when Kenney finds himself in a pretty bad place: his popularity has plummeted through the pandemic and his average approval numbers are hovering around 40 per cent. Could a welcomed budget be enough of a boost to change how Albertans are feeling about their premier?

American Christianity is a complex thing, and there’s plenty of diversity in terms of denomination, theology and belief. But over the last four years, white Christians who describe themselves as Evangelical or born again have consistently rated President Donald Trump highly. In fact, the tightly woven alliance between the religious right, Evangelicals and the Republican Party was fundamental to Trump's success.

But as the former president moves on, where does that leave the Christian right? For insight, Elamin calls up Emma Green, a writer at The Atlantic who has extensively covered the intersection between U.S. politics, policy and religion. She explains why she called the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill a “Christian insurrection” and why so many believed that God meant for Trump to be inaugurated for a second term.

This week saw more calls for Canada to boycott or move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of Beijing. Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said the government of China is engaged in a genocide of its Uighur population, and urged a relocation of the Games — or, failing that, a serious examination of whether Canadian athletes should compete. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Annamie Paul have also called for the Games to be moved elsewhere; a rare coming together of viewpoints among opposition parties, as Elamin points out. What actions should Canada be considering, when it comes to next year’s Olympics? How does this country’s attempts to secure the release of “the Michaels” factor into this? And have boycotts of the Olympics been effective in the past?

Rosie and Elamin also take the temperature of the room — the “room” being the large chamber that is the House of Commons — to get a sense of how parties are feeling about the timing of a possible federal election this year. Might a spring election still be in the cards? Is a trip to the polls in the fall a likelier scenario? And how does the big vaccine deployment story factor into it all?

It was the most bipartisan impeachment trial in U.S. history but in the end, the Democrats could not sway enough Republicans to state that Donald Trump’s actions played a role in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

The U.S. is still coming to terms with the events of that day which left five dead and over 140 injured. While Trump’s acquittal — which allows him to still run for office — might seem like a win for the former president, it is only the beginning of what could be an unravelling of his legacy and the party that stuck so close to him during this violent event.

In the eyes of Democrats, many Independents, and some Republicans, the former president was responsible.

Elamin speaks with Tia Mitchell, the Washington correspondent with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who was inside the Capitol on January 6, about the impeachment trial and what comes next.

If you’re feeling stir-crazy these days, you’re not alone — Elamin and Rosie are both feeling way overdue for some haircuts. But as provinces all across the country take steps to lift lockdown measures, or in some cases simply allow for more indoor activities, the two can’t help but wonder: is now the time to do it? Coronavirus variants have been detected in seven out of Canada’s 10 provinces, and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledges these more contagious variants could spur a resurgence of cases as restrictions are rolled back. If governments have to turn around and quickly bring down the hammer again, will the political cost be too great?

The two also check in on the Red Chamber, as Senator Mike Duffy is making another attempt to launch a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Senate itself. The Supreme Court is set to decide Thursday whether it will hear his case, after being dismissed in lower courts twice before. Rosie and Elamin unpack all you need to know as the senator nears mandatory retirement.

A battle is underway for the future of the Republican Party, just as former President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is about to begin.

This week, we take a closer look at two GOP congresswomen — the Trump-wary Liz Cheney and the conspiracy theory-spouting Marjorie Taylor Greene. The two politicians represent different directions for the Republican party in a post-Trump world, one where the internal divisions in the party seem increasingly difficult to reconcile within the GOP tent.

Elamin speaks with Alayna Treene, a White House reporter for Axios, and Matt Berman, politics editor for BuzzFeed.