“This is something which we shall never forget.” Those were just some of the strong words Canada’s new ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, shared last week in reference to China’s treatment of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The two Canadians have been detained in Chinese prison for well over 600 days, and just last weekend received their first consular visit since January. On a week that also marks 50 years since Trudeau Sr. established diplomatic ties with the country, Rosie and Elamin wonder: what might Canada-China relations look like from here on in?

Continuing with their break from pandemic politics, the two also examine the federal government’s recent announcement regarding single-use plastics. The feds plan to finalize a ban before the end of 2021 — but is it a top-of-mind priority for people right now?

It's been a quiet week in the U.S. presidential race, relatively speaking, considering the dizzying drama of the last few. But even still, there have been plenty of news stories that under normal circumstances would dominate headlines for weeks — the Senate confirmation hearings of Amy Coney Barrett for a seat on the Supreme Court, the cancellation of a second debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and Trump's first public appearance since his COVID-19 diagnosis are just a few.

This gives us a chance to dig into something that had been simmering in the background and exploded into view again last week — the negotiations over a new stimulus bill to help people and businesses impacted by COVID-19. What is the holdup? And what are the consequences of this political impasse for the average American?

Elamin calls up BuzzFeed News reporter Paul McLeod for the politics, and the Star Tribune's Marissa Evans for a view from the ground.

Elamin Abdelmahmoud and the Pop Chat round-table invite you in to the group chat to help make sense of the cultural drama blowing up the internet. Bringing their hottest takes to the table, join them every week as they debate, discuss and work through the pop culture discourse. The Pop Chat panel consists of: Shireen Ahmed, Angelina Chapin, Kevin Fallon, Sarah Hagi, Hussein Kesvani, Stacy Lee Kong, Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Amil Niazi and Andrea Warner. More episodes are available at http://smarturl.it/popchat

The Prime Minister revealed this week that he tested negative for COVID-19 last month. Should the public have known that he was concerned? As U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization continues to dominate the news cycle, Rosie and Elamin wonder when a politician's health becomes a matter of public concern.

Plus: a look at the Green Party’s brand new leader, Annamie Paul. The successor to Elizabeth May is hoping to win a Toronto by-election at the end of the month, which would increase the party’s seat count in the House of Commons to four. Where might she take the party next?

We are less than 30 days away from the election and the President of the United States would have you believe that he’s got it all under control. His positive COVID-19 diagnosis? He feels “better than I did 20 years ago!” A growing threat from white supremacist militia groups? “Not a right-wing problem.” America itself? “MAKING IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

Following a whirlwind few days in the headlines, Elamin calls up two journalists with critical insight. First, Bloomberg News’ White House reporter Josh Wingrove is back to give us the latest update on the President’s health.

And Julio Ricardo Varela, host of political podcast “In The Thick,” rewinds to Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacists at the debate. He worries that key issues — like systemic racism and the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on people of colour — are getting buried by the constant barrage of breaking stories.

Breaking at the tail end of one of the strangest and most unpredictable election years in recent memory, news that Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 — after months of downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic — has turned out to be the ultimate October surprise. As questions swirl around Trump’s condition, and he remains in hospital, an already fragile election’s been thrown into even more chaos, with little clarity around if and when he’ll be able to resume campaigning.

On this special episode of Party in the U.S.A., Elamin calls up Josh Wingrove, who covers the White House for Bloomberg News, to make sense of this rapidly evolving story.

The second wave of the pandemic has begun, according to the prime minister and the premier of Ontario. That doesn’t cover the whole country, of course — hat tip to the Atlantic bubble — but it does turn up feelings of apprehension in Canada’s hardest-hit areas. Are tighter restrictions around the corner? And if so: is there enough political will to lock things down again, or will it be too tough a sell? Elamin and Rosie also sift through the new CERB-replacing economic aid measures that were fast-tracked through the House of Commons in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. The NDP have made it clear they played a big part in making it all happen — what does it say about their role in this minority parliament, going forward?

The Trump campaign has spent months setting expectations low for Joe Biden, from nicknaming him “Sleepy Joe” to outright questioning his mental capacity. Now, on the eve of the first Presidential debate, the pressure is on for the challenger to show up sharp and steady — and do much more than position himself as the “not Trump” of the election.

Also top of mind: Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. If he loses in November, the incumbent says “we'll have to see what happens.” But if he refuses to accept the results, the U.S. will have to confront a historic first in extremely divided times.

To make sense of this and more, Elamin calls up Kadia Goba, politics reporter for Buzzfeed News who has been covering the Trump campaign for the last few months.

So, that was a lot yesterday: a lengthy throne speech, that resets the Liberal government’s priorities six months into this pandemic; some fiery responses from opposition parties, one of which the government will need to survive a confidence vote; and a whole separate address-to-the-nation from the Prime Minister himself, stressing the urgency of this pandemic. But will that urgency translate into action, when it comes to flattening the curve once again? What further action can we expect from the government, based on the plans they unveiled in their throne speech? And will opposition parties ultimately support the Liberals, or could the government fall? Rosie and Elamin take a look at what’s on the table while we stand at what the Prime Minister is calling a “crossroads.”

November’s election was already set to go down as the most litigated in U.S. history — but then Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, opening up a whole new layer of complications. To understand the stakes of filling the feminist icon’s now-vacant seat, Elamin calls on Zoe Tillman, who covers the intersection of law and politics for Buzzfeed News. Tillman explains how the next few weeks could change the highest court for generations.

Meanwhile, the West coast is still burning. Elamin rings up California-based journalist and podcast host Amy Westervelt, who explains what this election could mean for climate policy. One thing is for sure: if the U.S. decides to deny the science, the consequences will reach far beyond its borders. Westervelt notes, “unfortunately, because of the size and the influence of the U.S., it kind of makes that decision for the world.”