Political Pulse with Ryan Painter

In this episode of the Political Pulse podcast, host Ryan Painter engages with crime reporter Alex Zoltan to discuss the rise of antisemitism in Canada, its political responses, and the dynamics within the conservative content creation community. They explore the impact of Trump on Canadian politics, the phenomenon of 'Trump-Saviour Syndrome,' and the need for collaboration and kindness within political discourse. The conversation also touches on the current state of Canadian politics, the challenges of democratic engagement, and the cultural differences in political behaviour between Canada and the United States.

Read more from Alex Zoltan at True North and Juno News.

In this episode of the Political Pulse podcast, host Ryan Painter engages with crime reporter Alex Zoltan to discuss the rise of antisemitism in Canada, its political responses, and the dynamics within the conservative content creation community. They explore the impact of Trump on Canadian politics, the phenomenon of 'Trump-Saviour Syndrome,' and the n…

Delta City Councillor Dylan Kruger is my guest on this episode of Political Pulse.

Dylan is proud to be born and raised in Delta and is currently serving his second term as councillor. He and I connect on the big things that need to be done when it comes to running municipalities, like (surprise, surprise) wrangling costs, representing families, and givi…

Welcome back to the Political Pulse podcast! I hosted an engaging livestream on the fallout from Canada's 45th general election along with Jennifer Laewetz, founder of Paskwâw Strategies, and Keith Sheppard, former Conservative Party staffer and consultant at Paskwâw Strategies.

We started with the news about MP-elect Damien Kurek resigning his Battle Rover-Crowfoot seat to allow Pierre Poilievre to run in a by-election, discussing whether Alberta was the best choice for Poilievre's return to Parliament.

Our conversation took a deep dive into the Conservative campaign's shortcomings and how the party failed to pivot, despite having a significant lead going into the election. Keith pointed out how Trudeau's resignation and Trump's election completely changed the political chessboard; Jennifer emphasized the importance of building unity across factions rather than enforcing ideological purity tests. We explored the tensions between provincial Conservative leaders like Doug Ford and the federal party, and how unelected staffers may have limited MPs' effectiveness.

We also discussed the collapse of the NDP, which lost official party status and was completely wiped out in Ontario. Both guests shared their perspectives on the party's fall into ideological purity politics and identity-based messaging that alienated their traditional working-class base. With Vancouver MP Don Davies just being named as interim NDP leader, we discussed potential paths forward - including the possibility of some members crossing to the Liberals.

As Canada appears to be moving toward a two-party system, both Jennifer and Keith emphasized the need for constructive criticism in parties and more grassroots involvement. Tune in to this episode to hear about where our democracy stands after this transformative election.

Welcome back to the Political Pulse podcast! I hosted an engaging livestream on the fallout from Canada's 45th general election along with Jennifer Laewetz, founder of Paskwâw Strategies, and Keith Sheppard, former Conservative Party staffer and consultant at Paskwâw Strategies.

We started with the news about MP-elect Damien Kurek resigning his Battle Ro…

I had the privilege of sitting down with Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam, for an insightful discussion on this episode. We get into the nitty-gritty about local governance, family values, and the changing political landscape.

Mayor West shares his inspiring personal story, detailing how his mother's incredible work ethic as a single parent shaped his commitment to public service and his belief that government should prioritize hardworking everyday people. We also explore Port Coquitlam's unique identity as a community focused on family-friendly amenities and core municipal services while maintaining the lowest property taxes in Metro Vancouver.

Our conversation takes a fascinating turn as we delve into the shifting political dynamics across Canada and globally – Mayor West even offers his perspective on how traditional left-wing parties have moved away from their working-class roots toward identity politics. He and I discuss the infrastructure challenges facing municipalities due to rapid population growth and the disconnect between federal promises and local realities.

Whether you're interested in municipal governance, political realignment, or community building, this episode gives you insights straight from the source: a mayor dedicated to making his city "the best place in the province to raise a family."

___________I’m excited to be partnering with Tristin Hopper to launch a giveaway. His book, "Don't Be Canada", is one I think every Canadian should read - this is your chance to win it!

The contest rules are simple:

1. Subscribe to my free Substack at politicalpulse.ca (1 entry)

2. Share this post on X and tag me @ryanlpainter in your post (1 entry)

3. Tag 5 people in your post promoting this contest (5 entries - make sure you tag @ryanlpainter as well)

4. Become a Political Pulse Monthly Subscriber at $5 (1 entry)

5. Become a Political Pulse Annual subscriber (5 entries)

6. Become a Political Pulse Founding Subscriber (15 entries)

Subscribe at politicalpulse.ca!

GOOD LUCK!!

*Note: YOU MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER TO MY SUBSTACK TO BE ELIGIBLE. CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS GET ONE ENTRY AND CAN PARTICIPATE USING ALL THE ENTRY OPTIONS ABOVE.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam, for an insightful discussion on this episode. We get into the nitty-gritty about local governance, family values, and the changing political landscape.

Mayor West shares his inspiring personal story, detailing how his mother's incredible work ethic as a single parent shaped his …

I sit down with author Tristin Hopper in this episode to discuss his provocative new book, "Don't Be Canada: How One Country Did Everything Wrong All At Once." We dive deep into Canada's most pressing issues: our failing healthcare system, the housing crisis, extremist identity politics, our dangerous euthanasia policies, and the increasingly Orwellian climate around free speech. Tristan makes the case that many of Canada's problems stem from our complacency and conceit—the misguided belief that we're somehow exceptional, which has allowed harmful policies to go unchecked for far too long.

What strikes me most was Tristan's genuine patriotism behind this critique. It’s truly a far cry from being anti-Canadian – his book reads as a love letter to a country he believes can do better. We explore how Canada went from being internationally admired for its immigration system, economic resilience, and strong middle class to becoming a global cautionary tale. From having the world's most permissive euthanasia system to our housing unaffordability crisis, Canada has indeed taken several wrong turns.

The conversation isn't just about problems but also about hope. Tristan points out that unlike challenges faced by other nations, Canada's issues are largely self-inflicted, meaning they're potentially solvable with the right approach. As he puts it, "There's no problem we have that we didn't create, which means we can also stop causing those problems."

Subscribe for more conversations that tackle real national issues and explore how we can create a better Canada together.

___________I’m excited to be partnering with Tristin Hopper to launch a giveaway. His book, "Don't Be Canada", is one I think every Canadian should read - this is your chance to win it!

The contest rules are simple:

1. Subscribe to my free Substack at politicalpulse.ca (1 entry)

2. Share this post on X and tag me @ryanlpainter in your post (1 entry)

3. Tag 5 people in your post promoting this contest (5 entries - make sure you tag @ryanlpainter as well)

4. Become a Political Pulse Monthly Subscriber at $5 (1 entry)

5. Become a Political Pulse Annual subscriber (5 entries)

6. Become a Political Pulse Founding Subscriber (15 entries)

Subscribe at politicalpulse.ca!

GOOD LUCK!!

*Note: YOU MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER TO MY SUBSTACK TO BE ELIGIBLE. CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS GET ONE ENTRY AND CAN PARTICIPATE USING ALL THE ENTRY OPTIONS ABOVE.

I sit down with author Tristin Hopper in this episode to discuss his provocative new book, "Don't Be Canada: How One Country Did Everything Wrong All At Once." We dive deep into Canada's most pressing issues: our failing healthcare system, the housing crisis, extremist identity politics, our dangerous euthanasia policies, and the increasingly Orwellian …

On this Political Pulse episode, I sit down with Mark Milke from the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. He explains the topics in his thought-provoking book "The Victim Cult” and goes over the dangers of allowing grievance to become identity.

Our conversation delves into how the Aristotle Foundation champions reason, democracy, and civilization at a time when empirical thinking is under attack. We examine complex topics including Indigenous issues in Canada, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how modern media and the internet have accelerated grievance culture.

Mark shares compelling insights on how certain groups throughout history have either gotten trapped in victimhood narratives or successfully moved beyond them. From the contrasting approaches of Palestinian leadership versus the Good Friday Accords in Northern Ireland, to the resilience of East Asian immigrants in North America, we dive into many thought-provoking topics.

Don’t miss this episode of the Political Pulse podcast for more conversations that challenge conventional thinking.