Rabble Rants

ICE raids, mass deportations and communities resisting it all.

Will the images filling our screens serve as a cautionary tale, or will Canadians convince themselves that those kinds of abuses wouldn't happen here?

Hosts Santiago Helou Quintero and Jessa McLean try to answer that with discussions on recent Liberal legislation (Bill C12), the Safe Third Country Agreement we have with the United States, and the impact its already having on migrants.

Find our written piece to accompany this episode on our SUBSTACK

Calls to ACTION

1. Tell Senators: Vote No on Bill C-12 - Migrant Rights Network

Resources / Links / Referenced Material:

• Article: Canada's Own Brand of ICE
• The Guardian: 2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades.
• Migrants Call on Trudeau to Fulfill Promise
• Migrants Face Threats of Deportation, Illegal Working Conditions and Unpaid Wages – The Rover

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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What are we to think of the public's response to United Health CEO Brian Thompson's death?

Hosts Jessa McLean and Santiago Helou Quintero provide a class analysis of the case and the media frenzy around it. They also give insight into just how bad a company United Health is, and what our reactions should be to social murder.

Song credit (end of episode): Jesse Welles, via TikTok

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All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support us: Patreon

Don't miss our other podcast: Blueprints of Disruption

Resources:

• Referenced Episode: Blueprints of Disruption, Unicorn Riot
• Forbes: How Much Does Health Insurance Cost?
• AP News: Hurry up and wait: Docs say insurers increasingly interfere
• There's anger behind the internet's reactions to the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO : NPR

Our hosts unpack a few things for November 23rds, Rabble Rants:

Maori MP Disrupts New Zealand Parliament with the Haka

The protest inside the Parliament was directed at the right-wing coalition's attack on Indigenous rights in New Zealand. It was paired with widespread mobilization in the streets. What parallels can we draw from Canadian politics?

15 Ontario Mayors ask Premier to Defy the Charter to Clear Encampments

A growing list of 'Big City' Mayors in Ontario, clearly working in concert with the Progressive Conservative Provincial government, are launching attacks on unhoused people. Twelve of them drafted a letter at the bequest of Doug Ford, and they want to do more than clear encampments...

Calls to ACTION

• Sign the Petition to Oppose the Use of the Notwishstanding Clause to Clear Encampments
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Resources / Links / Referenced Material:

• Diana Chan McNally on X: List of Now 72 Councillors Opposed
• NDP says Ford government's bike lane bill bans lawsuits if cyclists injured or killed on streets where lanes removed
• Diana Chan McNally in Toronto Star: What you Need to Know About Using Notwithstanding Clause
• Waterloo Court Ruling on Encampment Clearings
• New York Times: New Zealand Parliament Suspended

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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We will remember this 5th of November. Our hosts Jessa McLean and Santiago Helou Quintero unpack the results of the U.S. President Election and what it means for the movements we're working to build.

While some will blame voters or activists, our hosts examine how the DNC lost this race and why we don't need to despair.

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All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support us: Patreon

You can also follow us on Instagram

Trudeau's Liberals Backtrack on Promises to Migrants, Scapegoating Them Instead of Legislating Status for All.

Hosts Jessa McLean and Santiago Helou Quintero unpack some of the worst narratives around immigration in Canada right now. With the Liberals introducing policy that goes along with the Conservative talking points, there is a real danger of the working class losing ground to racism and xenophobia. Both tools of Capital.

Hear about the work being done on the ground to combat this, and what you can do to join those efforts.

Calls to Action:

• Boost the STATUS FOR ALL Campaign by the Migrant Rights Network
• (ONTARIO) Support the Najawan Support Network, or visit their encampment in Brampton.

Resources / Links / Referenced Material:

• CBC: Foreign Student Requirements
• Toronto Star: Canadian Education Groups...
• Students' Union raises concerns over international student visa cuts - The Gauntlet

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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Jagmeet Singh Ends the NDP's Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Liberals

Journalist Scott Martin of The Catch joins host Jessa McLean to talk about the latest political theatrics surrounding the deal that's been central to federal Canadian politics for over two years. Includes analysis on the timing of Jagmeet's statement, the statement itself, the gains made from the deal and the harms done by siding with the Liberals for so long.

Find out more...

• Inside the NDP (podcast playlist)
• Liberal-NDP deal: What was accomplished? | CTV News
• Scott Martin - The Catch

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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CUPE National Executives Voted YES to a Motion of Non-Confidence on Fred Hahn

We sit down with CUPE rank and file member and Labour for Palestine Organizer, Anna Lippman to talk about the dangerous precedent being set, at such a precarious time for workers and Palestinian activists.

What does it mean for the movement inside Ontario largest public sector union, who have successfully been advocating for Palestinian liberation since 2005. What does this mean for union democracy?

Listen in and find out.

Call to ACTION: #StandwithFredHahn

• Send a Message to CUPE National Execs NOW

Our previous episodes with Anna:

• Answering the Call: Labour for Palestine
• Answering the Call: The West Bank

Another episode on the link between Canadian unions and the fight for a Free Palestine:

• Disarming Imperialism

• Defend Fred Hahn! - Spring

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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We need system change, not just a leadership change or political party makeovers.

All of this focus on political leaders and their personalities has our hosts frustrated.

What is it about leadership races and elections that makes people forget about the issues most important to them?

Here are a few episodes related to this discussion:

Leadership Cults in Politics: On the trappings of playing to the leader vs. leader narrative, why they exist and how we can move away from these 'leadership cults' in politics.

Our Leaders Are Landlords: 4 of the 5 federal Party leaders are now landlords. Why do we keep electing wealthy people to lead the working class? Is this what Representative Democracy looks like?

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

Follow us on Instagram

Let us tell you what we really think about the Paris 2024 Olympics...

From the billions of public dollars spent, the 'social cleansing' or displacement of migrants, new surveillance laws, religious moral panic and obnoxious Israeli football fans - there are lots of reasons to rant about the Olympics.

Resources / Links / Referenced Material:

• AP News: Paris Migrant Camps Cleared
• Unicorn Riot: Predictive Policing and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
• MSN: Paris Olympics Kicking Off With Protests
• Time: Seine Clean up Paris Olympics

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

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Toronto recently experienced heavy flooding, the images went viral. This isn't the first time - nor will it be the last.

Our hosts discuss the budget decisions made by all levels of government that contributed to the scenes that unfolded at Union Station, on the Don Valley Parkway and even in Oakville and Mississauga.

The failure to protect our wetlands, the generations of prioritizing development over the environment, our refusal to commit to climate justice OR mitigation...theses recent events opened up a few discussion points we unpack here.

Calls to ACTION

Resources / Links / Referenced Material:

• David Suzuki Org: Wetlands are Critical to Planetary Health

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This content is a creation of Rabble Rousers Co-operative and is only made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support the work: Patreon

If you don't already subscribe to our other podcast, Blueprints of Disruption, you're missing out!

Follow us on Instagram