The Orchardcast

Globe and Mail opinion page editor and former National Post Alberta reporter Tyler Dawson charts the rise of Alberta separatist sentiment in his new book, The Republic of Alberta: An Idea That Won’t Go Away. He joins me to discuss how the Alberta independence movement went from fringe to mainstream.

Related Links

* The Republic of Alberta (Sutherland House, 2026)

* Separating from Canada Would Be an Economic Disaster for Alberta, The Walrus

* The west wants out, Globe and Mail

* Support for Alberta separatism flat, struggling high earners more likely supporters: poll, CBC

* Smith Talked about Heading an Independent Alberta, Says Separatist Leader, The Tyee

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

You may know David Griscom as the co-host of Left Reckoning or host of the Jacobin Show. He’s now also an author, having released The Myth of Red Texas: Cowboys, Populism, and Class War in the Radical South.

David joins the podcast to discuss the hidden history of Texas socialism. Albertans might recognize some parallels.

Related Links

* The Myth of Red Texas (O/R Books, 2026)

* Unlearning the Myth of Red Texas, Current Affairs

* Left Reckoning

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Featured Stories

* The Dishonest Online Campaign to Support Alberta Separatism, Charles Rusnell, The Tyee

* A network of YouTube accounts is promoting U.S. annexation to Albertans, researchers say. It has 40M views, Alex Boyd, Toronto Star

* Ottawa favours southern route for new Alberta-B.C. pipeline, sources say, Robert Fife and Emma Graney, Globe and Mail

* Possible changes to Alberta’s electoral map put democracy at risk, Rachel Notley, Globe and Mail

* U.S. Personnel Who Died in Mexico Were Working for the CIA, Sources Say, Nick Turse, The Intercept

* Germany and Italy block bid to suspend EU-Israel trade pact, Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Scotiabank has sold all its remaining shares in Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit systems after a campaign targeting its sponsorship of the arts, most prominently the prestigious Giller Prize.

Aliya Pabani of No Arms in the Arts joins the podcast to discuss this divestment victory.

Related Links

* Scotiabank fully divests from Elbit Systems, No Arms in the Arts

* A powerful decentralized campaign forced Scotiabank to divest from Israeli arms, The Breach

* Scotiabank Divests From Israeli Arms Company Following Public Pressure, The Maple

* Lessons from the cultural front, Briarpatch

* Big Six banks all hold contentious Israeli defence stock, but one Scotiabank-owned investment manager stands above all, Globe and Mail

* How the Giller Prize Became Associated with Genocide, The Walrus

* Pro-Israel Fund Manager Invested $500M in Israeli Arms Firm. Now Activist Investors Want Answers. The Intercept

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

Featured Stories

* Strike notice served by union representing Alberta nursing care staff, Mrinali Anchan, CBC News (Nov. 19)

* Alberta’s COP30 delegate is a former oil industry lobbyist, Brett McKay, Investigative Journalism Foundation (Nov. 19)

* Alaska tribal nations demand a say on Canadian resource projects, Nathan VanderKlippe, Globe and Mail (Nov. 19)

* Despite congressional action, quick release of Epstein files is in doubt, Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck and Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post (Nov. 19)

* Saudi Arabia Backs Elon Musk’s xAI With Data Center Deal, Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur, New York Times (Nov. 19)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readtheorchard.org/subscribe

The Toronto Blue Jays came as close as it gets to winning the World Series, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in extra innings in game seven.

Andrew Stoeten of THE BATFLIP joins the podcast to discuss how the Jays went from last place in the AL East to making the Dodgers fight hard for a repeat championship.

Related Links

* Why Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber decided he isn’t going anywhere, Toronto Sun

* Doug Ford to re-examine ticket resale price cap law amid ‘gouging’ for World Series, CTV

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It’s been almost 15 years since Canada participated in NATO’s overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Winnipeg-based author and journalist Owen Schalk has a new book out, Targeting Libya, which details the history of Canada’s relationship to the country and its outsized role in bringing about its destruction.

Related Links

* Targeting Libya: How Canada went…