Donald Trump’s return to power could have serious consequences for Canada. First, there’s the threat of tariffs. Then there’s that other thing about making us the 51st state. This week, we get two takes on the situation.

First on the show, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith talks about why she opposes the threats to cut off energy exports to the U.S. in retaliation for tariffs. It's a position that has caused some politicians to say she’s working against Team Canada. 

Then, Penn State historian Amy Greenberg talks about Manifest Destiny, the idea that Americans had a divine duty to expand their territory. Her books include A Wicked War and Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion.

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis has won Grammys, played with artists including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Sting, and was the leader of Jay Leno's house band. In recent years, he has also been scoring movies and playing more classical music.    He dropped by Paul’s office while was in Ottawa to perform with the National Art Centre Orchestra. He talks about life on the road, his recent homecoming to New Orleans, teaching, American politics, and of course, music.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen gives a long and wide-ranging interview as his time in the role comes to an end. As Biden’s man in Ottawa, he was an important figure in trying to usher in a new era of Canada-U.S. cooperation. As he gets ready to head home to Philadelphia, Paul asks him about Biden’s mental acuity, Trump’s comeback, a potential trade war, Canada’s military spending, and more. 

 

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

On Monday, Justin Trudeau announced he'll resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister once the party picks a successor, bringing an end to almost a decade in power. Marci Surkes gives us an inside view of the Liberal party before and during the Trudeau years.    Marci Surkes was executive director for policy and cabinet in Justin Trudeau’s Prime Minister’s Office. She ran the caretaker government during the 2021 election. She is now the Chief Strategy Officer for Compass Rose.    Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Live from Ottawa! Paul reluctantly makes a New Year's resolution. Writer Ian Williams reads from his upcoming novel You’ve Changed. Strategists Garry Keller, Marci Surkes and Allison Gifford (“The Panel”) talk about the political year to come. Ada Lea performs her songs “Damn” and “Baby Blue Frigidaire Mini Fridge.” Jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould performs the Paul Wells Show theme music.   Thank you to our friends at the National Arts Centre for hosting this live event, and to WestJet and Meta for their support.   Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Happy holidays. We're on a break, but we thought you might enjoy this episode from our friends at CANADALAND. It's a conversation about Substack's role in the future of journalism, featuring Paul Wells, The Line's Jen Gerson and Substack founder Chris Best.

If you like this episode, you can subscribe to CANADALAND for more like it.

CANADALAND credits: Host & Publisher: Jesse Brown Senior Producer: Bruce Thorson Audio Editor & Technical Producer: Tristan Capacchione Production Manager: max collins   We'll be back with a new episode of the Paul Wells Show next week.

Join us for an hour of live music, politics, and self-reflection. Former Premiers Kathleen Wynne and Jason Kenney trade jabs onstage and look back on the year that was. Catharine Vandelinde, executive director of Options Housing, talks about her work getting people off the street and into homes. Jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould performs "It Had To Be You," "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise," "I Haven’t Managed to Forget You" and our theme music. Singer-songwriter Scott Merritt performs his songs "Moving Day" and "Willing Night." And Paul finds the spirit of Christmas... eventually.

Thank you to the National Arts Centre for hosting this event. Thanks to Meta and WestJet for their support.

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

In a conversation that took place less than three hours after Chrystia Freeland resigned from the federal cabinet, Paul Wells is joined by Justin Ling and Jen Gerson to discuss what this astonishing news means for the Liberal Party and the Trudeau government.

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Paul answers questions from readers (and producer Kevin Sexton) about the state of Canadian politics, Trump, journalism, and more!

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

In his book We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that a new class of liberal elites uses the language of “wokeness” without actually helping the marginalized and disadvantaged. 

He joins Paul to talk about a decades-long trend of the Democrats reorienting themselves towards a constituency of wealthy white people. It’s a message he was sharing well before Kamala Harris lost the election. 

He also talks about how moving from a red state to New York City broke a lot of illusions he had about Democrats. He talks about wealthy Democrats who talk of lifting up marginalized people, while living a lifestyle that's dependent on exploiting their labour. And he talks about periods of “Great Awokening” over the last century, which have had mixed results in terms of creating real gains for marginalized groups. 

Musa al-Gharbi is an assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. You can read his Substack, Symbolic Capital(ism) here: https://musaalgharbi.substack.com/

Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.