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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips carve into the political topics that should have dominated Thanksgiving dinner - if they were brought up at all. How do you get people to pay attention to municipal politics? What did the teachers and the government need from families gathering over the weekend? And will Carter double-down on his prediction for the Forever Canadian campaign like he doubled down on those mashed potatoes? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips discuss labour unrest across the country. Will the Alberta teachers' strike strategy win public sympathy? Is the government applying the right strategy for dealing with CUPW and the postal workers? And did Stephen Carter REALLY hurt his back if he's not hopped up on painkillers? Also included are PATREON EXCLUSIVE segments on the state of the municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary and some initial analysis on the start of the federal NDP leadership race. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Be it resolved that the Minister of Podcasts, Stephen Carter, together with the Chair of Oral Questions, Zain Velji, do convene this sitting of The Ministry of Podcasts.
Be it further resolved that the House shall hear testimony from the newly sworn Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary, Corey Hogan, on matters pertaining to:
The eternal balance between message discipline and authentic self,
The trials of assembling IKEA furniture between Question Periods,
The lonely burden of representation,
And the etiquette of grocery shopping in a baseball cap.
Therefore be it finally resolved that this episode, having no formal agenda but much informal candour, stands as both a record of proceedings and a cautionary tale for any who would confuse a parliamentary headset with a proper microphone.
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Enjoy this teaser of patreon episode 1883. Carter and Shannon sort a week’s worth of Canadian politics into fine, fabulous, or f--ked. Was Mark Carney’s invite to a Project 2025 architect 4D chess or pure arrogance? Did Doug Ford save jobs or just waste good whiskey? Is Edmonton’s hottest new party - the Edmonton Accelerants - just a smoldering garbage pile? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Shannon Phillips and Stephen Carter dive into Alberta's "Forever Canada" petition campaign. Can Thomas Lukaszuk actually collect 294,000 signatures to keep Alberta in Canada? Should opposition parties work within grassroots campaigns or build their own parallel structures? And how many signatures can one person realistically gather in a day without violating the laws of physics? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Shannon Philips and Stephen Carter unpack the recent Air Canada labour issues. What can the labour movement learn from CUPE's apparent success? Was the government justified in getting involved? And who is going to scrape Carter off the mat after Shannon's done beating him into a pulp? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody but Shannon in line.
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Step right up to The World Famous Annalise and Carter Show, the three-ring political circus you didn’t know you needed. In the municipal ring, Stephen Carter spins three slates in the air, keeping each campaign teetering but never tumbling. Over in the federal ring, Canada’s trade spat with Trump transforms into a roaring grassroots rally. And in the provincial ring, Carter unleashes a fiery high-wire takedown of the Alberta NDP’s fumbles - all while Annalise, the unflappable ringmaster, keeps the whole spectacular from collapsing into chaos.
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Stephen Carter and Zain Velji discuss just how hard it is to get attention in the summer months before discussing daddy Carney's deal deadline. Is anyone tuned in to the political scene right now? What happens if Carney doesn't get a deal by August 1? And when did Zain start letting Carter ask questions? Zain Velji, as always, picks (most of) the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into a dumpster fire of dumpster fires and try to extinguish what they can. How bad are competing leadership reviews. Is it possible to fix the Alberta Next panels? And does Carter actually know any Coldplay songs? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips tackle the issues that just won't die. What's next for the Alberta Next panel? Can the PC party rise from the dead? And who wears sneakers to a Stampede event? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.
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From the publisher's feed
Professional unprofessional strategists Stephen Carter, Zain Velji, and Shannon Phillips break down the news of the day. Not just what’s happening, but how it’s being played.
Policy is…
The show dissects the strategy behind the headlines: what governments are doing, why it matters, and the political incentives driving every move. They don't tell you what to think. They make you harder to spin.
Originally hosted with Corey Hogan (now inside the machine), The Strategists now anchors a growing podcast network:
• The Strategists — weekly strategy, sharp takes, and questionable professionalism
• Ministry of Podcasts — Corey Hogan reports from inside Parliament
• Balance of Power — Annalise Klingbeil, Shannon Phillips, and Leah Ward bring a distinct lens to power and politics
Described as “shockingly insightful” and “sports talk radio for politics.”
Not sponsored by Flair Airlines.
Get bonus episodes and more at strategistspatreon.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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