The Munk Debates Podcast
The Munk Debates Podcast features two popular Canadian current affairs shows: Friday Focus with Janice Gross Stein and Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne. It covers political and social issues through debates and discussions.
Episodes
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump doubles down on the Iran war and tariffs, and an AI model escapes the lab
Rudyard and Andrew begin by unpacking the latest escalation in the U.S.–Iran conflict. Andrew argues that Trump cannot simply walk away if he wants to prevent Iran from gaining leverage over the global economy—but where does escalation lead? Will striking power plants and bridges bring him any closer to his objectives? They then examine Trump's latest round of tariffs, including a new 50% tariff o
Be it Resolved, this is America's golden age
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on Trump's America, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in May 2025.The debate resolution was: Be it Resolved, this is America's golden ageArguing in favour of the motion was the political consultant, pollster and senior counselor to President Trump during his first term in office, Kellyanne Conway. Her debate partne
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump undermines his own party and the crisis of Canadian conservatism
Rudyard and Andrew unpack President Trump's speech last night, in which he cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections and alleged foreign interference ahead of the midterms. Will this strategy backfire by depressing Republican turnout? And how far might Trump go in attempting to shape the outcome in November?In the second half of the show (for paid subscribers), Rudyard and Andrew are joined by
Be it Resolved the capitalist system is broken, it's time to try something different
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on Capitalism, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in November 2019.The debate resolution was: Be it Resolved the capitalist system is broken, it's time to try something differentArguing in favour of the resolution was Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation and a Washington Post columnist. Her debate partner
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: the Iran-U.S. ceasefire unravels and Alberta pulls ahead while Ontario and Quebec fall behind
What should we make of this week's NATO summit in Ankara? If it doesn't end with the U.S. withdrawing from NATO, should it be considered a success?Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran resumed strikes just weeks after signing a memorandum of understanding. Andrew argues that Trump was warned about the risks of cutting a deal with Iran. The ceasefire is unraveling because there was never a real agreement—it
Be it resolved, it is in Israel’s interest to support a two-state solution
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Meridian Hall in December 2025.The debate resolution was: Be it resolved, it is in Israel’s interest to support a two-state solutionArguing in favour of the resolution was former Israeli prime minister, finance minister, and mayor of Jerusalem, Ehud Olmert. His debate par
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: The American Experiment at 250 and Canada's pipeline gamble
What would America's Founding Fathers make of the state of U.S. politics as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence? The constitutional rules they established to guide the republic and safeguard it against monarchical or dictatorial rule are being tested by President Trump, whose conduct has exposed potential weaknesses in the system. Andrew argues that America's checks and
Friday Focus: Iran tests America's resolve and anti-Zionism becomes a winning strategy in New York
Programming note: Friday Focus will be taking a summer break. We will be back with new episodes starting September 11 (and, of course, if any serious news breaks over the summer!).Janice and Rudyard begin by unpacking an IRGC attack on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, exposing a fundamental divide between Washington and Tehran over freedom of navigation. While the U.S. insists o
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump loses his bargaining power and has Mark Carney's “elbows up” promise delivered?
Iranians appear to be enjoying maximum leverage over the Trump administration. The argument goes that Trump had to act as he did to avoid severe risks to the global economy—an outcome that raises questions about the limits of his “master dealmaker” image.Why is JD Vance positioning himself as the deal’s chief cheerleader, exposing himself to sustained political scrutiny? And how are figures like X
Friday Focus: Iran flexes its leverage and Ukraine goes on the attack
Janice and Rudyard unpack another wild week in global affairs, beginning with news of heavy Israeli strikes overnight on Hezbollah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli troops. Although both sides have agreed to another ceasefire, these skirmishes could jeopardize the fragile memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S., potentially giving Tehran leverage over Israel by threatening
Munk Dialogue with Janice Gross Stein: $300 Billion for Iran and and a huge leap of faith
Janice and Rudyard unpack the latest details of the emerging memorandum of understanding between Iran and Israel, examining its proposed $300 billion financing package and the sweeping rollback of sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors. They question the agreement's lack of concrete timelines and verification mechanisms—particularly around nuclear inspections—and argue that looming energy p
Friday Focus: Trump abandons his red lines for a deal with Iran
This is now the 38th time President Trump has proclaimed a “great deal” with Iran. Is this one finally real? And if so, does it vindicate his strategy of escalating tensions to force Tehran back to the negotiating table?Based on the details leaked so far, the proposed agreement amounts to a 60-day ceasefire designed to create space for further negotiations. Yet the benefits for Iran appear to come
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: are we in a recession - or a growth trap?
Recent economic data suggests Canada is in a technical recession. Andrew argues that while political parties continue to sell the fiction that governments can deliver short-term economic growth, economists largely agree that growth is driven by deeper, longer-term forces. The bigger problem is that neither party has a serious plan to boost productivity and investment. High taxes, burdensome regula
Friday Focus: America's security guarantee is tested, while Canada's AI strategy comes up short
Iran and the U.S. remain locked in a dangerous standoff over the Strait of Hormuz that could drag on for weeks. How does this end? What pressure points could force either side to negotiate in good faith? Meanwhile, Iran continues to strike American allies across the region without a meaningful U.S. military response. What message does that send about the credibility of America's security guarantee
Friday Focus: The hidden cost of a deal with Iran — and the Pope sounds the alarm on AI
We may be on the cusp of a deal between Iran and the U.S., as both sides appear to be losing interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. But is this merely a ceasefire extension, with Iran’s nuclear program deferred to future negotiations?If Iran ultimately gives up its enriched uranium, it will be seen as a win for Trump — but at a steep cost: Iran will have demonstrated that control over th
Munk Debate on Foreign Wars: opening statements
On this special podcast episode, we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on Foreign Wars, which took place this past Wednesday May 20th in front of a packed crowd at Toronto's Meridian Hall. Against the backdrop of America's war with Iran — and after nearly three decades of disastrous Middle East interventions — the debate asked whether the U.S. should continue inter
Bonus Episode: behind the scenes at The Munk Debate on Foreign Wars
Munk Debates Chair Rudyard Griffiths and Managing Director Ricki Gurwitz pull back the curtain on how they chose the four debaters who took the stage on Wednesday night — and preview the blockbuster debates already in the works for the fall.Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.c
Friday Focus: America and Iran inch toward a deal as Trump’s corruption hits new depths
Another strange ping-pong week in America's conflict with Iran — and irresponsible reporting has given us so many mixed messages. Are we any closer to a deal? And why is Iran so hung up on the issue of nuclear weapons? Also off the negotiating table — much to the dismay of Israel — is one of Washington's original war aims: ending Iran's ballistic missile program and its support f
Friday Focus: No winners in the Middle East — and Xi warns Trump against falling into the Thucydides Trap
Tickets to our May 20th Munk Debate on Foreign Wars taking place in Toronto and featuring Mike Pompeo, Victoria Nuland, John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, are almost sold out. Visit https://munkdebates.com/debates/foreign-wars-debate/ to purchase tickets. Rudyard and Janice start today's show by taking stock of how intolerable the situation in the Middle East is becoming. Iran is asserting control
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: A weakened President needs China's help and a debate over the new Governor General
As the Strait of Hormuz grinds to a halt, gas prices soar, and inflation threatens to spike, Trump arrives at his meeting with Xi Jinping looking wounded and weak. He will be looking for help from China's dictator, but help never comes for free. What will he concede to Xi? In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice turn to a major new government appointment in Canada: Louise Arbour as our
Friday Focus: Trump faces pressure from Gulf States, Britain's populist parties get a boost, and Canada's new GG is plucked from the Laurentian elite
Tickets to our May 20th Munk Debate on Foreign Wars taking place in Toronto and featuring Mike Pompeo, Victoria Nuland, John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, are now on sale. Visit https://munkdebates.com/debates/foreign-wars-debate/ to purchase tickets. Trump's pause on escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz has less to do with pressure from Iran and more to do with pressure from Saudi
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: America and Iran inch closer to war, Ukraine proves itself worthy of NATO, and Canada moves closer to Europe
The U.S. edges back toward war with Iran just as food and gas prices are poised to surge. Could there be a role for China to play in getting Iran and the U.S. back to the negotiating table? Meanwhile Ukraine is quickly becoming a formidable military power due to battlefield resolve and technological innovation. Is it time for Ukraine to be admitted to NATO? Andrew argues that here the gains are bi
Friday Focus: Iran's window of maximum leverage and a new AI model puts financial systems at risk
The U.S. and Iran are locked in a long-term stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz. With the midterms looming, the Iranians view the next few weeks as the window of maximum leverage. If the strait stays closed into the summer months people will start to feel the pain in a very real way that could tip into a global recession. The consequences of this high stakes game of poker are getting much more ser
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Mark Carney's new sovereign wealth fund is a solution in search of a problem down
Mark Carney has proposed a “Canada Strong Fund” which will launch with a C$25 billion endowment focused on domestic infrastructure, part of a broader effort to reduce Canada's reliance on the United States after tariffs have strained the economy. Canadians would also be able to invest their own savings in the fund. But with productivity declining for decades, it's unclear how this init
Friday Focus: Munk Debate on Foreign Wars, a shaky ceasefire with Iran, and Carney braces for tough trade talks
Rudyard and Janice open the show with news of the Spring 2026 Munk mainstage debate: Be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters. A timely debate on competing interventionist and restraint-based approaches to foreign policy now contending for dominance in the halls of power. Rudyard and Janice move on to the Iran war and the shaky ceasefire that Trump has extended despite Iran's attacks on vessels i
Friday Focus: A landmark Israel–Lebanon ceasefire and the erosion of party loyalty in Canada
The historic Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced this week is the result of a direct conversation between the President of Lebanon and the Prime Minister of Israel. And yet, this deal was brokered by the U.S. against the wishes of Bibi Netanyahu as it has impeded Israel's ability to push Hezbollah back from its border. Coupled with the halting of the Iran war - and being excluded from that negotiat
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Mark Carney gets his Liberal Majority
Thanks to recent floor crossings and last night's by-election, the Liberal Party now has a majority government and a 15 point favourability lead that has unnerved and divided the Conservatives. Should MPs be able to cross the floor at their will? Andrew argues that public officials crossing over from the opposition to the governing body should seek permission from their constituents. What is the f
Friday Focus: A historic week in geopolitics signals the unravelling of America's global dominance
Janice and Rudyard believe this war was a strategic defeat for the U.S. with Iran now in control of a chokepoint through which 25% of the world's energy flows. Is this the end of freedom of navigation in international waters? Iran is proposing a toll for passing through the Strait of Hormuz using cryptocurrency which could erode an important U.S. strategic chokepoint: the dollar's role as the worl
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: the end of Pax Americana and the Liberals are one seat closer to a majority government
Can the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran hold? In the span of twenty-four hours Trump went from threatening to end their civilization to considering a joint venture to toll the Strait of Hormuz. America's inability to open the strait without a ceasefire is a confession of weakness, one that China will take advantage of. This war is a strategic defeat for the U.S., and Andrew believes we
Friday Focus: Trump has no good options in Iran and the NDP leans into left-wing populism
While Trump made public statements this week about bringing the war to an end soon, there is significant troop movement in the Middle East suggesting the opposite. There is no telling what comes next, and there is no path to opening up the Strait of Hormuz without a huge escalation. Iran now has control over the Strait and who passes through, benefiting their allies and America's adversaries. Mean
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump's mixed messages on Iran and the NDP elects a new leader
Rudyard and Andrew reflect on Trump's mixed messaging about the war with Iran. Troop deployment to the region would suggest he is escalating this conflict which could throw the world economy into a recession. What happens when Trump leaves office? Does America snap back to normalcy or does another Trump-like leader take his place? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Andrew turn to the NDP a
Friday Focus: Is Trump about to TACO out of this war?
Trump extended his deadline on striking Iran's power plants, but no one really knows if there is progress on peace talks. Mediators report a vibe that despite the rhetoric coming out of Iran there is interest in ending this war. Meanwhile Trump's public attempts to calm the markets won't work, and the economic damage from this conflict will last long after it concludes. Will Trump agree to any of
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: at this point, what is Iran's incentive to negotiate?
The Trump administration finds itself in a trap. They can't declare victory and go home unless the Iranians agree to conclude this war, and the Iranians at this point have no incentive to strike a deal. Trump and the American public don't have the stomach for a long war, and thus Iran can win by not losing. How should Canada respond to Trump's provocations? Andrew believes there is a madman in the
Friday Focus: a regional war with global consequences
Rudyard and Janice believe we have entered into a critcial moment in this war and it is playing out in the Strait of Hormuz. This conflict is now about energy: who controls the flow of energy and who can better withstand the pain of higher energy prices. We are going to see a turning point this week; if neither side is willing to back down, the only outcome in this story is escalation. Meanwhile U
Friday Focus: Trump is learning that Iran is not Venezuela
Rudyard and Janice unpack the big surprises in the war from this week, specifically Iran's escalating attacks against Gulf States beyond their military bases, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which is disrupting the world's oil supply. Did the U.S. fundamentally misunderstand their opponent before heading into this conflict? Why did this administration not understand that Iran is not Venezu
Friday Focus: What is the U.S. trying to accomplish in Iran?
Rudyard and Janice start today's show with the big surprise from this week: Iran striking its Gulf neighbours in an effort to get them to persuade Donald Trump to end this war, which was a serious miscalculation on their part. In fact, the lasting consequences from this conflict will be a rupture between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran that will be hard to repair. Meanwhile America's military succe
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump strikes Iran without a strategy
Rudyard and Andrew try to make sense of Trump's decision to start a war with Iran so contrary to the premise that created the MAGA movement and opposition to America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. How did we end up at this point? And how will this war affect the upcoming midterm elections? Andrew thinks Trump persuaded himself that strike would be easy - just like Venezuela - and thus he has no c
Friday Focus: the U.S. and Iran inch closer to war
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Janice focus today's episode on the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Trump's negotiating team has dropped their demands on ballistic missile production and support for militia groups in the region, but the Islamist regime wil
Trump shakes his fist at the court and will AI take everyone's jobs?
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew react to the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against Trump's tariffs and the President's angry response. How will
Friday Focus: Trump is trapped but lacks a military strategy in Iran
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. The U.S. is ramping up its military presence near Iran as negotiations fail to yield any compromise from the regime. We are now in a Middle East standoff which finds Trump trapped. Is a strike inevitable? What are the costs here besides a regional war
Friday Focus: Trump becomes more erratic as the midterms approach and why Canadians should anticipate a spring election
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. This week, the U.S. President became a troll under a bridge, we learned AI is coming for our jobs, and America could be headed towards war with Iran. But amidst it all, a big story in Minnesota did not get the coverage it deserves: in a major retreat,
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump demands half ownership of the Gordie Howe Bridge and will Carney call a spring election?
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Donald Trump is trying to claim that the new $6.4-billion bridge built between Windsor and Detroit - fully funded by Canada - should belong in part to
Friday Focus: Trump needs to make a decision on Iran and AI has come for the laptop class
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Will the US go to war with Iran? Donald Trump is being taunted: if he backs down on his demand that Iran restrict its ballistic missiles program he will lose face in the Middle East. Janice believes that if Iran agrees to a deal that pauses its nuclea
Alberta's separatist movement gets support from Washington and Canada needs a new security agenda
The full length edition of this Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers Members of the Alberta separatist movement have been travelling regularly to meet with members of the Trump administration. Should this be considered treasonous? Does the province of Alberta have legitimate grievances? Equalization is not a good program but it is not a p
Friday Focus: US warships move into the Middle East and does Canada need to pick a trade lane?
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Janice begin today's show with the dangerous escalation between Iran and America. Trump has moved an Armada into the Middle East following his demands that Iran cease enrichment of uranium and limit its ballistic missile program. Will
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump wants to de-escalate ICE crackdown and Canada is at the centre of a geopolitical crisis
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew react to the explosion of anger in the U.S. over the killings in Minnesota by ICE agents. Is this the first time the U.S. President has had to
Friday Focus: Trump's Davos TACO, Carney's vision for Canada, and an AI deepfake blurs the lines of reality
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to full length editions of the Friday Focus podcast with Janice Stein. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Janice begin the show with the remarkable-sized TACO Trump delivered this week, whipping the world into a frenzy over threats to take over Greenland. His tough talk turned into a whimper after a meeting wit
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump faces off with NATO allies over Greenland
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. President Trump refuses to rule out invading Greenland following revelations that his aggression towards the self-governing territory is a response to being denied the Nobel Peace Prize by Norway. We are now facing the very real
Friday Focus: Canada enters a 'new world order' and Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the videos of our main stage debates and full length episodes of our weekly podcasts with Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne. Rudyard and Janice react to Mark Carney's trip to China this week and a dramatic shift away from T
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Jerome Powell stands up to Trump and why the West is reluctant to intervene in Iran
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew react to the U.S. Justice Department's criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell alleging he lied to congress about renovation construction costs. This administration is using trumped up
Friday Focus: Mass demonstrations in Iran and Trump sets his sights on Greenland and Latin America
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the videos of our main stage debates and full length episodes of our weekly podcasts with Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne. Rudyard and Janice begin today's show discussing the ongoing protests in Iran and whether they pos
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump's hard power doctrine alienates allies and sets a destabilizing precedent
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew react to Trump's 2025 national security doctrine being put into action this past weekend with the US military operation in Venezuela and the abduction of its president Nicolas Maduro. Both hosts agree this was
Friday Focus Emergency Episode: Trump's military operation in Venezuela replaces the dictator but not the dictatorship
The full length edition of this special Friday Focus episode is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. In this special emergency episode Rudyard and Janice unpack the stunning US invasion of Venezuela and abduction and arrest of its President Nicolas Maduro. Trump's statement that the US would "run" Venezuela for some indeterminate period of time gave little to no indicatio
Friday Focus: Putin derails peace talks and Iranian protesters take to the streets
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the videos of our main stage debates and full length episodes of our weekly podcasts with Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne. Rudyard and Janice open today's Friday Focus with Russia's allegation of a Ukraine drone attack on
Friday Focus: the people and events that changed the world in 2025
In the last Friday Focus of 2025 Rudyard and Janice share their picks on the biggest newsmakers and events of the year and offer some geopolitical predictions for 2026 that could shake up an already volatile period.Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast.
Friday Focus: Trump defies all norms and a civil war on the right takes centre stage
Rudyard and Janice begin today's show unpacking Trump's increasingly erratic behaviour. A Truth Social post attacking Rob Reiner was followed by the Trump appointed board voting to add his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Topping this off was a video of a new hallway of portraits in the White House featuring past U.S. presidents and plaques with Trump's perso
Friday Focus: Why America's new national security strategy has Ottawa on edge
The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. America's new national security strategy doctrine is getting a lot of attention and for good reason. Two main points stick out for Rudyard and Janice: the assumption that Europe is a civilization in decline, and that the western hemisphere belongs to the United States. Up
Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution: Opening Statements
On this special podcast episode we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution which took place on December 3rd in front of an audience of 3,000 people at Toronto's Meridian Hall. The debate resolution was Be it resolved, it is in Israel's interest to support a two-state solution Arguing in favour of the resolution was former Israeli prime minister, finance mi
Friday Focus: protesters fail to disrupt the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution and Putin threatens Europe with war
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Chair Rudyard Griffiths and managing director Ricki Gu
Friday Focus: Back to a Russia-Ukraine stalemate and Mark Carney gets a standing ovation in Alberta
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice start the show with a preview of next Wednesday's mainstage Munk Debate on the two-state solution. What kind of arguments are they anticipating from both sides? How will this discussion resonate in Israel? And why did we feel this was the
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Ottawa and Alberta agree to energy deal and why two-tier care is not the solution to Canada's healthcare problems
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew talk about this week's memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta that would provide premiere Danielle Smith with the approval to build a pipelin
Friday Focus: leaked peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine demands major concessions from Zelensky
The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. To sign up to watch the livestream of our upcoming December 3rd Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution, click here. Rudyard and Janice unpack the leaked 28-point draft peace plan for Ukraine negotiated between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian counterpart Kirill Dm
The MAGA coalition is coming apart and Mark Carney's government underwhelms voters
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew talk about the MAGA coalition fracture over an upcoming vote to release the Epstein files. Cracks have already surfaced over Ukraine and tariffs, but so far no one has been willing to publicly criticize
Friday Focus: The Canadian military's shocking plan to train civil servants and will new Epstein revelations affect Trump's hold over the Republican Party?
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com To access a 50% discount on tickets for those under 25 become a Munk Donor, Supporter, or Curator Rudyard and Janice begin the show with a Canadian news story that is almost too crazy to be believed: the Chief of the Defence Staff giving a directive to train civi
Friday Focus: Important lessons from Mamdani's victory and a U.S. government shutdown holds the public hostage
This special episode of Friday Focus was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hot Docs Curious Minds Festival and the full length edition being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice start today's show unpacking Zohran M
An uninspiring budget and Carney's government inches closer to a majority
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. After weeks of hype Mark Carney's government presented a disappointing traditional Liberal big spending budget. While there are incremental measures to promote economic growth, they are not in the order of what t
Friday Focus: Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution and China's chokehold on the U.S.
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice preview our upcoming 2025 autumn mainstage Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution taking place on December 3rd in Toronto. What can we expect from the team of Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni, who believe Israel's future depends on pursuing two state
Trump's trade tantrum and will Mark Carney's first federal budget meet the moment?
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew try to make sense of the Canada-US trade chaos of the past 72 hours. Andrew offers two interpretations: either Trump was looking for a reason to walk away from the table as a negotiating ploy,
Friday Focus: Trump cancels trade talks with Canada and targets Russia with sanctions
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start the show with the big news st
Putin's hold over Trump and Pierre Poilievre makes a stunning accusation
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew begin with the war in Ukraine and Trump denying Zelensky's request for Tomahawk long range missiles. Russia has suffered mass casualties - more than 400,000 dead and many more wounded - and sho
Friday Focus: Hamas's public executions and Zelensky presses Trump for Tomahawk missiles
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start the show with the big news st
Trump's Middle East diplomacy and why Canada should re-evaluate its auto sector subsidies
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Should Donald Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize? Andrew thinks we should wait to see how this ceasefire unfolds before heaping praise on the US President. The current cessation of hostilities has more to do with Ne
Friday Focus: Trump's Gaza deal, the details that could derail it, and the Middle East's new power players
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice dedicate today's show to the monume
Trump sends in the National Guard (again) and Mark Carney goes to Washington
Rudyard and Andrew react to the deployment of U.S. National Guard troops to American cities, specifically guards from red states being sent into blue states. This is a watershed moment, speeding up America's worrying slide into authoritarianism. Is it fair to separate Trump's ego-driven action from his handlers like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought who have more concrete designs on America? And w
Friday Focus: Trump gives Hamas an ultimatum and how "AI slop" is working against productivity
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice begin today's show with Trump's thr
Trump's military speech ramblings should concern every Canadian
Rudyard and Andrew unpack the speeches made this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth and President Trump to over 800 military generals. Trump indicated he wants to use American cities as training grounds to fight the enemy within. In plain terms, he wants to stick the military on dissenters in the United States. How much more alarming could this get? What purer definition of fascism is there
Friday Focus: Trump's warning to European countries, and what Canada should learn from their mistakes
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start today's show with Trump's add
Carney's Palestinian statehood recognition comes without conditions and the powerful companies benefiting from Trump's authoritarianism
What should we make of Canada's formal recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN? What happened to the conditions the government had originally tied to this recognition? Andrew believes the Carney administration is both trying to send a signal to the ascending Israeli right and join a broader coalition with the other countries - Britain, the UK, and Australia - who lead the way on this initia
Friday Focus: ABC capitulates to Trump and what to expect in Canada's upcoming federal budget
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start today's show with the big new
Friday Focus: Charlie Kirk's assassination points to a democracy in trouble and a debate about Israel's strike in Qatar
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice discuss the social and political fa
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