Friday, January 19th 2024

We're back! After a refreshing holiday, The Line Podcast's Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney are together again to discuss the state of play in Canadian politics. Have the Liberals under Justin Trudeau bottomed out? Why can't they seem to secure a comeback — Gerson thinks she knows: it's because everybody's broke, and the Liberals are fixated on electric vehicles, plastic bags, and carbon taxes. 

The Line offers a quick update on Israel, and the federal government's incoherent and constantly wavering position on the International Court of Justice: turns out, we will abide by the ruling on whether Israel is committing genocide, even though we don't agree with the premise of the case. That ... does not make sense. 

Your editors also talk Alberta politics: why did Canada's most energy-rich province almost freeze to death in the cold? And what to make of NDP leader Rachel Notley stepping down from her role. 

Lastly, Gerson and Gurney talk about Sabrina Maddeaux, the National Post columnist who announced her candidacy for the Conservatives. They then talk more generally about journalists who escape this wretched hive of scum and villainy to enter an even grungier Mos Eisley cantina — politics. Why does this seem to be becoming more normal, and what can you do to prevent more of it? Like and subscribe to The Line www.readtheline.ca

#SabrinaMaddeaux #politics #conservative #Canada #justintrudeau #Isreal #ICJ #genocide #Liberal 

Friday, December 15th 2023

In this week's The Line Podcast, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson discuss the UN Ceasefire vote, and compare it to the previous request for ceasefire with conditions, and the Liberal government's insistence that the UN ceasefire vote wasn't a vote for Hamas because, really, what even is a ceasefire anyway? Canadian representative to the UN Bob Rae knew what was up when he issued his vote and then said, on a hot mic, "we'll see how that flies." 

It's all just another example of a Canadian foreign policy that has no first principles, and a UN that primarily exists to let nations blow off steam instead of actually doing things.

Then G&G take on the Conservatives' weird votes against the Ukrainian trade deal, citing carbon tax language. Was this just a cock up? Or are the Conservatives pandering to the pro-Putin right in their own base? 

Moving on, indulge the podcast as they take you on a magical tea-filled exploration of the latest drama at independent media outlet Canadaland and its staffers, now feuding with their Jewish boss for failing to address antisemitism in his community more responsibly: ie; preferably not at all. 

Lastly, this will be The Line's last podcast before the holidays. Join us for a brief look back over a weird 2023, with more weirdness to come. 

Friday, December 8th 2023

In this week's The Line podcast, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson talk about Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek's bizarre decision to publicly abstain from a civic menorah lighting ceremony because a poster advertising the event said it would be about "unity, supporting Israel, and Jewish Pride." Could her decision have been handled any more incompetently? No! Gerson column here: https://www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson-just-do-your-job-jyoti

Then G2 whine about Pierre Poilievre's penchant for stupid political stunts, as our MPs hunker down to consider the possibility of missing Christmas. Gurney lays out the political mistake Justin Trudeau ought to have gone down for; Gerson disagrees, and finds another one. Then the pair discuss the media: massive labour cuts at the CBC, and weird B-Roll errors at CTV. 

Also, Gurney is grumpy. 

Friday, December 1st 2023

This week, The Line Podcast's Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney go deep. They discuss the $100 million Google deal to Canadian media — a win for Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, or an attempt to salvage a nearly existential catastrophe for Canadian journalism? You decide. 

Then we get into the absolute insanity of trying to justify Hamas hostage taking by parsing the emotions on the faces of hostages at the moment of release. This invariably leads into a deep philosophical discussion about how we deal with irreconcilable differences among us, and what we owe each other as citizens in a society. (Jen is a lot nicer than Matt.)

Lastly, Gerson and Gurney talk about the latest Ottawa bubble stories. Was Conservative MP Rachel Thomas insulting francophones by asking a minister to respond to a question in English? (No.) What were the Conservatives thinking when they voted against a free trade deal with Ukraine? (Not much.)

Lastly, show us your humanity and compassion by liking and subscribing; www.readtheline.ca

Friday, November 24th 2023

After offering a brief update on the hostage transfers between Hamas and Israel, The Line Podcast with Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson delves right back into parochial Canadian current events by chatting about the explosion on the Rainbow Bridge. We, too, feared terrorism at first, as did much of the media. Turns out, it was just some dude driving Dukes of Hazzard-style into the border crossing. Phew?

Now the fallout; critics are piling on Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre for initially describing the incident as "terrorism" in the House. When Poilievre was challenged by a CP reporter, he took no prisoners, leading Gurney et al to remind all beloved colleagues that the Conservatives are playing against an unpopular media because it works. 

Speaking of which, the Liberals have decided to kill journalism with kindness; the latest economic update announced an increase to the journalism labour tax credit, ensuring that many (most?) remaining journalists in this country are subsidized in part by the federal government. That, we're sure, will fix it! As will impossible promises from the CRTC that new broadcasting regulations won't extend to podcasting. 

Lastly, The Line talks the fall economic update, and rants about the election of Argentinian president Javier Milei.