In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on time on June 20, 2025 — so don't blame us for any catastrophes — Jen Gerson returns from covering the G7 and offers a rare dose of optimism: she’s impressed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Matt Gurney remains skeptical but gives credit where it's due — Carney has handled everything so far with a steady hand. The question is: can he survive an actual crisis? Or even just some fairly normal politics?
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The hosts also reflect on Justin Trudeau’s deepening irrelevance and how Carney’s basic competence is already reshaping perceptions. Trump left the summit early, and nobody cared. Jen thinks the British still don’t get what’s changed. And Matt raises, almost as an aside, an important question. Where are the Conservatives? Where is Poilievre? Has anyone noticed? Does anyone care?
In the second segment, the tone shifts. Jen and Matt dive into the ongoing full-scale war between Israel and Iran. Matt lays out the strategic and regional context, while Jen reflects on the eerie echoes of 2003 and Iraq — and why that comparison may do more harm than good this time. They check in on their personal Doom Leaderboards, and while neither thinks the Third World War is imminent, Matt raises the chilling possibility that we may be closer to a nuclear weapon being used than at any point since the Cold War.
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