In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Aug. 22, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson have lots to talk about. And carefully avoid confessing to any crimes.
The show opens with breaking news: Canada is dropping many — though not all — of its retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Matt and Jen agree the economic impact is limited, but the political optics could be rough for a prime minister who built a reputation on opposing Washington. This leads naturally into a discussion about when it’s fair to start judging Mark Carney’s performance. Jen presses Matt on what Canadians could reasonably have expected by now; Matt, in turn, asks her how long she’s willing to wait before demanding results.
This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada’s own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.
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Next, the hosts turn to a controversial story out of Lindsay, Ontario, where a man has been charged after using a knife against a home invader. With key details still missing, both Matt and Jen caution against rushing to judgment, but they stress that Canadians need stronger protections for people defending themselves. They stop short of calling for U.S.-style “castle laws,” but argue that Canada must do much better in balancing the scales between citizens and criminals. They share a few stories of their own experiences. Very carefully share them.
This episode is also brought to you by Airbnb. To solve the housing crisis, Canada needs 5.8 million new homes by 2030. And while some think short-term rentals like Airbnb are taking homes away, that's just not the case. Because — according to Statistics Canada — the number of Airbnbs that could be converted into long-term homes amounts to only 0.6 per cent of Canada’s housing stock.
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Finally, the episode closes with a quick take on Pierre Poilievre’s victory in a new Alberta riding. What does it mean? What doesn’t it mean? And why are so many people working overtime to spin this into a seismic event? Matt and Jen break down the hype and the reality, and they don’t mind pointing out who looks silly in the process.
All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out and like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca and follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app. New episodes drop every Friday. And also! Help The Line grow. Share us with a friend, or two. Spread the word.