The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge The Debut of Raj and Russo, The Reporter's Notebook
Sep 9, 2025
Althia Raj, a senior columnist for the Toronto Star, and Rob Russo, a Canadian correspondent for The Economist, dive into Canadian politics with sharp insights. They discuss the connection between public crime perception and women's safety influencing voter behavior. The duo tackles infrastructure funding hurdles and reliance on private investments. They also explore minority governance challenges and the repercussions of leadership turmoil in the Conservative and NDP parties. Listeners will appreciate the thought-provoking conversations in the ever-evolving political arena.
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Liberal Caucus Is Cautious Not Rebellious
- Rob Russo notes Liberal restiveness is overstated and MPs are still learning channels with the new leader.
- He argues few will openly challenge Mark Carney despite internal progressive concerns.
High Expectations Meet Early Discontent
- Althia Raj says many Liberals are unsettled by Carney's style, staffing and early moves.
- She warns progressives regret supporting him and fear fall announcements on austerity and policy missteps.
Conservative Unease Is Regional And Tactical
- Rob Russo describes Conservative unease concentrated outside Calgary and Quebec, arguing location matters for leadership reviews.
- He stresses caucus frustrations focus on postmortem and recruitment strategy, not immediate plotting.