The Munk Debates Podcast Friday Focus: ABC capitulates to Trump and what to expect in Canada's upcoming federal budget
Sep 19, 2025
The hosts dive into the troubling news of ABC suspending the Jimmy Kimmel Show after pressure from the Trump administration. They discuss the broader implications of this capitulation for democratic institutions and how anticipatory compliance is becoming the norm. The conversation shifts to Canada's upcoming federal budget, examining potential deficits and the government's struggle with balancing austerity and investment. Can the current leadership rise to the challenge of restructuring the economy for future demands?
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Systematic Attack On Democratic Institutions
- Janice Stein argues the Trump administration is conducting a sequential, systemic attack on institutions outside government.
- She sees media as the next target after universities, creating a broad chill on dissent.
Legal Settlements Signal Media Vulnerability
- Stein highlights that powerful media firms settled lawsuits despite confidence they could win because they feared long legal battles.
- She warns that such settlements signal vulnerability and encourage further attacks on the press.
U.S. Slipping Toward Authoritarianism
- Stein and Rudyard argue the U.S. shows clear signs of authoritarianism through systematic silencing and executive power grabs.
- They say courts and the Supreme Court decisions will be decisive but the system rests on a thin reed.