The Bureau Podcast

I wasn't surprised by the Financial Times report indicating that Peter Navarro, a senior Trump administration official known for his ultra-hawkish stance on China, was circulating plans to limit U.S. national security exposure to Canada. The U.S. perceives Canada as the weakest link in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance due to its vulnerabilities to Chinese infiltration. Two weeks ago, a military source shared a report with me confirming that similar discussions were taking place within the U.S. national security and military community, pointing directly to Navarro. And according to my military source, expelling Canada from Five Eyes is just one of several actions under discussion.As I’ve discussed before, this aligns with broader U.S. concerns—for example, the People's Liberation Army's breach of Canada’s Level 4 Lab in Winnipeg and the inexplicable return of the main suspects Dr. Qiu and Keding Cheng to China after allegedly transferring sensitive bioweapon research to Wuhan. The fact that Canada also partnered with CanSino, a PLA-linked company, on a COVID-19 vaccine only deepens those concerns. CanSino was part of the Winnipeg Lab breach plot according to CSIS. This isn’t speculation—it’s open-source fact. As I reported a year ago:The CSIS report adds Qiu was "dismissive" when asked if she thought her collaborations with WIV and other Chinese institutions involved in the Thousand Talents program including CanSino Biologics "have assisted the capabilities of the PLA."Now, think about what the U.S. government knows that we don’t?In this discussion with Jason James of BNN—recorded before FT broke this Five Eyes exclusion story—I answered his question about what the Trump administration really means when it warns of Canada’s fentanyl vulnerabilities. As Trump escalates economic pressure and even suggests Canada should become the 51st state, his trade adviser Navarro is dismissing the report on Canada’s removal from Five Eyes as ‘crazy stuff.’ But make no mistake. Before the Financial Times report, I already had sources pointing to these exact concerns—now they’re out in the open. Canada needs to take these concerns seriously and act accordingly.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this explosive interview, B.C. Mayor Brad West reveals sensitive details from his 2023 meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, including Blinken’s unsettling claim that American agencies are holding back intelligence from Canada. “They’ve lost confidence,” West says, adding that U.S. officials are stunned by how much access major figures in Asian organized crime have to Canada’s political class.Listen to the interview, and stay tuned to The Bureau for continuing coverage of this developing story.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this interview, Jason James of BNN Podcast asked me for a detailed breakdown of the Hogue Commission’s impact on the Asian diaspora—communities seeking protection after years of neglect from Canada’s federal government and courts.Sadly, I found that Hogue’s conclusions are already being weaponized against Conservative nomination candidate Kenny Chiu in Richmond, a key Vancouver-area riding targeted by Beijing’s Ministry of State Security.I explained that in 2021, Chiu’s Liberal opponent, Parm Bains, benefited from United Front Work Department support. Now, Liberal leadership frontrunner Mark Carney has appeared alongside Bains in Richmond—where a known United Front leader was seen apparently mobilizing support for Carney and Bains ahead of the next Canadian election.Meanwhile, Chiu’s opponent for the Conservative nomination is using Justice Hogue’s final report to accuse him of racism.My word for this: Egregious.[Clarification: B.C.’s Commission into Money Laundering actually had 101 Recommendations, which I argue, should be implemented to respond to the Trump Administration’s fentanyl concerns in Canada.]The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this episode with former U.S. official Christopher Meyer, we discuss the takedown of General Secretary Xi’s main rival, Bo Xilai, and growing resistance to Xi’s leadership in Beijing. The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Currently, Meyer serves as the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and is the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis.A passionate China observer since age 16, Meyer studied East Asian Studies at George Washington University, where he wrote a thesis on the geopolitical dimensions of China’s Special Economic Zones.His career includes:* Five years in sales and marketing with a U.S. Fortune 500 company.* Service in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an Asia expert at the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).* Consulting on U.S. government projects, particularly in Micronesia.* Founding an edtech company, patenting innovative products, and building supply chains in Taiwan and China.In 2018, Meyer began focused research into Chinese strategic corruption and political warfare, deepening his expertise in CCP influence operations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this episode, we dive deep into theoretical possibilities with Matthew Pines, a U.S. national security expert who arguably has the best grasp—among non-security-cleared Americans—of what might be happening over sensitive U.S. government sites and in New Jersey. His insights on topics that may seem fringe but are taken seriously in little-known corners of the U.S. government—specifically on UAPs and cryptocurrency—have led me to reconsider areas I had previously dismissed as implausible.Matthew’s expertise on global financial systems and the hybrid war over currency domination and financial flow visibility also provides surprising insights into the growing conflict between democratic and authoritarian states. This leads into an area I know well: how Beijing is attempting to leverage trillions in Chinese capital flight strategically. This sheds light on many troubling issues currently plaguing North America, including Chinese police stations, fentanyl-related deaths, real estate money laundering, and housing affordability.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this episode with former U.S. official Christopher Meyer, we delve into the succession of transnational gangster Lai Changxing’s global oil smuggling operation and its transition into the hands of a new proxy acting on behalf of Chinese intelligence—one who ultimately corrupted the Biden family.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.Currently, Meyer serves as the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and is the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis.A passionate China observer since age 16, Meyer studied East Asian Studies at George Washington University, where he wrote a thesis on the geopolitical dimensions of China’s Special Economic Zones.His career includes:* Five years in sales and marketing with a U.S. Fortune 500 company.* Service in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an Asia expert at the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).* Consulting on U.S. government projects, particularly in Micronesia.* Founding an edtech company, patenting innovative products, and building supply chains in Taiwan and China.In 2018, Meyer began focused research into Chinese strategic corruption and political warfare, deepening his expertise in CCP influence operations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

The Bureau Podcast interviewed CBSA whistleblower Luc Sabourin today, delving into the exclusive story linked below. Sabourin initially contacted me after reading my report from immigration control officer Brian McAdam—a story that resonates with ongoing U.S. government concerns. In our discussion, we explored shared beliefs held by McAdam and Sabourin, particularly their assertion that transnational crime has deeply infiltrated Canada’s immigration systems.OTTAWA, Canada — Luc Sabourin, a former Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer, has accused his former employer of systemic failures that he believes have compromised national security, with devastating consequences for relations with the United States. In a sworn statement submitted to several Canadian MPs, Sabourin alleges mismanagement and corruption within CBSA that may have allowed hundreds of terrorists wanted by the United States to exploit Canada’s border systems. His claims come at a critical moment, as the Canadian government faces mounting pressure from the incoming Trump administration to address border security weaknesses and avert crippling tariffs.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

This is the second in a series of podcast discussions with Christopher Meyer, a former U.S. official and China expert. Meyer now investigates the same Communist Party influence networks covered by The Bureau and explored in my first book, Wilful Blindness.Currently, Meyer serves as the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and is the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis.A passionate China observer since age 16, Meyer studied East Asian Studies at George Washington University, where he wrote a thesis on the geopolitical dimensions of China’s Special Economic Zones.His career includes:* Five years in sales and marketing with a U.S. Fortune 500 company.* Service in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an Asia expert at the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).* Consulting on U.S. government projects, particularly in Micronesia.* Founding an edtech company, patenting innovative products, and building supply chains in Taiwan and China.In 2018, Meyer began focused research into Chinese strategic corruption and political warfare, deepening his expertise in CCP influence operations.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe