The Paul Wells Show

On Monday, Justin Trudeau announced he'll resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister once the party picks a successor, bringing an end to almost a decade in power. Marci Surkes gives us an inside view of the Liberal party before and during the Trudeau years.    Marci Surkes was executive director for policy and cabinet in Justin Trudeau’s Prime Minister’s Office. She ran the caretaker government during the 2021 election. She is now the Chief Strategy Officer for Compass Rose.    Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Live from Ottawa! Paul reluctantly makes a New Year's resolution. Writer Ian Williams reads from his upcoming novel You’ve Changed. Strategists Garry Keller, Marci Surkes and Allison Gifford (“The Panel”) talk about the political year to come. Ada Lea performs her songs “Damn” and “Baby Blue Frigidaire Mini Fridge.” Jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould performs the Paul Wells Show theme music.   Thank you to our friends at the National Arts Centre for hosting this live event, and to WestJet and Meta for their support.   Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Jen Gerson, a prominent Canadian journalist at The Line, and Chris Best, co-founder and CEO of Substack, dive into the evolving world of journalism. They explore how Substack is reshaping media dynamics, emphasizing the struggles and successes of independent writers. The conversation touches on the platform's confrontation with Twitter and Elon Musk's unexpected role in boosting its visibility. They also provide practical advice for aspiring journalists, stressing the importance of foundational skills over platform-centric focus, and discuss the essential nature of free speech in today’s landscape.

Kathleen Wynne and Jason Kenney, former Premiers of Ontario and Alberta, share witty banter and reflect on their political journeys. They dive into the complexities of modern politics, discussing 'wokeism' and the importance of dialogue across divides. Musician Scott Merritt delights listeners with his memories and songs, emphasizing the nostalgic power of music. The conversation also highlights the critical work of Options Housing in addressing homelessness, blending humor and heartfelt reflections during the holiday season.

Justin Ling, a journalist from the Toronto Star, and Jen Gerson, a seasoned political commentator, join Paul Wells to dissect Chrystia Freeland's shock resignation. They explore its ripple effects on the Liberal Party and the Trudeau government. Turmoil within the cabinet surfaces, highlighting loyalty issues amidst tensions. They critique the government’s lack of succession planning and discuss the Liberals' uncertain future as economic challenges loom. Public frustration grows as citizens question the administration's vision and governance.

Paul answers questions from readers (and producer Kevin Sexton) about the state of Canadian politics, Trump, journalism, and more! Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

In his book We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that a new class of liberal elites uses the language of “wokeness” without actually helping the marginalized and disadvantaged.  He joins Paul to talk about a decades-long trend of the Democrats reorienting themselves towards a constituency of wealthy white people. It’s a message he was sharing well before Kamala Harris lost the election.  He also talks about how moving from a red state to New York City broke a lot of illusions he had about Democrats. He talks about wealthy Democrats who talk of lifting up marginalized people, while living a lifestyle that's dependent on exploiting their labour. And he talks about periods of “Great Awokening” over the last century, which have had mixed results in terms of creating real gains for marginalized groups.  Musa al-Gharbi is an assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. You can read his Substack, Symbolic Capital(ism) here: https://musaalgharbi.substack.com/ Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

What does a Trump presidency mean for trade? Paul is joined by a panel of analysts from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, to talk about what might be in store for North America during the next Trump administration.  The panellists are Vassy Kapelos, chief political correspondent for CTV news, Doug Palmer,  senior trade reporter at Politico, and Enrique de la Madrid, author, newspaper columnist, and former member of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies.  This panel was recorded at The North American Manufacturing Conference. Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Ontario’s government recently announced that Jane Philpott will lead a team with the goal of connecting every person in the province to primary health care within the next five years. With around 2.5 million people currently without a family doctor in Ontario, the task is enormous.  So how did a former Liberal health minister get hired on by a conservative government for such an important job? And how exactly does she plan on doing it? Jane Philpott joins Paul to talk about how the job came about, and her vision for getting it done, which involves rethinking the way we deliver primary care. Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

With Trump’s decisive win in the U.S. election, American writer Ross Barkan argues his country has finally reached the end of the "Obama era" of politics. Barkan talks about what went wrong for Democrats, why he was early to say Harris was the wrong candidate, what he expects to come from Trump’s return to the White House, and why he sees an opportunity for the American left.  Ross Barkan is a journalist and novelist, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Nation and many other outlets. His Substack is called Political Currents. Season 3 of The Paul Wells Show is sponsored by McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.