The Munk Debates Podcast

Andrew Coyne, a prominent Globe and Mail columnist, joins the discussion with keen insights on the Canadian election landscape. He analyzes how the Liberal Party has transformed from underdogs to frontrunners, driven largely by the chaotic U.S. trade policies. Coyne also reflects on Trump’s erratic behavior and its implications for mental health, while considering the broader effects of U.S. politics on Canadian voter sentiment. The conversation highlights the intertwined fates of the two nations amidst political uncertainty and rising anti-elite sentiment.

The podcast delves into the escalating trade war between America and China, highlighting its destabilizing effects on the global economy. It discusses the rising tariffs and the psychological motivations behind leadership decisions. The transformation of China’s manufacturing sector is explored, along with its challenges for global markets. The conversation touches on the relationship between trade, technology, and job losses in the U.S., warning against rising populism and the complexities of malinvestment in global dynamics.

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice open the show with Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcements and specifically China's response: a punishing 34% countervailing tax on all imports from the US. Is this the start of a more dangerous moment between these two adversaries? President Trump is about to find out how vulnerable the US is to China, and how easy it is to start an economic war but how hard it is to end it. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn their attention to Canada, which was conspicuously absent from Trump's Wednesday tariff announcement. What can we expect when CUSMA - our free trade agreement with the US - gets renegotiated after the election? To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

On this episode we are joined by Stephen Wertheim, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute at Arizona State University, to discuss the likelihood of US military strikes on Iran, America’s Greenland annexation plans, and Chinese military drills off the coast of Taiwan. 

The discussion kicks off with Trump's global auto tariff announcement and its daunting implications for Canada's car industry. The hosts advocate for pivoting to high-tech manufacturing instead of clinging to outdated sectors. In the second half, they evaluate Bibi's political maneuvering in Israel following a recent budget win, pondering whether this security will push him to intensify military actions in Gaza. Insights into the challenges of automation and strategic economic reforms round out the conversation, linking it all to Canada's future.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, a convert to Catholicism, squares off against the late Christopher Hitchens, a renowned atheist and author. They delve into whether religion is inherently good, tackling its dual role in society—spurring charitable actions while facing criticism for its historical drawbacks. The discussion navigates the complexity of interpreting religious texts and highlights the essence of faith beyond mere doctrine. Ultimately, they explore the necessity of dialogue between believers and non-believers for moral progress.

The imminent Canadian election is set against a backdrop of economic turbulence and U.S. tensions, prompting urgent discussions about leadership. Mark Carney's candidacy raises concerns about Alberta's ambitions and potential division among voters. The podcast also dissects Trump's alarming interview, questioning his understanding of Canada and its implications for national unity. Will internal pressures prove more challenging than foreign threats? The stakes are high as Ontario's influence looms large over this critical political landscape.

On this episode we're joined by Bernie Sanders's former presidential campaign manager Jeff Weaver and Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel to debate the biggest news stories of the week.   The host of this episode is Ricki Gurwitz To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice begin today's show trying to make sense of Trump's tariff policy. Rudyard argues that Trump is not concerned with stock market losses if it means keeping promises to his voter base and reworking the American economy so it benefits blue collar workers, but tariffs are not going to bring their jobs back and will end up making everyone poorer.On the second half of the show Ruydyard and Janice turn to Canadian politics and the election of Mark Carney as Liberal Party leader, thus becoming Prime Minister of Canada. As much as we criticize politics in the US, here we have a PM who does not have a parliamentary seat, was not elected by the Canadian public, and is now representing Canada on the world stage. Meanwhile Canada's premiers are stepping in to negotiate trade deals with Washington while Ottawa takes a backseat. What is happening here? To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

Can Trump's trade policies and US protectionism bring economic gains to the middle and working class? On this episode we hear from two people with vastly different perspectives:  President Biden's former economic advisor Jared Bernstein, and American Compass Executive Director Oren Cass, whose thinking on these issues have influenced a number of younger Republican politicians such as Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley and most importantly, Vice President J.D. Vance.     The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch