The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on September 11th. In the tenth instalment of what has become a very popular conversation, former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and former principal secretary to prime minister Trudeau Gerald Butts focus on helping us understand political trends.  Today, again burying their partisan feelings, the two look at the issue of how to campaign in an era of polarization.  

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on December 21st. Your letters this week are very moving, your memories of holidays past for family and friends. I thank you for all of them. I'll read as many as I can today and I'll pick one to be the recipient of the new book by Mark Bulgutch and myself, "How Canada Works". And of course the Random Ranter with his take on this time of year. 

The Good Talk panel analyzes the year-end political landscape in Canada. Topics discussed include improving relations within Justin Trudeau's team, advice for Pierre Poliev on providing more specific plans and policies, Jagmeet Singh's choice of MP in the GTA, strategizing party recruitment, weaknesses of national opposition leaders, and the likelihood of leadership stability.

Your letters this week are very moving, your memories of holidays past for family and friends. I thank you for all of them. I'll read as many as I can today and I'll pick one to be the recipient of the new book by Mark Bulgutch and myself, "How Canada Works". And of course the Random Ranter with his take on this time of year. 

It's the final regular episode of Smoke, Mirrors and The Truth and we focus on some comments Justin Trudeau made in his annual year-end interview with podcaster Terry DiMonte. The prime minister is clearly worried about the influence the American right is having on Canada.  Are we seeing a preview of the next election campaign? Bruce is here with his collector's edition of SMT!

It's an end bit special today as we approach the holidays. Topic One is that old daydreaming habit many of us have when we fly on a passenger jet -- if something happens to the pilots, could we takeover even with no real flying experience? A surprising number of us think we could. That's just one of more than half a dozen end bits you will find interesting.

The accidental killing of three Israeli hostages by Israeli troops has led to new calls, many from Israelis, for a ceasefire in Gaza.  Would Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu agree, would Hamas agree? Those questions and many more for our regular Monday guest Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto. Plus, the latest from Ukraine.

The podcast discusses the divisions and mistakes within the Conservative Party, criticism faced by right-of-center journalists, the liberal party's dissension on Middle East policies, the fight for solutions and unity within the political party, the prime minister's year-end interviews and shifting messaging, and the delay in implementing a pharmacare plan in Canada.

Hard to believe at a time with so many issues facing Canadians that the number one topic in your letters this week was the claim that 77 percent of Xmas trees sold in the USA this year are artificial trees. Your thoughts on that seem to indicate you agree with the direction of tree purchases, plus lots of comments about the latest Moore Butts conversation which we aired on Tuesday. And of course the random Ranter -- this week again on housing and specifically, affordable land.

Going back to the future may be one way to look at Housing Minister Sean Fraser's latest announcement for a housing fix. Another way may be to listen again to what the Random Ranter had to say on housing on September 7th!  Bruce Anderson is here for SMT.