With Venezuela in the spotlight, we called in Raul Burbano of the Venezuelan Solidarity Coalition to give us a run down of what people in Canada are doing to resist yet another chapter of U.S. imperialist aggression.

For almost a decade, organizers have been educating, advocating and mobilizing around the devastating sanctions and other forms of foreign intervention at the hands of the Canadian government. With Carney seemingly siding with Trump on the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife, activists here are working overtime to turn the tide.

Raul, himself a longtime activist, talks about the importance of building relationships between social movements and labour organizations across the Americas, and the shift the work has taken in the past few weeks.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean and Santiago Helou Quintero

Call to Action: Day of Action on January 24th, 2026

Related Episodes:

1. Venezuelan Chavistas vs. US Imperialism w/Geo Maher. Hear how the decades of struggle and the impact of the Bolivarian Revolution have made Venezuela ungovernable to anyone but the people.
2. Lessons from South America (Dec 2022) Learning from the social movements of Venezuela, and drawing comparisons to Canadian politics.

More Resources:

• International Brigade arrives in Venezuela - Instituto Simón Bolívar
• Details on Canada's 'Special Economic Measures' Against Venezuela
• Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the situation in Venezuela | Prime Minister of Canada

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Professor, activist, abolitionist and author of We Created Chavez, Geo Maher helps unpack what's going on in Venezuela from the often neglected perspective of the grassroots.

While the moves of state actors are to be watched and analyzed, Maher argues they alone do not hold the fate of Venezuela in their hands.

Semi-autonomous communities, mostly within the poorer barrios of the country, with roots older than even Chavez, wield a power that goes well beyond that of Maduro or the ruling Party. Maher talks about how those 'communes' and the history of the Bolivarian Revolution will be massive barriers to Trump's Imperialist agenda.

These 'experiments in democracy', as Maher refers to them, may hold some answers to the questions Canadians find themselves asking in the wake of Trump's threats against them. Namely, how do we best protect against US aggression?

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Contact Your MP and demand Canada lift all sanctions against Venezuela

Related Episodes:

• Lessons From: South America, Alexander Moldovan on the social movements in Venezuela; stories of workers and communities fighting back while building networks of support.
• Canadian Mining Imperialism, on a Canadian landmark legal case that exposed the industry's use of sexual violence, destruction, and death in Guatemala.

More Resources:

• Venezuela Month of Action - International League of Peoples' Struggle
• BBC: US Discussing Options to Acquire Greenland
• Canada's Official Statement on Venezuela
• Guest's Recommended Read: America, América – Greg Grandin
• Canada imposes new sanctions against Venezuelan officials (Mar 2025)

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Activists from Jews Say NO to Genocide are working to challenge the coordinated narratives around the antisemitic violence at Bondi Beach in Australia - narratives that help pave the way for dangerous legislation like Canada's own Bill C9.

Louise, also of Independent Jewish Voices, goes over Carney's pending Act to Amend the Criminal Code, and its possible ramifications. From the new intimidation offence, to the vague wording around restricted spaces and symbols, the case is made that this is another tool for the powerful to suppress opponents at will.

Toronto based activist, Molly Kraft, also of SURJ Toronto, talks about how the prioritizing the feelings of some at the expense of the rights of others is all just part of the larger scheme to suppress dissent and benefit, not Jewish people, but white, Christian nationalists, Imperialism and ultimately, Capital.

Gur Tsabar, of the Movement Media Hub and spokesperson for the group, says we need to be asking the hard questions in the immediate wake of events like Bondi Beach and October 7th. He insists its in those moments the machinery working against us goes into overdrive to lay the "moral foundation" for the horrors that come next.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Say NO to Bill C-9 (Action Network Petition)

Related Episodes:

1. Jews Say NO to Genocide (Dec 2024) The organization's first appearance on Blueprints to talk about the Jewish identity crisis purposely being crafted by the Israeli lobby.
2. Weaponizing Canadian Law for Israel (Jul 2024) Martin Lukacs on Toronto Police's Project Resolute and the secretive committee tasked with cracking down on Palestinian solidarity activism.

More Resources:

• The Independent: UK Terror Arrests
• CBC: On Bloc's Proposed Changes to Bill C9
• Toronto Star: Calls for Antisemitism Task Force After Bondi Beach
• Bill C-9 Threatens Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Freedom of Expression in Canada – Canadian BDS Coalition & International BDS Allies
• Bill C9: Legislative Info

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Desmond Cole, acclaimed author and journalist at The Breach, sits down with host Jessa McLean to clear the air and contrast their positions around Yves Engler's campaign and the NDP's decision to block him.

While disagreeing on a substantive amount of items, they still manage to find common ground - moving through conversations on vetting, insurgent campaigns, the legitimacy of tactics and more, in a productive way.

Related Episodes:

• Why They Came for Me (Nov 2022), Host Jessa McLean shares her journey through partisan politics, why the NDP is trying to silence her, and how this is part of a larger pattern to push out socialists and internal advocates.
• Candidate Crisis (June 2022), how the Ontario blew an election by blocking candidates and meddling in the local nomination processes.
• People's Party? (July 2022), Discussions with current and former NDP Party Executives proves quite revealing, demonstrating that like most politics in Canada, very few people are calling all the shots.

More Resources:

• Vetting Correspondence via Yves Engler for NDP
• Referenced Breach Podcast: Who can take the NDP leftward?
• NDP leadership committee rejects Yves Engler’s candidacy application - rabble.ca

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Halifax based community activist Rana Zaman has found herself in the midst of another smear campaign launched by Zionist lobbyists, and betrayed by the very institutions that once celebrated her.

Back in 2019, the NDP withdrew her hard fought nomination - citing a three year-old tweet and pressure from organizations like B'Nai Brith and the Atlantic Jewish Council. We hear that story firsthand from Rana, as well as the impact it had on her emotionally and professionally. Its sadly similar to many of the stories we've told on the show - and its happening to her all over again.

Her recent award, a Peace Medal from the YMCA, was quickly rescinded amidst a similar campaign from the AJC and other usual suspects. The YMCA did this despite already knowing Rana's history, and assuring her they would stand by her.

Its a personal story, but also an institutional one. The story is part of a larger pattern that has far reaching consequences for members, the social movements they create, and Canadian politics in general.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Sign a Petition Demanding the YWMC Reinstate Rana's Peace Medal

Related Episodes:

• Being Pragmatic inside the NSNDP, on the removal of another NSNDP candidate over their support for Palestine, and a discussion on the pros and cons of staying in the Party;
• Sidelining Socialism, Host Jessa McLean argues that the NDP and their failure to keep Left has shifted the Overton window in Canadian politics; or,
• Get the whole INSIDE the NDP Playlist.

End Song Credit: Sean MacGillivray (with permission)

More Resources:

• 'It's not about me': Rana Zaman speaks after YMCA rescinds her award - Halifax Examiner
• CJPME Foundation Statement (December 2025)
• On Rana Zaman: Some somebodies have some explaining to do - Halifax Examiner

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World Beyond War Canada organizer Rachel Small's home was recently raided by Police - at 6 a.m., while the entire family was asleep. They seized all of her electronic devices, including those of her children. At the very same time, Police were also raiding the homes of some of her fellow activists, and preparing those press releases.

Their alleged crime? Peacefully protesting outside of what organizers had defiantly labelled, a "War Crimes Summit" - a gathering of Canada's weapons manufacturers, politicians and military brass. They'd gathered to help carve out more fortunes from the $89 billion in military spending coming their way.

The guest list was also a who's who of Canada's arms trade with the Zionist occupation, companies who had been featured heavily in World Beyond War's most recent report (co-authored by the Palestinian Youth Movement) on the 'loopholes' these companies use to hide their participation in the genocide.

Rachel describes what it was like waking up to officers in her house; how she prepared for this inevitability; how she explained it all to her children, and what supports she's had since the arrest.

Hear how activists are building up the very thing Police seek to tear down, community. This isn't the first Blueprints guest to speak highly of the Toronto Legal Support Fund and the good people who have helped create a network of arrestees, lawyers and others to lean on while going through the often complicated and drawn out legal processes these charges lead to.

What they don't often lead to is convictions. Rachel reminds us that despite the well over 150 charges laid against Palestinian solidarity activists, in the Toronto area alone, there has been only one conviction. Despite the injustice of the raids, and the increased criminalization of protestors, Rachel seems undaunted. Completely resolved in her mission. And we fully support her.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: DONATE TO TORONTO COMMUNITY LEGAL FUND

Related Episodes:

• Arming Israel: Canada's Continued Role, (July 2025) Haneen from PYM and Rachel share a scathing new report.
• Supports Amid State Suppression, members of the Toronto Legal Support Committee, discuss oppressive tactics being used by Police and their impact on individuals and the larger movement.

More Resources:

• The Maple: Canada’s Arms-to-Israel Scandal Explained
• REPORT: Exposing the US LOOPHOLE: HOW CANADIAN F-35 PARTS AND EXPLOSIVES REACH ISRAEL

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NDP Leadership hopeful Yves Engler gives an update on his campaign, and discusses the implications of his recent criminal trial in Montreal.

The arguments laid out by the Crown in his case, if successful, will reverberate throughout movements, particularly those who encourage followers to inundate state officials with emails. A guilty verdict also holds the potential to provide police officers with a level of anonymity that would make holding them accountable even more difficult.

While defending himself against these charges, Yves' is also in the middle of a heated contention for nomination. Its been almost a month since he's submitted his vetting papers to an expectant committee, but no decision has been made. However, he does describe a string of incidents that may serve as writing on the wall.

Hear what he thinks his chances are at being found not-guilty, and of passing the NDP vetting test...

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Related Episodes:

• Yves Engler: Next Leader of the NDP? (July 2025) Journalist, author, and activist Yves Engler talks about his recent announcement to run for leader of Canada's NDP;
• Weaponizing the Law for Israel (July 2024) Martin Lukacs from The Breach discusses his investigations into Toronto Police's Project Resolute and the secretive committee tasked with cracking down on Palestinian solidarity activism.
• Inside the NDP Playlist

More Resources:

• NDPSocialists.ca: Yves Engler Denied Access to Convention with ONDP Leader Hangs On
• The Maple: Two Charges Against Pro-Palestine Activist Yves Engler Dropped
• Why I’m running for leadership of NDP - Yves Engler

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With the 2025 Federal Budget vote looming, Ashwin from the International Solidarity Podcast joins Blueprints host Jessa McLean to breakdown some of the $141 Billion in new spending and the cuts that will pay for it all.

The biggest ticket item, $89 million for the Canadian Armed Forces, generates a discussion on global politics, the so-called 'elbows up movement' and the appetite for military spending the electorate seems to have.

Together they compare the budget to campaign promises, the Throne Speech and the demands of the political 'opposition'. Jessa and Ashwin also discuss the likelihood of the budget passing, and what that will mean for Canadian politics.

Related Episodes:

• Carney's First 100(ish) Days in Office (July 2025) covers the priorities and first pieces of Carney's legislation with the International Solidarity Pod.
• Draw the Line (Sept 2025) a discussion with organizers behind the movement to connect movements.

More Resources:

• The Breach: A Budget for Tanks, Banks and Oil Barons
• The 2025 Budget - IN FULL
• CBC: Carney's First Federal Budget

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

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