Recorded on August 5th, 2025, this episode of Gristle & Bone dives into the thickening fog of US-Canada trade tensions. With new tariffs slamming key Canadian exports—from steel to softwood—co-hosts Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill unpack what’s really going on behind the headlines.

Canada Tariffed: Crisis or Compliance Game?
After the August 1st deadline passed with no new deal, the Trump administration imposed 35% tariffs on several Canadian exports, and an eye-popping 50% on copper. But what looks like a full-blown economic attack is more nuanced. As Donald and Christopher explain, CUSMA compliance—while paperwork-heavy—could blunt the worst of the impact. With some 90% of goods expected to comply, the effective tariff rate may be closer to 5%. Painful? Yes. Apocalyptic? Maybe not.

This episode offers a primer on the tangled threads of modern protectionism—from obscure trade clauses to philosophical crusades. In the age of Trump 2.0, it’s not just about tariffs. It’s about what kind of country Canada wants to be, and how much it’s willing to risk to stay that way.

Credits for Gristle and Bone

• Hosts: Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill
• Production: João Roque and Gaëlle Poirier-Morin
• Audio Editing: Gaëlle Poirier-Morin

Carney Cuts, the Longest Ballot & What's Left of the Canadian Left

Recorded on July 17th, 2025, this episode of Gristle & Bone unpacks some of the latest developments in Canadian politics.

READ "Opposition to AI is a key path to renewal for the NDP" https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/opposition-to-ai-is-a-key-path-to-renewal-for-the-ndp

Co-hosts Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill analyze 3 major topics:

1. Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking serious cutbacks in both major sectors of the government AND Crown corps. Trump, tariffs, and the ongoing global economic chaos feature heavily in the picture too, of course.What do we think?

2. Pierre Poilievre will run to regain a seat in the Commons in a byelection in the AB riding of Battle River Crowfoot on August 18th? What is the state of conservatism and the right in the Canada as we take stock nearly three months post election? The Longest Ballot Committee is trying to get 200 people to run against at him - is this a legitimate way to call for electoral reform or a prank that shouldn’t be tolerated?

3. The rules and duration of the NDP leadership contest are out. What do the hosts think? Donal has an article out in Canadian Dimension arguing that opposition to AI is a smart move for the NDP as it seeks to rebuild. Fighting AI - is it too heavy a lift or will it generate a new populist vocation? Can the left in Canada renew around a left populism? Are there lessons in Zohran Mamdani’s big win in NYC?

As always, Gristle & Bone brings you academically informed, opinionated, but nonpartisan analysis for uncertain times.

Credits for Gristle and Bone

• Hosts: Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill
• Production: João Roque and Gaëlle Poirier-Morin
• Audio Editing: Gaëlle Poirier-Morin

Recorded on July 3rd, 2025, this episode of Gristle & Bone unpacks a politically seismic week in Canadian politics—one that saw Prime Minister Mark Carney withdraw the long-planned Digital Services Tax (DST) after a single post from Donald Trump on Truth Social. Co-hosts Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill analyze the fallout, the deeper questions about Canadian sovereignty, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade.

This episode takes listeners deep into the intersection of policy, identity, and power, asking:
What does it mean to govern Canada when sovereignty is now shaped by algorithms, platforms, and presidential whims?

As always, Gristle & Bone brings you academically informed, opinionated, but nonpartisan analysis for uncertain times.

Credits for Gristle and Bone

• Hosts: Christopher Bourne and Dónal Gill
• Production: João Roque and Gaëlle Poirier-Morin
• Audio Editing: Gaëlle Poirier-Morin