Episodi

  • Carney's budget has big breaks for businesses, but what about you? with economist Armine Yalnizyan
    Nov 9 2026

    Economist Armine Yalnizyan joins Max to examine whether the federal budget meets the moment.


    Yalnizyan argues that Carney is relying on a familiar economic playbook of corporate tax incentives, despite decades of disappointing business investment. She explains why Canada's overlooked care economy is central to solving its productivity problems, especially as the population ages.


    Enjoying the chat? Subscribe to Canada's National Observer for just $1 a month: www.nationalobserver.com/subscribe


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    52 min
  • The political revolt brewing among young Canadians, with Abacus Data CEO David Coletto
    Nov 6 2026

    Max Fawcett sits down with David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, to examine the state of political polling after the U.S. midterms and what the latest data reveals about young Canadians and the growing generational divide. They explore why millennials and Gen Z feel the economic system is failing them, how housing affordability and job insecurity are shaping their political attitudes, and why neither the Liberals nor Conservatives can count on their loyalty.


    Enjoying the chat? Subscribe for $1 a month: www.nationalobserver.com/subscribe


    Don't forget to check out David's Substack here: https://davidcoletto.substack.com/


    What did you think of this conversation? Let us know in the comments.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    46 min
  • The case for climate optimism with Chris Turner
    Oct 30 2026

    Award-winning author Chris Turner, whose book How to Be a Climate Optimist makes the case for hope in the face of the climate crisis, joins Max today.


    They discuss why clean technologies are spreading faster than many expected, even in places where climate policy isn't driving the change. They also examine what Canada's carbon tax debate has taught us about climate politics, whether Mark Carney can deliver on climate action and why selling people on the immediate benefits of clean technology may be more effective than warning them about the future.


    What did you think of this conversation? Let us know in the comments.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    43 min
  • British Columbia's political shakeup with Sandy Garossino
    Oct 27 2026

    On Power Lines today, Sandy Garossino, former Crown prosecutor and columnist for Canada's National Observer, unpacks the B.C. election and the defeat of David Eby's NDP government. She and Max discuss how the Conservatives found success by moving toward the political centre and what the election means for Indigenous rights and resource development in the province.


    They also examine Alberta's referendum, the future of Western alienation and how Mark Carney's approach to pipelines and clean energy could reshape Canada's economic future.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    53 min
  • Alberta's separatists helped elect Danielle Smith. Now what? with Dr. Lisa Young
    Oct 22 2026

    What happens when the people who helped put you in power turn against you?


    Max Fawcett sits down with Dr. Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, to unpack the fallout from Alberta's referendum and what it means for Smith's political future.


    They discuss whether Smith can hold her party together, what the referendum results reveal about support for separatism, and how Alberta's political and business elites have helped fuel Western alienation. Lisa also explains what her research into populism reveals about Alberta voters, including some surprising findings about democracy.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    38 min
  • Former Alberta minister on Danielle Smith, climate and the next political fight with Shannon Phillips
    Oct 21 2026

    Max Fawcett and former Alberta NDP MLA and environment minister Shannon Phillips unpack the fallout from the referendum and what comes next for the province.


    They discuss why Phillips believes Smith is facing pressure from within her own party, whether the province’s NDP missed an opportunity during the referendum campaign, and the serious concerns about proposed changes to Alberta's electoral boundaries.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    51 min
  • Are Alberta and B.C. headed for a political shakeup? with Shachi Kurl
    Oct 19 2026

    Max reunites with Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute and his former co-panellist on a CBC show a decade ago, to unpack a pivotal moment in Canadian politics. With Albertans heading to the polls in a referendum, the two discuss what the results could mean for Danielle Smith and whether separatism has created divisions within her conservative base. Plus, Shachi explains the shifting political landscape in British Columbia, why climate change has slipped down voters' priority lists and the competing factions within Carney's Liberal coalition.


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 min
  • OK Boomer, where is my house? with Ali Amad
    Oct 12 2026

    Max Fawcett speaks with journalist Ali Amad, author of the Maclean's feature The Great Generational Rip-Off, to discuss why homeownership, starting a family and saving for retirement have become increasingly difficult for younger Canadians. They also explore potential solutions, including reforms to Old Age Security, taxing wealth and finding a fairer way to share Canada's resources across generations.


    Read Ali's Maclean's story, The Great Generational Rip-Off: https://macleans.ca/longforms/the-great-generational-rip-off/


    Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato

    Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 min