In this episode of The Schmooze, Don and Jared sit down with Mike Fegelman, Editor-in-Chief of HonestReporting Canada, to talk about media bias, journalistic malpractice, and what Canadians can do when coverage crosses the line.

Mike shares his origin story — from spotting a “fight media bias” poster in Jerusalem to becoming one of Canada’s most persistent media watchdog voices — and explains how HonestReporting works: mobilizing everyday people to challenge misinformation, demand corrections, and push for fair, accurate, contextual journalism.

We dig into:

• How journalism has shifted from reporting to activism

• Why “media literacy” is now a survival skill

• CBC’s unique responsibility as a publicly funded broadcaster

• The difference between opinion, advocacy, and news

• Why public complaints sometimes do lead to corrections

• How you can help (even without a platform or big following)

Mike’s message is blunt: we can’t outsource responsibility anymore. If Canadians don’t push back, misinformation becomes policy — and hate becomes normalized.

Links / Resources (add yours):

• HonestReporting Canada (subscribe + alerts): Exposing Canadian Anti-Israel Media Bias - HRC

• The CBC report mentioned in the episode: New Report Exposes Systemic Anti-Israel Bias At CBC News - Honest Reporting Canada

We’re dropping this one early because Charlotte Korchuk is in Alberta this weekend for a live community program hosted by Friends of JNF Canada.

In this passionate and wide-ranging conversation, Don and Jared are joined by Jay Cairns (Executive Director, Friends of JNF Canada – Alberta) and Charlotte Korchuk (Jerusalem Education Institute) to talk about Jewish identity, Zionist pride, and the urgent need for education that doesn’t just hand out talking points — it builds real understanding.

We dig into:

• The “October 8th Jew” awakening — and why so many people feel alone, overwhelmed, and under-informed

• Why knowledge becomes a “coat of armor” (and why soundbites aren’t enough)

• The difference between education vs. indoctrination: “not what to think, but how to think”

• How to navigate different audiences: uninformed, misinformed, apathetic, curious — and why the “mushy middle” matters

• Why parents are often the most neglected audience — and why education has to start at home

• A powerful reframe: we don’t just need allies — we need friends

Live event: Diaspora, Israel, and the Go-Forward

• Calgary: Sunday, Feb 8, 2026 — 7:00 PM

• Edmonton: Monday, Feb 9, 2026 — 7:00 PM
  Register via Friends of JNF Canada (event details provided upon registration).

  
  

  Show notes and links:

  Ask Haviv Anything Podcast - with Haviv Retting Gur with Noam Weissman Episode to be found here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tyj2C1ClLhKScXe9u7Y44?si=X60krvSPR-CDvlhBbyhTAQ

This week on The Schmooze, we sit down with Ofer Idels, an Israeli historian and postdoctoral fellow in Israel Studies at the University of Calgary.

Ofer breaks down Zionism in both academic and plain language, and explains why debates around “anti-Zionism” often function as debates about whether Jews are allowed to be active agents in history, rather than passive participants judged by others’ moral frameworks.

We also discuss:

• Zionism as a modern response to the crisis of Jewish life in Europe

• “Self-determination” and what it means in lived terms

• Why semantic debates can become a cul-de-sac, and what to focus on instead

• The campus climate in Calgary, and why Ofer’s experience has been unexpectedly positive

• How the Calgary Jewish community can better use academic resources already here

Community events mentioned:

• Feb 12 (12:00 PM MT, Zoom): Ofer’s speaker series talk, “From Horse Cadavers to Garden Plots: Concepts of Non-Human Nature and the Łódź Ghetto.”

• Feb 8 (JCC): Friends of JNF Canada event, “Diaspora Israel and the Go-Forward,” featuring Charlotte K. (Jerusalem Education Institute / StandWithUs).

Connect with Ofer:
Ofer can be found via his University of Calgary profile, and he welcomes community outreach for lectures, initiatives, and collaboration.