Politics Is Broken

BRITTLESTAR

Canadian and Global Politics, Unspun. Politics is messy, loud, and usually full of nonsense. Politics Is Broken takes all that chaos, filters it through a Canadian sense of humour, and hands it back in a way that actually makes sense. Hosted by Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) and Lisa B., it’s smart, funny, and just irreverent enough to make the news bearable. www.brittlestar.com

  1. Should We Take Alberta Separation Seriously?

    HACE 1 D

    Should We Take Alberta Separation Seriously?

    Should we take Alberta separation seriously? On one hand, most Albertans still don’t appear to want it. On the other hand, separatists reportedly submitted nearly 302,000 signatures, there’s a voter data scandal, U.S. meetings, First Nations treaty challenges, foreign disinformation concerns, and a premier trying to balance “Sovereign Alberta” with “please don’t actually break the country.” This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa talk about why Alberta probably isn’t leaving Canada tomorrow... but why the anger, misinformation, political enabling, and machinery around the movement still matter. It’s a conversation about separatism, grievance politics, Danielle Smith’s balancing act, and the very Canadian question: “Can we please not set the country on fire just to make a point?” The episode transcript frames the central concern as not Alberta immediately leaving Canada, but the “machinery around the idea”... anger, money, data, foreign interest, and political enabling.

    45 min
  2. Mark Carney's Mistake

    3 MAY

    Mark Carney's Mistake

    Is Mark Carney opening the door for the NDP? This week, Brittlestar and Lisa B talk about Carney’s economic update, the concerns raised in Althia Raj’s Toronto Star opinion piece, and whether cuts or stalled funding to pharmacare, child care, and health transfers could push progressive voters away from the Liberals. They also get into Stewart’s trip to Politics and the Pen, a surprisingly funny Melissa Lantsman, Alberta’s electoral-list breach, and why this may be the NDP’s best chance in years to become the “not Liberal” option... assuming they don’t find a way to fumble it directly into a shrub. Carney may be steadying Canada through a chaotic global moment, but the question is whether progressive voters will accept fiscal restraint when it starts touching the programs they thought they were voting to protect.

    52 min
  3. Alberta’s “Slopaganda” Problem

    26 ABR

    Alberta’s “Slopaganda” Problem

    There’s a lot of “slop” online right now… and some of it is starting to shape real-world conversations. In this episode, Brittlestar and Lisa unpack the rise of AI-generated content pushing Alberta separation and 51st state narratives — much of it coming from inauthentic sources designed to generate clicks, not clarity. They explore how these videos work, why they spread so quickly, and how algorithms can blur the line between curiosity and influence. Along the way, they look at the broader context… including recent comments about Canada from high-profile figures, and what the data actually says about the country’s stability and quality of life. It’s a conversation about misinformation, motivation, and the very real consequences when people are sold simple answers to complex problems. Or, put another way… Who’s really benefiting from all this?

    54 min
  4. Conservative Death Spiral

    19 ABR

    Conservative Death Spiral

    When political branding stops matching reality… what happens next? In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa explore what they call a potential “Conservative Death Spiral” — a moment where long-standing messaging around fiscal responsibility and “common sense” begins to clash with real-world decisions and outcomes. From Doug Ford’s controversial government jet purchase to Pierre Poilievre’s attacks on Mark Carney’s credentials, and even contradictions within the MAGA movement, the conversation looks at how narratives can start to collapse under their own weight. They also dig into: The psychology of political loyaltyWhy supporters sometimes defend policies that hurt themAnd whether we’re seeing a temporary wobble… or a deeper structural shiftA sharp, funny, and occasionally incredulous look at modern politics — and the risks of believing your own talking points for too long.

    47 min
  5. From Convoy to Cabinet? The Floor Crossing Crisis

    12 ABR

    From Convoy to Cabinet? The Floor Crossing Crisis

    Canada’s political landscape just took a strange turn. In this episode of Politics Is Broken, we break down the wave of floor crossings that has pushed the Liberals to within one seat of a majority government — without an election. Are MPs switching sides out of principle… or pure political survival? We dig into: The recent Conservative → Liberal defectionsWhy Marilyn Gladu’s move is causing backlashWhether Mark Carney is playing 4D chess… or making a risky mistakeWhy majority governments might be more dangerous than they seemAnd what this all says about the state of Canadian politics right nowPlus… A little Trump-induced global anxiety, ketchup chips diplomacy, and why Canadian politics increasingly feels like a group project where nobody trusts each other.

    56 min
  6. Reacting to the Most Insane Headlines This Week (War, Trump & the Moon)

    5 ABR

    Reacting to the Most Insane Headlines This Week (War, Trump & the Moon)

    What happens when the headlines are too chaotic to ignore… but too exhausting to fully process? You react. This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa react to the biggest, strangest, and most concerning headlines from around the world—because picking just one story feels impossible right now. From war-driven oil spikes to political chaos in the U.S.… to Canada’s policy curveballs… to a moon mission happening in the middle of it all… we break it down the only way we know how: by trying to make sense of it (and occasionally failing). In this episode: Reacting to rising global oil prices and economic falloutBreaking down Trump’s latest moves and loyalty dramaCanada’s “30 days or free” passport policyThe EV debate and what it means for Canadian industryAnd yes… reacting to humans heading back to the moon while everything else feels like it’s falling apartIt’s real headlines, real reactions, and just enough humour to keep you from throwing your phone across the room.

    51 min
  7. Is Ottawa Broken… or Are We?

    29 MAR

    Is Ottawa Broken… or Are We?

    What happens when you stop watching politics… and actually go see it? This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar heads to Ottawa to speak at Carleton University’s Kesterton Lecture… and ends up going behind the scenes of Canadian politics. From touring Parliament Hill and sitting in on Question Period… to meeting politicians in the hallway and eating in what may or may not be called “the cafeteria of power”… this episode is a firsthand look at how politics feels in real life. And the biggest takeaway? It doesn’t feel less broken… …but it does feel different. Less like chaos… more like choreography. Less like villains… more like very tired humans trying to do a very public job. Plus, an Alberta update featuring: The ongoing “Temu Tylenol” sagaRCMP investigationsAnd a golden cat that may or may not explain everythingSo… is Ottawa really a bubble? Or are we just watching it through one? If you want a slightly punchier version (or one with more humour baked into the first two lines), I can tighten it even further.

    53 min
  8. Doug Ford & The Spice Girls (and no more FOI)

    15 MAR

    Doug Ford & The Spice Girls (and no more FOI)

    Ontario’s government says it wants to modernize transparency laws. Critics say it looks more like hiding the paperwork. This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa break down the Ford government’s proposed changes to Freedom of Information rules — which could exempt the premier’s office and cabinet ministers from requests while extending response times. The timing is raising eyebrows. Because the same government is also proposing a series of massive ideas — from the Greenbelt reversal to a $2.2 billion spa at Ontario Place and even a 50 km tunnel under Highway 401. So what’s going on? Bold governing? Convenience politics? Or government by vibes?

    52 min
Ver todo (118)

Información

Canadian and Global Politics, Unspun. Politics is messy, loud, and usually full of nonsense. Politics Is Broken takes all that chaos, filters it through a Canadian sense of humour, and hands it back in a way that actually makes sense. Hosted by Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) and Lisa B., it’s smart, funny, and just irreverent enough to make the news bearable. www.brittlestar.com

Ficha técnica

  • Canal
    BRITTLESTAR
  • Creado por
    Brittlestar
  • Años en activo
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodios
    118
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Derechos de autor
    © Stewart JW Reynolds
  • Sitio web del podcast
    Politics Is Broken

Más de BRITTLESTAR

Quizá también te guste