The Take with Tom Clark The Take with Tom Clark

Is Donald Trump dangerous for democracy? In our final instalment of our U.S. Election Watch, host Tom Clark sits down with Ali Velshi of MSNBC. They discuss the final stretch of the campaign trail and what has driven Americans to such polar ends of their political spectrum. While some polls are predicting a Biden win, Ali Velshi points out that the information we take in depends on the media bubble we're in. As someone covering many of America's swing states, he sees the race as much tighter. 
And as for Canada? "Canada would do better under a more normal president." That's not necessarily democratic or republican, but either way, we are paying close attention. 

Former US Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman joins us on The Take as America inches closer to election day. What does either election result mean for trade and business across the border? The Democrats may be broadly aligned with our hearts, but are the Republicans better suited for our wallets? If a change in government should occur, how would this affect foreign relations for America on a broader scale? Listen to hear Bruce's take on the US-Canada relationship and what the outcome of this election spells for our country. 

As Trump and Biden simultaneously and separately present to the American people, it’s clear we are observing a steep divide, not a debate. Host Tom Clark turns to former CBC journalist Neil Macdonald, to discuss the situation from a Canadian perspective. Both Tom and Neil spent time covering Washington for different Canadian networks, and beyond the smart banter between the two, a really crisp perspective emerges on how Canada should respond to the populism and shocking conduct we are strangely becoming accustomed to.    

Vice Presidential debates are sometimes an afterthought, but not this time. With a record 57 million viewers, the Harris-Pence (+fly) debate was watched closely as America's contenders for second office communicated their messages. Canada was mentioned in the first minute of questioning, contrasted to the high death toll from covid cases in our neighbours to the south.
Host Tom Clark and our US-Canada relations expert Monique Smith unpack what Canada should consider from the answers given by both candidates. Tune in to hear what we need to pay attention to within layers of government beyond the oval office. 

The Take shifts focus to the weeks leading up to the U.S. Election with a 5-part series on what this means for Canada. In this episode, host Tom Clark speaks to Christopher Sands, the Canada Institute Director at the Wilson Centre. What can we learn from the first presidential debate and how will the ideas play out in Canada-US relations? Is this the most important election of our lifetime, or will it facilitate a transition into a new era? Tune in to find out. 

Perdita Felicien has won 10 Canadian National Championships and her Canadian record for the 100 metres hurdles still stands. She is a celebrated Olympic athlete, national figure, author, and broadcaster, covering Canada’s major sports moments. The global pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented halt to many sports activities and the massive industry that surrounds it. As the industry reopens, now is the time to consider change and improvement. The Take turns to Perdita Felicien to talk about her experiences in Canada’s sport sector and her ideas for where we’re headed as a country.