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. Alberta’s “Slopaganda” Problem

    26 APR

    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
  2. Science Explains How Trump Got Elected

    1 MAR

    Science Explains How Trump Got Elected

    Science says we’re getting dimmer…and politics is sprinting to the cognitive bottom. In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa unpack the Reverse Flynn Effect (yes, it’s a real thing) and why critical thinking has been quietly leaving the group chat since the mid-’90s. We dig into “cognitive offloading” (Google, GPS, AI doing our thinking for us), the flood-the-zone strategy that keeps everyone overwhelmed, and how a world full of exhausted, distracted people becomes the perfect environment for bad ideas to look like leadership. Along the way: Sharpie hurricanes, disinfectant “solutions,” conspiracy nonsense, and one Canadian MP hunting for “Antifa members” like it’s a sandwich club with a loyalty card. It’s funny…until you remember these people run things.

    48 min
  3. Are Conservatives Drunk on Poilievre?

    1 FEB

    Are Conservatives Drunk on Poilievre?

    The Conservative Party just held a leadership convention in Calgary and—surprise—Pierre Poilievre walked away with a huge vote of confidence. But was it unity…or just muscle memory? In this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart and Lisa watch the convention so you don’t have to, unpacking Poilievre’s 87% approval, the party’s fixation on the “good old days,” and the increasingly polished attempt to soften a lifelong attack dog. We talk nostalgia politics, emotional messaging, selective history, and why “remember when things were better” is not actually a governing strategy. They dig into the numbers behind the applause, the age gap in Conservative support, the curious obsession with high-school mock elections, and why younger voters may be buying promises that don’t come with a “how.” Plus: smiling on command, Reagan jokes, used-car-salesman energy, and a political bus that may be heading confidently in the wrong direction. Funny, skeptical, and mildly concerned…just how we like it.

    56 min
  4. Carney's Revenge

    25 JAN

    Carney's Revenge

    "Nostalgia is not a strategy." This week on Politics Is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa dive into the fallout from Davos 2026, where Prime Minister Mark Carney finally took the gloves off. From rallying middle powers to reminding the world that Canada doesn't just "live because of the U.S.," Carney is drawing a line in the snow—and the "Board of Peace" is not happy about it.

    52 min
  5. The 12 Months of Crisismas - 2025 Canadian Politics Review

    21/12/2025

    The 12 Months of Crisismas - 2025 Canadian Politics Review

    It’s the year-end wrap for Politics is Broken… and it’s festive in the way a tire fire is festive when someone tosses a candy cane into it. In “The 12 Months of Crisismas”, Brittlestar and Lisa rip through 2025 month-by-month… Trudeau stepping aside, Doug Ford’s third majority, Carney’s technocratic pivot, election anxiety, internal trade “why didn’t we do this 100 years ago,” Poilievre’s by-election comeback, Alberta’s culture-war legislation, and the ongoing “are we a country or are we a condo America is trying to buy” vibe. Then… the 12 Quotes of Crisismas (a reminder that the things leaders said this year were not normal), followed by the game Folks or Fiction, where you try to guess if a quote came from Doug Ford or a fictional character… and honestly, that’s harder than it should be. Take a breather, laugh a little, remember to vote like it matters (because it does)… and welcome to the year-end episode that politely asks: “Can we all calm down for five minutes?”

    1hr 12min
  6. What the US National Security Strategy Means For Canada (and Alberta Too)

    14/12/2025

    What the US National Security Strategy Means For Canada (and Alberta Too)

    This week on Politics Is Broken, Danielle Smith becomes the first Alberta premier in nearly 90 years to face a citizen-led recall petition... and the UCP’s own recall law starts doing exactly what everyone warned it would do (just not to the people who wrote it). Then we pivot south, where the U.S. releases a new “National Security Strategy” that reads less like policy and more like a world dominance mood board... complete with America First everything, Europe-as-a-warning-label, and a not-at-all-chill vibe about the “Western hemisphere.” Plus: the new U.S. visitor rule demanding five years of social media history, and what Canada should do when the neighbour starts acting like the whole street is his driveway.

    53 min
  7. ALBERTA: TOTAL RECALL

    30/11/2025

    ALBERTA: TOTAL RECALL

    In this week’s Politics Is Broken: The death of “statesmanlike” behaviourTrump’s “quiet, quiet, piggy” moment and Ford’s “get a job” clapbackHow recall actually works in Alberta (and why there are so many petitions)What other countries do with recall… and why it’s so rareWhether recall is a dangerous precedent or a much-needed pressure valveAnd why this all “smells a little like hope” in a grim political year

    47 min

  8. 23/11/2025

    What The Hell, Alberta

    Brittlestar and Lisa tackle Alberta’s chaos spiral - from the government using the notwithstanding clause to target trans kids, to a $125M privatization disaster, to a “not two-tier” healthcare plan that sure feels like two tiers. What the hell, Alberta?

    58 min
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Brittlestar
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stewart JW Reynolds
  • Show Website
    Politics Is Broken

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