The Munk Debates Podcast

Munk Foundation / iHeartRadio

The Munk Debate podcasts is home to two of the most popular Canadian current affairs podcasts: Friday Focus with Janice Gross Stein and Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    Friday Focus: developed democracies are in crisis and the dangerous power of Elon Musk

    Rudyard and Janice survey a world in turmoil, from protests across Europe and rising oil prices to Starshield disruptions in Ukraine and signs of possible renewed U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. Are developed democracies entering a period of profound transition? They turn first to the prospect of renewed U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. Trump has shown little strategic patience or clarity of purpose, while Tehran has threatened to retaliate against energy infrastructure across the Gulf. What would a third round of strikes actually achieve? Would it bring Iran to the negotiating table, or simply trigger a wider regional conflict? And what role might Saudi Arabia play? In the second half, Rudyard and Janice examine the disruption to Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite communications system, which Ukraine relies on for frontline operations and air defence. The reported restrictions have raised serious questions about Ukraine’s ability to conduct military operations and intercept Russian attacks. Who is responsible for the disruption, and what roles, if any, did Elon Musk and the Trump administration play? More broadly, what does this episode reveal about the risks of entrusting critical military infrastructure to a private individual with the power to shape geopolitical outcomes? Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Friday Focus: developed democracies are in crisis and the dangerous power of Elon Musk

  2. 6d ago

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: France’s unrest and the West’s growth problem

    Rudyard and Andrew examine the social unrest sweeping across France. Andrew argues that while protest is deeply embedded in French political culture, the current wave of demonstrations is being fuelled by political opportunism, with the far left exploiting legitimate grievances to foment disorder. With President Macron deeply unpopular and his presidency increasingly weakened, the unrest risks benefiting Marine Le Pen, as the political centre struggles to hold. How much sympathy should we have for a younger generation burdened by debt and deficits accumulated by their elders? And is France a warning of what lies ahead for the West, as citizens confront an affordability crisis, strained public services and the prospect of a diminished future? Andrew argues that slow economic growth lies at the heart of these challenges, eroding public confidence and making it harder for governments to deliver on their promises. Canada faces many of the same pressures, raising a critical question: what is the path back to growth? The good news, Andrew suggests, is that the political centre has held in Canada under Mark Carney. Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: France’s unrest and the West’s growth problem

  3. Oct 16

    Friday Focus: Trump tilts the war in Putin's favour and the growing threat of rogue AI

    Rudyard and Janice begin today’s show with Russia and Ukraine exchanging strikes following a brief, Trump-brokered energy ceasefire that lasted just 48 hours. Is Zelensky’s open defiance of Trump connected to Starlink being shut off in Ukraine and a series of Russian ballistic missile strikes launched without warning? The Trump administration appears to be ratcheting up pressure on Kyiv, punishing Ukraine while Putin faces few consequences for violating the president’s truce. Is Trump trying to weaken Zelensky and force him into concessions that would give Putin enough of a “win” to end the war? As devastating as the prospect of concessions may be, is ending this prolonged and deadly conflict ultimately the better outcome? In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice turn to AI and the growing threat of cyberattacks powered by AI models that can infiltrate internet-connected devices and potentially spawn autonomous, malicious AI agents. Why aren’t governments stepping in? We find ourselves in a strange moment of powerlessness, waiting for an AI-driven disaster to strike. And it may be the next generation that pays the highest price. Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Friday Focus: Trump tilts the war in Putin's favour and the growing threat of rogue AI

  4. Oct 13

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump's gift to Putin and Alberta's grievance referendum

    Andrew and Rudyard begin today’s show with Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to bring down fuel prices ahead of the midterms. Trump is once again putting Putin’s interests ahead of Ukraine’s and showing his admiration for authoritarian leaders whom he wishes to emulate. The move risks bolstering Putin and increasing pressure on Ukraine, while Trump shifts blame for the war’s continuation and rising oil prices onto Zelensky and Kyiv — scapegoating Ukraine for a crisis of America’s own making. In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to Alberta’s upcoming referendum. Beyond separation, the vote could bring questions of immigration and federal equalization to the fore. Andrew sees the referendum as a cynical attempt to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment and fuel resentment toward Ottawa. He argues that referendums do little to resolve underlying tensions, instead creating a platform for new grievances. Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump's gift to Putin and Alberta's grievance referendum

  5. Oct 9

    Friday Focus: Iran on the brink and the politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize

    Rudyard and Janice begin today’s show with Trump’s mixed messaging on Iran. While Trump has suggested that military action may be delayed until after the midterms, reports indicate that the U.S. military is preparing for potential strikes. With Trump’s statements increasingly difficult to take at face value, the focus shifts to more concrete signals, such as military deployments. Meanwhile, Iran’s economy is under mounting pressure, with oil exports halted and the economy in free fall. Having challenged Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. appears to have gained leverage, while Tehran shows signs of wanting a deal. In the second half, Rudyard and Janice turn to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navanethem Pillay, the South African jurist who chaired the UN commission that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Is Oslo’s Nobel Committee increasingly using the prize to send political messages, including messages critical of Israel? Is this part of a broader effort by liberal institutions to push back against great powers retreating from the liberal, rules-based international order? And by taking a position on such a contentious issue, is the Nobel Committee influencing public opinion at the expense of due process and open debate? Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Friday Focus: Iran on the brink and the politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize

  6. Oct 6

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Canada’s separatist moment

    Rudyard and Andrew focus today’s show on the separatist movements gaining traction across Canada. Quebec voters appear poised to elect a separatist government, potentially setting the stage for another referendum in the coming years. What do we know about PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon? And how might Mark Carney’s popularity in Quebec affect Plamondon’s separatist ambitions? They then turn to Alberta’s upcoming referendum and ask how strong the separatist movement is without Justin Trudeau in office. National unity, they argue, is closely tied to a sense of national purpose, drive and ambition. If major projects continue to move forward in Alberta, could they help strengthen the case for a united Canada? And what should we make of reports that separatist leaders have been meeting with members of the GOP in Washington? Andrew remains optimistic that Canadians’ commitment to the rule of law will ultimately favour the federalist position and help hold the country together. Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Canada’s separatist moment

  7. Oct 2

    Friday Focus: Trump's pre-midterm warning to Tehran and Israel's high-stakes election

    Rudyard and Janice begin today’s show with news that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is being deployed to the Middle East and the signal this is sending to Iran and the region. With Tehran facing a blockade and struggling to earn hard currency, the U.S. calculation points to escalation after the midterms. What could a major Democratic victory in the midterms mean for Trump’s ability to pursue military action? And could another impeachment actually make Trump more aggressive and less constrained? In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice turn to Israel’s upcoming elections and the electoral prospects of the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs. Both face the prospect of minority governments, leaving Arab parties as potential kingmakers. Could Israel end up with another hung parliament, with Bibi at its head and figures such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich continuing to play a role in government? For many centrist and liberal Israelis, this represents a nightmare scenario and proof that this election is existential: if the Netanyahu bloc prevails, Israel’s ability to remain a liberal democracy will cease to exist. Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Friday Focus: Trump's pre-midterm warning to Tehran and Israel's high-stakes election

  8. Sep 28

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Is Mark Carney governing like a Conservative?

    What can we expect from a make-or-break federal budget delivered in the middle of a trade war? Rudyard and Andrew look at the growing appetite in the business community for broad tax reform—and ask whether now is the moment for Canada to make itself as competitive as possible for investment. If the government wants to deliver meaningful tax cuts, they argue, it will need to tackle spending, including business subsidies, so that companies make investment decisions based on economics rather than government incentives. And with Carney’s government far ahead in the polls and a “wolf” named Trump at the door, is there any better time for the government to spend its political capital on bold economic reform? Given the government’s retreat from climate commitments, rollback of the capital-gains tax increase, support for pipeline building and moves on immigration reform—is this really a Liberal government? Andrew argues that it is much easier for a Liberal government to do conservative things than for a Conservative government to do conservative things. With Carney enjoying extraordinary freedom of movement, almost akin to a wartime situation, he is taking full advantage of it. But where does that leave the Conservatives? Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Is Mark Carney governing like a Conservative?
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About

The Munk Debate podcasts is home to two of the most popular Canadian current affairs podcasts: Friday Focus with Janice Gross Stein and Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Munk Foundation / iHeartRadio
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    609
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Antica Productions and Bell Media
  • Show Website
    The Munk Debates Podcast

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