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. IS Canada Better Than The US?

    −1 D

    IS Canada Better Than The US?

    A heavy week in Canada sparks a tough (and surprisingly data-filled) question: is Canada actually better than the U.S.? In this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa start by acknowledging a heartbreaking tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., and the wave of grief, misinformation, and opportunistic culture-war blame that followed. From there, they zoom out and do what Canadians do best… compare ourselves to our loud neighbour with receipts. They dig into the numbers on income, unemployment, healthcare costs, life expectancy, housing pressure, and gun violence, and ask what’s worth defending…and what we still need to fix. Along the way, they talk about political leaders showing unity, why scapegoating communities doesn’t solve anything, and how Canada can protect its “we’re in this together” instinct before it gets imported and ruined like acid-washed jeans. Content note: discussion of a recent act of violence and its aftermath.

    50 min
  2. What the Hell Is Happening in the USA? - w/ Eric Ham

    8 FEB.

    What the Hell Is Happening in the USA? - w/ Eric Ham

    What’s really happening in the United States…and how did American democracy get to this point? On this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart and Lisa are joined by U.S. political analyst, bestselling author, and former congressional staffer Eric Ham for a revealing conversation about Donald Trump, American politics, and the structural failures that paved the way for the current crisis. Eric offers an unexpected and deeply informed perspective on how the U.S. drifted here over decades…from weakened democratic institutions and access-driven media, to the normalization of political extremism, racism, and fear as a governing strategy. He explains why Trump isn’t an accident or an outlier, but a symptom of unresolved American contradictions that many preferred not to confront. The discussion also explores U.S.–Canada relations, trade tensions, immigration enforcement, the future of free and fair elections, and why many Americans are quietly alarmed by what they’re seeing from their own government. Eric breaks down why global concern isn’t overreaction…and what happens when accountability disappears. A sobering, honest look at American democracy, Trumpism, political polarization, and the uncertain road ahead — with rare clarity from inside Washington.

    1 tim 7 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. Informed Not Incapacitated - Replying to Comments

    18 JAN.

    Informed Not Incapacitated - Replying to Comments

    Brittlestar and Lisa wade bravely into the comment section (together… for safety) to do a little “Reply in the Comments” palate-cleanse… because the world is a dumpster fire and sometimes it’s healthier to fixate on people’s gripes instead. Along the way: suburban snow rituals, the “grandma shuffle,” superbox mailbox rage, why Chinese EVs are both tempting and complicated, and the terrifying absurdity of Greenland becoming a geopolitical storyline. Plus, a few listener comments that hit hard, a quick group therapy moment about news anxiety, and one all-caps hot take that gets exactly the airtime it deserves.

    55 min
  6. Is Canada Prepared for a Future Without the US?

    11 JAN.

    Is Canada Prepared for a Future Without the US?

    Happy New Year… and welcome to 2026, the future nobody ordered. Stewart and Lisa ask the big question: is Canada prepared for a world where the U.S. goes full rogue-state vibes ... ignoring rule of law, weaponizing trade, and exporting chaos. They talk worst-case vs best-case, what Canada can actually do, and then end with a “Wrong Answers Only” Trump-quote game because of course they do.

    1 tim
  7. The 12 Months of Crisismas - 2025 Canadian Politics Review

    2025-12-21

    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?”

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

    2025-12-14

    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
Visa alla (107)

Om

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

  • Kanal
    BRITTLESTAR
  • Skapad av
    Brittlestar
  • Aktiva år
    2024 - 2026
  • Avsnitt
    107
  • Åldersgräns
    Vuxet innehåll
  • Copyright
    © Stewart JW Reynolds
  • Programmets webbplats
    Politics Is Broken

Mer från BRITTLESTAR

Du kanske också gillar