The Munk Debates Podcast

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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.

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Friday Focus: Iran tests America's resolve and anti-Zionism becomes a winning strategy in New York

Programming note: Friday Focus will be taking a summer break. We will be back with new episodes starting September 11 (and, of course, if any serious news breaks over the summer!). Janice and Rudyard begin by unpacking an IRGC attack on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, exposing a fundamental divide between Washington and Tehran over freedom of navigation. While the U.S. insists on open access without fees or restrictions, Iran views the waterway as a source of leverage. If the two sides cannot bridge that gap, what hope is there of resolving the far more consequential nuclear dispute? Iran sees a U.S. president who makes a lot of threats but does not have the resolve to make good on them. In the second half, the conversation turns to Israel’s waning international support and the growing political potency of anti-Zionism. Following a string of primary victories in New York by candidates sharply critical of Israel, Rudyard and Janice ask whether opposition to the Israeli state is becoming a defining electoral issue, particularly among younger voters. They explore the claim that for figures like Zohran Mamdani, Palestine is a central political cause, and consider why anti-Zionist—and at times antisemitic—rhetoric is generating such traction across parts of both the political left and right, and whether that trend can be reversed. 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.

24 min
23 juni

Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump loses his bargaining power and has Mark Carney's “elbows up” promise delivered?

Iranians appear to be enjoying maximum leverage over the Trump administration. The argument goes that Trump had to act as he did to avoid severe risks to the global economy—an outcome that raises questions about the limits of his “master dealmaker” image. Why is JD Vance positioning himself as the deal’s chief cheerleader, exposing himself to sustained political scrutiny? And how are figures like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin likely interpreting these developments? For some, it may signal a setback for American credibility and global leadership. In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to domestic politics. As the House of Commons prepares to break for the summer, they assess the Prime Minister’s performance over his first 14 months in office. Having set high expectations during the campaign—including an “elbows up” approach to Donald Trump—has Mark Carney's government delivered policies that meet the moment? 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.

20 min
19 juni

Friday Focus: Iran flexes its leverage and Ukraine goes on the attack

Janice and Rudyard unpack another wild week in global affairs, beginning with news of heavy Israeli strikes overnight on Hezbollah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli troops. Although both sides have agreed to another ceasefire, these skirmishes could jeopardize the fragile memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S., potentially giving Tehran leverage over Israel by threatening to walk away from the deal. How does Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu respond to this latest escalation when Israel's deterrence credibility may be constrained by the agreement with Iran? And what if the MOU is merely a tactical ploy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lower oil prices, and buy time without resolving any of the underlying issues—setting the stage for renewed conflict after the U.S. midterm elections? In the second half of the show, Janice and Rudyard turn to this week's G7 meeting in France and ask whether there is any evidence that meaningful pressure is finally being brought to bear on Russia. President Zelensky has helped Ukraine build one of the world's most formidable drone capabilities, and the country's growing confidence was on display as dramatic images emerged from a brazen overnight drone strike on Moscow. If the tide is indeed turning, Putin—already under significant political pressure—may have few conventional options left. What are the risks that, as he is pushed closer to the brink, he resorts to increasingly dangerous or destructive actions? 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.

22 min
17 juni

Munk Dialogue with Janice Gross Stein: $300 Billion for Iran and and a huge leap of faith

Janice and Rudyard unpack the latest details of the emerging memorandum of understanding between Iran and Israel, examining its proposed $300 billion financing package and the sweeping rollback of sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors. They question the agreement's lack of concrete timelines and verification mechanisms—particularly around nuclear inspections—and argue that looming energy pressures helped drive both sides to the negotiating table. The deal, just 14 points long, is light on details and leaves much open to interpretation, most notably regarding the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. How is it being received by Iran's hardliners? And will the perception in the U.S. that it represents a major capitulation by Trump affect how the GOP fares in November's midterm elections? 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.

22 min
12 juni

Friday Focus: Trump abandons his red lines for a deal with Iran

This is now the 38th time President Trump has proclaimed a “great deal” with Iran. Is this one finally real? And if so, does it vindicate his strategy of escalating tensions to force Tehran back to the negotiating table? Based on the details leaked so far, the proposed agreement amounts to a 60-day ceasefire designed to create space for further negotiations. Yet the benefits for Iran appear to come first: sanctions relief and access to frozen assets before any final agreement on uranium enrichment or the nuclear program is reached. If that proves accurate, it is difficult to see where the Trump administration can claim victory. The deal risks looking less like a breakthrough and more like an agreement to reward Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Has Trump abandoned his own red lines? And if the end result resembles the framework negotiated under Obama, what exactly has changed? Finally, where does Israel fit into this agreement—and what could derail it before the ink is even dry? 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.

38 min
9 juni

Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: are we in a recession - or a growth trap?

Recent economic data suggests Canada is in a technical recession. Andrew argues that while political parties continue to sell the fiction that governments can deliver short-term economic growth, economists largely agree that growth is driven by deeper, longer-term forces. The bigger problem is that neither party has a serious plan to boost productivity and investment. High taxes, burdensome regulation, and growing market concentration are holding the economy back. And while many Canadians blame immigration for our economic malaise, the real issue isn't too many workers—it's too little capital. Are we expecting too much from this government, or is it simply avoiding the hard reforms Canada needs most? 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.

43 min
5 juni

Friday Focus: America's security guarantee is tested, while Canada's AI strategy comes up short

Iran and the U.S. remain locked in a dangerous standoff over the Strait of Hormuz that could drag on for weeks. How does this end? What pressure points could force either side to negotiate in good faith? Meanwhile, Iran continues to strike American allies across the region without a meaningful U.S. military response. What message does that send about the credibility of America's security guarantees? In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice examine the government's new AI strategy. Filled with promises of sovereignty, privacy, and transparency, it may sound reassuring on paper—but where is the plan to counter the growing power of the tech giants that control this technology? Talk of sovereign AI and stronger privacy rules is meaningless without a strategy to compete with companies that are increasingly viewed as strategic assets of the U.S. government. And while Ottawa talks about AI, it continues to ignore the deeper reforms needed to unlock growth: tax reform, regulatory reform, and stronger competition policy. Canada cannot build an AI economy without first addressing the structural barriers holding back its broader economy. 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.

17 min
29 maj

Friday Focus: The hidden cost of a deal with Iran — and the Pope sounds the alarm on AI

We may be on the cusp of a deal between Iran and the U.S., as both sides appear to be losing interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. But is this merely a ceasefire extension, with Iran’s nuclear program deferred to future negotiations? If Iran ultimately gives up its enriched uranium, it will be seen as a win for Trump — but at a steep cost: Iran will have demonstrated that control over the Strait of Hormuz can effectively deter the world’s superpower. Rudyard argues that maintaining great-power status requires sacrifice to restore deterrence, something the current U.S. administration seems unwilling to do. Can America remain a great power without paying that price? In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice discuss the Pope’s encyclical letter released this week — with one of Anthropic’s co-founders in attendance — in which he warned about AI’s threat to humanity. The Pope emphasized the dignity of work and cautioned that using AI to eliminate human labor is deeply misguided and anti-human. Are governments around the world prepared for the disruption that’s coming? 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.

22 min

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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.

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2019 - 2026
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© 2026 Antica Productions and Bell Media
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