The North State

Scott Martin
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  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Canada needs a news criticism podcast now more than ever. Thankfully, The Catch has got you covered. Join award-winning independent journalist Scott Martin every week as he breaks down the latest news media nonsense. Punching through the noise, The North State tackles how news media frames issues, omits information and pushes the status quo. Go to readthecatch.ca to support the show. The North State is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network. Visit Harbinger for more progressive Canadian podcasts. Artwork: Zo, Studio Bonjourhi Theme Music: “Vigilante” by Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1D AGO

    Launching Worker-owned News ft. De Facto Journalism Co-op

    In a news landscape littered with layoffs, executive bonuses and increased deference to power, it can be a bleak time for those in the industry. In a journey to focus on reporting on justice, systems of power and the law, De Facto Journalism Co-op hopes to become a new leader in Canadian reporting. Emma Arkell, award-winning labour reporter at PressProgress and editor of the Shift Work newsletter and David P. Ball, an award-winning reporter, editor, podcaster and photographer join Scott to discuss their new worker-owned outlet, how legacy news media has failed to adjust to the times and the challenges and triumphs of launching a Canadian news media co-op in 2026. BC journalists launch new worker-owned investigative publication - De Facto Journalism Co-op Vancouver cops are calling border enforcement more than ever. Community members fear that puts them in danger - De Facto Journalism Co-op De Facto Bluesky Links: De Facto Journalism Co-op Emma Arkell David P. Ball Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/launching-worker-owned-news-ft-de-facto-journalism-co-op-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  2. APR 28

    National Post Praises White Supremacist Novel ft. Carmen Celestini

    After Amazon pulled "The Camp of Saints" from their storefront, the publisher raised a stink online of censorship. This was quickly picked up by right-wing forces like the Washington Examiner and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney as an attack on free speech. Amazon has since returned the book to their marketplace and a white supremacist screed, describing nonwhite people as violent inhuman criminals inherently motivated to kill and rape, has entered the mainstream. Amidst all this, National Post columnist Jamie Sarkonak described the book as "highly relevant today in light of Canada’s own situation." Carmen Celestini, lecturer in Religious Studies at University of Waterloo and author of the upcoming book God’s Angry Men: The Political Legacy of the John Birch Society joins Scott to actually discuss the contents of the book, its use by far-right forces and how Sarkonak and the Post helped bring hateful fascist conspiracies into the mainstream. Follow Carmen on Bluesky God's Angry Men: The Political Legacy of the John Birch Society Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/national-post-praises-white-supremacist-novel-ft-carmen-celestini-podcast/ Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  3. APR 21

    Monologue: Why Do We Talk About Jesse Brown?

    You know what this is about, don't be coy. 04/27/26- Correction/Clarification: Mark Bourrie has reached out to me to inform me that the phonecall I reference in the Canadaland podcast is not the phonecall made on March 19, but one from 2021. Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/monologue-why-do-we-talk-about-jesse-brown-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min

  4. APR 14

    Crossing into a Majority ft. Elizabeth McCallion

    It's official. Mark Carney's Liberal government is now a majority. But the tactics used to gain this majority have mainly focused on cultivating floor-crossers from other parties to join their caucus. Even before the decisive victories in three byelections, it became clear Carney's majority goal came from coaxing dissatisfied MPs. What does this mean? In a politics bonanza, University of Toronto political scientist Elizabeth McCallion joins Scott to discuss the political climate this cultivates, pathways for the Liberals in the future and how the Conservatives will respond. Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/crossing-into-a-majority-ft-elizabeth-mccallion-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  5. MAR 31

    Avi Lewis? More like Avi LENIN! ft. Nora Loreto

    The NDP selected Avi Lewis as their new leader after a conference this past weekend. After a long campaign that largely went under-reported due to the party's meagre seat count, we now have a federal party leader pushing for public options, scaling back fossil fuel production and backing peace on the world stage. Independent journalist Nora Loreto spent the weekend at the convention and joins Scott to discuss the vibes, the vote, their critiques and how legacy news has shown they don't care to know about left-wing politics at all. Follow Nora on Bluesky Nora's Substack Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/avi-lewis-more-like-avi-lenin-ft-nora-loreto-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

  6. MAR 24

    The Assassination of the FOI by the Coward Doug Ford ft. Justin Ling

    Ontario premier Doug Ford used his personal cellphone for provincial business, leading a panel of three judges to rule his personal cellphone was subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Now, Ford wants to exempt the premier, cabinet ministers and parliamentary staffers from FOI laws, explicitly saying because of his cellphone use. The move is a brazen attack on the public's right to knowledge about their government, but it's a large and unique piece of a larger attack on freedom of information systems. Justin Ling, investigative reporter and columnist at the Toronto Star, joins Scott to discuss the larger context, the attacks against FOI systems across the country and what news organizations need to do to push back. Follow Justin Ling on Bluesky Justin's Substack Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/the-assassination-of-the-foi-by-the-coward-doug-ford-ft-justin-ling-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  7. MAR 17

    Oops, the Government Determined Who Was a Journalist ft. Jeremy Appel

    In 2019, Canadian journalism outlets meeting certain requirements were able to receive a tax credit under federal law. These were codified under the federal government's Qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJO) guidelines. Now, seven years later, it turns out at least two government agencies were basing their response to journalist inquiries on these qualifications. The Orchard founder and journalist Jeremy Appel discovered that he initially didn't qualify as a journalist when inquiring Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada about a different story. IRCC has since backtracked, but what does this say about government designation of journalists? Scott and Jeremy discuss. Check out Jeremy's work at The Orchard. Follow Jeremy on Bluesky. Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/oops-the-government-determined-who-was-a-journalist-ft-jeremy-appel-podcast Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  8. MAR 10

    Supporting the Illegal Bombing of Iran "With Regret" ft. Ian Barclay

    The USA and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran. With most legal scholars saying this strike was illegal and most official investigations into Iran's nuclear program saying they weren't building weapons, you'd think a position would be easy to strike. Instead, Prime Minister Mark Carney has supported the US in their attack, at most attaching some "regret" to that support. When lined up against his world-famous Davos speech, Carney's position seems untenable, but he's actually been quite consistent. Ian Barclay, editor-in-chief at Avant-Garde Press joins Scott to discuss the timeline of Carney's statements, possible Canadian involvement in the operation and a discussion about what this means, especially when news media doesn't forcefully push back against these statements. Avant-Garde Press Follow Ian on Bluesky Follow Scott on Bluesky Sources and further reading: https://readthecatch.ca/supporting-the-illegal-bombing-of-iran-with-regret-ft-ian-barclay-podcast Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi Outro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
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Trailer

About

Canada needs a news criticism podcast now more than ever. Thankfully, The Catch has got you covered. Join award-winning independent journalist Scott Martin every week as he breaks down the latest news media nonsense. Punching through the noise, The North State tackles how news media frames issues, omits information and pushes the status quo. Go to readthecatch.ca to support the show. The North State is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network. Visit Harbinger for more progressive Canadian podcasts. Artwork: Zo, Studio Bonjourhi Theme Music: “Vigilante” by Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Martin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Scott Martin
  • Show Website
    The North State

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