The Radical Reverend Reverend Dr. Cheri DiNovo, C.M.

After a fascist coup attempt, the National Guard has been called in to state capitals across the United States amidst FBI warnings of additional planned far-right attacks. The Biden administration's response has been to back new domestic terrorism legislation that would give even greater power to law enforcement. But won't these new laws overwhelmingly be used against the Left? 

There's no shortage of disturbing developments happening north of the border, too. Conservative politicians in Canada are borrowing from Trump's far-right playbook, including Erin O'Toole who has just hired the founder of Ontario Proud to be part of his campaign team. 

Plus, in response to rapidly rising COVID hospitalizations and deaths, Ontario has been placed under stay-at-home orders. Advocates are saying that won't be enough to save residents of long-term care and are calling for military health care teams to be sent in. Why is the Ontario government refusing their help? And why has nothing been done to fix the problems identified in the first military report?

Guests:

Ben Nolan [@BenNolan], doctoral candidate in political theory at UMass, Amherst and a Du Bois Center fellow

Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos [@DrVivianS], professor at Ontario Tech University, long-term care researcher and advocate

More than one-third of long-term care homes in Ontario are currently experiencing a COVID outbreak. At Tendercare Living Centre in Scarborough, 73 residents have died, the worst-affected long-term care residence in Ontario. Seniors across the province are living in abysmal conditions. Staff are working without adequate PPE, and 2 have died in the past week. Why is this happening?

Ontario's vaccine rollout is ramping up, but at our current rate it will take 5 years for 80% of adults in Ontario to get vaccinated. What's going wrong, and what can be done to fix it?

Guests:

Deanna Kunz, personal support worker

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth [@nilikm], primary care physician and co-host of the podcast RxAdvocacy

What has Canada gotten right in our COVID response? What have we gotten wrong? And how should we move forward from here?

Guests:

Ryan Imgrund [@imgrund], biostatistician and consultant

Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos [@DrVivianS], professor at Ontario Tech University, long-term care researcher and advocate

This week on the Radical Reverend, we look back at 2020 and forward to 2021 through a Marxist lens.

Guests: 

Alex Grant [@alexg_fightback], editor at Fightback

Drew Garvie [@GarvieDrew], leader of the Ontario wing of the Communist Party of Canada

Ben Nolan [@BenNolan], doctoral candidate in political theory at UMass, Amherst and a Du Bois Center fellow

This week we're talking all about Mary. Who was she? We most often see Mary depicted as a white woman, but she was actually a teenage Palestinian girl. Pregnant outside of wedlock and living in an occupied territory, Mary stood up to power in a society that typically stoned girls like her to death. We discuss Mary as a feminist hero, take a contemporary perspective on the Immaculate Conception, and share the wisdom we draw from her story that informs our lives today. 

Guests:

Rev. Jodi Fisher, United Church clergy

Rev. Christine Smaller, Minister at Glebe Road United Church

The US presidential election was called more than a month ago but Trump still hasn't conceded. Do any of his legal challenges to overturn the election results have a chance of succeeding?

The Trump administration is executing prisoners during the transition period, breaking a norm that has lasted 130 years. Why is Trump doing this? Do average Americans actually support the death penalty?

Under a Supreme Court that leans heavily to the Right, what will happen to Roe v. Wade? Is there any hope of the Biden administration making truly progressive changes, or will any progressive legislation be hamstrung by the courts?

Canada has just begun administering its first COVID vaccines to a small group of high-risk seniors and frontline healthcare workers. Will vaccines eventually be mandatory for everyone? What do our laws say about balancing the common good and individual rights?

Guests:

François Tanguay-Renaud [@FTanguayRenaud], law professor and co-director of the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security at York University

David Slavick [@DavidSlavick], political strategist and host of The Popular Show