Iran’s ‘mafia’ regime won’t be giving up that easily
Make no mistake: the blows that Israel and America delivered to the Islamic tyrants in Tehran were in many ways crippling. As Kaveh Shahrooz, an Iranian-born Mideast analyst and human rights activist, tells Brian this week, the devastating targeted assassinations of nuclear scientists and military leaders indicate Israel has infiltrated the regime at its highest level. Its nuclear program is shattered, although we wait to learn by how much. And Israel has amputated Iran’s terror network by crushing Hamas and Hezbollah and helping end Syria’s Assad dictatorship. But, as Shahrooz explains, the ayatollahs face a disorganized opposition and will use all means necessary to keep their mafia-like hold on Iran. Expect more weapons, brutality and mayhem. (Recorded June 27, 2025)
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44:11
How Canada got on the wrong side in the war against Iran
As the Islamic Republic’s missiles rain down on the Jewish state, and with massive U.S. attacks against Iran’s nuclear sites ratcheting up the war, Brian talks to two Canadians living under fire as they frantically duck in and out of bomb shelters. Postmedia columnist Adam Zivo has been stuck in Israel, unable to get out, while former Canadian ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici (also a Postmedia columnist) has been helping evacuate fellow expatriates abandoned by Canada’s government. They talk about how Canada hasn’t only been largely useless in helping its citizens; as Bercovici says, the Carney government’s feeble demands for “de-escalation” in this critical, historic war to stop the global menace of an Iranian nuclear bomb has put Canada on the foolish side of history. (Recorded June 20, 2025)
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54:33
What cops ‘covered up’ about the Nova Scotia massacre
There are many lingering questions about the two-day killing spree by Gabriel Wortman that killed 22 people in 2020 in Nova Scotia, even after a joint federal/provincial commission wrapped up its inquiry. Investigative journalist Paul Palango joins Brian to discuss why he thinks all signs point to RCMP covering up that Wortman was working undercover for them before his rampage, as he exposes in his new book, Anatomy of a Cover-Up. He explains that it’s why police did nothing about reports that Wortman had illegal guns, and why the story of Wortman’s eventual killing by cop, and the account of his girlfriend, don’t line up with the evidence. If he’s right, then Canadians have been fed a lot of lies by officials — and we finally deserve the truth. (Recorded June 12, 2025)
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53:58
Canada’s on the brink of trade peace with Trump
Don’t call it a done deal until it’s done, but America’s ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, tells Brian this week that negotiations between Ottawa and President Donald Trump’s administration are making progress. He explains why he believes things are moving quickly in the right direction to settle the trade war between our two countries. Hoekstra also talks about why he’s looking forward to the next phase of the longstanding bilateral relationship, when he thinks Canada and the U.S. will work harmoniously and productively again, allied in eliminating the fentanyl scourge from both countries and building the two strongest economies in the industrialized world — although he still thinks Canada will be eating America’s dust. (Recorded June 6, 2025)
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43:09
Carney projects calm but he’s facing serious trouble
With the King opening Parliament, and a disciplined agenda, the prime minister modelled a poised and assured break from his unserious predecessor while sending a message to the world about Canadian sovereignty. That’s the verdict of Postmedia’s politics columnist John Ivison and parliamentary bureau chief Stuart Thomson, who join Brian to discuss the first week of Mark Carney’s re-elected government. Now, the easy part is over. Despite promises to cut spending, new estimates show bureaucracy out of control. President Trump has revived his “51st state” ultimatum, using missile defence as a cudgel. And provincial premiers are circling with demands in advance of a first ministers’ meeting. The panel runs through all the hard stuff for Carney that’s just getting started. (Recorded May 30, 2025)
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Full Comment is Canada’s podcast for compelling interviews, controversial opinions and fascinating discussions. Hosted by Brian Lilley. Published by Postmedia, new episodes are released each Monday.
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