Gloves Off

As America pulls back from its traditional alliances, what does that mean for Canada and the future of the global order?

In this extended interview, Stephen Marche revisits his conversation with Julianne Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former senior Pentagon official. Smith explains how the Trump administration has transformed America’s relationships with its allies, why trust in the United States has eroded, and how Canada and other middle powers are responding.

From NATO and European defence to Canada’s growing ties with the European Union and Nordic countries, Smith explores whether middle powers can build a new “third pole” of global influence—and whether the existing international order can survive America’s retreat.

What happens when America’s allies start building a world without America at the centre?

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 8 "What Are We Fighting For?"

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: a linguistic analysis of how the concept of "sovereignty" has changed over time, based on how it has been used in the House of Commons since 1900.

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In this extended interview,Stephen Marche speaks with Tim Mak, Editor of the Kyiv-based publication The Counteroffensive about Ukraine’s drone war and the future of warfare. They explore how Ukraine’s decentralized defence-tech ecosystem is driving rapid innovation—and what Canada can learn as it prepares to dramatically increase defence spending.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 5 "How Canada Wins at Defence"

Also visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including a Canadian history of dual usage technologies and a Chart that tries to imagine the sheer scale of the military budget.

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Anthony Dworkin of the European Council on Foreign Relations about whether Canada and Europe can build a new middle power alliance in a world increasingly shaped by U.S. and Chinese power.

Dworkin explains Europe’s “trade bazooka,” the tools available to resist economic coercion, and how Canada could work with Europe and other like-minded countries on trade, defence, technology, energy and strategic autonomy.

ECFR Papers Referenced:
-Brussels hold’em: European cards against Trumpian coercion
-Beijing hold’em: European cards against Chinese coercion

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 2 "How Canada Wins at Alliances"

Visit our website-gloves-off.ca-for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including an interactive map outlining the number of international agreements Canada has made since Carney took office and a explanation of variable geometry

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In this extended interview, Stephen Marche speaks with Gil Durán, author of The Nerd Reich about Silicon Valley’s radical turn against democracy. They explore the rise of tech oligarchs, the political power of billionaires, the weaponization of social media, and what Canada can do to reduce its dependence on American technology.

Excerpt of interview originally featured in Ep 7 "How Canada Beats Tech Influence"

Visit our website—gloves-off.ca—for more research behind the issues from the Canadian Shield Institute including: an analysis of what some of America's largest technology groups are asking for when it comes to CUSMA renegotiations

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From our Canadian podcast friends at Canadaland:

As Canada inches closer to China’s “global swagger” to escape the US’s orbit, do we even know who we’re dealing with? Host Noor Azrieh sits down with Jonathan Cheng, The Wall Street Journal‘s China Bureau Chief, a Canadian who’s been based in Beijing since 2019, to get an inside look at China’s current confidence, its trade posture, and what Beijing actually thinks of Canada.

For more go to Canadaland

Episode originally aired May 26, 2026
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