The Munk Debates Podcast

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus. Rudyard and Janice begin today's show reflecting on Justin Trudeau's relationship with the Trump administration. Why would he make public statements that provoke ire from our southern neighbours? And how should Trudeau respond to Trump's plan to impose tariffs on Canadians goods? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice talk about the grim financial outlook for Canada. With a ballooning debt how is the government going to be able to provide important services to Canadians? And how will government spending and employment growth coming primarily from the public sector handicap Canada's efforts to grow the economy? Some strong fiscal medicine might be what is required to remind us that we need to change course or risk a financial crisis. To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia. Rebel leaders have taken over Damascus. And hundreds of thousands of refugees from the country’s long civil war are making their way back home. And while many in Syria and around the world are rejoicing at the downfall of Assad and his brutal regime, there are growing concerns that the country could go the way of Libya, Yemen, and Iraq, where insurgent groups and sectarian strife have wreaked havoc on the civilian population and created failed states, which in the case of Syria, could threaten to further destabilize an already volatile Middle East. And beyond Syria, how does Assad’s regime collapse affect broader conflicts and regional powers like Iran, Israel, Russia, the U.S. and Turkey? To make sense of this moment, and the seismic changes taking place, we are joined by Michael Weiss. Michael is an investigative journalist who focuses on international affairs, specifically the wars in Syria and Ukraine. His understanding of this region and its players gives him a unique insight into this rapidly evolving situation.

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus. Democracies are in trouble from South Korea to France to the U.S., where voters have lost trust in political elites, especially in France where the blowback to Macron's brand of politics has made room for the ascendency of the far-right under Marine Le Pen. Rudyard and Janice then turn their focus to the U.S. where President Biden has conferred an unconditional pardon on his son Hunter Biden, with speculation that he might pardon any politician or civil servant who could face prosecution from a vengeful Trump administration. This controversial move would be unwise, Rudyard argues, setting a dangerous precedent and confirming voters' suspicions that elites are not subject to the same consequences as everyone else. In the final moments of the show Ruydyard and Janice turn to Syria, where rebels have renewed their offensive against the Assad regime and taken over key battleground areas. Could this successful push have anything to do with Iran's weakening in the region, as a result of Israel's military successes against its proxies?  To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that six Indian diplomats were being expelled from Canada due to an alleged campaign to threaten and kill Sikhs on Canadian soil. India responded by sending home six high level Canadian diplomats and issuing a tensely worded statement, accusing Trudeau of initiating and escalating this diplomatic dispute. Relations between the two countries are - needless to say - at their lowest point in recent memory. Dr. Raja Mohan, our guest on this Munk Dialogue, is widely recognized as India's foremost foreign policy expert. He is an Adviser to the Council for Strategic and Defense Research in New Delhi and was the founding director of Carnegie India. He speaks to us about the state of India-Canada relations, how to repair this diplomatic spat, and the unique and interesting role India is playing on the world stage as it finds its footing among fellow great powers, most importantly the United States and China.   The host of this Munk Dialogue is Rudyard Griffiths To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a paid Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to the livestream of our upcoming in person debates, ticketing privileges, and a charitable tax receipt (for Canadian residents). This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch