The Strategists

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Canada’s new world order as Mark Carney cuts a landmark trade deal with China and openly acknowledges that Washington is no longer a reliable partner. Stephen and Shannon break down what all of this means for Alberta separatism, NATO, and the future of Canadian sovereignty. Can Canada expand trade without selling out workers and Ontario auto jobs? Are Chinese EVs actually "spy cars," or is America now the bigger security risk? And if Carter is convinced he’ll need his bug-out plan, is that the strongest argument that we won’t? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.

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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dig into Alberta's latest separatist referendum push and ask the two questions that actually matter: is it inevitable, and is it likely? They break down the math behind the new 177,000-signature threshold, the organizational reality facing separatist groups, and why last summer's "Forever Canadian" petition may have been lightning in a bottle rather than a new normal.

What political price does the UCP pay for flirting with separatism? Do pro-Canada forces need to organize again, or is ignoring the petition the smartest strategy? And if this thing somehow makes it to a referendum, which of the three hosts is least emotionally prepared to live through the campaign without yelling at strangers on the internet? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.

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Check the Orthodox Boxing Day deals, lower your expectations accordingly, and get ready as The Strategists unpack the year that was in the Flair Airlines* Better Late Than Never Holiday Spectacular. Stephen Carter, Shannon Phillips, and Annalise Klingbeil try to make sense of the last year in politics. From delayed responses and rare perfect landings to middle-seat nightmares, political rebirths and obituaries, Zain Velji keeps everybody in line.

*not our sponsor

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Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about Rebecca Schulz’s sudden resignation from cabinet and what it signals about unity inside the UCP, and the country. They dive into the subtext of the resignation letter, whether this is about an oncoming referendum or possibly even an early election. Is this actually a problem for Danielle Smith or just another data point in a noisy political moment? What should we actually take from the Alberta Next panel? Signal? Noise? Or a roadmap to bigger trouble? And will Carter’s MP return his calls about getting his toilet to flush? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.

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Be it resolved that the Minister of Podcasts, Stephen Carter, together with the Chair of Oral Questions, Zain Velji, do convene this sitting of The Ministry of Podcasts.

Be it further resolved that the House shall hear testimony from the sworn Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary, Corey Hogan, on matters pertaining to:

The unintended lifecycle of political content in the outrage economy,
The perils of attempting a pipeline gotcha with a motion that solves nothing,
The difficulty of separating fact from fiction in a town that runs almost entirely on rumour,
And the strategic advantage of naming the opposition play instead of reacting to it.

Therefore be it finally resolved that this episode, having no formal agenda but much informal candour, stands as both a record of proceedings and an acknowledgement that a win is a win, even when it arrives with just 7.8% of the vote.
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