In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa B dig into Hoekstra reposting Donald Trump’s “51st state” comments, why Canadians are rightly furious, and what it says about the current state of Canada-U.S. relations under the Trump administration.

We also get into Alberta separatism, Danielle Smith’s referendum chaos, Wab Kinew calling things as he sees them, the Western Premiers Conference, tariffs, Trump’s social media diplomacy, and whether Canada should treat Hoekstra as a serious warning sign... or just another political buffoon with a login.

Is the 51st state talk just noise? Is Alberta separation still a serious threat? Should Canada be worried about the U.S. ambassador? And who exactly is still going to that July 4th party in Ottawa?

Canada is not for sale. But apparently some people keep checking the price.

In this episode:
Peter Hoekstra, Donald Trump, Canada-U.S. relations, 51st state comments, Alberta separation, Danielle Smith, Wab Kinew, Canadian politics, tariffs, Trump administration, Canadian sovereignty, Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar, Lisa B.

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This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa dig into the rise of insult politics, media scrums, political clapbacks, and whether “going high” still works when the other side is already rolling around in the democratic mud like a raccoon in a Tim Hortons dumpster.

They talk Alberta separatism, rallies, Pierre Poilievre’s press tactics, Mark Carney, Stephen Miller, Gavin Newsom-style political trolling, and whether a well-timed F-bomb can actually make politics feel more honest.

Subscribe for more sharp, funny Canadian political commentary from Brittlestar and Lisa.

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This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa break down the latest Alberta separatism talk, the confusing referendum question, and the myths being sold about what an independent Alberta would actually look like.

From pipelines and transfer payments to borders, currency, Indigenous treaty rights, military costs, federal programs, and the awkward little issue of Alberta being completely landlocked, we look at the real-world consequences of “just leaving Canada.”

Because breaking up is hard to do... especially when you still need to use your ex’s highways, ports, currency, passports, trade deals, and possibly their microwave.

In this episode:

• Why Alberta separation sounds simple online but gets very complicated very quickly

• The real costs of becoming a new country

• What Alberta gets from Canada right now

• Why transfer payments are more complicated than the slogan version

• How separatist rhetoric ignores healthcare, pensions, borders, disaster relief, and trade

• Why low-information voting is dangerous... even when people are frustrated for real reasons

• What happens next as Alberta heads toward an October vote

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Listen: https://pod.link/1730993828

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This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa dig into the Alberta separation push, the nearly 302,000 signatures reportedly submitted, the voter data scandal, Danielle Smith’s “Sovereign Alberta within a United Canada” tightrope, First Nations treaty challenges, and why this may be less about Alberta actually leaving Canada and more about what happens when political grievance becomes a machine.

Also discussed: magic beans, King Charles conspiracy fears, Brexit warnings, separatist leaders who maybe shouldn’t be allowed near the steering wheel, and why “we’re just sending Ottawa a message” is a pretty risky way to flirt with constitutional chaos.

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There’s no Politics Is Broken podcast this week as Lisa and I each stave off burnout.

That said, I’m also in the UK this week. “I burn my candle at both ends, it gives a lovely light…something something something”.

Who knows, there could be a sneaky podcast episode this week.

In the meantime, have you got one of our mugs yet?

Shipping included in Canada!

https://peacelovecanada.ca/products/politics-is-broken-mug?_pos=1&_psq=politics&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Stay sane everyone.

Thank you for your support!

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Listen: https://pod.link/1730993828

There’s no Politics Is Broken podcast this week as Lisa and I each stave off burnout.

That said, I’m also in the UK this week. “I burn my candle at both ends, it gives a lovely light…something something something”.

Who knows, there could be a sneaky podcast episode this week.

In the meantime, have you got one of our mugs yet?

Shipping included in Canada!

https://peacelovecanada.ca/products/politics-is-broken-mug?_pos=1&_psq=politics&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Stay sane everyone.

Thank you for your support!

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Listen: https://pod.link/1730993828

Subscribe now

In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa B dig into Althia Raj’s Toronto Star opinion piece about Carney’s economic update and what it may signal for pharmacare, child care, health transfers, and the future of progressive voters in Canada.

We also talk about the strange political mood in Ottawa, Stewart’s night at Politics and the Pen, Melissa Lantsman being funnier than expected, Alberta’s latest electoral-list mess, and whether the NDP can finally stop stepping on rakes long enough to become the “not Liberal” option.

Carney may still be the right person for a very difficult moment... but if the Liberals start trimming the very programs that helped define them, progressive voters may start asking a very dangerous question:

“Wait... why does the NDP exist again?”

Subscribe for weekly Canadian political conversations with Brittlestar and Lisa B... where the news is broken, the jokes are mostly intentional, and nobody should be taking medical advice from us.

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

What happens when the headlines are too chaotic to ignore… but too exhausting to fully process?

You react.

This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa react to the biggest, strangest, and most concerning headlines from around the world—because picking just one story feels impossible right now.

From war-driven oil spikes to political chaos in the U.S.… to Canada’s policy curveballs… to a moon mission happening in the middle of it all… we break it down the only way we know how: by trying to make sense of it (and occasionally failing).

In this episode:

• Reacting to rising global oil prices and economic fallout

• Breaking down Trump’s latest moves and loyalty drama

• Canada’s “30 days or free” passport policy

• The EV debate and what it means for Canadian industry

• And yes… reacting to humans heading back to the moon while everything else feels like it’s falling apart

It’s real headlines, real reactions, and just enough humour to keep you from throwing your phone across the room.

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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What happens when you stop watching politics… and actually go see it?

This week on Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar heads to Ottawa to speak at Carleton University’s Kesterton Lecture… and ends up going behind the scenes of Canadian politics.

From touring Parliament Hill and sitting in on Question Period… to meeting politicians in the hallway and eating in what may or may not be called “the cafeteria of power”… this episode is a firsthand look at how politics feels in real life.

And the biggest takeaway?

It doesn’t feel less broken…
…but it does feel different.

Less like chaos… more like choreography.
Less like villains… more like very tired humans trying to do a very public job.

Plus, an Alberta update featuring:

• The ongoing “Temu Tylenol” saga

• RCMP investigations

• And a golden cat that may or may not explain everything

So… is Ottawa really a bubble?
Or are we just watching it through one?

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

In an episode that feels like a collision of two very different multiverses, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre finally sat down with Joe Rogan. It was over two hours of kettlebells, economic analogies, and some very selective storytelling.

Lisa and I have crunched the numbers, checked the facts, and counted the compliments so you don’t have to.

The Highlights (and Lowlights):

• The Gift: Poilievre opened with a 70lb Canadian-branded kettlebell. He seemed a little winded from the heavy lifting, but desperate to prove to Joe that “he lifts too, bro.”

• The “Prime Minister in Waiting” Rebrand: How Poilievre used the platform to position himself to an American audience, even weighing in on F-Series truck tariffs in Appalachia.

• The Dangerous Disinfo: We address the alarming claims made about Canada’s MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) program—specifically the false narrative about “seasonal depression”—that went entirely unchallenged during the interview.

• The “Walmart Effect”: Why Joe Rogan’s massive influence in Canada (where 8% of the population tunes in monthly) makes his lack of fact-checking a growing concern.

Is this a strategic masterstroke to legitimize his leadership, or just a politician looking for a “vibe shift” with the Manosphere?

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Ontario’s government says it wants to modernize transparency laws.

But the proposed changes would do something unusual: they would reduce public access to information, exempting the premier’s office, cabinet ministers, and parliamentary assistants from Freedom of Information requests while stretching response timelines.

Which raises an obvious question.

Why now?

At the same time these changes are being proposed, the Ford government has floated a string of ambitious — and sometimes eyebrow-raising — ideas: opening parts of the Greenbelt to development, building a massive spa at Ontario Place, expanding alcohol sales into convenience stores, and proposing a 50-kilometre tunnel under Highway 401 that could cost tens of billions of dollars.

In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Brittlestar and Lisa try to answer the bigger question:

Is there a governing philosophy behind all this…
or is Ontario being run on instinct, headlines, and vibes?

And more importantly:

If governments want fewer transparency rules…
what exactly do they not want us to see?

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Brittlestar and Lisa tackle a week that somehow managed to get worse.

From Mark Carney’s principled Davos speech to his awkward endorsement of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Canada finds itself diplomatically sandwiched between its values and its geography. The hosts dig into why the timing of Operation Epic Fury feels suspiciously convenient — and what the avalanche of newly released Epstein documents might have to do with it.

They break down the growing list of resignations and arrests tied to the Epstein files, why Prince Andrew’s takedown was no ordinary trade-secrets scandal, and what it means that the US appears to be the only country where nobody powerful has faced real consequences. Plus: cornered-squirrel Trump, a congressman who can’t spell “fury,” Keir Starmer’s deeply unhelpful anger origin story, and the impossible chess game facing a Canadian prime minister who can’t afford to tell the truth — but probably can’t afford not to.

Funny where it can be. Worried where it has to be.

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Science says we’re getting dimmer…and politics is sprinting to the cognitive bottom.

In this episode of Politics Is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa unpack the Reverse Flynn Effect (yes, it’s a real thing) and why critical thinking has been quietly leaving the group chat since the mid-’90s. We dig into “cognitive offloading” (Google, GPS, AI doing our thinking for us), the flood-the-zone strategy that keeps everyone overwhelmed, and how a world full of exhausted, distracted people becomes the perfect environment for bad ideas to look like leadership.

Along the way: Sharpie hurricanes, disinfectant “solutions,” conspiracy nonsense, and one Canadian MP hunting for “Antifa members” like it’s a sandwich club with a loyalty card.

It’s funny…until you remember these people run things.

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The truth may surprise you (if you were just born today).

Listen here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Are you in or near OTTAWA?
Come see and hear Brittlestar as he delivers the 2026 Kesterton Lecture are Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication on Mar 25, 2026

Details and Free Registration here:
https://carleton.ca/sjc/cu-events/2026-kesterton-lecture-peace-order-and-good-journalism-with-a-side-of-comedy-by-stewart-brittlestar-reynolds/

In this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa start by acknowledging a heartbreaking tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., and the wave of grief, misinformation, and opportunistic culture-war blame that followed. From there, they zoom out and do what Canadians do best… compare ourselves to our loud neighbour with receipts.

They dig into the numbers on income, unemployment, healthcare costs, life expectancy, housing pressure, and gun violence, and ask what’s worth defending…and what we still need to fix. Along the way, they talk about political leaders showing unity, why scapegoating communities doesn’t solve anything, and how Canada can protect its “we’re in this together” instinct before it gets imported and ruined like acid-washed jeans.

Content note: discussion of a recent act of violence and its aftermath.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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On this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart and Lisa are joined by U.S. political analyst, host of The Election Show with Cheri Jacobus, bestselling author, and former congressional staffer Eric Ham for a revealing conversation about Donald Trump, American politics, and the structural failures that paved the way for the current crisis.

Eric offers an unexpected and deeply informed perspective on how the U.S. drifted here over decades…from weakened democratic institutions and access-driven media, to the normalization of political extremism, racism, and fear as a governing strategy. He explains why Trump isn’t an accident or an outlier, but a symptom of unresolved American contradictions that many preferred not to confront.

The discussion also explores U.S.–Canada relations, trade tensions, immigration enforcement, the future of free and fair elections, and why many Americans are quietly alarmed by what they’re seeing from their own government. Eric breaks down why global concern isn’t overreaction…and what happens when accountability disappears.

A sobering, honest look at American democracy, Trumpism, political polarization, and the uncertain road ahead — with rare clarity from inside Washington.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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In this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart and Lisa watch the convention so you don’t have to, unpacking Poilievre’s 87% approval, the party’s fixation on the “good old days,” and the increasingly polished attempt to soften a lifelong attack dog. We talk nostalgia politics, emotional messaging, selective history, and why “remember when things were better” is not actually a governing strategy.

They dig into the numbers behind the applause, the age gap in Conservative support, the curious obsession with high-school mock elections, and why younger voters may be buying promises that don’t come with a “how.” Plus: smiling on command, Reagan jokes, used-car-salesman energy, and a political bus that may be heading confidently in the wrong direction.

Funny, skeptical, and mildly concerned…just how we like it.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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This week on Politics Is Broken, Stewart (Brittlestar) and Lisa dive into the fallout from Davos 2026, where Prime Minister Mark Carney finally took the gloves off. From rallying middle powers to reminding the world that Canada doesn’t just “live because of the U.S.,” Carney is drawing a line in the snow—and the “Board of Peace” is not happy about it.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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Find the full-video version here: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

Brittlestar and Lisa wade bravely into the comment section (together… for safety) to do a little “Reply in the Comments” palate-cleanse… because the world is a dumpster fire and sometimes it’s healthier to fixate on people’s gripes instead. Along the way: suburban snow rituals, the “grandma shuffle,” superbox mailbox rage, why Chinese EVs are both tempting and complicated, and the terrifying absurdity of Greenland becoming a geopolitical storyline. Plus, a few listener comments that hit hard, a quick group therapy moment about news anxiety, and one all-caps hot take that gets exactly the airtime it deserves.

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Find the full-video version here: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

We kick off the season asking the comforting little question:
Is Canada prepared for a future without the U.S.?

Specifically, an America that’s treating international law like a “suggested reading list,” kidnapping foreign leaders, eyeing other countries’ resources, and generally speed-running “Rogue State: Deluxe Edition.”

The big theme is rule of law… as in: is it optional now?
Because it sure looks like the U.S. government is operating on vibes, executive memos, and whoever got the last word in Trump’s ear at 3 a.m.

We dig into the idea that leaders keep responding with “We’re disappointed,” when maybe the correct response is “Absolutely not, are you kidding?” Then the conversation turns darker with the killing of Renee Good during an ICE operation… and the truly chilling part: the growing message that certain agents may have immunity, which is basically the government saying, “Congrats… consequences have been discontinued.”

From there it’s worst-case vs best-case: war and expansionism on one end… and on the other, the wheels coming off because there’s no honour among power-hungry weirdos.

Finally, what can Canada do while we wait for Americans to fix America?
Diversify trade, reduce dependence, think three steps ahead, and maybe reread a few history chapters we were all supposed to take seriously.

And because it’s Politics Is Broken, we end by doing the only logical thing while the world melts: a “Wrong Answers Only” game of Trump quotes… proving once again that comedy is just politics with a laugh track and a fire exit sign.

Find the audio podcast here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Find the full-video version here: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

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Find the full-video version here: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken

A festive recap of the year Canada stress-ate an entire fruitcake

I have a theory about 2025…

We didn’t live through it. We watched it the way you watch a raccoon in your garbage… curious, horrified, and quietly aware that if you make eye contact it becomes your dependent.

So Lisa and I did the only responsible thing: we turned the whole year into a holiday special.

Not the cozy kind… more like the kind where the tree is on fire, the turkey is raw, the group chat is political, and someone’s uncle keeps saying, “I’m just asking questions” while holding a microphone he bought online.

Welcome to The 12 Months of Crisismas… our year-end attempt to make sense of 2025, month by month.

What’s in the episode

January: Trudeau steps aside… and Canada experiences that unique national emotion: relief mixed with immediate nausea about what comes next.

February: Doug Ford wins a third majority… which was a real reminder that the internet is not a polling station. (Also… yes… I did a video with Bonnie Crombie. I accept full responsibility for reality.)

March: Mark Carney becomes Prime Minister… a technocratic pivot so pragmatic it almost came with an invoice. Also, conservatives got mad that he “just walked in” which is funny because that is, in fact, how Westminster systems work. Sorry your vibes weren’t consulted.

April/May: Election season… affordability, housing, and the creeping sense that the U.S. is the neighbour who keeps “accidentally” stepping onto your lawn while looking at your barbecue. Liberals win a minority… and the truly delicious subplot: Pierre Poilievre loses his seat in Ottawa-Carleton.

June/July: Internal trade barriers become a national obsession… which is wild because we’ve been a country for a while now. Turns out we should maybe be able to sell each other things without acting like every province is a separate airport security line.

August: Poilievre returns via by-election… because politics loves a comeback story even when you specifically asked it not to.

September: Alberta does what Alberta does… and the rest of Canada does that slow blink where you’re trying to stay polite while thinking, “We are not doing this… we are not importing this…”

October/November/December: Meetings, tariffs, memorandums, and the general vibe that adulthood is just nodding seriously while someone says something unhinged and you quietly Google, “Is this real.”

The part where we quote the chaos

We also do The 12 Quotes of Crisismas… which is basically us reading out loud the things leaders said this year and realizing… oh… we’ve normalized a lot.

And then… because self-preservation… we play Folks or Fiction, a game where Lisa has to guess whether a quote came from Doug Ford or a fictional character.

Spoiler: if you get most of them wrong, congratulations… you’re healthy.

Your homework (yes, you have homework)

1. Listen to the episode.

2. Laugh because coping is important.

3. Comment with the crisis we missed (because we definitely missed something… it’s 2025).

4. Do not treat us as your primary news source in 2026. We are… at best… a decorative calendar.

Thanks for sticking with us through the year. Take a break. Touch snow. Eat something that isn’t stress.

And we’ll see you in 2026!

Find the audio podcast here: https://pod.link/1730993828

Find the full-video version here: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsIsBroken