Episode 149 – Fighting to save higher education
In this episode, Sandy and Nora explain the crisis at Laurentian University, university funding under attack and also mention the CAUT’s censure of the University of Toronto.
Sandy and Nora
Episode 148 – The Liberals and their Trolls
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the CERB, the vaccine and how Liberal Trolls are on the attack against online against Liberal critics.
Episode 147 – Worst Case Ontario (and AB, BC…)
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the chaos of the Third Wave, about how police will not fix anything and why these politicians would rather see people in ICU than stop the spread of COVID-19.
Episode 146 – NDP Convention and the Third Wave
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the bad and the bad from the NDP Convention 2021 and try to find some encouraging words in the face of the rising Third Wave.
Episode 145 – How to confront power
In this episode, Sandy and Nora explore how average people can fore politicians into action, even when it feels impossible and politicians, immovable.
Episode 144 – a femicide crisis
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about femicide in Canada and how political inaction isn’t because there is a lack of understanding or of resources, but because politicians literally do not care that women are being killed. Plus, we talk about a boat that is no longer stuck in the Suez.
Update to the murder investigation in Hawkesbury: five suspicious deaths in the hospital’s COVID unit are now being investigated: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/victim-in-hawkesbury-hospital-homicide-was-89-year-old-man-from-quebec
Episode 143 – anti-mask fascism
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the rise of anti-Asian racism, the connection between the anti-mask movement and how Canada’s mainstream media has written about China since the start of the pandemic. We also take a short tour of the latest Liberal scheme: the NDP’s student debt promise.
Episode 142 – How many more will die?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about medical racism, bill C-7 passed into law and … the Queen.
You can see the Disability Filibuster here.
Episode 141 – Happy Birthday to COVID-19
In this episode, Sandy and Nora look back at the year that was. We take stock of the good news (there was some!) the bad news and the shitty news. We also talk the NDP: not defending Palestine.
Episode 140 – Pharmacare and white supremacy news roundup
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the NDP private member bill on pharmacare, and what it would take to build a pharmacare system in Canada. They also talk about the revelations in Celina Caesar-Chevannes’ new book and the Fifth Estate episode Black on Campus.
Episode 139 – the Liberals’ crime reform legislation
Last week, the Liberals introduced Bill C-22 – the Liberals’ long-awaited amendments to Canada’s criminal code. Sandy and Nora discuss the changes, how they are a mixed bag of good and bad, and how the Liberals never take seriously the concerns of Black and Indigenous communities.
Episode 138 – dignity in life versus dignity in death
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about ableism in Canada’s medical and political establishment — illustrated both through Canada’s COVID-19 death toll and through Bill C7, Medical Assistance in Dying legislation.
Episode 137 – Canada’s terrorist list is a mistake
In this episode, Sandy and Nora explain why many on the left have been critical of the recent decision to place several new groups on Canada’s terrorist list, including the Proud Boys. The episode starts with a round-up of news we are watching this week.
Episode 136 – Even more COVID
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about COVID news: from new viral strains to new travel restrictions, why does Canada seem to be perpetually aiming to do the absolute least?
Episode 135 – How to take over your student union
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Governor General, COVID naming workplaces with outbreaks. And, Sandy and Nora offer a master class in how to take over your local student union.
Episode 134 – Canadian Media Whites Again
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about CBC Winnipeg, rabble, Black writers being ignored for wanting to write about the far right, Passage’s media relations list and how white supremacy is maintained inside Canadian newsrooms.
Episode 133 – an American coup in DC?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about everything we still don’t know about the racist insurrection in Washington DC. They ask why are the details so sketchy, and why are journalists pretending it’s over? Also: nationalize telecoms and the internet now.
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/Mu8HQZUE
Episode 132 – Finding optimism at the end of 2020
In this episode, Sandy and Nora look back at 2020 and try to say so-long to 2020 with a bit of optimism and lots of anger.
Episode 131 – PART TWO of Sandy and Nora Audience Appreciation Night
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about: organizing within unions, (not) going into journalism, making arts agencies more radical (and less close to power!) and how progressives can resist transphobia.
Episode 130 – free tuition, UOttawa sucks and organizing the Christians
This is Part 1 of Audience Appreciation Night – Sandy and Nora take questions and comments from listeners and talk about policing, education, organizing and pacing yourself for the long haul of radical action.
You’re invited! Sandy and Nora Listener Appreciation Night
Join us on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 8:00 EST, 5:00 PST for a live video chat as we celebrate the almost end of 2020.
Get your ticket! The event link will be emailed to all ticket holders on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sandy-and-nora-listener-appreciation-night-tickets-130749805187
Episode 129 – Sandy and Nora Live at the Vancouver Podcast Festival
In this episode, Sandy and Nora cover a lot of ground: from media to unions, from COVID-19 to how Sandy and Nora come up with show topics to how their relationship has changed over the years (including: do they ever fight?!)
This episode was recorded as part of the Vancouver Podcast Festival.
Episode 128 – doing nothing about COVID workplace outbreaks
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how COVID outbreaks are still most common in workplaces, and yet, no politician has a plan to address workplace health and safety, which will exacerbate the pandemic and make things even worse.
Episode 127 – Decoding the US election
In this episode, Sandy and Nora look at the US election results: what they mean and, importantly, what they mean for leftist organizing and for Canadians. Lots of other updates in the episode too!
Episode 126 – is it ignorance or is it malice? It’s malice.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how the pandemic has not harmed people equally, and how discussions about the racialized impact are being erased from mainstream media’s coverage.
Episode 125 – Thinking big
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the need for conversations about big thinking. How can we use the pandemic to build new projects, new economies and new ways of organizing ourselves?
Correction — Nora forgot Saskatchewan at a certain point in the episode. When you catch it, you can tell yourself you won.
Episode 124 – white rage in Nova Scotia: terrorism or genocide?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about why taking action in support of Mi’kmaq fishers, and Indigenous struggles everywhere, is so critical. They also talk about seniority in the labour movement, and how eliminating seniority isn’t going to fix systemic racism in the workplace.
Contest is closed but you can buy merch here still: https://twitter.com/amybeatrice/status/1317161330260979713
Nora’s book launch RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-noras-55-hour-book-launch-open-house-pandemic-nightmare-edition-125505517381
RESOURCES:
Donations: https://t.co/qp5x3vOqcb?amp=1
Twitter thread of ideas: https://twitter.com/TheAgentNDN/status/1317325273730371584
How others are helping: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/mi-kmaw-fishers-creative-support-1.5770229?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar
Episode 123 – difficulty sleeping
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Vice-Presidential debates, Ottawa Police thinking that they are soldiers in a war zone and what happens to Canada if the US is plunged into civil war? Thoughts that keep us up at night.
Episode 121 – surfing the second wave. Of anxiety.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the second wave — how it’s being talked about, how it’s not being covered, and how we need to reject individualist narratives about what will save us. We also talk about the tragic death of Joyce Echaquon in Joliette, and how medical racism needs to be combated by government, unions and popular movements.
Video of Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h47zK6b6B0Y
In this episode, Nora mispronounces Atikamekw. It’s Ah-tee-ka-mik. Nora apologizes for this.
In this episode for the ambient sound of LA. That window gets closed at minute 15.
Episode 120 – throned speech
In this episode, Sandy and Nora decode the Liberal throne speech and — surprise — discover that it’s mostly hot air!
They also talk about Breonna Taylor and what the decision to not investigate further means.
Episode 119 – is white supremacy intensifying?
From saddling Black entrepreneurs with debt and calling it progress, to white settler fishers in Nova Scotia threatening Mi’kmaq fishers asserting their constitutionally-protected rights, to a white supremacist committing random murder in Toronto, Sandy and Nora ask: is white supremacy intensifying? It’s always bad but it seems like its … particularly bad right now?
Episode 118 – pulling the forest fire alarm
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the inexplicable inaction from everyone with power to take the climate crisis seriously. It is an episode of rage and some jokes. But mostly rage.
Episode 117 – white supremacy and racial frauds
In this episode, Sandy and Nora explore the phenomenon of white people claiming non-white identity: as a pursuit of power, as a colonial act and as it manipulates the politics of identity to maintain white supremacy.
Episode 116 – do not wait for things to get worse
It has been a week. In this episode, Sandy and Nora walk through the month of news that happened this week and explain how, and why, there is urgency right now to take radical action.
Episode 115 – Liberals having a proroguing good time
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about Bill Morneau’s resignation, Chrystia Freeland being a woman and how Justin Trudeau really hopes that Canadians will not pay close enough attention.
Episode transcripted (unedited): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z0-6Qj0mXnGofTLZGQhMnRV643_8fPOrtj8o5TvmVOk/edit?usp=sharing
Episode 114 – being radical is reasonable
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how the idea of reasonableness is weaponized against radical, leftwing ideas. We need to resist this and expose how the radical ways in which to transform society are actually the reasonable option.
In this episode, Sandy accidentally said Bernie when she meant Biden. See if you can find where!
Transcript available here (unedited): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JnO5p52SUTWbr0faNFG5CBDHgWGHh4ZDSnNIOUlVbTk/edit?usp=sharing
Episode 113 – where is the institutional left?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora warn that if the left in Canada – not-for-profits, labour unions and the NDP – don’t get involved in the radical, grassroots movements that are emerging, they may be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Episode 112 – How do we know what we know?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how changing the way you think about the world can help you make better political predictions. By understanding how power operates, we can anticipate how power will react, and pivot our demands accordingly.
Episode 111 – the end of Canada’s old stock media?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how COVID-19 may land a death blow against Canada’s mainstream media.
Episode 110 – painted statues and union apologies
This past week, Sandy and Nora have both found themselves in different crises — we talk about civil disobedience, police PR and what happens when a labour leader makes a mistake.
Episode 109 – Liberal Fiberal
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Liberal tendency to work through other organizations, lik, WE to build support and consensus for the Liberal brand. Plus – Quebec’s new Me Too movement and that Harper’s fReE sPeEcH letter.
Note: Nora misspoke and said Bob Rae had been appointed the ambassador for the US. He’s been appointed the ambassador to the UN.
Episode 108 – we have already won
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how we measure victories, and how changing society’s norms and values is the first step before legislative and legal changes are possible. Blowing open the Overton window.
Episode 107 – Liberals and WE are BFFs
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about yet another Liberal scheme! And, Sandy reminisces about the famous 2016 BLM action that blocked the Toronto Pride Parade.
Episode 106 – ok, so what now?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how to seize this moment and make sure that our political demands are met. COVID-19 has changed Canada’s status quo, and already politicians are resisting calls for widespread change.
Episode 105 – if white is a verb, Canadian media keeps whiting
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about Canadian media, and how white supremacy is embedded throughout, making life hell for racialized journalists and diminishing the quality and accuracy of the news.
Episode 104 – no police? No problem.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora respond to some of the questions that listeners asked about defunding the police. We also talk about the role that power and white supremacy play in policing and we celebrate hitting Number Ten on Canada’s news podcast charts.
Episode 103 – abolish the police
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how society could abolish the police and create new services that would keep more people safe and offer more services to people who need them. Also, Sandy explains a conversation with a CBC producer.
Full transcript can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T9MH4OsPoa1c1DxcdHxS9Yq0gEWWEuxQsS4N4NttZBs/edit?usp=sharing
Episode 102 – a she-cession? Really?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora explore the narrative that has emerged about how the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt women in particular. They argue that recessions always hurt women and that framing this one as being somehow unique erases the racial and classed dynamic of who is most injured.
Episode 101 – will politicians let COVID-19 kill the arts?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora ask why artists have been forgotten in the pandemic response, and argue that we need to give them money to survive and practice their art, with no strings attached.
To use the discount code mentioned in the show to order Nora’s book, go here: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/books
Cover image is from here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-street-artists-around-world-are-reacting-to-life-with-covid-19-180974712/
Episode 100 – Universal income? Basic.
In this episode Sandy and Nora celebrate 100 by going back to a debate that has surfaced in the past few weeks: universal basic income. They argue that a UBI, in absence of a strong social support system, would be a mistake.
Episode 99 – The economy is code for white supremacy
As politicians and some activists demand that the economy be opened, Sandy and Nora examine how opening the economy is upholding whiteness and reinforcing white supremacy.
Episode 98 – policing in the fog of covid-19
In this episode, Sandy and Nora examine how police power seems to be growing unchecked while we all ride out the pandemic.
Episode 97 – Education in the time of coronavirus
In this episode, Sandy and Nora argue that the pandemic has exposed how higher education’s obsession with money has damaged its capacity to work in the public interest. Education under coronavirus: what should it look like?
Episode 96 – Deaths in long-term care, death by police
Sandy and Nora talk about the harrowing stats coming from long-term care, and how police have not stopped killing people, even though we’re all locked down.
Correction: in this episode, Nora confused Stratford, Ontario with Woodstock, Ontario. This has been something she has been doing since she was like 5. Elizabeth Wetlauffer’s murders did not take place in Stratford.
Episode 95 – Trudeau’s coronavirus schemes
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about all the ways in which Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals have avoided the easiest way to help all Canadians and instead, chosen programs that are more bureaucratic, cumbersome and that will leave so many people behind.
Note: since this was recorded on Sunday, April 5, the Liberals have announced that they intend to expand the CERB, with more details coming later on.
Episode 94 – resistance in the age of pandemic
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about what resistance might look like with everyone locked down. How do we disrupt the status quo when we’re living through an incredible moment of disruption? We talk through the options that we still have.
Read the show transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TTjedwtUWfgiy4O6YTV0fBh543l3RO7udPsK-MoQ38I/edit?usp=sharing
Episode 93 – fighting despair in quarantine
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about our new normal, and what politicians must do to start helping Canadians weather the storm.
Episode 92 – COVID-19 and the crisis of neoliberalism
In this episode, Sandy and Nora grapple with the calm before the storm and try to explain why different generations of people are reacting differently to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 91 – the coronavirus
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how we can protect ourselves, and others from the coronavirus. This means demanding stronger healthcare, Pharmacare and focusing on communities who are most at risk.
Episode 90 – are partisan politics anti-democratic?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora debate whether or not partisan politics are anti-democratic. Sandy says no, Nora says yes. Will they reach a conclusion?
Episode 89 – fight attacks on education
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the importance of fighting attacks against education. They also talk about how Justin Trudeau has failed in dealing with Wet’suwet’en and solidarity actions.
Episode 88 – hope and joy in our movements
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the importance of hope and joy. How do we find hope when it feels like nothing we do can change the status quo.
Episode 87 – Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the important work of Land Defenders, both at Wet’suwet’en and across Canada. From Indigenous sovereignty to fighting against climate change and massive profits, we encourage everyone to get involved in this struggle.
Photo from https://unistoten.camp
Transcript available here (feel free to help us edit it!): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jL-PzjJ0TCfzQQgpQrDdQExFczNQww0cfQWWhLH1rwE/edit
Episode 86 – a. c. a. b.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about police and the various shenanigans they’re up to across Canada. We also talk briefly about the commemoration of the Islamophobic attack of January 29 2017 and Ryerson University’s attempt to shut down the Ryerson Students’ Union.
Shout-out to Unifor workers who have put their bodies on the picket line this week and who felt the force of Regina police, a group we forgot to mention in our round-up.
Episode 85 – The pull of the US Empire on Canada
From climate change policy to Iran, 2020 has shown already that Canada is incapable of making its own decisions. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the need for social movements to re-imagine Canadian sovereignty and untie ourselves from the United States.
Episode 84 – 2019 has sucked. Let’s make media in 2020
Sandy and Nora sign off for 2019 with a look-back at the year and how, as media continues to crumble, average people need to find ways to make their own media and tell their own stories.
We are taking December off! We will be back with a new season starting in January 2020!
Episode 83 – hockey, whiteness and Canadian identity
Hockey is Canada and Canada is Hockey. This adage is seemingly lodged in the brains of a few too many people in Canada, making an adult discussion about misogyny and racism in sport an almost impossible discussion. Sandy and Nora break down how Don Cherry entered sainthood, Jessica Allen dodged being fired, and how the right-wing mob is clinging to a Canada that never has existed.
Episode 82 – Ok Boomer?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora break down the sentiment behind Ok Boomer and challenge people to think about how to make our campaigns and organizing work into multi-generational spaces that can bring people together and make our work stronger.
Episode 81 – Cancel culture is not a thing
Last week, the Toronto Public Library held an event that violated its own policy to not allow events that would have the effect of discriminating against someone based on gender identity or gender expression. In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the politics of so-called free speech, actual free speech and why people who are afraid of cancel culture are actually just afraid to defend their arguments.
Update — Nora incorrectly stated that the Murphy event in Vancouver was cancelled. SFU cancelled the talk but the Pan Pacific hosted the event anyway: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/protesters-gather-at-gender-identity-speaker-s-talk-despite-location-switch-1.4667969
Episode 80 – does the left really eat itself?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how knowledge is disseminated and coopted, and how oftentimes we blame other leftists for forces that are highly coordinated and manipulated by the right. We also check in with how Justin Trudeau is doing!
Episode 79 – Election’s over. What does anything mean?
Sandy and Nora (but especially Nora) stayed up late to give you instant analysis of Canada’s new federal minority government. They talk about the winners (the Liberals, social movement activists) the losers (media and Maxime Bernier) and remind everyone that this result is good news for anyone looking to affect change.
Episode 78 – Live Show at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the radical possibilities of community, the joy of being social active and why artists need to engage in politics. And, because there is still an election on, we also talk about Justin Trudeau’s right-ward shift in the campaign.
Show note: we talk about the lawsuit launched by the CBC against the Conservatives. After this was recorded, it came out that Rosemarie Barton may not have even known that she was being named in a lawsuit. If you’re interested in this curious tale, Jesse Brown has been writing about what is known: https://www.canadalandshow.com/cbc-lawsuit-against-conservatives-has-damaged-rosemary-barton-brand/
Episode 77 – debate night and the fall of Canada’s old order
Sandy and Nora stayed up very late to bring you a hot-off-the-press analysis of the only English-language federal election debate. You’ll hear why Jagmeet Singh won and why no one should consider voting Liberal if they’re progressive.
Episode 76 – climate change and gun violence in #elxn43
In this episode, Nora and Sandy look at how climate change and gun violence are being used (or ignored) by the parties to seek support.
Episode 75 – #BlackFaceTrudeau and Canadian white supremacy
It feels like so long ago: Justin Trudeau in Blackface hit the election cycle like an atomic bomb. What did journalists miss? How bad was the coverage? And what does this affair tell us about who Canada really is?
Episode 74 – a truly boring election
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about Andrew Scheer’s racist/homophobic candidate problem, each of the party’s strategies to win and why Brampton is such an important place.
LIVE SHOW ALERT!!
Here’s everything you need to know about our upcoming live show in Toronto on Oct. 12. See you there! https://www.facebook.com/events/1957725264331031/
Episode 73 – Letting the mask slip
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Vancouver Sun’s decision to publish (and then unpublish) an opinion piece advocating full-score white nationalism, and the problems that politicians face when they call themselves progressive but support increasing police budgets (and are then called out).
Episode 72 – try not to despair with an election in the air
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how progressives should orient themselves towards the federal election. Hint: drop the partisanship, get involved in a local campaign if the candidate is worth your time and don’t imagine that voting is the sum total of democratic involvement.
** RE: Nora’s comment about the per vote subsidy clarification: Harper axed it. Trudeau never brought it back.
Episode 71 – fascists vs. antifascists
Sandy and Nora track the rise in talking about antifascists as being terrorists. From Maxime Bernier’s PP party to Donald Trump, we ask: where is the mainstream left defending antifascist resistance?
Episode 70 – we need more time off
To celebrate the summer, Sandy and Nora talk about time off: vacations, sick days, taking days off just because you have a right to not work from time to time — get your hammock and the coldest drink you have, and think about all the things you would do with more time off work.
Episode 69 – It’s time to talk about the Greens
The Green Party, what is it good for? Sandy and Nora ask this question in earnest and conclude that it might be time for Canada’s partisan left to get serious about fighting for what they say they believe in.
Episode 68 – will social media be the end of democracy?
July is the perfect month to take some time and reflect on how deeply we all truly are screwed, thanks to the overwhelming power that social media plays in our lives. If governments don’t figure out how to regulate this power, we can say goodbye to democracy.
Episode 67 – Canada’s genocide denial complex
Indigenous Peoples’ Month in Canada comes to an abrupt end with Canada Day on July 1 – who are the agents working hard to erase Canada’s genocidal history and present? And how can we combat the talking points that obscure, hide or make it dangerous to talk about genocide and colonialism?
Please, please read the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing Indigenous Women and Girls https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/
Episode 66 – arresting the left, protecting the right: the problem with police
There has been a recent burst of street violence perpetuated by the same individuals, looking to fight with social activists. The response from the police – indifference and violence against the targets of this violent – reminds us that we need to understand the role that police play in society, and they they aren’t there to protect us.
To read the report back from what happened in Hamilton, please go here (image is from here too) https://itsgoingdown.org/hamilton-pride-2019-reportback/
Episode 65 – why does the left ignore pop culture’s lessons?
The Toronto Raptors became Canada’s team, and the fervor and culture around the team tells us a lot about ourselves. Sandy and Nora talk about pop culture – sport, music, TV and image – and how the left ignores the lessons we can learn from pop culture at its peril.
Episode 64 – we gotta fight for our rights to abooooortion
(This episode’s title was not approved by Sandy)
This episode is a difficult one. Nora and Sandy talk about the struggle for access to abortion, how the struggle differs in Canada and the United States, and why so many people are fighting so hard to make abortion illegal.
We reference this radio feature from CBC’s The Sunday Edition: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-june-3-2018-1.4685998/50-years-ago-the-women-of-canada-s-abortion-caravan-stormed-parliament-for-reproductive-rights-1.4687293
Episode 63 – the fall of the liberal order and … financial literacy again?!
This episode is from the Q&A in Ottawa. The topics covered include: the fall of the post-war, liberal order, student organizing against Doug Ford, financial literacy and why white women dominate not-for-profits.
To hear the first part of this live event, please click here: https://sandyandnora.com/episode-62-its-time-for-radical-worker-action/
Episode 62 – It’s time for radical worker action
Episode 62 is a live show! Recorded live in Ottawa on May 8, Sandy and Nora talk about organizing across difference and the lessons that we can still learn from the Winnipeg General Strike.
Episode 63 will be the audience Q&A and will come out next week.
Thanks to the Mayworks festival for organizing this event and to everyone who came out!
Episode 61 – Are the Liberals bowing to white nationalists?
The biggest story from the 2019 budget barely made the news — the Liberals are tightening border security and making it much more difficult for people to seek asylum, including making it illegal to claim asylum from the United States. Sandy and Nora examine these new anti-refugee policies (including Doug Ford’s cuts to legal aid) and ask progressives to do what they can to make noise to oppose these new policy measures.
Episode 60 – debating debates
When should we engage with an idea, and when is engaging with an idea admitting that the idea isn’t racist trash? There’s no consensus on where the lines are, and so Sandy and Nora explore this debate, test the boundaries and discuss why debate for debate’s sake is boring.
Episode 59 – Can we learn from what just happened in Alberta?
Sandy and Nora talk Alberta — finally! There are many lessons to be learned from how the Alberta NDP governed, how Jason Kenney governs himself, and what they’ve said is in store for Alberta under a UCP government. We dive into the details and project what this all means for the upcoming Canadian election.
In the show we mention this fundraiser: Climate Justice Edmonton’s “War Room” fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/war-room-to-beat-kenneys-war-room
And we mention this podcast: Welcome to Hellberta! from the Alberta Advantage podcast: https://albertaadvantagepod.com/2019/04/19/predictably-welcome-to-hellberta/
Episode 58 – the end of public higher education in Ontario
Last week, Doug Ford released his new budget. In it, his government committed to changing how universities and colleges are funded, by referring to “performance outcome” … two words that when placed beside one another, become so meaningless that it’s almost funny to read in a budget.
Sandy and Nora are sounding the alarm — this is literally the end of higher education as we know it, and they explain why.
Episode 57 – Fighting Québec’s religious symbol ban
In this episode, Nora explains what the CAQ’s religious symbol ban is, where it comes from and how organizing is going to stop it.
Since we recorded this, nothing has changed from the legislative side. A rally was held in Montreal this past weekend to oppose the religious symbols ban. More voices have come out to oppose the ban.
Episode 56 – the unbearable whiteness of Canadian media
Talking about systemic racism in Canadian media is a bottomless well of content. This week, Sandy and Nora discuss Pam Seattle’s apology, CityNews’ apology and why apologies aren’t going to fix the racism that is embedded in Canada’s media landscape.
This week’s photo is from a 2002 cover of Maclean’s Magazine. Same as it ever was.
Episode 55 — Liberals tokenize to make SNC affair go away
Despite their best efforts, the Liberals are still stuck in the SNC-Lavalin scandal. And they’ve trotted out some old timers to help push their narrative into the mainstream press. Sandy and Nora talk about the strategy of hiding behind women to burn other women, hiding behind racialized women to burn other racialized women, and why the Liberal Party they want you to know is very different than the Liberal Party they really are.
Episode 54 – global terrorism’s white face
This has been a difficult week, especially if you have been watching the rise of organized white supremacists for years. In this episode, Sandy and Nora dissect how the media and politicians have failed so badly at grasping this threat, and conclude with things that are giving them hope.
Episode 53 – fReE sPeEcH
Attacks on free speech abound! But where are the Free Speech CrusadersTM? Sandy and Nora talk about the ways in which speech is limited, and how the left needs to build support around individuals who have their free speech attacked.
Here is the GoFundMe that we reference in the episode: https://www.gofundme.com/legal-fees-for-free-speech
Episode 52 – the NDP at a crossroads
With the Liberals melting down and the Conservatives more brazen in their support for racist organizing, the NDP is at a critical juncture. There is a path toward victory — will the NDP take it?
Episode 51 – Corruption and racism, as Canadian as Maple Pie
From SNC-Lavalin to the Yellow Vest Movement, Canada’s Two Natural Governing Parties (TM) are in a deep dive into those things that are more Canadian than Tim’s and hockey: racism and corruption. Sandy and Nora walk you through it all.
Episode 50 – free the news
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk paywalls. On their always-free, listener-funded platform, they talk about what’s wrong with a society that makes access to news based on ability to pay, and why we need free news now more than ever.
Nora’s note — at one point, Nora says IP and not ISP. She knows.
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