In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how police turn on and turn off the information tap however they want, leaving communities in the dark on what’s going on. They look at the Edmonton police shooting and how police downplayed certain aspects to ensure that coverage was exactly how they wanted it to be.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora deconstruct Jagmeet Singh’s stunt with Galen Weston plus we ask: is it sexist to mock a Liberal?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how difficult it can be to start something from scratch, especially when large, institutional NGO decide to throw money at people who have never experienced the pressures of creating something from scratch with lots of money. Plus, they talk about layoffs at Global News and a self-driving car.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora dissect the allegations made about Chinese interference in Canadian elections, and talk about the fallout that Chinese Canadians and visitors will experience. Plus, they discuss crime reporting and how inadequate it is when it’s hived off from other stories from other jurisdictions.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about AI — what we should be excited by and what we should absolutely not at all be excited by.
Image is AI generated from: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/D6fBfapAO3LNMy0S7Inx
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the boring to the exciting: from healthcare transfer payments to the US gleefully shooting missiles into the sky to kill aliens.
Consider donating to these charities to help folks in Turkey and Syria:
In this episode, Sandy and Nora discuss the habit of the Trudeau Liberals to coopt and defang activist movements and important days of commemoration to bolster their brand.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about policing, again, and there is only two ways to believe that police are helpful: either you’ve never had any contact with police, or you depend on police repression to protect your wealth.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how close most media in Canada is propaganda, intended either to distract or influence how we understand power.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora take lively questions from the audience and talk about: organizing in non-profits, dealing with cops within community groups, organizing in non-traditional workplaces.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora respond to audience questions like “what happens when you win but institutional power takes over?” and “How do we build inter-generational solidarity inside our movements?
Live show recorded in Vancouver at the Maritime Labour Centre on November 29. They talk about organizing against a self-described leftwing government, Internet celebrity and why we should be skeptical of people who post for clout alone.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora look back — war in Ukraine, individualism and left wing politics, and social media as brain poison. Plus, we have many announcements to make!
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how theft is only bad when poor people do it. Otherwise, it’s the foundation on which our economy is based. They also examine a Globe and Mail editorial that argues that shoplifting is a significant cause of inflation. Except, was this article itself shoplifted?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about a serial killer preying on Indigenous women in Winnipeg, and what the lack of coverage says about Canada.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Emergencies Act inquiry and how the narrative of what happened is spinning out in to defend its use.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the recent attack on a queer bar in Colorado Springs, and untangle the question: who benefits from far-right violence? Plus they discuss COP 27 and ask what it is.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the healthcare crisis and how focusing so closely on masks is letting people with power off the hook for their inaction. Plus, they talk about what comes after Doug Ford repealed his attack on workers bill and Remembrance Day at the Toronto Stock Exchange?
Gofundme for Hodan Hashi: https://www.gofundme.com/f/svxqk-funeral-fund
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about labour’s struggle against the notwithstanding clause, even though Doug Ford lost and the bill has been repealed. Plus they talk the future of Twitter and give several Freeland Watch updates.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora take audience questions and talk about the suburbs, police, online harm, neoliberalism and mutual aid.
Listen to Sandy and Nora LIVE in Montreal, recorded on October 20 in front of a jam-packed audience. They talk about individualism and isolation, and how it’s destroying social cohesion.
Part one features Sandy and Nora’s conversation. Part two will feature the Q&A.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about municipal elections in Vancouver and the struggle happening in Haiti. Plus, Chrystia Freeland says something racist, protecting Canada’s international brand.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about Hockey Canada, and what is not allowed to be said about war in Ukraine. Plus, the Liberals do something good for international students … but promise that it’s only a temporary measure.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the protests in Iran and around the work opposing the oppressive regime in Iran, and also how all police, really, are morality police. Plus, they talk about the Quebec election and ask: where is Chrystia Freeland?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about hurricane Fiona, it’s devastating impact and how we need to have pre-disaster networks to help us weather any storm. Plus, we talk about the BC NDP, the Quebec election and why nothingness is critical to our happiness.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about what happens when police kill suspects rather than taking them into custody. They also look at amber alerts, and ask: why are we OK with police having direct access to our phones?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the coronation of Pierre Poilievre and the election win of King Charles the Third. Wait, no, reverse that.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about harassment, the far right and what is to be done all about it.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how Canada’s news ecosystem is incapable of challenging power, and as a result what we learn from the news isn’t the whole story. Plus, Elizabeth May gets a two-minute mention.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about institutionalized sexual violence, from the Papal visit to Hockey Canada. Plus, they talk about the climate crisis and why we need to think through clandestine approaches to getting us ready for several weather.
In this episode, Sandy mentions that Trump is speaking at the Capitol this week. She misspoke and meant to say “capital” aka Washington DC.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora deconstruct freedom of speech in Canada and argue that we should all be concerned that it’s under tremendous attack.
For more information about the image, check this out: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/disaster_capitalism_paintings_of_chase_bank_burning
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how incredible it is that a single communications company is responsible for basically everything. They also talk about Yesterday’s Man Patrick Brown.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how everything is going — people aren’t seemingly doing too well. They talk about the need for the left to get its shit together, to focus less on internal issues and start or continue doing anything.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora argue that the reluctance of anyone in power to discuss the fall of the American empire is going to come back to bite us all on the ass someday soon.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the refusal of people in power to accept blame and instead, externalize their guilt however they can. Plus, we talk about how everything in society feels to be hanging by a thread.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about a new Toronto Star investigation that has found that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is regularly being violated by Canadian police.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about what has just happened in Ontario, why voter turnout was so low and what we need to do to resist austerity. Plus, what are the lessons in other parts of Canada?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the Buffalo shooting and how Canadians journalists have oriented around it. They call out journalists for not going deep enough into the issues and how liberal politics interact with the far right to make everything worse.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the fight for abortion in the US and what Canadian activists need to be watching for. Plus, they talk about lies and the Conservative leadership race.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the rise in radical worker action across North America. Plus, they revisit the Disability Filibuster — this time, raising concerns about what we’ve already seen under expanded MAID.
Listen to Sandy and Nora on MAID last year: https://sandyandnora.com/episode-138-dignity-in-life-versus-dignity-in-death/
Image credit: CUPE
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about organizing and relationships: are we striving too much to curate the perfect organizing spaces? Do we have the collective skills to ensure the level of accountability we wish we could see in organizing? Plus, we talk about Rich Chiarelli, the asshole and France’s new/old president.
Please check out: Anti-war workshop recording:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1041515076791089
Document for anti-war coalition agendas:
Document for anti-war coalition committees:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wbh6hoQRu1YnDw0awCKbAq7xXbWteD–PR0Hu-T8V6E/edit?fbclid=IwAR0BeJohWeuG9pi_Gv1mvO1VflKQSitF5ZtLLcUV5HnpDL-YpSo0tRe2i8g
In this episode, Sandy and Nora examine Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Leadership campaign and ask: why? What did we do to deserve this? Also, they talk about COVID again, but not that much.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the federal budget and how much it sucks. Plus, they also talk about Palestine activism on campus, anti-Blackness within the Ontario NDP and Pierre Poilievre’s troll following.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora examine political choices being made right now, and ask — why are Canadians so complacent? Plus, Sandy gets into Slap Discourse and Nora did a commercial for what??
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the NDP-Liberal deal that gives cover to justify pouring billions into Canada’s war aspirations. Plus, they talk about Jerry Dias and corruption at Unifor.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora look at propaganda, and how its playing itself out in Canadian media as we march towards war.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about mutual aid and how it sometimes mirrors charity too closely. Plus: facial recognition software in Ukraine, Canada’s flexible refugee policy (all of a sudden…) and Patrick Brown’s exoneration (he creeps on 19 year olds, not 18 year olds, allegedly).
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the impact of neoliberalism on leftwing organizing. Plus, they talk about the economic benefits of going to war.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how leftwing people need to orient themselves around war.
Sandy and Nora break down the pro-COVID Convoy and remind listeners to keep their eyes on the ball. You can watch the 5th anniversary commemoration of the shooting at the Ste-Foy mosque here, in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu1JqGkSBSQ
In this episode, Sandy and Nora examine the current, flame some politicians and ask the question: how do we walk the line between COVID-19 pessimism and a little bit of optimism?
In this episode Sandy and Nora look back at 2021 and ask: did we learn anything? Also, omicron.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about police violence in Quebec City, Hamilton and Wet’suwet’en and ask what it will take for people to demand and end to policing. Plus, they talk COVID variants and a peculiar CBC report.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how extremes are changing how we politically debate, and how deep political education and organizing are our only hope.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the way in which social media platforms force us into binaries, which is a disaster for leftwing organizing, which requires us to talk through nuance.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the alarming space in Canadian media that TERFascist ideas are receiving, and ask what the end game is in platforming transphobia.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora discuss how systemic racism operates within democratic structures, and the need for renewal. They talk about the Green Party, the NDP and more broadly within the left.
You can check out Nora’s new podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/take-back-the-fight/episodes/take-back-the-fight-series-teaser
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how Canada’s democracy is in crisis and is it time for a new left political party? Plus we deconstruct the media establishment’s obsession with The Two Michaels.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora discuss the winners and losers in #elxn44 — and what everyone needs to learn about the success of the PP party.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the legacy of 9/11 in Canada, and how the English-language debates reveal more about the state of Canada’s democracy than pundits and politicians will admit.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about how the election is going — and how none of the major parties are acting as if we have just surviving a global pandemic. We also talk about the ongoing struggle at Fairy Creek.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the important issues that the current federal election should cover, but near certainly will not.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the need for left-wingers to identify, engage with and create rhetoric. Plus, Sandy has information about Ontario police destroying documents and we talk about the BCCLA.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the federal government’s recent decision to vet all scientific research funding as a matter of national intelligence agencies. Plus, they talk about tuition fees in Newfoundland and Labrador and the importance of physical space for activism and organizing.
Episode transcript.
In this episode Sandy and Nora talk about crime and punishment, and why society gets nowhere when it throws people into the criminal justice system. Plus, they talk about the Notwithstanding Clause and wtf is up with the Green Party?
CW: discussion of child suicide in the second half of the episode.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about COVID-19 — again — and how the world that politicians want us to think we’re living in is not the world we are living in.
Episode transcript here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
In this episode, Sandy and Nora examine how police power seems to be growing unchecked while we all ride out the pandemic.
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?
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about our new normal, and what politicians must do to start helping Canadians weather the storm.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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/
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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
Live from Toronto on Nov. 2, Sandy and Nora take on The Munk Debate. From Frum and Bannon to Bay Street’s continued colonial exploitation of locations across the globe for mining, they tie together extremely obvious links that everyone in the mainstream media somehow forgot the week prior to this debate.
Special thanks to the Black Liberation Collective at Ryerson, volunteers at CJRU and Noah for capturing this sound, staff at the Ryerson Student Centre and the folks who arrived early enough to help us set up and take down the chairs. It was greatly appreciated.
This is part one of two parts. The second part, the Q&A, is Episode 38.
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