In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 24th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a plug for their ongoing fundraiser. Day three is off to a great start, but we haven't hit our target yet. If you can help us out, please go here. Every dollar counts. The Line accepts no bailouts and no subsidies, and competes against much larger outlets that have gladly (or even reluctantly) taken the government money. We need your help to compete. Please give what you can by going to Donorbox.org/hold-the-line-928062.

Having gotten the telethon out of the way, for the rest of the segment, they run through the latest developments in the Canada–U.S. trade dispute. Jen wonders why there’s suddenly so much activity, and Matt offers a surprisingly mundane answer: we’re running out of time before the deal runs out. They assess the credibility of both sides in the negotiations and, in a move that may frustrate some listeners, also take a look at comments made by Pierre Poilievre this week. Jen suggests he's living in a fantasy, and Matt explains what he thinks he's doing when he attacks Mark Carney for not wanting a deal. Matt broadens the lens to include the opposition in the United States as well, and warns that if Canada’s strategy is simply to rag the puck until the midterms, it may be time to rethink the plan. The Democrats may be more predictable, but they're not necessarily going to be much friendlier on the trade front. Trump, and MAGA, have moved the needle on that one. Probably for a generation.

Next, Jen discusses her latest column, which leads to a longer conversation about Canadian complacency and the difficulty of reforming a country that places such a high premium on avoiding hurt feelings. Matt notes that her argument aligns closely not only with his recent writing on the collapse of Canadian accountability, but also with something he wrote years ago — a piece about expectations, and how they can be a problem.

They wrap up with a quick, and somewhat frustrated, update from their respective home provinces. As Matt puts it, we’re not sending our best.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. And if you like what you heard, don't forget to go to Donorbox.org/hold-the-line-928062 to help us hold the line.

#TheLinePodcast

#CanadianPolitics

#CanadaUSRelations

#TradeWar

#PierrePoilievre

#MarkCarney

#CanadianEconomy

#PoliticalAnalysis

#CanadaPolitics

#CurrentAffairs

Today on On The Line, host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to break down what comes next for Canada’s governing party.

First up is Jamie Carroll of Carroll & Co., for a conversation about the Liberal Party of Canada now that Mark Carney has secured a majority government. What does he do with it? What are the immediate priorities, and what actually needs to happen to turn political momentum into results? Carroll explains why a slim majority can create unique challenges in managing caucus, and Matt presses him on the perennial risk of Liberal hubris — and whether Carney can avoid the mistakes that have tripped up past governments.

Then Matt is joined by Gregory Jack of Ipsos to talk about what voters are actually looking for. Even in a political environment still shaped by Donald Trump and global uncertainty, the fundamentals haven’t changed: affordability remains the defining issue. Jack walks through the latest polling on what Canadians expect from the government, and where Carney will need to deliver if he wants to hold onto public support.

It’s a practical look at power, priorities, and the narrow path between political success and overreach. Be sure to visit our main page at ReadTheLine.ca, and as always, like and subscribe.

#OnTheLine #CanadaPolitics #MarkCarney #LiberalParty #JamieCarroll #Ipsos #GregoryJack #Affordability #CanadianPolitics #MattGurney

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 17th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson start with a bit of housecleaning. Jen’s recent trip to Montreal for the Liberal convention, along with some of the coverage that followed, has prompted a few questions, and your hosts move quickly to address them before getting into the main discussion.

From there, they turn to the big story: Mark Carney now has his majority government. Matt and Jen unpack what that means and offer differing views on whether the way he secured it is ultimately a good thing. They also take aim at the Conservatives, particularly over some of the attacks on Carney’s résumé this week. At one point, Matt channels a bit of Donald Trump at his most blunt to explain the kind of Conservative he prefers: the kind that wins. He confesses to his greatest frustration here: the Liberals aren't actually doing that well. The Conservatives ought to be able to land a shot. But they can't. The Liberals are winning, easily. And they'll keep winning until someone in CPC Land can come up with a plan that isn't whining about the media.

They close with a discussion of provincial politics and return to a theme from last week — Canada’s increasingly fragile accountability mechanisms. It’s not the most cheerful conversation, but for anyone curious about Matt’s next column, consider this a preview. He more or less lays out the argument on air, while also noting he wouldn’t mind writing it from somewhere warmer, with lower taxes and better healthcare. Hint, hint.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.

#TheLinePodcast

#CanadianPolitics

#MarkCarney

#LiberalParty

#ConservativeParty

#CanadaPolitics

#PoliticalAccountability

#FederalPolitics

#CanadianMedia

#CurrentAffairs