Friday Focus: Bibi's Gaza plan prioritizes his political survival over his country's interests and Putin dreams of a new Russian Empire
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start the show talking about developments in the Middle East, where Netanyahu ordered his war cabinet to take over Gaza City temporarily and hand it over to Arab security forces. This would involve evacuation orders for residents of Gaza city, who have already been displaced multiple times over the course of this war. This is an unpopular plan, opposed by both governments abroad and the majority of Israeli citizens, including the chief of defense staff. How does the rescue and recovery of Israel's hostages factor into this plan? Rudyard and Janice agree that this is one of the most egregious examples of a politician putting his own political survival over the long term strategic interests of his country. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to the war in Ukraine and Trump's changing attitudes towards Russia. A Trump and Putin deal that excludes Zelensky would infuriate not only Ukraine but all of Europe. The West must understand that Russians have historically viewed the world through a different lens that does not align with Western liberal attitudes. Ultimately, Russia wants the West to recognize its sphere of influence in the region, a view Trump is sympathetic to. In the final moments of the show Rudyard and Janice reflect on the 80th anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima. The dropping of two Atomic bombs in Japan at the end of World War Two has left a moral stain on all those involved, and should remain a subject of deep reflection. How should this horrible chapter in our history inform our attitudes towards the major geopolitical conflicts unfolding today? To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.
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Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: America's checks and balances are failing to restrain Donald Trump
Rudyard and Andrew start the show trying to understand why Trump's radical steps on immigration, education, and foreign policy have been met with so little resistance. Where are the checks and balances? Trump doesn't live by the usual dictates that other presidents have. He's not bound by conscience, obedience to convention, or public opinion, and the final test will come when or if he defies a Supreme Court ruling. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Andrew turn to developments in the Middle East where it is becoming increasingly clear that the Netanyahu government does not have a real plan for the future of Gaza. While Israel is often held to an unreasonably high standard when it comes to defending itself, it likewise should not be held to an unreasonably low standard. Israel is using up any international goodwill that it has left, and it is not in their self interest to continue this war. Unfortunately, there is no good or easy option right now, only a range of bad ones. Which one will Israel choose?
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Friday Focus: A late night tariff announcement and Canada's plan to recognize a Palestinian state
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice start today's show with Trump's late night tariff announcement which sets a 35% tariff on Canada, but only really affects 10% of goods that fall outside of CUSMA. The punishing tariffs on aluminum, steel, and the auto industry, however, remain. Why did Mark Carney not try to strike a deal before today's deadline? What will happen if CUSMA protections are removed in a future deal? And how should Canada prioritize its sovereignty and self-respect in negotiations that give us privileged access to the US market? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice talk about Canada's announcement that it will join France and the UK in recognizing Palestinian statehood at the UN in September. While it is understandable that western governments want to do something to stop the carnage in Gaza and bring an end to this war, this type of political statement emboldens Hamas and makes the conflict more intractable and less solvable. In the midst of this turmoil, however, came a surprising announcement from surrounding Arab countries: the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and several others called on Hamas to disarm and end its rule over the war torn strip. Is this the start of the end for the terrorist group's reign in Gaza? To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.
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Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: The EU-US trade deal should serve as a warning to Canada and why supply management hurts the poorest Canadians
Rudyard and Andrew start the show assessing Trump's new trade deal with the EU: no relief on tariffs, carve outs that favour the US, and uncertainty for Europe down the road. Why did European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agree to this deal? Why aren't all countries currently negotiating with the US working together to create a united front? And does the EU's deal provide a window into what Canada can expect from its own trade negotiations with the US? Trump is committed to tariffs and we need to accept this will be part of any future deal. And while we might not have yet seen the effects of tariffs on the price of consumer goods, we will soon as companies accept that this is a long term economic reality. Rudyard and Andrew then turn to supply management, a flawed policy issue that the Canadian government refuses to address. Why are we upholding a redistribution of wealth which benefits an affluent business community at the expense of the country's poor? Click here to purchase Andrew's new bestselling book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy.
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Friday Focus: Israel is weaponizing food, and Hamas is weaponizing its own people
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudyard and Janice open today's show talking about starvation in Gaza. How do we find ourselves here, and what can be done about it? While it is true that Hamas steals food to sell on the black market to pay its fighters, there is no justification for using food as a weapon. Can Israel recover from this moral stain? And why is Hamas not subject to international pressure to release the hostages that could end this war? Both Rudyard and Janice agree that the time is over for diplomatic solutions. International security forces need to intervene and put an end to this conflict. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to France's intention to recognize Palestinian Statehood at the UN in September. This might not be welcome news to the Palestinian Authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas as it comes with expectations of governance and elections. How does a statement or recognition actually change events on the ground? Is it enough to break through the defensive shield Bibi has built around himself? Ultimately, If this declaration does nothing to change Palestinian leadership or Israel's control over the West Bank, then it is nothing more than empty rhetoric with no consequence. To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.
The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.
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