Politics Is Broken

A heavy week in Canada sparks a tough (and surprisingly data-filled) question: is Canada actually better than the U.S.?
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.

What’s really happening in the United States…and how did American democracy get to this point?
On this episode of Politics is Broken, Stewart and Lisa are joined by U.S. political analyst, 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.

The Conservative Party just held a leadership convention in Calgary and—surprise—Pierre Poilievre walked away with a huge vote of confidence. But was it unity…or just muscle memory?
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.

"Nostalgia is not a strategy."
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.

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.