The Munk Debates Podcast

Friday Focus returns from its summer hiatus to unpack two major geopolitical flashpoints.
First, the trade war with the United States—and its consequences. There has been a narrowing of the debate around Carney's approach. People are being labelled disloyal for dissenting from his strategy, but we need space for differing views. Tariffs are easy to impose and difficult to unwind. Will Trump turn to more punitive measures against Canada—from natural gas pipelines to banking licenses and work visas? The longer this confrontation drags on, the greater the risk that an already heated situation takes an even more dangerous turn.

Then, the Iran war and a sharp escalation over the past week. The Houthis have made major advances in Yemen, seizing critical outposts and tightening their grip on the Red Sea, one of the world’s most important trade routes. After a period of stalemate that was working against Iran, Tehran appears to be pursuing an “escalate to de-escalate” strategy: increasing pressure on the U.S. and driving up oil prices in an effort to force an end to the blockade. Will the U.S. respond by escalating further and increasing the pressure on Iran? How much economic pain can Trump tolerate at home heading into the midterms? And could he simply wake up one day and declare the war over?
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On this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast, we’re revisiting one of the classic debates from the series’ 18-year history: the Munk Debate on Religion, held in 2010 before a sold-out crowd of 3,000 at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall.

The debate resolution was: Be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world.

Arguing for the motion former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had recently converted to Catholicism.

Arguing against the resolution was the late Christopher Hitchens, an avowed atheist and the author of numerous bestsellers including God Is Not Great.

Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.
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Rudyard and Andrew unpack a consequential week in the Canada-U.S. trade war, from Trump’s increasingly erratic and provocative behaviour—including the absurd renaming of Lake Ontario—to his apparent preference for perpetual conflict over a lasting trade peace. Andrew believes Canada needs to diversify trade and reduce its vulnerability to U.S. pressure and manipulation. Will Trump’s approach alienate his Republican base ahead of the midterms? How are Canadian politicians capitalizing on the moment? And how much economic pain is Canada prepared to absorb? Andrew is optimistic that Canada is ready to hunker down for a long fight, potentially longer than Americans are prepared for.
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rudyard and Andrew react to the intensifying Canada-U.S. trade war. Trump is threatening additional tariffs starting January 1, and it’s increasingly clear he was intent on escalating regardless of whether or not Carney walked away from the deal. Carney is putting his Davos message into action: middle powers need to free themselves from the grip of hegemons. It was the right call, with broad agreement in Canada that we cannot allow Trump to bully us into submission. There will be costs, but the cost of staying at the table may have been greater.

Should Canada pursue retaliatory tariffs? Will other countries being targeted by Trump follow Canada’s lead? And finally, can Canada use the upcoming U.S. midterms to pressure Trump into a better deal?
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rudyard and Andrew unpack leaks from ongoing U.S.-Canada trade talks, which are focused only on the immediate threat of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods rather than negotiating a long-term deal. Even if Canada averts some of these tariffs, CUSMA negotiations lie ahead—and the leaks suggest we may not get full tariff relief on the issues that matter most, including steel, autos, software and lumber, while facing additional concessions on dairy supply management and digital policy.

How are these concessions consistent with Carney’s “elbows up” message? Andrew argues that trying to appease Trump risks feeding his appetite for further concessions. This isn’t a negotiation; it’s extortion. If the Trump administration continues to approach trade this way, Canada needs to mitigate this ongoing threat by becoming a more competitive market and diversifying trade.
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus and Munk Dialogues. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.