Hub Podcasts

Dean Mikkelsen, a Canadian living abroad and founder of the website Power & Corridors, joins The Hub from Abu Dhabi to unpack the tentative U.S.-Iran agreement and what it could mean for the future of the Strait of Hormuz. While markets have welcomed signs of de-escalation, he argues the real story is how Arabian Gulf countries are rapidly building alternative pipelines, rail networks, ports, and trade corridors to reduce their dependence on a single energy chokepoint. Mikkelsen also explains why disruptions to LNG, fertilizer, and shipping insurance markets could have longer-lasting impacts on global trade and food prices...

Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss the delayed opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a Canadian-financed infrastructure project connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. Although the bridge is ready to open, the Trump administration has blocked its launch, allegedly due to lobbying by the owner of the competing Ambassador Bridge. They explore whether this represents pay-to-play corruption in the Trump White House and debate whether Canada should adopt more transactional tactics to advance its interests in the bilateral relationship.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:22 - The myth of a united Alberta, by Falice Chin

11:45 - Carney wants Canada to become an energy superpower. Where will the money come from?, by David Detomasi

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Trouble looming for Carney? Canadian PMs lose 67% of elections during recessions, 60% during technical recessions, by Edward Ngai

7:01 - Carney’s incoherent climate policy is hurting our European allies, helping China, and holding Canada back, by Christian Leuprecht and Dimitar Lilkov

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding extending their ceasefire and its geopolitical implications. They examine how reopening the Strait of Hormuz could benefit Canadian energy exports while questioning what Iran's apparent diplomatic victory signals about U.S. global leadership. They then explore whether this agreement emboldens adversaries like China and Russia, and raises concerns about President Trump potentially redirecting his focus toward North America, including renewed pressure on Canada.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - 1 in 7 jobs: Alberta is more dependent on U.S. trade than any other province, by Alicia Planincic

4:06 - Ottawa is trying to censor AI chatbots with new online harms law, by Christine Van Geyn

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:30 - The rest of Canada has a lot to learn from Alberta, by Sean Speer

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer examine the turbulent state of Canada-U.S. trade relations following President Trump's assertion that the United States does not need Canada or a renewed CUSMA. They also analyze the shift from Prime Minister Carney's "sovereignty economics" toward a "Fortress North America" approach, exploring whether it signals a recognition of Canada's limited options.

In the second half, they critique the Carney government's embrace of state-directed capitalism, questioning whether state-led industrial policy can deliver economic growth or if market-based solutions remain superior despite global trends toward greater government intervention.

If...

Deirdra Garyk, longtime energy policy analyst and advocate, says this year's Global Energy Show was defined by a renewed sense of optimism, driven by greater policy certainty and a shift toward building major projects. She highlighted a new labour market outlook projecting roughly 72,000 energy-sector job openings by 2035, while warning that the industry's biggest challenge is not a shortage of workers, but a shortage of skills. Garyk also argued that growing demand from AI, LNG exports, and global energy security concerns is pushing the conversation away from an "energy transition" and toward a more pragmatic approach to “energy realism.”

Amanda Galbraith, co-founder and president of Oyster Group, and David Coletto, founder and chair of Abacus Data, join Sean Speer to discuss the Carney government's artificial intelligence strategy and online harms legislation. They examine Canadian attitudes toward AI adoption and debate the merits of restricting social media access for youth under 16.

In the second half, they analyze whether Prime Minister Carney has reached peak popularity and the political challenges of regulating digital platforms while maintaining a governing coalition amid economic uncertainty and growing caucus tensions.

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Ottawa's new airline loan program, sparked by rising fuel costs from the ongoing Iran War. They explore WestJet's rejection of the government's proposal, and how government intervention creates market distortions and dependency in Canada's aviation sector. They then examine broader concerns about corporate welfare and protectionism across Canadian industries, and how these policies undermine both domestic competition and Canada's position in upcoming U.S. trade negotiations.

The Hub is Canada’s fastest growing independent digital news outlet.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:19 - Carney is all-in on industrial policy. It’s a bad bet, by Charles Lammam

8:09 - The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off: What victory looks like for Canada, by Kirk LaPointe

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Amber Ruddy and Keith McLaughlin join Alberta Edge to debate whether the province’s two main Tory leaders are successfully calming separatist tensions. Premier Danielle Smith, who leads Alberta’s UCP, and Pierre Poilievre, leader of the federal Conservatives, are arguably on the same federalist side—but are taking different approaches to handling grievance politics. The conversation also touches on the pipeline MOU, internal UCP tensions, First Nations backlash, and the increasingly volatile political atmosphere surrounding Alberta’s referendum season. 

This podcast is generously supported by Don Archibald. The Hub thanks him for his ongoing support.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:18 - What’s driving Alberta separatism? Don’t overlook immigration, by Howard Anglin

7:07 - Canada’s investment crisis is a vicious cycle of capital and talent exiting: Economic report, by Graeme Gordon

This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perks, subscribe to the Hub for only $...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Canadian economic growth has been slowing since the 1960s, by Livio Di Matteo

5:06 - With CUSMA renegotiations around the corner, Canada needs a North American AI strategy, by Allen Zeesman

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Canada's deeper economic malaise beyond the recession debate. They explore decades of declining quarterly GDP growth since the 1960s, arguing that secular stagnation—not short-term fluctuations—is the real crisis. They also cover rising debt burdens, unproductive capital allocation, and policy failures that have compounded economic decline. Finally, they critique the Carney government's approach and question whether politicians will relinquish power to enable market-driven productivity growth.

The Hub is Canada’s fastest growing independent digital news outlet.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:21 - 67% of Canadians say Canada has too much immigration and 40% say fewer immigrants would make Jews safer: Exclusive poll, by Graeme Gordon

8:39 - Canada’s economic problems are bigger than a technical recession, by Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer

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Dr Michael Bonner, political consultant with Atlas Strategic Advisors and former director of Policy within the Government of Ontario, discusses his book, The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom. Bonner argues that contemporary liberalism's current crisis stems from forgetting its Christian origins and theological foundations, as well as suffering from tensions and contradictions that threaten it from within. He also examines the origins of concepts like equality and freedom, questions whether liberalism can survive increasing secularization, and explores the tension between unlimited freedom and the need for shared moral foundations in pluralistic societies like Canada.

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Mark Carney’s antisemitism response falls woefully short, by Jack M. Mintz

6:14 - On robotaxis, Toronto is having the wrong debate, by Andrew Miller

This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perks, subscribe to the Hub for only $2 a week: https://thehub.ca/join/he...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:31 - The Carney government gets AI wrong, by Sean Speer

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Prime Minister Carney's governing approach as his popularity reaches 50 percent according to recent polling. They analyze a week of major policy announcements—including the Carney government's AI strategy, proposed expanded media subsidies for Canada's audio and audiovisual sectors, and grocery rebates—arguing these represent continuity with Trudeau-era policies rather than meaningful change.

In the second half, they discuss whether Ottawa's institutional path dependency prevents fundamental reform and question why Carney's technocratic government favours subsidies over regulatory reform. They also examine whether Canada's growing protected economy limits the appetite for market-oriented solu...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:22 - A recession isn’t Canada’s economic problem, it’s years-long ‘stagnation’ previously masked by immigration: Economists, by Graeme Gordon

10:24 - Is Quebec finally turning more conservative?, by Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard

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Conservative MP and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong discusses his recent trip to Taiwan, which he says he took to assert Canadian sovereignty after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned MPs against visiting what they say is a renegade state. This week, the top Chinese diplomat visited Canada for the first time in a decade.

Chong examines China's continuing foreign interference operations in Canada, criticizes the government's lack of transparency regarding its new strategic partnership with Beijing, and addresses concerns about forced labour products entering Canada. Chong also outlines how a Conservative government would...

Joseph Steinberg, economics professor at the University of Toronto, discusses the Trump administration's latest tariff strategy against Canada. He explains how Section 301 tariffs, justified by allegations of forced labour, represent a workaround to replace temporary tariffs struck down by courts. Steinberg also examines whether these accusations against Canada are substantive or merely pretexts, analyzes the unprecedented global scope of these trade measures, and assesses the likelihood of legal challenges to this unconventional use of presidential authority.

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Amanda Galbraith, co-founder and president of Oyster Group, and David Coletto, founder and chair of Abacus Data, join Sean Speer to discuss U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's 51st state comments, what drives the Trump administration's position towards Canada, and how all of this impacts impending Canada-U.S. trade negotiations.

In the second half, they discuss Alberta's forthcoming referendum on whether the province should hold a separation referendum. They also analyze Premier Danielle Smith's political calculations on this issue, the risks of legitimizing separatist sentiment, and potential consequences for federal Conservative politics and national unity.

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - How to fight separatism: Deepen the economic ties between provinces, by Trevor Tombe

6:06 - A 57% decline: The Hunter Prize for Public Policy takes on the curious case of Canada’s missing entrepreneurs, by Sean Speer and Taylor Jackson

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J.J. McCullough, a Canadian political commentator and YouTube creator, discusses the Carney government's sudden reversal on the CRTC's decision to triple how much it charges digital streaming companies. He examines how the controversial legislation—originally justified as promoting Canadian content—has devolved into a subsidy regime for established creators. McCullough argues that the government's decision to bypass CRTC online streaming fees and directly fund cultural programs raises questions about the Online Streaming Act's future amid trade tensions and consumer affordability concerns.

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Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Mark Carney gave a fine speech on antisemitism, but words are just a start, by Stephen Staley

6:53 - The world wants Canadian energy—and billions of dollars of investment could soon start flowing again, by Peter Tertzakian

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On May 28th, The Hub gathered readers and listeners in Ottawa's National Arts Centre for a live conversation between Sean Speer, The Hub's co-founder and editor-at-large, and Matthew Continetti, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and Wall Street Journal columnist. The two examine the Trump administration's strained relationship with Canada and its broader implications. Continetti explores the psychological and policy factors driving anti-Canada sentiment in Republican circles, Trump's transactional worldview rooted in 1980s grievances, and the administration's legislative achievements despite political chaos. Finally, he analyzes prospects for the midterm elections, the permanence of current U...

Stephen Staley, director of The Hub's Fault Lines Initiative, analyzes Prime Minister Carney's recent speech addressing rising antisemitism in Canada. He examines what the speech got right—acknowledging the distinct threats facing Jewish Canadians and affirming pluralism—while questioning its substance. He critiques the announced ministerial advisory council, particularly its composition, and argues that meaningful action requires enforcing existing laws rather than forming committees. He also explores whether the government can effectively address antisemitism while managing competing political pressures within its caucus.

You can read his piece, "Mark Carney gave a fine speech on antisemitism, but word...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Pierre Poilievre and Danielle Smith are on a collision course over pipeline politics, by Harrison Lowman

7:49 - New BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay must now get control of resentment in party before she can win a (potentially snap) election, by Kirk LaPointe

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Thomas Chatterton Williams discusses his new book “Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse”, which examines how Obama-era post-racial optimism eroded into deeply divisive identity politics. The staff writer at The Atlantic explores how the 2020 racial reckoning, fueled by technology and lockdowns, sparked both far-left activism and far-right backlash. Williams argues that grievance politics on both extremes threatens liberal democracy, drawing on his perspective of living between America and France to advocate for renewed commitment to liberal colourblind ideals and open discourse.

The Hub is Canada’s fastest growing independent digita...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:21 - Over 50% of Canadians want 2 kids as Canada’s fertility rate nears just 1 baby per mom: Report, by Graeme Gordon

7:36 - Why Canada’s homeownership rate is hiding how bad the housing crisis really is, by Charles Lammam

This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perk...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:25 - Why First Nations should be all-in on developing AI data centres, by Sean Speer

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Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Statistics Canada's announcement that Canada is in a technical recession, examining the structural weaknesses behind two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. They critique the Carney government's approach of state-directed capitalism focused on energy and mining, arguing it neglects the broader tax and regulatory reform needed for economy-wide growth.

In the second half, they dissect and fact-check Prime Minister Carney's speech at The Economic Club of New York. They also examine his use of the term "strategic autonomy," questioning whether this signals a radical shift toward economic isolationism that contradicts Canada's...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:19 - The antisemitism ‘Trojan Horse’: How Jew hatred is the gateway drug for defending dictatorships, by Harrison Lowman

10:39 - What the Pope’s AI takedown and defence of humanity can teach us, by Renze Nauta

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On the anniversary of the 2021 Kamloops discovery, Full Press explains how the Canadian media failed to cover that story accurately, why journalists still haven’t reckoned with that mistake, and how it has deepened divisions and damaged the national reconciliation process. The panel also compares The New York Times bravely suing the Pentagon to the CBC giving Liberal sources angry with Prime Minister Carney the gift of anonymity.

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Lyle Trytten, a self-professed “nickel nerd” and long-time advisor in the mining sector, says Canada possesses significant critical mineral potential, but many projects face major significant hurdles due to remoteness, harsh weather, infrastructure gaps, and volatile global commodity markets. In this episode of Alberta Edge, he assesses the viability of several proposals before the Major Projects Office—including the Ring of Fire, Nouveau Monde’s graphite project in Quebec, the Crawford nickel reserve near Timmins, and a tungsten development in New Brunswick—arguing that geology alone does not guarantee economic success. 

This podcast is generously supported by Don Arch...

Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.

0:20 - Carney’s climate policy is splitting the Left. Here’s what it means for the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP, by Edward Ngai

5:43 - In politics, you have to play to win, by Ian Brodie

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Samuel Hammond, director of artificial intelligence policy and chief economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, explores the tensions between the Old Right's free-market orthodoxy and the New Right's willingness to wield state power, and discusses how figures like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and JD Vance are forging a new political coalition around technology and national interests. He dives deep into artificial intelligence: why it's testing the coherence of conservative ideology, and what the administration's "accelerationist" agenda ultimately means for Canada's relationship with the United States.

This episode is produced in partnership with the New North...