The Swing

How do you clear a path for peace using a blueprint for capitulation?

In this episode of The Swing, Pendulum's Heather Bakken, Yaroslav Baran and Balkan Devlen (also an internationally renowned geopolitical strategist) dissect the most contentious development in the Ukraine war since the full-scale invasion began: a leaked 28-point so-called “peace plan” reportedly penned in secret by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Kremlin-linked businessman Kirill Dmitriev. Noticeably absent in the drafting of the plan — anyone from sovereign Ukraine.

What does “peace” actually mean in international affairs wi...

Pendulum's Heather Bakken and Yaroslav Baran break down the narrow but decisive passage of Canada’s federal budget — a vote that hinged on the Green Party's unexpected support for the Liberals and the abstentions of some opposition MPs.

Baran explains the political theatre and narrows in on parliamentary procedure to debunk speculation about the Speaker’s role with a clear walk-through of the Denison rule, which would have forced a vote against the budget had the numbers deadlocked.

Zooming back out they provide a political assessment on why no party truly wanted an election: Liberals seekin...

Canada's long awaited budget will be tabled on November 4th. It's the first one in 18 months and will lay out the new Carney government's agenda from a dollars and cents perspective.

What are the signals it will send to the markets? How does the process work? And what are the politics at play?

Yaroslav and Heather discuss the play-by-play process, estimates, ways and means vote, implementation bills, and more.

Sound complicated?

Hear from the guy (aka Yaroslav) who used to help whip the vote on The Hill and can nerd out...

We’re unpacking Canada’s evolving Indo-Pacific strategy: what it means, where it’s headed and why it matters now more than ever.

This week Yaroslav Baran is joined by two luminaries of foreign policy and trade with a particular expertise in the Asia-Pacific region: Vina Najibulla is Vice-President, Research & Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Jonathan Berkshire Miller is Co-Founder & Principal at Pendulum Geopolitical Advisory.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has just completed a whirlwind tour of China, Singapore, and India—three countries chosen with clear intent. This marks the Carney governme...

After four years advising two Prime Ministers of Canada on foreign policy, Oz Jungic breaks his silence with Pendulum.

Jungic is moving on to another role outside of the political sphere and sat down with host Yaroslav Baran to discuss how decisions are made at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), how the decision to recognize Palestine came together, and the evolving NATO response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

And he drops some hints about where he's going next.

Get the insider's inside scoop on The Swing.

As Canada doubles down on resource development and infrastructure through its new Major Projects Office (MPO) and Bill C-5 (An Act to Enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act) the constitutional Duty to Consult Indigenous Peoples is becoming a defining opportunity for the country’s economic future.

Hosts Heather Bakken and Yaroslav Baran explore how the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ties directly to political tensions around major development, and why Indigenous consultation is no longer just a legal formality but a litmus test for national credibility and in...

The House is back! This week on The Swing, we examine Canada’s return to Parliament and the political tone-setting that will shape the months ahead.

Parliamentary committees are structured groups of MPs drawn from all parties, designed to mirror the composition of the House. Yaroslav, a parliamentary procedural expert, explains how committees work and why they matter.

Transport Minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigns from Cabinet to become Ottawa's special envoy to Ukraine.

Beyond Canada, we look at Europe’s defense industrial strategies, where protectionism and supply chain diversification intersect. How would Canada integrate into...

This episode offers sharp insights into how Ottawa is preparing for its toughest test yet.

Canada's lawmakers will be returning to the House next week in what promises to be a high-stakes fall sitting of Parliament. They will be welcomed by tariff shocks, fiscal pressure and a sharpened opposition.

The audio briefing dives into:

This week on The Swing, Yaroslav Baran, Balkan Devlen, and host Heather Bakken unpack three pivotal developments shaping Canada’s political and economic trajectory. A Cabinet Planning Forum sets the stage for a high-stakes fall session and budget. The new Major Projects Office launches in Calgary to fast-track infrastructure and send a clear signal to Alberta’s energy sector. And China’s high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit reveals new alignments with global power blocs.

How do these shifts redefine Canada’s role in the world, its economic resilience, and its political strategy at home? Tune in for an in-de...

Hop on The Swing to look at Canadian politics through a wider, global lens.

This week, Yaroslav and Heather break down Prime Minister Mark Carney’s scrapping of U.S. tariffs, his surprise stop in Kyiv with nearly $2B in new aid for Ukraine, and a European tour cementing defence, trade, and NATO ties.

Back home, Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre reclaimed a seat in Parliament with a byelection win. And from Hamilton, the curious case of a young Canadian crypto hacker who pulled off multi-million-dollar heists but is now on the lam.

This week on The Swing, Yaroslav and Heather unpack three developments that reveal just how unpredictable, and globally entangled, Canadian politics has become.

The August 1 trade deadline came and went without a deal between Canada and the United States. Meantime Statistics Canada released the latest numbers 0n Canadian International Merchandise Trade.

Ottawa made a foreign policy pivot. Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. Harkening Canada’s traditional role as a middle-power mediator, they explore the domestic implications and international fallout.

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This episode is essential listening for anyone following Canada-U.S. relations, trade policy, or the broader dynamics of economic nationalism and geopolitical strategy.

Hosts Heather Bakken and Yaroslav Baran are joined by Fen Hampson, Chancellor’s Professor of International Affairs at Carleton University and Co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-US Relations. Together, they unpack the fast-approaching August 1 trade deadline, triggered by U.S. President Trump’s threat of a 35% tariff on Canadian exports.

Does this mean we're heading to Armageddon on August 1st? (Spoiler alert: it does not).

Fen provides critical insight into...

Multiple summits and looming trade deadlines are keeping Canada's Prime Minister busy in back-to-back meetings with Indigenous leaders, U.S. Senators, and provincial premiers. Yaroslav and Heather cut through the headlines for a grounded perspective on the politics, policies and process behind the bid to fast-track major projects of national interest with a moving goal post on trade deal deadlines and tariffs.

This week, Pendulum co-founders Yaroslav Baran and Heather Bakken bring you inside the political machinery behind Canada’s next federal budget — and what happens before the numbers hit the page.

Finance Minister Champagne is heading out on a cross-country road trip as part of a two-track consultation process to shape national priorities ahead of the fall budget. Yaroslav breaks down how it works, who's involved and what lies ahead.

U.S. President Donald Trump pens another tariff letter — this time adding copper to the list. Ottawa has tough negotiators, but can the Carney government deliver a reva...

This week, on the heels of U.S. Embassy's Fourth of July party with the Calgary Stampede in full 'swing', Yaroslav and Heather talk about Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to trade diversification, trade deals, and building that elusive “One Canadian Economy”!

Hop on The Swing for an executive briefing on nation building projects, defence procurement and Canada's equivalent of the executive order (hint: it's called an Order in Council). And a Canadian baseball hero's walk-off on X.

In this episode of The Swing, we dive into the machinery of Canadian democracy with a timely review of the 45th Parliament under Prime Minister Mark Carney following his first sitting session.

So — did the PM have a successful first season? Pendulum's Yaroslav Baran, a seasoned political and parliamentary expert, joins Heather Bakken to break down what has been accomplished.

Carney’s governing style is already reshaping federal politics. What about the nuts and bolts of the passage of priority legislation, and what it really means? How does Bill C-5, the government’s central economic legisl...

Pendulum's Balkan Devlen moderates a discussion about the NATO Summit at The Hague with security and defence experts, Alexander Lanoszka and Richard Shimooka. They break down the details of the defence spending target the Allies agreed in principle, delve into what it really means, and explain why Spain has a carve-out. They also discuss the strategic defence and security partnership Prime Minister Carney signed with the European Union. What does it mean in practice? Why should expectations be tempered here at home? How does it impact the Canadian defence industry and capabilities? Find out by joining the conversation.

Balkan Devlen and Jonathan Berkshire-Miller join host, Heather Bakken, to discuss Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to hit NATO's spending target of two-percent of GDP on national defence by fiscal year end and boost funding for the armed forces while cutting taxes. Meantime Canada gears up to host the G7 Summit with a few extra guests at the table.

Minority Report: Liberals couldn't whip enough yeas for an amended throne speech vote that called on the government to table an economic update before Parliament breaks for summer. Opposition parties narrowly won the non-binding vote. But 'love was in air' at the First Ministers Meeting where Prime Minister Mark Carney laid out a plan for breaking down internal trade barriers and fast-tracking major infrastructure projects to drum up more business for Canada.

Canada's Speech from the Throne was delivered by King Charles III, opening Parliament. Canada is a constitutional monarchy and this was the first time the King visited Canada as Sovereign. Yaroslav and Heather unpack the throne speech and the government's new agenda. And wow -- that Canada broach the Queen consort was wearing is something else!

Canada is at the helm of the G7 this year and will host a number of G7 engagement groups and ministerial meetings. Pendulum's Yaroslav Baran and Jonathan Berkshire-Miller discuss how the new government's foreign policy is emerging and to what degree it will be a priority for the newly-minted cabinet.

Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, revamps his cabinet post-election. By and large he's going old school. Yaroslav and Heather talk about relationship resets, cabinet committees and Carney's back to basics approach to governing.

Canadian voters decide on another minority government and deliver Bizarro World results: Prime Minister Mark Carney claims a seat in Parliament with his first elected win, the Official Opposition Leader loses his Conservative seat of 21 years (so long, Stornoway!) and the NDP leader resigns after failing to hold onto his riding and official party status. If you're as confused as most people, our resident Parliamentary proceduralist has come to the rescue. Yarolsav unpacks what's next, what it sets in motion, and what to expect from the minority dynamics of the 45th Parliament.

We are in the final stretch of Canada's federal election campaign. Canadians head to the polls on April 28th in what has been a dynamic —and dramatic — political race. Since last week's pod, two debates are in the rearview mirror where no blood was left on the floor. Audiences tuned in en masse to watch the sparring and turned out in record numbers at advance polls. Voters are engaged, enthusiastic and clearly want change -- what kind of change is still uncertain. The polls are tightening with Conservatives inching closer to the Liberals. We're in the final bout to 'Get...

Welcome to The Swing, Pendulum’s podcast where Canada’s federal election takes centre stage. This week: Debate Prep. Yaroslav and Heather will pull back the curtain on how candidates prepare, what defines a good performance and the power of the elusive knock-out punch. As campaigns spin, pivot, and try to land the final blow, this is where strategy meets spectacle—the Swing starts now.

Campaigns, Colours & Catchphrases: Pendulum's international award-winning creative director, Ben Purkiss, talks branding with co-founder Yaroslav Baran. Want to know what kind of thinking goes into the look and feel of a campaign? In a word — authenticity. To be competitive, do the research, get to know the person behind the politician, and build the brand to complement the candidate. Among the good brands, the one that captures the public mood will likely win the race. Then there are the duds. Ben and Yaro cover them all in 14 minutes.

Week two of Canada's federal elections and party campaigns are in full swing. This week we discuss candidate eruptions, campaign scripting and voting efficiency.

Join Heather and Yaroslav as they discuss the first couple of weeks of the Canadian Federal election race.

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