The Munk Debate podcasts is home to two of the most popular Canadian current affairs podcasts: Friday Focus with Janice Gross Stein and Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 17:27
What can we expect from a make-or-break federal budget delivered in the middle of a trade war? Rudyard and Andrew look at the growing appetite in the business community for broad…
Sep 25, 2026 · 28:30
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he studied the possibility of U.S.-led military action against Canada in an hour-long interview with The New York Times . Meanwhile, politicians…
Sep 22, 2026 · 32:21
Parliament opened yesterday with the PM determined to keep his momentum going: a labour reform bill and a major liberalization of project permitting, including for pipelines.…
Sep 18, 2026 · 23:31
Trump says he is weighing whether to "annihilate" Iran next week. Is this another empty threat? We have reached a point where it is increasingly difficult to know how much weight…
Sep 16, 2026 · 14:26
Andrew and Rudyard begin with several important announcements from Carney’s investment summit, including a cut to the marginal effective tax rate on new investment and the…
Sep 11, 2026 · 23:18
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…
Aug 31, 2026 · 1:40:29
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…
Aug 28, 2026 · 17:37
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…
Aug 24, 2026 · 33:11
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…
Aug 21, 2026 · 30:58
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…
Aug 17, 2026 · 1:40:10
On this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast we are sharing the full Munk Debate on anti-Zionism, which took place in June 2024 in front of a sold out crowd of 3,000…
Aug 14, 2026 · 20:57
August 19 is fast approaching, and despite efforts to reach a deal, there is a real possibility that negotiations could collapse altogether. Do Canadian concessions actually…
Aug 11, 2026 · 1:37:48
This special episode features the Munk Debate on the Gene Editing, held before a live audience of 800 students and faculty at Deerfield Academy in April 2026. Arguing in favour…
Aug 7, 2026 · 16:13
What is the point of negotiating with Donald Trump when experience suggests that agreements may not be binding, concessions may not be reciprocal, and terms may not be honoured?…
Aug 4, 2026 · 1:28:02
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on the Crisis of Liberalism, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in November 2023. Arguing for…
Jul 31, 2026 · 24:05
Andrew and Rudyard open the show by examining the competing priorities confronting Prime Minister Carney's government. On one hand is the immediate geopolitical imperative:…
Jul 28, 2026 · 1:29:29
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on Mainstream Media, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in the fall of 2022. Arguing for the…
Jul 24, 2026 · 24:02
Rudyard and Andrew begin by unpacking the latest escalation in the U.S.–Iran conflict. Andrew argues that Trump cannot simply walk away if he wants to prevent Iran from gaining…
Jul 21, 2026 · 29:29
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on Trump's America, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in May 2025. The debate resolution was:…
Jul 17, 2026 · 17:38
Rudyard and Andrew unpack President Trump's speech last night, in which he cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections and alleged foreign interference ahead of the midterms.…
Jul 13, 2026 · 51:29
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on Capitalism, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall in November 2019. The debate resolution was:…
Jul 10, 2026 · 21:24
What should we make of this week's NATO summit in Ankara? If it doesn't end with the U.S. withdrawing from NATO, should it be considered a success? Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran…
Jul 6, 2026 · 1:37:07
This special episode features the full Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution, held before a live audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Meridian Hall in December 2025. The debate…
Jul 3, 2026 · 22:39
What would America's Founding Fathers make of the state of U.S. politics as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence? The constitutional rules they…
Jun 26, 2026 · 23:56
Programming note: Friday Focus will be taking a summer break. We will be back with new episodes starting September 11 (and, of course, if any serious news breaks over the…
Jun 23, 2026 · 19:41
Iranians appear to be enjoying maximum leverage over the Trump administration. The argument goes that Trump had to act as he did to avoid severe risks to the global economy—an…
Jun 19, 2026 · 22:05
Janice and Rudyard unpack another wild week in global affairs, beginning with news of heavy Israeli strikes overnight on Hezbollah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli…
Jun 17, 2026 · 22:01
Janice and Rudyard unpack the latest details of the emerging memorandum of understanding between Iran and Israel, examining its proposed $300 billion financing package and the…
Jun 12, 2026 · 37:34
This is now the 38th time President Trump has proclaimed a “great deal” with Iran. Is this one finally real? And if so, does it vindicate his strategy of escalating tensions to…
Jun 9, 2026 · 42:50
Recent economic data suggests Canada is in a technical recession. Andrew argues that while political parties continue to sell the fiction that governments can deliver short-term…
Jun 5, 2026 · 17:00
Iran and the U.S. remain locked in a dangerous standoff over the Strait of Hormuz that could drag on for weeks. How does this end? What pressure points could force either side to…
May 29, 2026 · 22:10
We may be on the cusp of a deal between Iran and the U.S., as both sides appear to be losing interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. But is this merely a ceasefire…
May 25, 2026 · 29:23
On this special podcast episode, we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on Foreign Wars, which took place this past Wednesday May 20th in front of a packed…
May 22, 2026 · 28:10
Munk Debates Chair Rudyard Griffiths and Managing Director Ricki Gurwitz pull back the curtain on how they chose the four debaters who took the stage on Wednesday night —…
May 22, 2026 · 25:10
Another strange ping-pong week in America's conflict with Iran — and irresponsible reporting has given us so many mixed messages. Are we any closer to a deal? And why is…
May 15, 2026 · 23:36
Tickets to our May 20th Munk Debate on Foreign Wars taking place in Toronto and featuring Mike Pompeo, Victoria Nuland, John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, are almost sold out.…
May 12, 2026 · 19:55
As the Strait of Hormuz grinds to a halt, gas prices soar, and inflation threatens to spike, Trump arrives at his meeting with Xi Jinping looking wounded and weak. He will be…
May 8, 2026 · 21:39
Tickets to our May 20th Munk Debate on Foreign Wars taking place in Toronto and featuring Mike Pompeo, Victoria Nuland, John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, are now on sale. Visit…
May 5, 2026 · 21:03
The U.S. edges back toward war with Iran just as food and gas prices are poised to surge. Could there be a role for China to play in getting Iran and the U.S. back to the…
May 1, 2026 · 18:20
The U.S. and Iran are locked in a long-term stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz. With the midterms looming, the Iranians view the next few weeks as the window of maximum…
Apr 28, 2026 · 31:51
Mark Carney has proposed a “Canada Strong Fund” which will launch with a C$25 billion endowment focused on domestic infrastructure, part of a broader effort to reduce…
Apr 24, 2026 · 26:21
Rudyard and Janice open the show with news of the Spring 2026 Munk mainstage debate: Be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters . A timely debate on competing interventionist and…
Apr 17, 2026 · 16:21
The historic Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced this week is the result of a direct conversation between the President of Lebanon and the Prime Minister of Israel. And yet, this…
Apr 14, 2026 · 36:08
Thanks to recent floor crossings and last night's by-election, the Liberal Party now has a majority government and a 15 point favourability lead that has unnerved and divided the…
Apr 10, 2026 · 38:30
Janice and Rudyard believe this war was a strategic defeat for the U.S. with Iran now in control of a chokepoint through which 25% of the world's energy flows. Is this the end of…
Apr 8, 2026 · 24:16
Can the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran hold? In the span of twenty-four hours Trump went from threatening to end their civilization to considering a joint venture to…
Apr 3, 2026 · 30:58
While Trump made public statements this week about bringing the war to an end soon, there is significant troop movement in the Middle East suggesting the opposite. There is no…
Mar 31, 2026 · 24:56
Rudyard and Andrew reflect on Trump's mixed messaging about the war with Iran. Troop deployment to the region would suggest he is escalating this conflict which could throw the…
Mar 27, 2026 · 39:29
Trump extended his deadline on striking Iran's power plants, but no one really knows if there is progress on peace talks. Mediators report a vibe that despite the rhetoric coming…
Mar 25, 2026 · 31:58
The Trump administration finds itself in a trap. They can't declare victory and go home unless the Iranians agree to conclude this war, and the Iranians at this point have no…
Mar 21, 2026 · 32:13
Rudyard and Janice believe we have entered into a critcial moment in this war and it is playing out in the Strait of Hormuz. This conflict is now about energy: who controls the…
Mar 13, 2026 · 25:52
Rudyard and Janice unpack the big surprises in the war from this week, specifically Iran's escalating attacks against Gulf States beyond their military bases, and the closure of…
Mar 6, 2026 · 24:01
Rudyard and Janice start today's show with the big surprise from this week: Iran striking its Gulf neighbours in an effort to get them to persuade Donald Trump to end this war,…
Mar 3, 2026 · 21:37
Rudyard and Andrew try to make sense of Trump's decision to start a war with Iran so contrary to the premise that created the MAGA movement and opposition to America's wars in…
Feb 27, 2026 · 17:45
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Janice focus…
Feb 24, 2026 · 18:24
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00…
Feb 20, 2026 · 14:54
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. The U.S. is ramping up its…
Feb 13, 2026 · 26:22
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. This week, the U.S. President…
Feb 10, 2026 · 21:40
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00…
Feb 6, 2026 · 17:26
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Will the US go to war with…
Feb 3, 2026 · 41:11
The full length edition of this Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers Members of the Alberta separatist movement have…
Jan 30, 2026 · 19:34
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Janice begin…
Jan 29, 2026 · 15:13
For 72-hour advanced access to the full-length editions of Munk Dialogues with Andrew Coyne consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00…
Jan 23, 2026 · 19:47
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to full length editions of the Friday Focus podcast with Janice Stein. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.…
Jan 20, 2026 · 22:30
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode . Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. President…
Jan 16, 2026 · 25:34
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the…
Jan 13, 2026 · 21:43
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode . Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard…
Jan 9, 2026 · 14:40
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the…
Jan 6, 2026 · 24:20
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode . Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard…
Jan 4, 2026 · 34:35
The full length edition of this special Friday Focus episode is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. In this special emergency episode Rudyard and…
Jan 2, 2026 · 20:28
Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the…
Dec 26, 2025 · 44:37
In the last Friday Focus of 2025 Rudyard and Janice share their picks on the biggest newsmakers and events of the year and offer some geopolitical predictions for 2026 that could…
Dec 19, 2025 · 17:42
Rudyard and Janice begin today's show unpacking Trump's increasingly erratic behaviour. A Truth Social post attacking Rob Reiner was followed by the Trump appointed board voting…
Dec 12, 2025 · 33:42
The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. America's new national security strategy doctrine…
Dec 8, 2025 · 35:08
On this special podcast episode we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution which took place on December 3rd in front of an audience of…
Dec 5, 2025 · 19:20
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…
Nov 28, 2025 · 27:24
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice start the show with a…
Nov 25, 2025 · 17:56
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode . Canadian donors receive a charitable tax…
Nov 21, 2025 · 31:25
The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. To sign up to watch the livestream of our upcoming…
Nov 19, 2025 · 17:54
To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode . Canadian donors receive a charitable tax…
Nov 14, 2025 · 17:29
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com To access a 50% discount on tickets for…
Nov 7, 2025 · 48:51
This special episode of Friday Focus was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hot Docs Curious Minds Festival and the full length edition being made available to all…
Nov 6, 2025 · 19:49
To listen to the full episode 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.…
Oct 31, 2025 · 20:42
To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice preview our upcoming…
Oct 28, 2025 · 24:53
To listen to the full episode 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.…
Oct 24, 2025 · 17:55
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…
Oct 21, 2025 · 31:55
To listen to the full episode 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.…
Oct 17, 2025 · 18:26
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…
Oct 16, 2025 · 26:40
To listen to the full episode 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.…
Oct 10, 2025 · 34:39
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…
Oct 7, 2025 · 29:57
Rudyard and Andrew react to the deployment of U.S. National Guard troops to American cities, specifically guards from red states being sent into blue states. This is a watershed…
Oct 3, 2025 · 26:24
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…
Oct 2, 2025 · 36:02
Rudyard and Andrew unpack the speeches made this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth and President Trump to over 800 military generals. Trump indicated he wants to use…
Sep 26, 2025 · 21:25
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…
Sep 24, 2025 · 42:56
What should we make of Canada's formal recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN? What happened to the conditions the government had originally tied to this recognition?…
Sep 19, 2025 · 25:20
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…
Sep 12, 2025 · 16:15
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…
Sep 10, 2025 · 45:05
Donald Trump's AI image to threaten "war" on the city of Chicago is further evidence that he is stuck in a spiral feedback loop with his followers, in which he has to get more…
Sep 5, 2025 · 24:05
This week's SCO summit in China projected a series of powerful images about the rise of China and the cleaving of the world into two power blocs. Putin, Xi, and Kim Jong Un…
Sep 3, 2025 · 36:41
Rudyard and Andrew start the show talking about this week's China summit with 20 leaders of non-Western countries, including India, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Narendra Modi's…
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