The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

Keir Starmer with help from the royals sucked up to Donald Trump this week in a big way. Does that work? Is there something for Canada to learn? Plus, you never want to lose a senior cabinet minister, unless.  Unless you think you are better off without that person. What is the case with Chrystia Freeland? And, Jimmy Kimmel. There's a lot in today's Good Talk with Chantal Hebert, and sitting in fo...

Social media was a much heralded community sharing experience at its inception, but is it still so? It's this week's question and answers came from across the country. Views are divided, and both sides present strong arguments for their opinions. Plus, the Random Ranter drops by with his latest rant -- this time on Jimmy Kimmel's departure from ABC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on September 1st. Those who follow these things say they're never seen anything like it before. Donald Trump wants a Nobel prize and he's not shy about pushing for one. As The Bridge kicks off season six, our regular Monday contributor, Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto makes her view known on that, Uk...

After a week of soul searching in the United States and beyond, James Moore and Gerry Butts take on the question of how to "disagree better". Society is trying to understand if there is an answer to this dilemma of disagreeing with respect and not hate. In the 23rd of their conversations on The Bridge, two top political minds, from different parties, look for a way of achieving non-partisan talk....

The Second World War began after Germany and Russia invaded Poland. Last week, Russia invaded Poland again in a story that made headlines in North America, but for only 24 hours. We know why the story was eclipsed, but should we revisit? Dr Janice Stein joins us for her regular Monday episode on this and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our...

Five projects, two in BC, one in Saskatchewan, one in Ontario and one in Quebec headline Mark Carney's initial nation building push. Surprisingly perhaps, the list got a big thumbs up from Alberta's premier. Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson are here to discuss that and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

During the April election campaign, Mark Carney dropped a lot of hints and some promises about what he would do if Canadians gave him their vote. The question this week, is Carney retreating? You had lots to say. And the Random Ranter drops by with another of his takes on AI. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

An encore of Lee McIntyre philosopher & author who's written extensively on the issues of truth & disinformation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Althia Raj and Rob Russo work the halls and corridors of Parliament Hill every day that the House of Commons is in session. Althia is a senior columnist with the Toronto Star, Rob is the Canadian correspondent for The Economist. They'll alternate Tuesdays with the Moore-Butts Conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

Some key elements of the United States military are assembling in force off Venezuela. Is this a real operation or a distraction? A "wag the dog?" Dr. Janice Stein starts with that on her regular Monday conversation on The Bridge. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Recent polls suggest Canadians are now more concerned about basic economic issues than they are about the Carney-Trump talks.  Housing, affordability, inflation and government spending top the list. All this in the run up to an expected October budget, but also at a time when hugely expensive "nation building projects" are on the table. How do you square cuts and spending is up for discussion with...

The first Your Turn of 2025 asks the question, what did you notice about the summer of 2025 and a surprising number of you mention the issue of Artificial Intelligence. Is it a huge advance or does it come at huge cost? AI is also the focus of the Random Ranter as he takes on AI as well.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

One of our loyal listeners wrote in the other day suggesting that instead of our regular Wednesday encore episode that we try a program just of endbits. Enbits have been a popular part of our program over the last few years to fill out shorter programs. So, maybe once a month might be possible as a program on its own? Interesting idea so we decided why not?   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...

The first Moore Butts conversation of the new season is the 22nd in our series of going behind the doors of political intrigue. In this case, the discussion centres around the negotiations that have to take place if anyone is going to make a trade deal with the US President. Gerald Butts is Justin Trudeau's former principal secretary who was in the room when Canada and Trump hammered out a new tra...

Those who follow these things say they're never seen anything like it before. Donald Trump wants a Nobel prize and he's not shy about pushing for one. As The Bridge kicks off season six, our regular Monday contributor, Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto makes her view known on that, Ukraine, Russia, China and the Middle East.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...

Four months and a day since the election and the summer ends with signs that the Carney government is moving on some of its major agenda promises. Or is it? That's the line item for Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson on this our final summer special before our new season begins next week.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on May 27th. After the pomp and pageantry of the King's visit, Parliament gets down to work and for a lot of MP's it will be a new experience. How to hit the ground running is the focus of this latest episode of the Moore Butts conversations -- this is #21. Former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and former principal secreta...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on November 19th. A lot of things changed in our world on the night of November 5th when Donald Trump won the US Presidency and began his journey back to the White House. What about climate change? Will concerns about it drop off the radar seeing as many in the new administration are climate deniers? Professor Katharine Hayhoe, an at...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that last aired on November 26th. Ottawa has been studying whether Canada should purchase up to a dozen submarines to help protect Canada's Arctic. It's a program that would cost dozens of billions of dollars. Is it worth it? What is the history of subs in the Arctic? Who's been there, and who hasn't? The answers may surprise you. Our guest is historian a...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on October 22nd. Sudan's crisis continues but the world looks away. Why? Dr Samantha Nutt from War Child joins us once again to talk about her overseas travels to some of the planet's most difficult spots. Today, her focus is on Sudan and Afghanistan, both countries she has travelled to this year. This is an important conversation an...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that last aired on July 25th. The statistics are pretty impressive. Canadians are staying home or at least they are staying away from the U.S. in this summer of 2025. This doesn't look like a one off, it could become generational. The deadline for a new trade deal between Canada and the U.S. is one week from today, what are the chances? Chantal Hebert and...

The statistics are pretty impressive. Canadians are staying home or at least they are staying away from the U.S. in this summer of 2025. This doesn't look like a one off, it could become generational. The deadline for a new trade deal between Canada and the U.S. is one week from today, what are the chances? Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson are here for our first of the summer's Good Talk specials...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on February 18th. The Moore Butts combo is back with a big question -- how do you cut government waste and does Elon Musk have the answer? James Moore, the former Conservative cabinet minister. Gerald Butts, the former Liberal top strategist, get back together on their long running series here on The Bridge to tackle this question. H...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on January 6th. We are living in strange political times where advice is critical. So who better to get it from than the two political pros who visit the Bridge regularly. And today its advice with a twist from former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and former Liberal senior strategist Gerald Butts. The twist? Their advice...

Today an encore presentation of an episode that last aired on September 30th. Former Conservative Cabinet Minister James Moore and former Liberal insider Gerald Butts get together for another of their popular conversations. This time the issue is the current minority Parliament and whether it can survive much longer. They are very blunt about that question! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...