The Line

In today's episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on May 8, 2026, your hosts rush through the recording so they can hang up and go focus on what really matters — today's UFO document dump! Kidding. But it is a short episode, because Jen Gerson is travelling this week. She's in Ottawa, attending not one but two conferences. She reports back on the vibe from Ottawa, including her thou...

In this episode of On The Line , host Jen Gerson sits down with author and longtime journalist John Fraser to discuss his latest book, The Governors General: An Intimate History of Canada’s Highest Office . The book is part history, part memoir, and part insider account, drawing on Fraser’s decades of experience in Canadian public life. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Dominion Dyn...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on May 1st, 2026, your hosts flip the usual format. This time, Matt Gurney takes the interviewer’s chair and speaks with Jen Gerson about how she unexpectedly found herself at the centre of a breaking news story — as a whistleblower. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Electro-Federation Canada. Canada’s clean electricity grid...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on April 24th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a plug for their ongoing fundraiser. Day three is off to a great start, but we haven't hit our target yet. If you can help us out, please go here . Every dollar counts. The Line accepts no bailouts and no subsidies, and competes against much larger outlets that have gladly (or even r...

Today on On The Line , host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to break down what comes next for Canada’s governing party. First up is Jamie Carroll of Carroll & Co., for a conversation about the Liberal Party of Canada now that Mark Carney has secured a majority government. What does he do with it? What are the immediate priorities, and what actually needs to happen to turn political momentu...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on April 17th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson start with a bit of housecleaning. Jen’s recent trip to Montreal for the Liberal convention, along with some of the coverage that followed, has prompted a few questions, and your hosts move quickly to address them before getting into the main discussion. From there, they turn to the big story: Mark...

In this week's On The Line , host Jen Gerson speaks with Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, who was recently in the news after receiving hard treatment from newly converted Liberal MP Michael Ma at a parliamentary committee examining the potential security risks associated with importing Chinese EVs. They talk about McCuaig-Johnston's long history studying China and technology and her growing co...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on April 10th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with Jen reporting in from Montreal, where she’s attending the Liberal convention. The first segment focuses on the vibe in the room — confident, even a little triumphalist — and what that says about the party’s current position. A large part of the discussion centres on Marilyn Gladu’s decis...

In this episode of On The Line , Matt Gurney speaks with Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, and a longtime commentator on military affairs and leadership. The conversation begins with an unusual connection. Hertling had referenced one of Matt’s columns in a recent speech, which a Line reader flagged and sent along. That led to an invitation...

In this episode of The Line Podcast , recorded a day early on April 2nd, 2026 ahead of the Easter long weekend, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open by saluting the departure of Artemis II on its journey to the Moon. Jen finds herself unexpectedly emotional about it, and the hosts spend some time reflecting on why moments like this matter — and why it’s still important to hold on to a sense of hope. It...

Today on On The Line with your host Jen Gerson, we talk about the rise of Alberta separatism with former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.  This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Dominion Dynamics. Canada has never had true sovereign awareness of our North. Vast parts of our country are a blind spot. And when you can't see your own territory, you can't defend it, secure it, or resp...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on March 26th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with what they’re calling Mark Carney’s new China problem. They both understand why the government is trying to maintain a workable relationship with China, but they’re struck by how one Liberal MP, Michael Ma, ended up sounding very much like someone echoing Beijing’s preferred talking points...

In this episode of On The Line , host Jen Gerson speaks with Lucy Hargreaves, CEO of Build Canada, a non-partisan organization devoted to helping Canada overcome its productivity challenges.  This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Dominion Dynamics. Canada has never had true sovereign awareness of our North. Vast parts of our country are a blind spot. And when you can't see your own...

In this episode of On The Line , host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to break down the latest in politics and geopolitics. First up is Gregory Jack, senior vice president of public affairs at Ipsos, for a full update on the federal polling landscape. The latest numbers show the Liberal Party of Canada opening up a significant lead, raising questions about what has gone wrong for the Conservat...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on March 13th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with federal politics. Mark Carney appears to be on track to secure a majority government, and your hosts wonder whether he truly deserves it. Has the country actually improved much over the last year, or have the Conservatives simply squandered their opportunity not only to win, but even to...

In this episode of On The Line , host Jen Gerson sits down with Michael Geist, a professor at the University of Ottawa and one of the country’s leading voices on digital policy. They begin with the latest United States Trade Priority Report, which singled out controversial Canadian legislation such as Online Streaming Act (Bill C‑11) as a major digital dispute complicating negotiations between Can...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on March 6th, 2026, your hosts agree at the outset to avoid talking about Alberta for once, because Jen really needs a break. Fortunately, there was plenty else happening this week. Today's episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Engage, the new door-to-door canvassing app from Geppetto Technologies. Engage makes it effortless to g...

In today’s episode of On The Line , host Matt Gurney is joined by two guests to discuss the new war unfolding in the Middle East. First up is Bill Roggio, editor of The Long War Journal and a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Roggio gives Matt the view from the United States: why Washington chose to strike now, the risks of an early withdrawal, and why he doesn’t see a coherent...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on February 27th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with a close look at what Pierre Poilievre had to say at the Economic Club in downtown Toronto this week. Matt liked much of the speech, aside from one section he considers pure fantasyland. Jen is far less impressed overall. Both hosts agree the message might have landed better a year ago...

In this episode of On The Line , host Jen Gerson sits down with Canadaland founder Jesse Brown to talk about his latest hit series, What's Going On Here. Brown's show delves into the rise of anti-Semitism in Canada in the wake of the war in Gaza; what constitutes normal protest, and what crosses the line into anti-Semitic harassment of Jews in Canada. Plus, Gerson asks -- Is Jesse just c...

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on February 20th, 2026, Jen Gerson regretfully informs Matt Gurney that the province of Alberta is, politically speaking, on fire. (Matt thinks she meant politically speaking.) Matt is suitably alarmed. Jen walks him through her concerns in detail, reading direct quotes from recent statements that do little to reassure either of them. Matt responds...

In today's On The Line , host Jen Gerson sits down with longtime friend and Calgarian Paul Hughes, who left his comfortable home in Alberta to help in Ukraine at the outbreak of war four years ago. Hughes, who was joined by his son, Mac, has now been a witness to the extraordinary heartbreak and courage of the Ukrainian people. His son was seriously injured; Hughes has been kidnapped by Russi...

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on February 13th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a look at Donald Trump leaning hard into his Art of the Deal approach to pressure Canada over the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Neither host is impressed, and neither thinks the tactic is likely to succeed. They also discuss the threat to pull out of the CUSMA trade agreement and sugg...

Today on On The Line , host Jen Gerson speaks with noted federalist, former Liberal Party leader, academic and diplomat Stéphane Dion. As author of the Clarity Act, Dion speaks about what secession from Canada actually entails as the separatists gain steam in Alberta. Jen asks, why does Canada have a national suicide pill embedded in legislation? And what promise does the ideal of the country hold...

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast , recorded on February 6th, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson begin with another close look at separatist pressures in Alberta and the political forces forming around them. Jen spends considerable time unpacking how the various players are organizing and aligning, and both hosts admit they’re surprised the federalist side isn’t better coordinated. That said...