Stephen Carter, Zain Velji, Corey Hogan, Shannon Phillips

The Strategists

News EN ↓ 92 episodes

Professional unprofessional strategists Stephen Carter, Zain Velji, and Shannon Phillips break down the news of the day. Not just what’s happening, but how it’s being played. Policy is one thing. Politics is another. The show dissects the strategy behind the headlines: what governments are doing, why it matters, and the political incentives driving every move. They don't tell you what to think. They make you harder to spin. Originally hosted with Corey Hogan (now inside the machine), The Strategists now anchors a growing podcast network: •⁠ ⁠The Strategists — weekly strategy, sharp takes, and...

Author

Stephen Carter, Zain Velji, Corey Hogan, Shannon Phillips

Category

News

Podcast website

thestrategists.ca

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 1853: An Election For A Change 25.03.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the launch of the federal election, asking whether campaigns matter at all before settling into the Conservative and Liberal messages, star candidates and Danielle Smith's March surprise. Are the Conservatives leading with their chin? What kind of amnesia do Canadians need to feel like the Liberals represent change? And when did Mike Myers and Stephen Cart...

Episode 1852: Everywhere a sign 17.03.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about Prime Minister Mark Carney's swearing in and the inevitable federal election. What does the Cabinet tell us about where the Liberals are going? Can Canadians be sold on the virtues of non-partisanship? With a week to go until a federal election - are Canadians ready? And what sub-basement apartment will Stephen Carter call in from next? Zain Velji, as alwa...

Episode 1850: Ruby Dhalla's Money 11.03.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the conclusion of the Liberal leadership race and what's next for Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre. What lessons can be learned from the leadership announcement event? Should Carney immediately call an election? Has Pierre Poilievre found his line of attack? And should Zain be concerned about how many people want to host The Strategists? Zain Velji, as alw...

You The People Article 11: High Tariffs and Misdemeanors 04.03.2025

Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan talk about the start of Trump's 25% tariffs against Canada and the end of Trump's support for Ukraine's defensive war against Russia. Washington D.C. guest stars as a place Stephen and Corey went on a Segway tour in 2015. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4011: Bananas 25.02.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the French language Liberal Party of Canada leadership debate before turning their attention to Trump's new tariff threats, Poilievre's pivot (?) and Ruby Dhalla's disqualification. What should the candidates do differently in Tuesday's English language debate? Is Donald Trump the President who cried "tariff"? And why didn't Carney reply to the moderator b...

Episode 1848H: Mostly just us - the proroguement of Corey Hogan 18.02.2025

It’s Zain Velji and Stephen Carter diving into all things strategy—without Corey to weigh them down, they’re free to live out the true spirit of the podcast. We cover Trump, the Liberals, Axe the Tax, Canada First, Carney, Gould, Crombie, and more—plus an insensitive sponsor ad and doxxing of family members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1848G: Stephen and Corey present Carter and Hogan in “S--t on a stick” 11.02.2025

Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan talk about the allegations of major scandal at Alberta Health Services. What's to be made of Smith's statement on the matter? What's to be made of the NDP response? Can Carter avoid "false, baseless and defamatory" commentary? Zain Velji isn't here and neither is Annalise Klingbeil. Giddy up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1848F: Four Flags 03.02.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about America announcing tariffs and Canada announcing retaliation. How did the Prime Minister do? What do Poilievre, Smith and the Liberal leadership candidates need to do now? What kind of consensus needs to be built? And do you think Carter is going to try to undercut Hogan by offering to run the campaign for $39 million a month? Zain Velji, as always, picks...

Episode 1848E: A tight 102 minutes on the Liberal leadership brands 27.01.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about recent developments in liberal leadership politics before diving deep into the brands of the six candidates. Who's got the best handle on their brand? What even makes a good political brand? And did you take the under on last week's over/under question? We hope so. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See...

Episode 1848D: Incredible hosting opportunity, inquire within 24.01.2025

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the strategy of responding to continued Trump threats, how (or if) the Liberal candidates should navigate the same, how (or if) the Liberal candidates should separate from Trudeau and much more. Has Danielle Smith been put in a box of her own making by Trump declaring he doesn't need Canadian oil? Is hope good for the Liberals - even if...

Episode 1848A: Shutter Island 17.01.2025

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the First Minister's Conference and the consensus that wasn't. Will Danielle Smith's position be a winner in Alberta? If you're Smith, Nenshi, Ford or Trudeau - what do you do now? And do we think with 10 more minutes we could have gotten Stephen Carter to realize the awful truth about his past? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions...

Episode 1847: Peacocking 13.01.2025

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about Danielle Smith meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and the first days of the Liberal Party of Canada leadership campaign. Is it good for Smith that she got a meeting with Trump - or bad for Canada? Why are the Liberal leadership hopefuls waiting to launch their campaigns when there's such a compressed time frame? And should Zain and Corey have pushed Stephe...

Episode 1845: Holiday Spectacular 06.01.2025

Get your novelty New Year's Tie out of that box in the garage and pretend it's going to all be different this year because it's time again for The Strategists to unpack the year that was in their annual Holiday Spectacular. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the best and the worst of the year, write political obituaries and talk about the year-to-come in this regular-length special.&nb...

Episode 1844: What The Liberals Should Do 27.12.2024

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the race for the race - and the increasingly public debate about how the Liberals should set the rules for the Leadership Contest to come. Are letters from Calgary MP George Chahal and former senior staffer Gerry Butts signs that the race has already begun? How do you structure a contest when you might be in the polls in a month and stil...

Episode 1843: Electile Dysfunction 23.12.2024

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk Singh's NDP revoking confidence, the threat of a spring election and what all the parties should be doing right now - plus a rundown of Trump's expansionist ambitions and Rep. Matt Gaetz' crimes and near-crimes. Should Pierre Poilievre be "constrained by the reality of the situation"? What does it even mean to be an ally of the United States in 2024? And in your...

Episode 1841: EMERGENCY PODCAST - A potentially pointless review of a moment of maximum chaos 16.12.2024

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter convene to talk about Chrystia Freeland's bombshell resignation as Canada's Finance Minister - just hours before she was to present the Fall Economic Statement. Did Trudeau do this to himself? What are the rumours flowing through Ottawa right now? And if Zain won an Oscar, can we agree it would be for a technical category and not acting? Zain Velji, as always, picks...

Episode 933: All politics is local 23.04.2021

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter talk about the Dairy Queen on Centre Street. Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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