The Line Podcast: Can Canada adapt as the U.S. goes to the dark place?

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on August 29th, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson talk about the sad end of summer — and shamelessly try to squeeze some clicks out of recent celebrity news.They start off with the return of politics. Carney is striking the right tone, with a new major projects office and a European trip under his belt, but whether the country actually gets its act together is still an open question. Jen explains why she always hated Trudeau’s “business case” comments, while Matt points out that any national leader who leans too hard on that phrase risks being asked what the business case for the whole country is. And guess what? That's what's happening!This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada’s own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.We can and should have programs that expand domestic wood use, advance biomass use and pulp market opportunities, and cut red tape and regulatory barriers. The government of Canada has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.The conversation then turns to the specter of authoritarianism — or even fascism — in the United States. Matt talks about an essay from a generally reasonable U.S. writer who now asserts the U.S. has tipped past the point of no return. Matt isn’t fully convinced, but both your hosts agree there are some really unpleasant signals that America is heading down a path to the bad place. They know full well that many here won't agree, so they suggest a test for the viewers and listeners: write down your own personal “red line.” When would you decide things have gone too far, that this isn’t the America you knew? Send your notes to us with the subject line "My Red Line" and we’ll look back at them in a year.This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by Airbnb. Canada needs to take real action on bringing housing costs down — but experts agree that regulating short-term rentals like Airbnb is nothing more than a distraction. This makes sense when you consider two key statistics: Canada needs 5.8 million homes to reach affordability by 2030, and Airbnbs account for only 0.6 per cent of Canada’s overall housing stock. The closer you look, the clearer it gets that Canada needs bold action that addresses the entire housing market, not just 0.6 per cent of it. Additionally, regulating short-term rentals would limit the productive role that Airbnbs play in helping Canadians get by. Did you know that 47 per cent of Airbnb hosts in Canada report that income from hosting has helped them stay in their homes? To learn more about how Airbnb is helping, not hurting, Canada’s economy, visit Airbnb.ca/closerlook.In the final stretch, Alberta’s battles over book banning take centre stage. Passive-aggressive librarians may have found a way to box in the provincial government. Jen cheers them on, while Matt closes by posing a pretty existential question — one that gets a surprising answer from Jen.All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Check us out and like and subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca and follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app. New episodes drop every Friday. And also! Help The Line grow. Share us with a friend, or two. Spread the word.YouTube:Video goes live at 7:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.Please sign up at those options not just for this episode, or future episodes of The Line Podcast, but so that you can also receive our other podcast series, On the Line, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. In case you missed it, here is last Tuesday’s episode, where Matt Gurney spoke with Christopher Nardi from the National Post’s parliamentary bureau about what’s coming up this fall, and also, Ian Runkle, lawyer and YouTuber, on self-defence in Canada.Thanks for all your support. We’ll talk to you soon.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today.The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected]. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe