The Line Podcast: Trudeau hangs on too long ... and for what?

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Dec. 27, 2024, your hosts snack on stocking candy and give listeners a quick update on all that's been happening this week. And a bunch of stuff has been happening!This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.The main topic is the fact that Justin Trudeau has seemingly succeeded, at least temporarily, in escaping his critics within his own party. He survived Freeland Week. He made it to the holidays. But ... why? What is he hanging on for? What purpose is served by dragging this out another day, week or month? Matt says the entire Liberal party reminds him right now of one of those terrible tragedies when someone is hanging onto a bouncy castle or balloon that has become unmoored. The smart thing to do is to let go right away, fall a little bit and maybe bust a leg. If you hang on a few extra seconds, you get too high and probably end up dead. The PM and his caucus have already hung on too long. But they can always fall further! They also chat about how the Conservatives are trying to use some procedural stuff to force an election as soon as possible. It might not work. But the pressure on the PM keeps ratcheting up.This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by the Digital Media Association. Costs are going up everywhere, and now streaming could cost you more. Why? Because the federal government has decided to tax your streaming services. This new tax could make life even more unaffordable. To learn more, visit Scrapthestreamingtax.ca.Next up: the latest out of the U.S., where president-elect Donald Trump is only 24 days from taking office. He's talking about buying Greenland and taking control of the Panama Canal again. Matt has another proposal, and he's semi-serious: the moon! Go colonize the moon! That can be his Louisiana Purchase! The first extra-planetary president! Your hosts also talk about the best way of handling Trump's pressure on Canada. Jen has absolutely zero patience for the people who are only now realizing that maybe Canadian sovereignty was worth investing in and defending all along.A special note: our next podcast is going to be recorded a few days early so that we can both take a vacation. It won't be possible to stay current with the news. So we're going to have some fun with it. Paid subscribers only, a special reward just for you: leave us questions in the comments below this episode, and Jen and Matt are going to answer them in the next episode. This is a perk only for our paid subscribers; questions on other platforms will be ignored with extreme prejudice. Your questions can be for both hosts, or either. They can be serious or fun. We’ll record early next week before we take a sustained break for a few days and then we’ll be publish the next episode as usual next Friday, as our first show in 2025.So now, more than ever, like and subscribe (so you can comment). Happy New Year, and thanks for a great year here at The Line.YouTube:Spotify:Apple:If none of these options appeal, there are many others that you can find here, and we are sure there will be one that suits your fancy.Take care, and as always, like, subscribe, share, and all that fun stuff. 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. Follow us on Twitter @the_lineca. Fight with us on Facebook. Pitch us something: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe