The North State

Five months after the CANADALAND podcast "What Is Happening Here?" concluded, The Catch published a three-part series of articles diving into the validity of its narrative. While antisemitism is certainly a real problem in Canada, Jesse Brown steers his six-part series into supporting right-wing Zionist arguments at all costs. Dr. Collin Chepeka, editor of The Hunter Street Chronicle and freelance writer, joins Scott to discuss their analysis, its purpose and what we can learn from the series that pretends to be neutral, despite it clearly having such bias.Follow Collin on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/analyzing-canadalands-antisemitism-series-ft-dr-collin-chepeka-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

In an April 14 story by New York Times reporter and Canada Bureau Chief Matina Stevis-Gridneff, she used AI to fabricate a quote by federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre that did not exist. In a May 1 correction, the NYT stated "The reporter should have checked the accuracy of what the A.I. tool returned." How did such a big mistake get through one of the biggest newspapers in the world? What does this say about the state of reporting at the US paper of record? When will we ever escape this nightmare? Conservation and fellowships bureau chief at The Narwhal and contributing writer to The Walrus, Michelle Cyca joins Scott to discuss the high-profile gong show.Follow Michelle on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/nyts-canada-bureau-chief-used-ai-for-fake-poilievre-quote-ft-michelle-cyca-podcast/Artwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross DogOutro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In a news landscape littered with layoffs, executive bonuses and increased deference to power, it can be a bleak time for those in the industry. In a journey to focus on reporting on justice, systems of power and the law, De Facto Journalism Co-op hopes to become a new leader in Canadian reporting. Emma Arkell, award-winning labour reporter at PressProgress and editor of the Shift Work newsletter and David P. Ball, an award-winning reporter, editor, podcaster and photographer join Scott to discuss their new worker-owned outlet, how legacy news media has failed to adjust to the times and the challenges and triumphs of launching a Canadian news media co-op in 2026.BC journalists launch new worker-owned investigative publication - De Facto Journalism Co-opVancouver cops are calling border enforcement more than ever. Community members fear that puts them in danger - De Facto Journalism Co-opDe Facto Bluesky Links:De Facto Journalism Co-opEmma ArkellDavid P. BallFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/launching-worker-owned-news-ft-de-facto-journalism-co-op-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

After Amazon pulled "The Camp of Saints" from their storefront, the publisher raised a stink online of censorship. This was quickly picked up by right-wing forces like the Washington Examiner and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney as an attack on free speech. Amazon has since returned the book to their marketplace and a white supremacist screed, describing nonwhite people as violent inhuman criminals inherently motivated to kill and rape, has entered the mainstream. Amidst all this, National Post columnist Jamie Sarkonak described the book as "highly relevant today in light of Canada’s own situation." Carmen Celestini, lecturer in Religious Studies at University of Waterloo and author of the upcoming book God’s Angry Men: The Political Legacy of the John Birch Society joins Scott to actually discuss the contents of the book, its use by far-right forces and how Sarkonak and the Post helped bring hateful fascist conspiracies into the mainstream.Follow Carmen on BlueskyGod's Angry Men: The Political Legacy of the John Birch SocietyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/national-post-praises-white-supremacist-novel-ft-carmen-celestini-podcast/Artwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross DogOutro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

You know what this is about, don't be coy.04/27/26- Correction/Clarification: Mark Bourrie has reached out to me to inform me that the phonecall I reference in the Canadaland podcast is not the phonecall made on March 19, but one from 2021.Follow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/monologue-why-do-we-talk-about-jesse-brown-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

It's official. Mark Carney's Liberal government is now a majority. But the tactics used to gain this majority have mainly focused on cultivating floor-crossers from other parties to join their caucus. Even before the decisive victories in three byelections, it became clear Carney's majority goal came from coaxing dissatisfied MPs. What does this mean? In a politics bonanza, University of Toronto political scientist Elizabeth McCallion joins Scott to discuss the political climate this cultivates, pathways for the Liberals in the future and how the Conservatives will respond.Follow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/crossing-into-a-majority-ft-elizabeth-mccallion-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross DogOutro Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/