The North State

With legacy news outlets becoming increasingly out of touch and propagandistic, critics in the news media sphere have been more necessary than ever. While there's certainly a vacuum left by one of the largest outlets losing all credibility, there are still principled voices doing thoughtful critique. Toronto journalist Emma Paling has joined the sphere. Launching Second Scoop, a news media criticism newsletter with The Maple, Paling delivers thoughtful, witty critique of how news media has covered events with more context and thoughtful analysis not found anywhere else. Paling joins Scott to discuss the newsletter, two big news stories worthy of the critique and even for a reflection on their first discussion nearly two years ago, about where we are in regards to news media coverage of the ongoing Palestinian genocide.Sign up for Second Scoop hereEmma Paling on XFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/the-maples-second-scoop-vs-news-media-ft-emma-paling-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

Cuba passed some of the most significant economic reforms since the 1960s in response to economic warfare waged on them by the US. Carney, and Canada more broadly, have been silent. So what is the relationship to Cuba in this country? Scott goes through Canada's economic relationship and the framework legacy news media operates in when covering the country.Follow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/monologue-on-canadas-role-in-cuba-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

Scott was on vacation last week, so he hasn't been keeping up with the news. Ontario reporter for PressProgress Eric Wickham was also on vacation last week, so he hasn't been keeping up with the news. So what happened? In a very casual episode, Eric and Scott discuss some important headlines they missed to return to the grind, what they mean and their first impressions.Follow Eric on Bluesky and TikTok.Check out his reporting for PressProgress.Follow Scott on BlueskyIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross DogArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiSources and further reading at:https://readthecatch.ca/

After Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement on combating antisemitism, right-wing Zionist rumblings in news media claimed he wasn't doing enough. Often cited as an example of the extreme state of antisemitism that Canada is the choice of Montreal professor Gad Saad to leave for Mississippi. Saad's book, often cited as a number one nonfiction seller in Canada, Suicidal Empathy is a fundamental component of the fascist outlook. This week, Eiynah, host of the Polite Conversations podcast and someone who covers the new atheist movement and the darlings of the right-wing media sphere joins Scott to discuss Saad, his impact and the state of media when he is treated seriously.Note: This episode was recorded June 10, 2026.Polite Conversations on SpotifyFollow Eiynah on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/right-wing-news-media-loves-this-extremist-ft-eiynah-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

On May 27 to 28, CANSEC, the country's biggest arms expo, brought together Carney ministers and top arms manufacturers in a time of vast military spending. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), the organization that puts it on, prevented some journalists from attending. The Maple was denied for unspecified reasons and another reporter was declined due to timelines, despite the fact that at least one other journalist was let in after the deadline. Christy Somos, award-winning Canadian journalist, producer, analyst and writer behind The State of Things, a newsletter focused on national security and extremism in Canada was that reporter. She joins Scott to discuss the process of her accreditation being denied, the worsening conditions for press freedom and how denying critical voices reveals a weakness in the arms industry.The State of ThingsFollow Christy on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/barred-from-canadas-biggest-arms-expo-ft-christy-somos-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

There's been seemingly breathless coverage of a hantavirus outbreak that happened on a Dutch cruise ship. Everyone's asking "Is this the new COVID pandemic?" Journalists, especially. Health officials say no, but what does the coverage of hantavirus reveal when compared to that of Ebola or, more pressingly, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? Daniella Barreto, public health advocate, award-winning podcast producer and host of the podcast Public Health is Dead, joins Scott to discuss the current state of public health and how news covers these issues.Public Health Is DeadFollow Daniella on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/meet-the-new-pandemic-same-as-the-old-pandemic-ft-daniella-barreto-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

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/