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PODCAST

The Strategists

Stephen Carter, Zain Velji

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

news politics

All Episodes

38:55

Balance of Power: Picnic in a Thunderstorm

The Strategists ·

2026/04/15

In a moment where things feel like they’re slipping, what does control even look like?This week on Balance of Power, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil step into a rough stretch for the Conservatives and unpack what happens when a party starts to wobble. From by-election losses to internal pressure, they walk through how instability takes hold and what it really takes to stop it.First: stopping the bleeding. What actually works when things start to slip? Is this about discipline,

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49:17

Episode 4024: No Rule Against It?

The Strategists ·

2026/04/14

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Carter’s plan to use the Alberta Liberal Party as a campaign vehicle to fight the province’s referendum questions. What problem is this actually solving, and why does the rulebook point here? When does “following the rules” start to look like breaking them? And how many non-consensual partnerships is this actually going to take?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Get your tickets for the May 9th live show at

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48:53

Balance of Power: Does Anything Matter?

The Strategists ·

2026/04/09

In a political moment where lines are blurring and power is shifting, what actually matters anymore?This week on Balance of Power, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil dig into the growing trend of floor crossing. They talk about what it says about political values and whether consistency still counts in modern politics. From party loyalty to power plays, they unpack how decisions are really being made and who they’re serving.Then: a rapid-fire round on housing, space exploration, and

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36:48

Episode 4023: Not an Easy Pick

The Strategists ·

2026/04/06

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about who should be Canada’s next Governor General and what that choice is really about. What does the job actually require in this moment? What does any of this tell us about the state of the country right now? And did Strategists Media Corp really arrange a retreat in Mexico and just not tell Carter?Then for Patrons: Alberta, and what it means to actually meet the moment. When one side is willing to push, escalate, and set the terms, what is the opposition

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58:29

Balance of Power: Legacy, Loss, and a New NDP

The Strategists ·

2026/04/01

What happens when a leadership win sparks tension inside the party?This week on Balance of Power, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward and Shannon Greer reflect on the legacy of Stephen Lewis, unpack the implications of Avi Lewis’s decisive leadership win, and dig into what it all means for New Democrats across the country.First: legacy and loss. The panel reflects on Stephen Lewis’ impact on Canadian politics, the NDP movement, and the organizing culture that still shapes campaigns today.Then: the new

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1:04:46

Episode 4022: Avi Lewis vs Everyone

The Strategists ·

2026/03/31

Zain Velji, Shannon Phillips, and Stephen Carter talk about Avi Lewis’s leadership win and the immediate political shockwaves across the country. They dive into how provincial NDP leaders are reacting, what this means for party unity, and whether this is a reset or a rupture. They also revisit Alberta gerrymandering from last week’s Patreon exclusive episode and the strategy behind it. Who handled Avi Lewis’s moment the best? What’s actually going on with Alberta’s boundaries fight, and who

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1:05:23

Balance of Power: Liberation in the Streets,...

The Strategists ·

2026/03/25

Is this about rights or strategy?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips talk kettlebells (kettleballs?) before digging into the politics behind the latest waves of anti-trans policy in Canada and what it reveals about how governments choose to fight.First: the framing. How “parental rights” moved from the margins to the centre of the debate and who it is actually for. Is this persuasion? Base mobilization? Or something else entirely?Then: the shift from

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45:05

Episode 2040: Carter Polls Ahead

The Strategists ·

2026/03/24

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into the most important poll in Canadian political history. They break down what name ID actually means and what this poll is really measuring. Then they pivot to the real game: golden cats, free Saudi planes, and how political scandals actually get built and stick. What does this poll actually tell us about polling, attention, and political relevance? Why do some stories take off while others need a push to build momentum? And how many defamation suits is

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47:25

Balance of Power: The Politics of the Scoop

The Strategists ·

2026/03/18

Big news.Serious business.No press conference.Just a leak.This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips dig into how this actually works.Government wants something out there.Not a scrum. Not a pile of questions.Their version. First.So it shows up in a column.A scoop.Headline already pointed where they want it.Why do it this way?What do they get out of it?And why does it still work?Then it gets into the weeds.Carbon pricing.Credits. Markets.How it’s supposed to

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48:33

Episode 4018: Zohran McPhillips

The Strategists ·

2026/03/16

Shannon Phillips and Stephen Carter dive into the latest NDP leadership drama after Avi Lewis finds himself at the centre of a resurfaced clip mocking Shannon’s time as Alberta’s environment minister. What started as an old video quickly turns into a conversation about factional politics inside the NDP, leadership style, and what happens when activists try to run political parties. Is Avi Lewis trying to build a movement—or just impersonate one? Why does the “Zohran model” work in New York but

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55:22

Balance of Power: The Cost of a Political Face

The Strategists ·

2026/03/13

How do political campaigns actually win once the voting starts?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips unpack the strategy behind the federal NDP leadership race as voting begins, check in on the budget fight unfolding in Nova Scotia, and talk about the rarely discussed cost of maintaining a political image in the age of constant cameras.First: the mechanics of a ranked-ballot leadership race. What do campaigns actually do once voting begins? How do

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53:12

Episode 4017: Avi Loses

The Strategists ·

2026/03/12

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about a floor crossing that’s shaking up the political landscape and what it says about where things are heading. They also talk about how the move cost Avi Lewis an endorsement in the federal NDP leadership race and what it might mean for the campaign heading into the final stretch. And will Zain finally solve the growing crisis surrounding his basketball team?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.If you're female and would

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6:08

Episode 4016: Is the Alberta NDP’s Message Landing?

The Strategists ·

2026/03/11

Episode 4016: Is the Alberta NDP’s Message Landing?Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into the growing conversation around the Alberta NDP’s strategy and whether Naheed Nenshi is breaking through with voters. They talk about polling, leader favourables, opposition tactics, and how an opposition actually builds momentum between elections. Is the NDP stuck in the mid-cycle doldrums or facing a real strategic problem? Should the party focus on energizing the base or targeting swing voters in

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45:40

Episode 4015: How to Fight a Referendum

The Strategists ·

2026/03/07

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s referendum gambit and the fight over Alberta’s immigration questions. What’s the smartest way to run a No campaign? Should the NDP lead the fight or stay in the background? And will Carter ever forgive Shannon for ranking Honeycrisp apples number one?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive

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57:07

Balance of Power: Immigration with Dr. Bronwyn Bragg

The Strategists ·

2026/03/04

Are Alberta’s immigration referendum questions actually about immigration, or about politics?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward are joined by Dr. Bronwyn Bragg, a human geographer at the University of Lethbridge who studies labour migration and precarious work.First, the politics behind Alberta’s proposed immigration referendum. The panel breaks down what the questions actually say and what they imply. How do complicated policy issues become simple political narratives

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58:46

Balance of Power: Touch Grass and Calm Down

The Strategists ·

2026/02/25

Are we governing for the moment? Or reacting to it?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down three political pressure points, and what they reveal about leadership in high-stakes moments.First: The fallout from the Tumbler Ridge tragedy in B.C. After reporting revealed OpenAI had flagged violent content from the alleged shooter but did not alert authorities, the panel digs into AI regulation, public safety, and the politics of crisis response. How

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49:57

Episode 4014: I Have Nothing to Offer

The Strategists ·

2026/02/23

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about whether Mark Carney should go early, how opposition parties actually win a legislative session, and why Danielle Smith’s referendum fight might be exactly the battlefield the ANDP has to choose. Should Carney pull the trigger now? Is floor crossing “fine” when Pierre says it is? And how different would the trajectory of the nation be if Shannon had paid attention in those Olympic bid meetings?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps

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11:07

Episode 4013: Use All of It or Use None - Teaser

The Strategists ·

2026/02/21

In this Patreon teaser, Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s nine question referendum gambit and the politics of putting Alberta on the ballot. Is this a distraction, or the agenda? How are the questions framed to win? And will Carter ever see his daughter again?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord.https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspodYou can also

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46:24

Episode 4012: Skill Issue

The Strategists ·

2026/02/19

Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Jeneroux’s decision to spend less time with his family by crossing the floor to the Liberals, rogue MP Jamil Jivani, and Danielle Smith’s looming televised address. Is Mark Carney quietly outplaying everyone? Is Poilievre losing control of his caucus? And what exactly is a banana plus one?Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive

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50:44

Balance of Power: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro

The Strategists ·

2026/02/18

The Strategists Media Corporation, in association with The Strategists Podcast Network, presents Balance of Power, a new series offering a fresh lens on the forces shaping Canada’s future.Are we misreading the political moment?This week, Annalise is away and Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward are joined by pollster and data scientist Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies, to cut through three dominant narratives: Alberta separatism, immigration backlash, and the supposed rightward shift

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102 results

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