TwinTalk Politics

E45 Professor Ian Shapiro

We had the incredible honor of welcoming back Professor Ian Shapiro, Sterling Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at Yale University. He is a leading democracy scholar and a profound source of inspiration for us. This episode is a deep dive into his newest book, After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World, available May 5 (today!) in print, online, and audio. It was a huge honor and pleasure to read, so we highly recommend checking it out! We begin with the story behind the book and its thesis that today’s political crisis was not inevitable but rather the result of deliberate choices, before moving chapter by chapter. In “Waging a Global War on Terror,” we discuss George H. W. Bush’s role in building a rules-based international order through the Powell Doctrine, contrasted with George W. Bush’s shift to unilateralism and the precedent it set for Russia and China. In “Reviving the Cold War,” we explore the Marshall Plan and Churchill’s idea of “victory with magnanimity,” and why a similar effort was not offered to post-Soviet Russia, and how that decision influenced later tensions. Transitioning to “The Demise of Humanitarian Intervention,” we discuss the tension between Rwanda as the cost of inaction and Kosovo as illegal but legitimate, asking whether frameworks like R2P can reconcile moral urgency with legal constraint or if an inherent tradeoff exists. In “Obama’s Missteps,” we examine a historical parallel between Obama and FDR, questioning why, despite crisis-driven leverage, Obama pursued triangulation and neoliberal continuation. We then move to “Harvesting Disaster,” analyzing how the convergence of center-left and center-right parties narrowed political alternatives across Europe, fueling disillusionment and the rise of populism. Finally, in “Taking Stock And Looking Forward,” we discuss the rise of zero-sum thinking in politics, Professor Shapiro’s hopes for future policy, and strategies to shift toward a more positive-sum future. Stay until the end to hear Professor Shapiro’s favorite chapter to write and his three word description of After the Fall.

E44 Senator Andrew Cardozo

We had the privilege of interviewing Senator Andrew Cardozo, Senator for Ontario and recipient of the 2023 DreamKeepers Citation, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Our conversation began with Canada’s economy, from rising youth unemployment to its evolving relationship with the United States. With the new Advisory Committee on Canada–U.S. Economic Relations and the upcoming review of CUSMA in July, we explored how Canada is positioning itself within an increasingly uncertain North American trade landscape. We then turned to Senator Cardozo’s expertise in media and public broadcasting, reflecting on his time as Commissioner at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and his continued advocacy for CBC/Radio-Canada. We examined the challenge of building a sustainable long-term funding model that protects both editorial independence and the long-term viability of public media. Continuing our discussion on information in the digital age, we examined rising misinformation, disinformation, and AI misuse in politics, and explored ways to protect Canada’s information ecosystem amid growing polarization. In addition, we discussed his role as Chair of the Arts and Heritage Advisory Working Group, including how and why works are selected and displayed, along with his vision for Centre Block and a more diverse representation of Canada’s cultural heritage. Finally, we discussed practical ways for youth to engage in the democratic process beyond formal politics, as well as the recent outcome of Bill S-222. Stay until the end to hear about Senator Cardozo’s remarkable work as an artist and which Canadian landscape has been his favourite to paint!

E43 Senator Bev Busson

We had the incredible honor of speaking with Senator Bev Busson, Senator representing British Columbia. She is a Commander of the Order of Merit of Police Forces, a recipient of the Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation, the Order of British Columbia, and a Member of the Order of Canada, among countless other awards and distinctions. Our conversation began with her remarkable journey into the RCMP, from being part of the first ever cohort of women RCMP officers to becoming the first female commissioned officer in Canada, and how she navigated unprecedented challenges. Continuing on the topic of the RCMP, we discussed the structural factors behind current officer shortages and potential solutions to address ongoing recruitment challenges. We then transitioned to defence, where, drawing on her experience as a former advisor to the Government on National Security, she shared her thoughts on Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, including the 2 percent GDP defence spending target, partnerships with Indigenous communities to protect Arctic sovereignty, and efforts to strengthen domestic defence production. Building on her experience as a trailblazer and one of the first women in many roles, we explored strategies to increase women’s representation in elected office and support their long-term success. Lastly, we explored the role of youth in today’s democracy, including the importance of integrating sustained civic education early on. Stay until the end to find out, after living and working across Canada, which province Senator Busson would choose to call home for the rest of her life!

E42 Senator Michèle Audette

We had the honor of a lifetime speaking with Senator Michèle Audette, Senator representing Quebec. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, a Commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Women of the Year awardee, and one of, if not the leading voice for Indigenous rights and justice in Canada today. Our discussion began with youth mental health and its stigmatization, before turning to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, focusing on the structural reasons why only two of the National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice have been fully implemented and more than half remain unstarted. We then explored Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements), where Senator Audette shared her firsthand experience of the harms caused and how a one-parent status model could begin to address longstanding discrimination and structural inequalities in the Indian Act. The conversation also delved into Indigenous languages, from the significance of Senator Audette’s swearing-in oath in Innu to governmental strategies for meaningful protection and revitalization, as well as the graduate program she helped create in Indigenous public administration to advance community-led self-determination. Lastly, we discussed representation, examining how to strengthen women’s presence in elected office and support their success, alongside ways to deepen youth engagement in democracy through initiatives like shadowing programs, Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders, and Bill S-222 (Vote16 Act). Stay until the end to hear in an alternate timeline where Senator Audette pursued her passion for the arts as a fine arts teacher, which discipline she would teach! Tshinashkumitin.

E41 Senator Dawn Arnold

We had the immense honour of speaking with Senator Dawn Arnold, Senator for New Brunswick. She is a recipient of the Order of New Brunswick, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and has been named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. Our conversation spanned a wide range of issues, beginning with her work on the Senate Committee on Human Rights, examining the growing impact of artificial intelligence on human rights and economic security, including the need for strengthened guardrails and AI’s potential as public infrastructure. We then turned to Canada’s affordability crisis, from measures such as removing GST for first-time homebuyers to overlooked structural barriers like development charges within the housing system. Drawing on her trailblazing experience as Moncton’s first female mayor, she reflected on increasing women’s representation in politics and the importance of supporting women not only in getting elected but also once they are in office. We also explored how Budget 2025’s $503 million investment can boost long-term participation in the arts, alongside the paramount nature of bilingualism to national identity and the risks of not sustaining French across generations. Lastly, we discussed the role of youth in democracy today, including her support for S-222, the Vote16 Act. Stay until the end to hear Senator Arnold’s top three book recommendations (don’t worry, there’s a mix of French and English)!