Monologue: Putting Budget 2026 in Perspective

Shortly after the US midterms, the federal Liberal Party released their budget for 2026. Nearly every headline summarizing the document focused on the budget's talking points on affordability, sovereignty and business. But once the details are examined, the hollow proposals couch language, bypass real problems and omit the material reality of where this year's unexpected revenue comes from. Scott sits down to walk through how the budget has been covered, what's misleading or omitted and what Canadians should look out for when reading coverage on the federal government's financial situation.Follow Scott on BlueskyFollow The Catch on InstagramSources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/monologue-putting-budget-2026-in-perspective-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three years of Israel's ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza and the West Bank, Canadian news media remains committed to a Zionist bias, painting Israel in a humanizing light and downplaying or outright ignoring Palestinians and their humanity. On the Line Media's Samira Mohyedddin, senior journalist at The Breach Desmond Cole and Toronto Metropolitan University Journalism professor and founder of stitched! live journalism join Scott to discuss how to approach ingrained bias in a time of genocide.Check out On the Line MediaCheck out The BreachCheck out stitched!Sources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/live-panel-at-danu-social-house-oct-27-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August of 2021, an Edmonton statue dedicated to Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian fascist and Nazi collaborate, was spraypainted with the words "ACTUAL NAZI." In October of 2022, Edmonton journalist and founder of The Progress Report Duncan Kinney was arrested for the act. Over the next four years, the Edmonton Police Service treated the statue as a war memorial, defacement of which carries a maximum of 10 years prison sentence. Edmonton police also surveilled Kinney and his family. On October 19, 2026, Kinney pleaded guilty to the charges and a still from surveillance footage shows him taking a photo of the graffiti. Shama Rangwala, associate professor at York University, joins Scott to discuss this issue, police overreach and what aspects in this story should be prioritized the most.Follow Shama on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/ex-journalist-pleads-guilty-to-vandalizing-nazi-monument-ft-shama-rangwala/Artwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Reuters Institute's 2026 Digital News Report found that social media and video channels finally overtook official news sites and channels for how people get their news in the digital space. After many disastrous "pivot-to-video" moments in recent media history, social platforms require a TikTok-esque vertical video for journalists to spread their work. How does this shape news? Is it ethical to remain on platforms that openly push far-right fascist ideas? What role does advertising play? Arts and culture journalist, co-founder of New Feeling and author of A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Electronic Music in Canada from 1945 to 1985 Michael Rancic joins Scott to discuss these nuances and what needs to be considered in the conversation around use of social media platformsCheck out A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Electronic Music in Canada from 1945 to 1985Check out New FeelingFollow Michael on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/social-media-now-the-tail-that-wags-the-dog-ft-michael-rancic-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has had a rollercoaster ride of a political career. Moving from news media to Wildrose Party leader, to disgraced floor-crosser, back to news media and then to leader of the province, her far-right populism has been key to her political success. But where would smith be without the platform provided by Canada's news corporations? Jeremy Appel, independent journalist behind The Orchard and author of the new book Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle Smith joins Scott to discuss the fundamental role that news outlets played in getting Smith to lead the province of Alberta.Check out Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle SmithCheck out The OrchardFollow Jeremy on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/how-news-media-made-danielle-smith-ft-jeremy-appelArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tô Lâm, president and general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited Canada on September 24. It was Canada's first official state visit of 2026 and the first time Canada welcomed a Vietnamese president to the country. Though the visit largely flew under the radar, the visit signalled a new chapter in Canada-Vietnam relations. Why did arch-capitalist Prime Minister Mark Carney build a bridge with communist Vietnam? Mike Tatarski, Ho Chi Minh-based independent journalist behind the Vietnam Weekly podcast and newsletter, joins Scott to discuss Vietnam's geopolitical approach, their response to Trump tariffs and what this visit means for both countries moving forward.RSVP Here to Join The Catch Live in Toronto October 27Check out Vietnam WeeklyFollow Mike on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/canada-and-vietnam-bffs-ft-mike-tatarski-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CORRECTION: Scott mistakenly said that the policeman who exchanged gunfire with the Belleville synagogue shooter died as a result. This is incorrect. He is recovering in hospital. The episode has been updated to reflect this. We apologize for the error.Protestors chanted slogans condemning a former Israeli ambassador who defended military killings and mocked Palestinian victims. Leader of a federal party with five seats uses Yom Kippur to denounce the state committing violence in the name of his religion. Both of these are obscured, distorted and lambasted as pinnacles of antisemitism by pro-Israel voices. Three years into a Zionist genocide, outrage is continually directed at those who oppose Israel's extermination campaign, written under the guise of concern for antisemitism. Alex Cosh, news editor at The Maple, joins Scott to disentangle the overarching Zionism in the latest attacks in the right-wing press.Follow Alex on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/zionist-canadian-outlets-throw-their-weight-around-ft-alex-cosh-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Wickham, Ontario reporter for PressProgress helps Scott explain how you can help The Catch succeed in the future by spreading the show with your friends and starting a paid subscription.RSVP for our first ever live event here.More info about our Subscriber-Drive here: https://readthecatch.ca/october-kickstarts-the-catchs-first-official-subscriber-drive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks (even years) of a dysfunctional opposition, BC's NDP premier David Eby called a snap election shortly after the resignation of Kerry-Lynne Findlay as leader of the BC Conservative Party. Almost two years after a provincial election that saw a barely functioning political entity almost form government, there has been enough political snakery to fill several books in the BC Conservatives, and enough disaffection with the NDP to fill several MLA seats. Senior editor at The Tyee, Jen St. Denis joins Scott to explain the chaos, how Eby's plan may be backfiring and the increasing racism and threats lacing BC election cycles.Follow Jen on BlueskyFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/nobodys-happy-about-the-bc-snap-election-ft-jen-st-denis-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prime Minister Mark Carney kicked off his international investment conference Sunday night, beginning a massive push to entice international investors to pour private money into public projects. From chairs of Blackrock to the UAE's oil company, Carney hopes to get private capital for ports, oil and gas, data centres and renewable projects. While the news media gauges the viability and benefits of international investment, little, if any, legacy coverage has reported the tangible, inextricable consequences of private investment; more expensive services at poorer qualities for private benefits. Independent journalist and author of the Canada In Decline book series joins Scott to discuss the conference, its possible outcomes, what it means and how news media has stuck to their belief that private interests are Canadian's interests.Follow Nora on Bluesky and SubstackFollow Scott on BlueskySources and further reading:https://readthecatch.ca/normalizing-carneys-privatization-drive-ft-nora-loreto-podcastArtwork by Zo at Studio BonjourhiIntro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.