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If the problems keep getting worse, are we even solving the right one? This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward take on a set of decisions that feel increasingly out of step with how people actually live. From time changes to family planning to public consultation, they walk through what happens when policy targets miss the mark. First: daylight saving time. Alberta is moving toward making it permanent—but what does that actually mean for winter mornings, daily routines, and how people function? Is this about convenience, or are we ignoring what the research says? Then: fertility in Alberta. A new report lays out the cost, access, and emotional toll of treatment, raising bigger questions about population growth, affordability, and what actually drives people’s decisions to have kids. And finally: the Alberta Next survey. After a long fight to release the data, what do the responses actually show? And what’s the point of consultation if the outcome is already decided? Policy, incentives, and what happens when we keep solving the wrong problem. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? Email us at [email protected] Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Carter and Zain Velji try to figure out who is actually going to do something as Alberta’s political fights pile up. From referendum questions to separatism to electoral boundaries, they break down what’s happening, why it matters, and why the same small group of people seems to be carrying all of it. Is this a coordination problem or an activation problem? What role should the NDP actually play in the boundaries fight? And are we spending as much time fighting each other as the actual fight? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. You can email The Strategists at [email protected] Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon Phillips is joined by producer Haxim to finally answer a critical question: what the hell is going on in the Strategists Discord? From “bread fridge” memes to full-on policy fights, they unpack how the community actually works and why it’s worth checking out. Then Shannon and Zain turn to Alberta’s electoral boundary shakeup and the unprecedented move to hand map-drawing power to politicians themselves. What’s actually happening with this new process, and what game is being played underneath it? Does this change the outcome before a vote is even cast? And how long before Discord daddy Zain logs off for cigarettes and never comes back? 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/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, tone, or something deeper inside the operation? Then: the reset question. What does a real reset look like and who has to change for it to land? Can you adjust the message without changing the messenger? And finally: the long game. What does opposition look like when there’s no quick path back? How do you rebuild credibility, keep a team together, and plan for three years instead of three months? Strategy, tone, internal pressure, and what it means to lead when things aren’t going your way. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? Email us at [email protected] Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Mentioned in this episode: Stand Up for Alberta’s Public Libraries https://www.caplibraries.ca/stand-up-for-albertas-public-libraries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 https://strategistslive.ca/ Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the moments shaping the conversation right now. Plus: our new segment, Quarterly Report, where the hosts share the small things keeping them grounded in chaotic times. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? Email us at [email protected] Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 supposed to do in response? What does “finding the nerve” actually look like, and what happens when your instinct is to manage rather than confront? Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 leader. What does Avi Lewis’ win signal about where the federal NDP is headed? From shifts in labour relationships to a more populist policy approach, the hosts break down the opportunities, and risks, of this moment. Plus: Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck joins the show to talk about affordability, energy policy, and the realities of building a government-in-waiting. From a healthcare system pushed to the brink, to rising costs and soaring power bills, and the challenge of connecting policy to people’s day-to-day lives on the Prairies. “Legacy, Leadership, and What It Means to Be an Effective Opposition” Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? email us: [email protected] Guest MLA Carla Beck, Leader of the Saskatchewan NDP https://www.ndpcaucus.sk.ca/carlabeck Guest Host Shannon Greer https://www.newwestpublicaffairs.ca/shannon-greer Mentioned in this episode Stephen Lewis' Eulogy for Jack Layton https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.1715421 The Stephen Lewis Foundation https://stephenlewisfoundation.org/ Stephen Lewis GOTV Speech https://www.facebook.com/reel/2076947419829035 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 benefits? And how does Wab Kinew keep getting away with it? 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/strategistspod Watch full episodes and clips on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 clinical care to political conflict. What happens when decisions that used to sit with doctors, patients, and families get pulled into legislatures, and why that shift matters. Plus: the limits of the Charter. If governments are willing to test or override legal protections, what does that mean for how these fights play out going forward? And finally: if the courts are not enough, what options are left and what does an effective political response actually look like? Strategy, framing, legal limits, and what happens when politics moves faster than institutions. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? email us: [email protected] Correction: Around 51:55 where Leah mentions the Alberta case before the courts, it is actualy the Saskatchewan challenge before the Supreme Court. Alberta had applied as an intervenor. As of recording Alberta's challenge is currently at the appeal stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 producer Haxim quietly preventing? 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/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 work. How it actually works. Shannon Phillips walks through it. Why some companies are sitting on credits. Why the price isn’t what people think it is. And why this is heading for a fight with Ottawa. Policy is one thing. The story is another. Have a comment or idea? email us: [email protected] Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus Strategists episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 struggle to translate to Canadian politics? And at what point does Carter’s haircut become a national unity issue? 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/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 second-choice alliances form behind the scenes, and why do turnout and member mobilization matter more than anything else in the final weeks? Then: Nova Scotia politics. Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender joins the show to explain how public protests forced Premier Tim Houston’s government to partially reverse controversial budget cuts, and why telling human stories can still change political outcomes. Plus: the cost of a political face. From wardrobe budgets to cosmetic procedures to the constant scrutiny of cameras and social media, the panel discusses the financial and personal pressures women and gender-diverse politicians face that most voters never see. Leadership race strategy, opposition politics, and the realities of modern political image. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? email us: [email protected] Guest MLA Claudia Chender https://www.claudiachender.ca/ Mentioned in this episode Left East to West Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/5GLYrK3yElLMVYAML7W1gt Shannon's Substack https://shannonphillips.substack.com/p/a-middle-power-but-actually Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 like to play basketball with Zain Velji for Leader, email [email protected] Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.