Best Munk Debates Podcasts (2026)

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Friday Focus Emergency Episode: Trump's military operation in Venezuela replaces the dictator but not the dictatorship 34:36

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13h ago34:36

34:36

The full length edition of this special Friday Focus episode is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. In this special emergency episode Rudyard and Janice unpack the stunning US invasion of Venezuela and abduction and arrest of its President Nicolas Maduro. Trump's statement that the US would "run" Venezuela for some indete…

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Friday Focus: Putin derails peace talks and Iranian protesters take to the streets 20:29

3d ago20:29

20:29

Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to watch and listen to full episodes of Friday Focus with Janice Stein. Your donor membership comes with other great perks like access to the videos of our main stage debates and full length episodes of our weekly podcasts with Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne. Rudyard and Janice open today's Friday Focus wit…

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Friday Focus: the people and events that changed the world in 2025 44:38

1h ago44:38

44:38

In the last Friday Focus of 2025 Rudyard and Janice share their picks on the biggest newsmakers and events of the year and offer some geopolitical predictions for 2026 that could shake up an already volatile period.By Munk Foundation / iHeartRadio

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Friday Focus: Trump defies all norms and a civil war on the right takes centre stage 17:42

17d ago17:42

17:42

Rudyard and Janice begin today's show unpacking Trump's increasingly erratic behaviour. A Truth Social post attacking Rob Reiner was followed by the Trump appointed board voting to add his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Topping this off was a video of a new hallway of portraits in the White House featuring past U.S. presidents …

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Friday Focus: Why America's new national security strategy has Ottawa on edge 33:42

24d ago33:42

33:42

The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. America's new national security strategy doctrine is getting a lot of attention and for good reason. Two main points stick out for Rudyard and Janice: the assumption that Europe is a civilization in decline, and that the we…

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Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution: Opening Statements 35:08

18d ago35:08

35:08

On this special podcast episode we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution which took place on December 3rd in front of an audience of 3,000 people at Toronto’s Meridian Hall. The debate resolution was Be it resolved, it is in Israel’s interest to support a two-state solution Arguing in favour of the resolu…

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Friday Focus: protesters fail to disrupt the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution and Putin threatens Europe with war 19:20

1M ago19:20

19:20

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Chai…

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Friday Focus: Back to a Russia-Ukraine stalemate and Mark Carney gets a standing ovation in Alberta 27:25

1M ago27:25

27:25

To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice start the show with a preview of next Wednesday's mainstage Munk Debate on the two-state solution. What kind of arguments are they anticipating from both sides? How will this discussion resonate…

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Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Ottawa and Alberta agree to energy deal and why two-tier care is not the solution to Canada's healthcare problems 17:57

1M ago17:57

17:57

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up. Rudyard and Andrew talk about this week's memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta that would provide premiere Danielle…

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Friday Focus: leaked peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine demands major concessions from Zelensky 31:26

1M ago31:26

31:26

The full length edition of this week's' Friday Focus podcast is being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers. To sign up to watch the livestream of our upcoming December 3rd Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution, click here. Rudyard and Janice unpack the leaked 28-point draft peace plan for Ukraine negotiated between US special env…

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The MAGA coalition is coming apart and Mark Carney's government underwhelms voters 17:54

2M ago17:54

17:54

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $50 annually, or $1.00 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew talk about the MAGA coalition fracture over an upcoming vote to release the Epstein files. Cracks have already surfaced over Ukraine and tariffs, but so…

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Friday Focus: The Canadian military's shocking plan to train civil servants and will new Epstein revelations affect Trump's hold over the Republican Party? 17:30

2M ago17:30

17:30

To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com To access a 50% discount on tickets for those under 25 become a Munk Donor, Supporter, or Curator Rudyard and Janice begin the show with a Canadian news story that is almost too crazy to be believed: the Chief of …

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Friday Focus: Important lessons from Mamdani's victory and a U.S. government shutdown holds the public hostage 48:51

2M ago48:51

48:51

This special episode of Friday Focus was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hot Docs Curious Minds Festival and the full length edition being made available to all paying and non-paying subscribers To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyar…

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An uninspiring budget and Carney's government inches closer to a majority 19:50

2M ago19:50

19:50

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. After weeks of hype Mark Carney's government presented a disappointing traditional Liberal big spending budget. While there are incremental measures to promote economic gro…

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Friday Focus: Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution and China's chokehold on the U.S. 20:42

2M ago20:42

20:42

To find out how to purchase tickets to the Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution (or to access the livestream) go to www.munkdebates.com Rudyard and Janice preview our upcoming 2025 autumn mainstage Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution taking place on December 3rd in Toronto. What can we expect from the team of Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni, who bel…

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Trump's trade tantrum and will Mark Carney's first federal budget meet the moment? 24:53

2M ago24:53

24:53

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew try to make sense of the Canada-US trade chaos of the past 72 hours. Andrew offers two interpretations: either Trump was looking for a reason to walk awa…

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Friday Focus: Trump cancels trade talks with Canada and targets Russia with sanctions 17:56

2M ago17:56

17:56

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudy…

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Putin's hold over Trump and Pierre Poilievre makes a stunning accusation 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Rudyard and Andrew begin with the war in Ukraine and Trump denying Zelensky's request for Tomahawk long range missiles. Russia has suffered mass casualties - more than 400,…

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Friday Focus: Hamas's public executions and Zelensky presses Trump for Tomahawk missiles 18:26

3M ago18:26

18:26

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudy…

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Trump's Middle East diplomacy and why Canada should re-evaluate its auto sector subsidies 26:40

3M ago26:40

26:40

To listen to the full episode consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. Should Donald Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize? Andrew thinks we should wait to see how this ceasefire unfolds before heaping praise on the US President. The current cessati…

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Friday Focus: Trump's Gaza deal, the details that could derail it, and the Middle East's new power players 34:40

3M ago34:40

34:40

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudy…

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Trump sends in the National Guard (again) and Mark Carney goes to Washington 29:58

3M ago29:58

29:58

By Munk Foundation / iHeartRadio

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Friday Focus: Trump gives Hamas an ultimatum and how "AI slop" is working against productivity 26:24

3M ago26:24

26:24

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudy…

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Trump's military speech ramblings should concern every Canadian 36:02

3M ago36:02

36:02

Rudyard and Andrew unpack the speeches made this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth and President Trump to over 800 military generals. Trump indicated he wants to use American cities as training grounds to fight the enemy within. In plain terms, he wants to stick the military on dissenters in the United States. How much more alarming could t…

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Friday Focus: Trump's warning to European countries, and what Canada should learn from their mistakes 21:25

3M ago21:25

21:25

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. Rudy…