The Munk Debates Podcast

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

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.

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

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 and plaques with Trump's personal commentary of these leaders. As we piece all these events together, is it fair to assume we are witnessing a certain type of senility and mental decline in the 47th U.S. President? And what does the Vanity Fair interview with his Chief of Staff Susan Wiles reveal about how he conducts himself behind closed doors? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to the growing civil war in the GOP, specifically an edgier version of MAGA that embraces conspiracies and populist nationalism led by the likes of Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson. There is a power struggle over which ideology should reign supreme in the party and another conservative commentator, Ben Shapiro, has stepped forward to denounce this growing white nationalist faction. Who wins and who loses in this scenario? How does JD Vance's political ambitions fit into this changing political landscape? And why has anti-semitism become the breaking point between these two factions?

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

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 western hemisphere belongs to the United States. Up until this point many of us accepted that in the last decade the world has shifted considerably with the rise of China. The post-Cold war unipolar period led by America as the superpower is over and we are witnessing a return to the great power competition between countries that defined the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What should concern Canadians in the strategy announced last week is the notion of spheres of influence, which suggests that North America belongs to the U.S. who will dominate and discipline neighbouring countries. Putin praised the doctrine which also implies that the other great powers - specifically China and Russia - are allowed their own spheres of influence. How should Canadians interpret this strategy? And how should it inform our foreign policy and defense strategy in the years ahead?

Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution: Opening Statements

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 resolution was former Israeli prime minister, finance minister, and mayor of Jerusalem, Ehud Olmert. His debate partner was Tzipi Livni, who served as Israel's justice and foreign minister and the country's chief peace negotiator in 2008 and 2014. Arguing against the resolution was the celebrated historian, former Israeli ambassador to the United States and deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Michael Oren. His debate partner was Ayelet Shaked, who most recently served as Israel's justice minister and minister of the interior. As with all our live Munk Debates, the audience voted on this resolution prior to hearing the debate. Initially, 67% of attendees voted in favour of the debate motion, and 33% voted against. We did another poll after the debate to find out how many people had changed their minds once they listened to arguments from both sides. If you would like to watch or listen to the full debate go to www.munkdebates.com

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

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. Chair Rudyard Griffiths and managing director Ricki Gurwitz start today's show with a brief recap of the spirited Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution that took place at Meridian Hall on Wednesday night. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside to try to shut down the debate but were unsuccessful in their efforts, thanks in large part to the fantastic security team at Meridian Hall and the Toronto Police Services. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice talk about the high drama out of Europe this week: leaked memos of conversations between leaders revealing a deep distrust of the US and a desperation about how to support Ukraine at this moment. Putin has said he is ready for war with Europe. What does he mean by that? And after invoking the threat of nuclear weapons for over two years now are his warnings starting to ring hollow? And finally, where do we go from here? Is there any hope for a solution to this conflict? To support the Friday Focus podcast 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. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.