CANADALAND

Twitter’s A.I Bot Is Sorry For Undressing Everyone

Twitter/X’s Grok is undressing people, including minors, but xAI doesn’t seem to care. Now that Twitter is worse than ever, will that be enough to stop Canadian public figures from using the platform? Jen Gerson of The Line joins to consider the future options for an online public square. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Katie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jen Gerson Further reading: Elon Musk's Grok AI says images of 'minors in minimal clothing' caused by safeguard lapses | CBC NewsFrance to investigate deepfakes of women stripped naked by Grok – POLITICO Elon Musk company bot apologizes for sharing sexualized images of children - Los Angeles TimesCanadian government officials, what are you still doing on X in 2026? | Canada's National Observer In the age of AI, it's easy to make deepfake porn. But victims find it hard to undo the damage | CBC News City of Calgary ignored two decades of warning signs about water system, report finds - The Globe and Mail Thunder Bay, Ont., once again reports the highest homicide rate in Canada | CBC News Sponsors: Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.Squarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Fears and Hopes in Canadaland

In 2025, it seemed like there was always something to be worried or afraid about. Every day brought about change and uncertainty. So we wanted to know, what pre-occupied your mind in 2025, and what are you hopeful for in 2026?Listeners and Canadaland staff all contributed their voices to this documentary. Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Publisher)Photo: Tony WangAdditional music by Audio NetworkJoin us for next month’s call-in show! Canadaland's news focus is largely national and provincial. Occasionally we'll talk about something happening in a specific city or town, but local news just isn't our wheelhouse.But there are tons of interesting stories happening in small towns across this country. What's the gossip on your community's Facebook Group? What's the heated discussion on your local subreddit. Or heaven forbid, what’s being talked about on Next Door…Call in and let us know January 29, 4:30-6:30 PM ET. When the time comes, click here or head over to www.callinstudio.com/show/canadaland. You can also dial in at 1-888-401-7056.This show is available exclusively to Canadaland supporters. To become one, go to https://canadaland.com/join/. You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Take My President, Please!

What Maduro’s capture means for Canada. Trump’s military coup in Venezuela is a mask-off moment of American imperialism, but will it compel Canada to take meaningful action? Plus, sorting through Canada’s political and media responses to Venezuela. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Katie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jen Gerson Further reading: In a national emergency, Canada does not have a moment to lose - The Globe and MailThe arrest of Mark Carney will bring peace, prosperity, and freedom to North America - Halifax Examiner Eric Ham: Canada beware, Trump’s Venezuela invasion is a clear warning shot Venezuela - The Lesson for Canada - Charlie Angus [Substack] The Conservative and Liberal responses to Venezuela reflect vastly different foreign-policy outlooks - The Globe and MailFreeland to step down in 'coming weeks' after accepting role advising Ukraine's Zelenskyy | CBC News Ontario court rules Doug Ford must turn over personal phone records | Globalnews.ca Sponsors: MUBI: To stream great cinema at home, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/canadaland.Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister’s House is a National Embarrassment

Nicholas Maduro says he’s “not guilty” in his first court appearance in New York after being captured in a US military operation. But, Canadian politicians and Venezuelan-Canadian Alexis Espejo suggest otherwise. Sam talks with Alexis about how it felt to watch the news unfold.Plus, what do The Notebook, a haunted lumber baron’s wife, a swimming pool scandal, and a knife-wielding intruder all have in common? 24 Sussex Drive.Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guest: Alexis Espejo, Noor AzriehBackground reading:Canada stands by Venezuelan people's right to decide their future, says PM Carney – CBC NewsProtesters in Canada hold different opinions of Nicolás Maduro – CTV News24 Sussex renovation: Carney says no plans to address – CTV News Adam: A new home for the prime minister is closer than ever — or so the NCC says – Ottawa Citizen24 Sussex is now asbestos and rodent-free — and nobody knows what to do with it – CBC News24 Sussex Drive – National Capital CommissionSponsors: To stream great cinema at home, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/canadaland. Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadalandIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the New York Times Shapes Canada's Image

One of the most powerful voices in Canadian media isn't Canadian. And she doesn’t work for a Canadian news outlet. Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the New York Times correspondent for Canada. Canadians have a weird relationship to the NYT. In one sense, it's the most powerful newspaper in Canada. It has more digital subscribers than any Canadian publication, although The Globe and Mail has more readers.On the other hand, of course, it's American, and we are living in the biggest transformation in our relationship to America since Confederation. Canadians have changed their travel habits, changed their consumption habits. They want fewer American things, less America in their lives. But that hasn't applied to the Times. Its reach is still expanding, even as the Times has grown more conservative, and even though their op-ed writers have kicked around the idea of annexing Canada. Matina Stevis-Gridneff joins us today to talk about what Canada means to the NYT and what the NYT means to Canada.Host: Stephen MarcheCredits: Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Featured Guest: Matina Stevis-GridneffFact checking by Julian AbrahamSponsors: fizz.ca Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features. That's fizz dot ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.BetterHelp: Visit https://BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offerCan’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.