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.

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.

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates Podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day. 

 

The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

Munk Debates Podcast

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

Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to full length editions of the Friday Focus podcast with Janice Stein. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.

 

Rudyard and Janice begin the show with the remarkable-sized TACO Trump delivered this week, whipping the world into a frenzy over threats to take over Greenland. His tough talk turned into a whimper after a meeting with the NATO Secretary General and a framework of a deal that has not been accepted by European leaders. What happened behind closed doors that made Trump back down from these threats? How did the bond market play into this? Meanwhile Mark Carney's Davos speech was well received by the European elite, but what is his plan for Canada? How will he enact sweeping and fundamental change in this country that match the substance of his speech? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice discuss an AI-generated video impersonating former UN Ambassador John Bolton discussing Mark Carney's China visit. The convincing video - which has been viewed over 180,000 times - is a reminder of how easily AI can be used by interference and influence campaigns by foreign governments. What if 2026 is the year we can't tell what's real and what's not? 

Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to full length editions of the Friday Focus podcast with Janice Stein. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.
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Rudyard and Janice begin the show with the remarkable-sized TACO Trump delivered this week, whipping the world into a frenzy over threats to take over Greenland. His tough talk turned into a whimper after a meeting with the NATO Secretary General and a framework of a deal that has not been accepted by European leaders. What happened behind closed doors that made Trump back down from these threats? How did the bond market play into this? Meanwhile Mark Carney's Davos speech&nbsp;was well received by the European elite, but what is his plan for Canada? How will he enact sweeping and fundamental change in this country that match the substance of his speech? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice discuss an AI-generated video impersonating former UN Ambassador John Bolton discussing Mark Carney's China visit. The convincing video - which has been viewed over 180,000 times - is a reminder of how easily AI can be used by interference and influence campaigns by foreign governments. What if&nbsp;2026 is the year we can't tell what's real and what's not?&nbsp;

Friday Focus: Trump's Davos TACO, Carney's vision for Canada, and an AI deepfake blurs the lines of reality

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. Go to www.munkdebates.com to sign up.

President Trump refuses to rule out invading Greenland following revelations that his aggression towards the self-governing territory is a response to being denied the Nobel Peace Prize by Norway. We are now facing the very real possibility that the US will attack a NATO ally, putting everyone in a unique and untenable situation. Should the EU send troops to Greenland? As both a NATO member and a US neighbour Canada is faced with a serious dilemma. Andrew argues that we have to be an ally, and that means drawing a land in the snow and showing up for Greenland. It is now clear that NATO is hanging by a thread. What will be its successor? And what should we make of Trump's new 'Board of Peace' which critics believe is his attempt to undermine the United Nations? 

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. Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.munkdebates.com">www.munkdebates.com</a> to sign up.
President Trump refuses to rule out invading Greenland following revelations that his aggression towards the self-governing territory is a response to being denied the Nobel Peace Prize by Norway. We are now facing the very real possibility that the US will attack a NATO ally, putting everyone in a unique and untenable situation. Should the EU send troops to Greenland? As both a NATO member and a US neighbour Canada is faced with a serious dilemma. Andrew argues that we have to be an ally, and that means drawing a land in the snow and showing up for Greenland. It is now clear that NATO is hanging by a thread. What will be its successor? And what should we make of Trump's new 'Board of Peace' which critics believe is his attempt to undermine the United Nations?&nbsp;

Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump faces off with NATO allies over Greenland 

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 react to Mark Carney's trip to China this week and a dramatic shift away from Trudeau's hawkish doctrine which viewed China as an adversary. Carney understands that we are moving into a world where we will not be able to trade only with countries that share our values. Janice says this reset will allow Western Canada to resume their exports - mainly lobster, canola, and pork - to the Chinese market. But after years of being treated badly by China, should Canadians welcome this about face? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to the U.S. and internal unrest over the killing of an American citizen by an ICE agent this week in Minnesota. Trump is threatening to enact the Insurrection Act which will give the government emergency powers and allow them to deploy the military to crush the protests without the consent of the governor or local police. This has been both a terrible week for the President and a frightening one for Americans who are concerned about their fundamental rights. What happens next will have huge implications for this fall's U.S. midterm elections. 

Become a <a href="https://munkdebates.com/donations/">Munk Donor</a> ($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 react to Mark Carney's trip to China this week and a dramatic shift away from Trudeau's hawkish doctrine which viewed&nbsp;China as an adversary. Carney understands that we are moving into a world where we will not be able to trade only with countries that share our values. Janice says this reset will allow Western Canada to resume their exports - mainly lobster, canola, and pork - to the Chinese market. But after years of being treated badly by China, should Canadians welcome this about face? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to the U.S. and internal unrest over the killing of an American citizen by an ICE agent this week in Minnesota. Trump is threatening to enact the Insurrection Act which will give the government emergency powers and allow them to deploy the military to crush the&nbsp;protests without the consent of the governor or local police. This has been both a terrible week for the President and a frightening&nbsp;one for Americans who are concerned about their&nbsp;fundamental rights. What happens next will have huge implications for this fall's U.S. midterm elections.&nbsp;

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

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