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.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

This week’s show take up the Trump tariffs on Canada. What are his motivations for threatening a 25% tariff on Canadian imports into the U.S.? How will American conservative politics and a G.O.P. that  has shifted even further towards a MAGA “America First” agenda likely to impact trade negotiations? What could be some of the economic motivations of a second Trump presidency bent on trillions of tax cuts while U.S. debts and deficits have exploded in recent years? Are Canadian policy makers attune to these new political and economic dynamics or are we at risk of running a stale dated play book on trade and tariffs ill suited to the reality of the moment? In the program’s closing moments Janice and Rudyard take up the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel. How has the region been transformed by more than a year of war? Is a ceasefire in Gaza more or less likely in the weeks and months to come?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast 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.

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.

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.
The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.
This week’s show take up the Trump tariffs on Canada. What are his motivations for threatening a 25% tariff on Canadian imports into the U.S.? How will American conservative politics and a G.O.P. that  has shifted even further towards a MAGA “America First” agenda likely to impact trade negotiations? What could be some of the economic motivations of a second Trump presidency bent on trillions of tax cuts while U.S. debts and deficits have exploded in recent years? Are Canadian policy makers attune to these new political and economic dynamics or are we at risk of running a stale dated play book on trade and tariffs ill suited to the reality of the moment? In the program’s closing moments Janice and Rudyard take up the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel. How has the region been transformed by more than a year of war? Is a ceasefire in Gaza more or less likely in the weeks and months to come?
To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a <a href="https://munkdebates.com/donate">donor</a> to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 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 <a href="https://open.acast.com/shows/6008b82f0c8488532b25d16c/episodes/www.munkdebates.com">www.munkdebates.com</a>.

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. Each debate features two compelling thinkers debating a topic driving the public conversation. Each dialogue features world-renowned thinkers offering unique insight into the issues affecting us most. 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. Each debate features two compelling thinkers debating a topic driving the public conversation. Each dialogue features world-renowned thinkers offering unique insight into the issues affecting us most. 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

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