Episode 1805: Zain and Rishi's Excelent Adventure

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter briefly discuss the latest numbers from the "Zain Velji for Leader" campaign from Pollara before turning their attention to Rishi Sunak's snap election call in the UK and the strategy of early debates. Why do the UK Conservatives look more surprised by the election ca…

Episode 1803: Stractics

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the strategy/tactic of "flooding the zone" - how it works, why it seems more common these days, and how it can be resisted by opposition parties - before turning to how to artfully pull out of a debate. Is frequent "flooding the zone" a consequence of more ide…

Episode 1302: Defying Gravity

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Pierre Poilievre's Memo to Corporate Canada calling on corporations to invest in persuading Canadians and disinvest in play-nice lobbying - and names names while doing so. Was Corporate Canada really the target audience? Does this mark big changes coming to th…

Episode 1300: Its Party Time

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the impending creation of municipal political parties in Calgary and Edmonton - the strategic considerations in setting them up, the tactics to position them for success and more. How do you create a new political party from scratch? What level of coordination…

Episode 1299: Type 2 Budget

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter dive into Jagmeet Singh and the NDP's threats to bring down the Liberals on Budget 2024 and the Liberal appeal to "generational fairness". Is Singh's sabre rattling good strategy? Are there risks in the Liberals driving a message on "generational fairness"? And is it …

Episode 1298: Blues Guy City

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the 2024 federal budget and the expectation game the Liberals willingly set for themselves. Does the budget tell the story the Liberals want to tell? What happens if the Liberals don't get their heavily-telegraphed 5-point polling bump? And isn't The Strategis…

Episode 1296: April Fool's Gold

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Liberal housing and school nutrition announcements, blockades on the Trans-Canada Highway and an Alberta NDP leadership race that is definitely over despite what Zain says. Are pre-budget announcements a good communications strategy? Do a new round of protests…

Episode 1295: Elevator to hell

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Liberal attacks on Pierre Poilievre's conservatives, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek meeting with her petition antagonist and much more. Are attacks positioning Poilievre as an uncaring insider good strategy? Was Gondek going for a "West Wing" moment? And is it pos…

Episode 1293: Julienne fries

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the growing opposition to the carbon tax among progressive politicians, a motion on Palestine and a months-late rebuttal to Poilievre's housing video. Can the Prime Minister turn it around for the Liberals on the carbon tax? Did a wedge against the Liberals on…

Episode 1291: The Royal We

Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Kate Middleton, institutional communications and crisis management at Kensington Palace. Why are the Prince and Princess of Wales breaking all of the rules of communications? Can the Royal Family win the game by not playing? Can other organizations learn anyth…