Podcast Summary: Ezra Levant Breaks Down Mark Carney’s Davos Speech — and Confronts Justin Trudeau on the Street

Podcast: Rebel News Podcast
Host: Ezra Levant
Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the Ezra Levant Show, recorded from an Airbnb in Switzerland during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, centers on two major threads:

• A critical analysis of Mark Carney’s “New World Order” speech at the WEF, especially his remarks on Canada’s shifting alliances and embrace of China.
• On-the-ground confrontations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Eric Schmidt (former Google CEO) regarding censorship, transparency, and Canadian politics.
  The episode closes in Alberta, where Sheila Gunn Reid reports from a petition signing event for an Alberta independence referendum.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. On-the-Ground Reporting at Davos

• Setting & Context: Rebel News journalists are on-site at the WEF in Davos, highlighting the difference in press freedom there compared to Canada.
  • Police presence is heavy but does not interfere with journalists questioning politicians, unlike in Canada.
  • “In Canada, police are used for political purposes. … When our reporters ask questions … they're at the very least arrested, sometimes roughed up a bit and sometimes taken to jail.” — Ezra Levant [01:17]

2. Mark Carney’s “New World Order” Speech

• Carney’s Shift Toward China: Carney frames Canada’s future in partnership with China, despite previously labeling it a security threat.
  • “I believe the progress that we have made in the partnership sets us up well for the New World Order.” — Mark Carney [05:22]
  • Carney now advocates a “strategic partnership” with China, claiming “there are very clear guardrails in that relationship,” but sees huge economic opportunity. [08:44]
• Canada’s Realignment:
  • Levant critiques Carney's proposal to realign Canada away from the U.S. and toward China on the basis of Trump’s unpredictability:
    “You want to completely realign Canada's orbit towards China and an authoritarian dictatorship because you're offended by Trump. Just incredible.” — Ezra Levant [06:39]
• Critique of Carney’s Approach:
  • Levant argues Canada cannot “redraw trading patterns” to move away from U.S. dependence simply by will, and regards Carney’s comments as “naive.”
  • “China could have written his speech, … it’s such a naive speech. The result … would be to throw things into China’s jackpot.” — Ezra Levant [11:33]
• Highlight on Economic Policy:
  • Levant questions Carney’s order of 49,000 China-made EVs, pointing out the contradiction for Canadian jobs.
  • “How is buying 49,000 made in China electric vehicles … helping our auto industry?” — Ezra Levant [12:53]

Notable Quotes from Mark Carney

• “The old order is not coming back. We shouldn't mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.” [07:20]
• “We can give ourselves far more than any foreign country can take away." [13:58]
• On globalism: “So it won’t be global, it won’t cover the globe, but it will be more powerful.” [15:49]

3. Street Confrontation with Justin Trudeau

• Trudeau’s Evasive Answers: Trudeau generally avoids direct responses during on-the-street questioning but momentarily engages with Levant and Menzies.
  • “It's good to see you, Ezra. It's been a long time. How you been?” — Justin Trudeau [18:36]
  • Trudeau is pressed on taxpayer funding, the Emergencies Act (“martial law”), Alberta separatism, and censorship bills.
• Debate Over Press Freedom and Censorship:
  • “You don't believe in free speech. C63 and all your other bills are about squelching people who you disagree with as well.” — David Menzies [19:58]
  • Trudeau counters, encouraging “dialogue … grounded in facts and reality,” and accuses Rebel News of spreading “misinformation and disinformation.” [19:12]
• Memorable Exchanges:
  • “You spoke at me for five minutes. You didn't answer any questions.” — David Menzies [20:47]
  • “Davos is about connecting with people and talking about how we can continue to put people's success at the center of everything we do.” — Justin Trudeau [21:02]

4. Exchange with Eric Schmidt (ex-Google CEO)

• Focus on Censorship:
  • David Menzies confronts Schmidt over his public writings about internet censorship and “spell check for hate.”
  • Schmidt refuses to engage, accuses Menzies of harassment.
  • “No, I do not [have an obligation to talk to the public]. And I certainly do not have an obligation to talk to you.” — Eric Schmidt [23:55]
  • “You’re the one who fired the starter pistol for censorship in the whole industry.” — David Menzies [23:58]
  • Schmidt: “My God. And you need to stop blocking me.” [25:06]
  • Exchanges grow heated, with Schmidt repeatedly demanding to be left alone.

5. Alberta Independence Referendum Event

• Sheila Gunn Reid reports from a packed petition signing event in Drayton Valley, Alberta.
  • Attendees express support for Alberta’s independence and dissatisfaction with the federal government.
  • Key grievances: Loss of local control, perceived financial injustice, and concerns over federal mismanagement.
  • “It’s been a bad relationship with Ottawa for too long and I have young kids and I feel like this is the only way that we can have real freedom.” — Petition Signer [28:20]
  • Mark Carney’s “New World Order” rhetoric cited as fueling discontent.
  • “When I watched that [Carney] video, it gave me shivers … it felt demonic to me. … It seems very dictatorship-like.” — Petition Signer [33:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “In Canada, police are used for other purposes. … When our reporters ask questions … they're at the very least arrested...” — Ezra Levant [00:56]
• “We have penetrated the cabinets.” — Klaus Schwab, invoked by Levant [02:20]
• “You want to completely realign Canada's orbit towards China and an authoritarian dictatorship because you're offended by Trump. Just incredible.” — Ezra Levant [06:39]
• “The old order is not coming back. We shouldn't mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.” — Mark Carney [07:20]
• “How is buying 49,000 made in China electric vehicles … helping our auto industry?” — Ezra Levant [12:53]
• “You don't believe in free speech. C63 and all your other bills are about squelching people who you disagree with as well.” — David Menzies [19:58]
• “You’re the one who fired the starter pistol for censorship in the whole industry.” — David Menzies [23:58]
• “Well, when I watched that [Carney] video, it gave me shivers … it felt demonic to me.” — Petition Signer [33:14]

Timestamps: Important Segments

• [00:37] — Ezra Levant on reporting in Davos, police differences
• [05:22] — Mark Carney on the “New World Order”
• [07:20] — Carney: “The old order is not coming back.”
• [13:58] — Carney on Canadian sovereignty and economic resilience
• [18:09] — Street confrontation: Rebel News vs. Justin Trudeau
• [21:02] — Trudeau on the purpose of Davos
• [23:33] — Confrontation with Eric Schmidt (Google censorship)
• [27:02] — Sheila Gunn Reid: Alberta independence petition event
• [28:20, 30:59, 33:14] — Petition signers articulate their motivations and concerns

Tone & Language

• The episode’s tone is combative, skeptical of political and corporate elites, and vigilant regarding government overreach and censorship.
• Levant and guests speak in direct, colloquial language, often using strong, emotionally charged descriptors (e.g., “gaslighting,” “demonic,” “dictatorship-like”).

Summary for New Listeners

In this packed episode, Ezra Levant and his Rebel News team offer unfiltered, critical coverage from the World Economic Forum. Levant dissects Mark Carney’s controversial push for a Canadian “New World Order” partnership with China, calls out what he sees as naive and dangerous economic policies, and spotlights how Canadian left-leaning elites are directing the country against its traditional alliances.
On the street in Davos, they confront Justin Trudeau about censorship, transparency, and the Emergencies Act, with Trudeau offering only partial engagement.
The team also grills former Google CEO Eric Schmidt about his history of supporting tech censorship, culminating in a tense showdown.
The episode closes with a report from Alberta, where grassroots calls for independence are growing, fueled in part by disillusionment with Ottawa’s direction and Carney’s globalist pronouncements.

Listeners can expect an episode that is equal parts investigative, polemical, and rooted in on-the-ground activism.

For those who haven't listened:
This summary captures the high-energy, adversarial approach of Rebel News as they challenge Canadian and global leaders on sovereignty, alliances, and free speech—offering an inside look at political showdowns from the world’s power centers to local grassroots movements.