Podcast Summary: Rebel News Podcast
Episode: EZRA LEVANT | Canada’s worst finance minister is now working for Ukraine — what could go wrong?
Host: Ezra Levant
Date: January 7, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode centers on Ezra Levant’s exposé and critique of former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s secretive appointment as an economic advisor to the Ukrainian government while still serving as a Canadian Member of Parliament. Levant questions Freeland’s loyalties, reviews the timeline and secrecy surrounding her position, and raises alarms about potential conflicts of interest—especially related to ongoing Canadian financial support for Ukraine.
The second half shifts focus to breaking international news: Donald Trump orchestrates a military operation to remove Venezuelan dictator Maduro. Rebel News reporter Alexa Lavoie shares firsthand accounts from the Venezuelan exile community in Miami and explores regional hopes for political change.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Chrystia Freeland Scandal
Timeline and Secrecy
- December 22: Freeland is offered a job as senior economic advisor by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- December 24: She tells Mark Carney (former Bank of Canada Governor, involved with Canadian Ukraine policy).
- December 27: $2.5 billion Canadian aid package to Ukraine is announced—Freeland’s new role is not disclosed.
- Early January: News of Freeland’s job surfaces, apparently via an unplanned tweet from Zelensky’s office.
"I think I can prove that Chrystia Freeland was trying to keep it a secret that she was hired by Ukraine while sitting as a Canadian MP… They kept it a secret because three days later, on December 27, Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland gave another $2.5 billion to Ukraine without revealing her secret job." – Ezra Levant (04:56)
Conflict of Interest and Loyalty Concerns
- Levant is highly critical of Freeland’s handling of her dual roles.
- Raises ethical and legal issues: the cooling-off period for former ministers and the risk of lobbying while still in office.
- Levant accuses Freeland of putting her personal and ideological interests ahead of her duty to Canadian constituents.
"She’s riding two horses at once. Whose side is she on in a negotiation, Canada’s or Ukraine’s? You have to pick a lane, sister."
– Ezra Levant (11:02)
Freeland and the Liberal Party Legacy
- Levant characterizes Freeland as a “thug” due to her role freezing bank accounts during the truckers’ convoy, and as an ineffective finance minister.
- Critique of her global allegiances (WEF, Soros, Rhodes Trust).
- Asserts her advocacy for Ukraine is personal, not national, referencing her Ukrainian heritage and property in Kyiv.
Transparency and Public Outcry
- Levant highlights that Freeland disclosed her new job to Carney but hid it from her own parliamentary riding.
- Rebel News launches a petition and billboard campaign to demand Freeland’s removal.
- Points to a lack of media scrutiny and predicts Freeland will remain protected by establishment allies.
"This whole thing is so gross and it’s so Canadian as a scandal. It’s so Liberal Party corrupt, isn’t it?" – Ezra Levant (16:23)
2. Trump’s Surprise Move: The Venezuela Operation
The Caracas Raid
- News breaks that Donald Trump ordered the US Military to extract Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from the presidential palace in Caracas for extradition to the US on criminal charges.
- Alexa Lavoie is sent to Miami to capture the reaction from the Venezuelan exile community.
Venezuelan Exile Voices (18:43–25:25)
- General euphoria and celebration among Miami’s expatriate community.
- Exiles express gratitude toward Trump and cynicism about international criticisms.
- Personal stories highlight persecution under Chavez and Maduro, lack of freedom, and the mass exodus of Venezuelans.
"So if we receive freedom in exchange, we will take it. And we would be more than happy to give our oil to the US. …So when people are saying, oh, you know, like, it’s a selfish act, because it’s not only for oil, it’s also for foreign influence." – Alexa Lavoie summarizing (19:15)
Notable Interview: Venezuelan Oil Executive
"They came after me because I didn’t allow them. You know, that’s communists, they don’t care…They went after everybody. That’s what they’ve been doing for the last 26 years." – Venezuelan Exile Interviewee (22:07)
Critique of Western Media
- Exiles and Levant blast “man of the people” narratives on CBC/Radio-Canada and from western left-leaning media.
- Frustration that foreign leftists “side with the oppressor instead of the oppressed.”
"Did those people live under dictatorship?...they cannot say anything if they didn’t actually experience what it is to search for food, to sometimes have no electricity, to have no freedom of speech or no freedom of opinion." – Alexa Lavoie (24:31)
3. Broader Regional Implications
Hope for Change in Cuba
- Interview with Doral, Florida mayor (Cuban-American), expressing hope that Cuban dictatorship will also crumble as Venezuelan support dries up.
- Emphasis on the interconnectedness of oppressive regimes and regional security.
"This is the weakest the Cuban government has ever been…Trump made it very clear that this was the opportunity to do that as well." – Mayor of Doral (29:51)
The Diplomatic Challenge
- Levant draws historical parallels (World War II Japan) and discusses complexities of regime change without occupation.
- Reiterates support for Trump’s assertive foreign policy, referencing the Abraham Accords.
4. Listener Feedback & North American Security
Discussion on US Power
- Listeners ask if Trump will “invade Canada and make Canada great again.”
- Levant references US defense commitments and jokes about Canadian inability to defend its own airspace.
"We are already under America’s defensive aegis. We literally could not defend ourselves." – Ezra Levant (39:18)
Critics and Supporters Voice Opinions
- Pushback from a listener claiming Maduro is lawful; Levant counters with the Western consensus on Venezuelan elections.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Freeland’s appointment:
- “What’s relevant is that she has two masters at once. …You can’t negotiate with yourself.” (11:02)
- On Western hypocrisy:
- “Did those people live under dictatorship? …Virtue signaling is something that the leftists like to do. But …they side with the oppressor.” (24:31)
- On the joy in Miami:
- “Everybody is unanimous…they are so happy, and what they say is like, they voted for this, they wanted this to happen.” (19:03)
- On US power in the hemisphere:
- “We are already under America's defensive aegis. …When the Chinese spy balloon came over from China, it went through Canada first and we didn't take it down.” (39:18)
- On regime change:
- “Trump doesn’t want to put 100,000 soldiers in Venezuela. He wants to have a regime change to move towards a liberal democracy. Without that, I don't know if it's possible to do it, but I'm certainly rooting for him.” (32:32)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00 – 16:23: Freeland’s Ukraine scandal breakdown, timeline, and critique
- 16:23 – 18:43: Segue to Venezuelan headline and Rebel News Miami assignment
- 18:43 – 25:25: Alexa Lavoie reports: exile interviews, community reaction
- 25:25 – 29:17: Voices for political prisoners and thoughts on leftist coverage
- 29:17 – 31:42: Interview with Mayor of Doral, reflections on Cuba and regime collapse
- 31:42 – 34:16: Challenges of transition and regime change in Venezuela
- 34:16 – 36:22: Concluding thanks to reporters, regional hopes
- 38:05 – 40:59: Listener feedback on US power, defense, and humor about Greenland
Conclusion
Ezra Levant’s episode is a sweeping indictment of alleged Liberal Party cronyism, governmental secrecy, and Freeland’s divided loyalties amid geopolitical crisis. The podcast transitions to a major story about real-world regime change in Venezuela, offering rare on-the-ground perspectives from exiles and regional leaders. Throughout, the tone is punchy, skeptical, and unabashedly supportive of assertive US interventions against authoritarianism. The episode closes with listener mail and a discussion of the geopolitical landscape in North America.