Rebel News Podcast – The Ezra Levant Show: “Happy New Year! The Best of Rebel News in 2025”
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Ezra Levant (and Rebel News team)
Episode Theme:
A look back at some of the most impactful moments and hard-hitting reports by Rebel News throughout 2025, highlighting journalistic confrontations with politicians, investigations into Canadian issues, social unrest, and the challenges faced by independent media.
1. Episode Overview & Purpose
Ezra Levant and the Rebel News team present a curated selection of significant interviews, investigations, and on-the-ground reports that defined their journalistic work in 2025. The episode focuses on:
- Confronting political and corporate elites
- Exposing alleged government overreach and censorship
- Reporting on crime, social discontent, and immigration
- Defending independent journalism in the face of adversity
The narrative weaves together key moments that, from Rebel’s perspective, represent the stories mainstream media missed or ignored.
2. Key Discussion Points & Segments
A. Challenging Political and Corporate Elites
00:01–09:30
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Interrogating Climate Advocates:
- Ezra and team engage with a high-profile climate advocate about the Paris Accord and personal travel’s carbon footprint.
- The advocate resists detailed questions about private travel and funding.
- Quotation:
- “Is your carbon footprint worth it now?” – [Reporter, 02:50]
- “I work for Galvanize Climate Solutions. Tom Steyer is the president.” – [Climate Advocate, 04:02]
- “So he made his money in coal, didn’t he? Don’t you think that’s unusual?” – [Reporter, 04:35]
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Confronting BlackRock’s Philippe Hildebrand:
- Reporter questions BlackRock’s profit linked to war and rebuilding efforts in conflict zones, touching on Trump’s anticipated foreign policy changes.
- Notable Quote:
- “Is Trump good for business or not so good for business?” – [Reporter, 06:00]
B. Landlord Rights & Welfare Abuse
09:31–22:15
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Documenting Tenant Abuses:
- Investigation into tenants accused of non-payment, panhandling, and criminal activity.
- Farzana, a landlord, describes months of unpaid rent, property damages, and frustrations with a non-responsive landlord-tenant system.
- Strong emotional moments as Farzana discusses children affected by parental choices.
- Memorable Quotes:
- “They will do any trick in their sleeves... to get out what they need.” – [Farzana, 19:03]
- “The system is set to fail people like us.” – [Farzana, 21:38]
-
Police & Government Response:
- Efforts to contact officials result in little practical support for landlords.
C. Crime & Accountability: LCBO Theft Crisis
22:16–30:45
- Brazen Shoplifting at Ontario Liquor Stores:
- David Menzies reports from LCBO headquarters on rampant, blatant theft.
- Attempt to question LCBO bureaucracy highlights lack of transparency; interactions become confrontational.
- Highlight:
- “Individual Ontarians are shareholders in the lcbo. It is a crown corporation. They're not a private company.” – [Menzies, 28:30]
- “This is outrageous, what's going on? This is money coming right out of the treasury.” – [Menzies, 23:21]
- Security and staff resist media presence, debating legalities of filming.
D. Government Accountability & Media Freedom
30:46–40:32
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Political Evasion and Censorship:
- Multiple clips of politicians (NDP's Jagmeet Singh, others) refusing Rebel News questions, citing the outlet’s alleged misinformation.
- MPs and candidates dodge difficult subjects like hate crimes against Christians, government-funded media, and online censorship bills.
- Memorable Exchanges:
- “I do not answer questions from Rebel News because it’s an organization that spreads disinformation.” – [Liberal MP, 34:14]
- “Over 200 Christian places of worship have been attacked ... Will you condemn the rise in acts of hate against Christians?” – [Drea Humphrey, 37:45]
- “Again, thank you, but I'm not going to respond...” – [Singh, 38:10]
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Conservative Party Promises:
- Opposition pledges to repeal censorship laws, restore freedom of press, and protect avenues for independent journalism.
- Quote:
- “We will... repeal C11, the censorship law. We will remove the censorship of Canadian news on web platforms like Facebook and Instagram.” – [Conservative Leader, 39:11]
- “This is Orwellian... even someone like Margaret Atwood ... has said this kind of censorship is not only bad for democracy, but inhibits artistic expression.” – [Conservative Leader, 40:00]
E. Immigration, Social Division, and Crime
40:33–54:02
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Social Fracture and Foreign Conflicts:
- Debates over deporting hate rally participants, assimilation versus multiculturalism, and Canada’s fraying social fabric.
- Calls for unity:
- “Sure. Bring your culture, bring your traditions... but do not bring foreign conflicts onto our streets.” – [Conservative Leader, 42:58]
-
Pipeline Politics & Quebec Oil Debate:
- Quebec politician deflects questions about OPEC oil versus Alberta oil; stresses environmental concerns.
- Quote:
- “I believe that we've got to reduce our consumption of oil progressively, including from Alberta, because ... destroying the whole planet.” – [Bloc Quebecois MP, 46:37]
- Avoidance on polling data about Quebecers’ support for pipelines.
F. Debates: Press Access & Exclusion
54:03–58:30
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Debate Commission Critique:
- Rebel’s presence at election debates is restricted.
- Discussion of last-minute rule changes, exclusion of certain parties, and constraints on real journalistic access.
- Quote:
- “I think the debate commission is going to need to be accountable for what's kind of happening here.” – [Journalist, 55:20]
-
Reflections on Leaders’ French Debate:
- Team describes hostility towards Rebel journalists, regulations limiting who can ask questions, and their determination to persist.
- “They accredited 16 rebels, but they said only one can talk. The other 15 have to sit in silence. Well, that's when we lawyered up and we broke down the walls.” – [Ezra Levant, 56:50]
G. Campus Free Speech & Protest Coverage
58:31–1:03:45
- Hostility on Campuses:
- Coverage of efforts by Rebel reporters and academics like Dr. Frances Widdowson to engage students; contrasted between campuses willing to permit open dialogue and those aggressively hostile to dissenting viewpoints.
- Security challenges and targeted threats against journalists at protest events.
H. International Coverage: Ireland Immigration Protests
1:03:46–1:08:10
- Dissatisfaction with Mainstream and Political Narratives:
- Interviews with Irish demonstrators expressing fears about immigration, crime, and the mainstream media’s alleged downplaying or slanting of protester concerns.
- Quotes:
- “They just want to be safe in their own environment. I don't want Ireland ending up like, basically most of Europe.” – [Protester, 1:06:35]
- “The media are walking for the devil. ...They totally ignore us.” – [Protester, 1:06:59]
I. Border Security & Migrant Flows
1:08:11–1:09:45
- Documentation of Cross-Border Migrant Activity:
- Reports on influx of illegal crossings and government’s strategy to “strengthen border security with a thousand more CBSA officers”.
J. Animal Health Emergency & Farmer Plight
1:09:46–1:14:30
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CFIA Quarantine and Mass Slaughter:
- On-scene reporting as Canadian food inspection enacts culls of healthy birds, stirring outrage from farmers who insist the animals aren’t sick.
- Stirring emotional testimonies:
- “It's life over death today. And we have a chance to stop it. Lay down your badges, say no... these birds have a cure that they're killing.” – [Katie, 1:10:30]
-
Advocacy for Farmers & Support for Independent Media:
- Calls for the public to support Rebel News, described as “frontline workers” for the truth.
K. Satire, Reflection, and Canadian Politics
1:14:31–End
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Satirical Commentaries:
- Lighthearted banter about politicians, climate policy, and Canada’s mass ostrich cull.
- Jokes about “mark Carney fast tracks the road to serfdom” (1:15:53), and analogies comparing politicians to dark lords wanting control.
-
Jewish Community, Anti-Semitism, and Historical Parallels:
- Cautionary comments about the rise of anti-Semitism, community safety, and the responsibility to speak out.
- Legacy remarks:
- “There’s a great phrase... First they come for the Saturday people, then they come for the Sunday people.” – [Community leader, 1:19:00]
3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Reporter (to John Kerry) | “Is your carbon footprint worth it now?” | 02:50 | | Farzana (landlord) | “The system is set to fail people like us.” | 21:38 | | David Menzies | “Individual Ontarians are shareholders in the LCBO. It is a crown corporation.” | 28:30 | | Bloc Quebecois MP | “We've got to reduce our consumption of oil progressively... because [we’re] destroying the planet.” | 46:37 | | Jagmeet Singh | “I'm not going to respond to an organization that promotes misinformation and disinformation.” | 38:10 | | Conservative Leader | “We will... repeal C11, the censorship law... and fight back against any kind of Orwellian online censorship law.” | 39:11 | | Irish protester | “This crowd reflects the true feeling of Ireland, not…the NGO class and the political class, but the real people of Ireland.” | 1:05:57 | | Katie (farmer) | “It's life over death today. And we have a chance to stop it…” | 1:10:30 | | Community Leader | “First they come for the Saturday people, then they come for the Sunday people.” | 1:19:00 |
4. Final Reflection & Tone
The episode underscores Rebel News’ identity as doggedly confrontational, skeptical of establishment narratives, and fiercely protective of independent reporting. The tone is often combative and at times emotional, especially when covering issues of perceived injustice—whether for landlords, farmers, religious minorities, or dissenting viewpoints.
The message delivered throughout is clear: mainstream institutions—government, media, and large corporations—are seen as unaccountable or actively suppressive of the truth, while independent journalists and ordinary citizens must stand up, even at personal or professional risk.
5. For Listeners Who Haven't Heard the Show
This “best of” episode offers a whirlwind tour of some of the most contentious issues and encounters from Rebel News in 2025. Expect to hear stories the team claims were ignored or misrepresented by the broader media:
- Confrontations with politicians and corporate giants
- Calls for greater free speech protections
- Exposure of perceived systemic corruption and crime
- Emotional field reporting with affected Canadians
If you want to understand why Rebel News positions itself as the “scrappy outsider” in Canadian journalism, this episode delivers a visceral, sometimes polemical, but always passionate sample of their approach.