Rebel News Podcast – Detailed Episode Summary

Podcast: Rebel News
Episode: EZRA LEVANT | Remembrance Day in a country that has forgotten almost everything
Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Ezra Levant
Guest: Karima Saad

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on Remembrance Day in Canada, with host Ezra Levant expressing deep concerns that the country has forgotten the foundational values, history, and clarity about right and wrong that Remembrance Day represents. The episode features a reading of Kipling's "Tommy Atkins," discussion of a controversial federal proposal to have civil servants serve in the military, a provocative contrast with the U.S. Army under Pete Hegseth, and a field report on the Remembrance Day ceremony in Toronto, which was interrupted by a land acknowledgment and claims regarding the slave trade.

Main Discussion Themes & Segments

1. On Forgetting National Heritage & Identity

Timestamp: 00:00 – 04:05

• Ezra opens with a lament about how Canada has, in his view, lost touch with what it was once fighting for: national identity, culture, alliances, and moral clarity.
• He criticizes how language has been "hijacked," with words like "fascism" and "democracy" being misused.
• Critique of both the political Left and Right for distorting historical and moral narratives, including Tucker Carlson's recent controversial takes on World War II.

Quote:

"We've forgotten so many things in Canada in the last 10 or 15 years, haven't we? We forgot what we were fighting for once. Our national identity, our culture and spirit, our alliances. We've forgotten all of that." (01:02)

2. Reading & Reflection: ‘Tommy Atkins’ by Rudyard Kipling

Timestamp: 04:06 – 09:00

• Ezra reads the poem "Tommy Atkins," underlining its message about how soldiers are treated during peace and war.
• He draws parallels between Kipling’s era and current Canadian attitudes, expressing longing for more poetic voices who honor servicemen.

Quote:

"That last line always gets me. I wish we had poets like Kipling around today." (08:47)

3. Analysis: The Civil Servant Army Proposal

Timestamp: 09:01 – 15:00

• Ezra analyzes news reports about a Defense Department proposal to "ramp up an army of 300,000" by recruiting federal public servants and providing minimal training for military roles.
• He criticizes the logic and feasibility, highlighting demographic and fitness statistics: federal service is "60% female, average age 45," and the military faces high obesity rates.
• He points out the plan’s low standards and questions its seriousness, describing it as "madness" and a "trick" to inflate numbers for NATO.

Quote:

"That's your secret weapon... Holy smokes. Do you think that this idea will, on balance, recruit more people or drive more actually good people away?" (10:17)
Quote:
"They want to lower [fitness standards] again. And I'm not making fun of women, and I'm not making fun of people whose average age is 45... But that's your secret weapon." (10:55)

4. Contrast: The U.S. Military’s New Ethos

Timestamp: 12:20 – 15:15

• Ezra plays a U.S. Army recruitment ad under Pete Hegseth (Secretary of War), emphasizing themes of strength, patriotism, and "peace through strength."
• Contrasts Canada’s approach with that of the U.S., noting the U.S. focus on inspiration and discipline versus Canada’s bureaucratic approach.

Quote:

"America’s military will kill you. Canada’s military will apologize to you." (15:15)

5. Remembrance Day Ceremony in Toronto: Wokeness and Controversy

Timestamp: 16:55 – 24:36

• Field report from Karima Saad about a Toronto Remembrance Day ceremony that starts with a land acknowledgment and a statement referencing "the transatlantic slave trade."
• A man heckles in protest—focus shifts to whether such statements are appropriate or distract from honoring the fallen.
• Ezra and Karima discuss the meaninglessness ("boilerplate") of land acknowledgments and the historical inaccuracy of linking Canada to the transatlantic slave trade.

Quote:

"To have that aspersion dumped on Remembrance Day would be like... It reminds me a tiny bit of [the] Westboro Baptist Church... it feels like not the place to take care of other political business." (24:15)
Karima Saad (22:31): "The timing of this gentleman’s outburst, it seems that he was objecting to starting off the ceremony that way... the general consensus seems to be that this is a distraction and they would prefer a return to a focus on the core."

6. Protests in Toronto: Pro-Palestinian March in a Jewish Neighborhood

Timestamp: 29:04 – 35:30

• Discussion of recent protests at Bathurst and Sheppard, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators entered residential, predominantly Jewish neighborhoods after pro-Israel groups stopped holding counter-protests.
• Tensions between free speech rights and the perception of targeted harassment.
• Noting lackluster police response and community concern, with comments by city councillor James Pasternak calling for an end to such protests in residential areas.

Quote:

"On the other hand, when you’re walking into a Jewish neighborhood because it’s a Jewish neighborhood and your goal is to antagonize and harass, I don’t know, but that seems to be like it’s coming up on harassment now." (32:06)

7. Reflections and Closing

Timestamp: 35:47 – end

• Ezra thanks Karima for her fieldwork and reiterates his concerns about “protest mania” and cultural shifts in Canada.
• Final remarks focus on freedom of the press, shifting audience attention from government-backed media to independent outlets like Rebel News.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "We've forgotten so many things in Canada in the last 10 or 15 years, haven't we? We forgot what we were fighting for once." (01:02 - Ezra Levant)
• "That last line always gets me. I wish we had poets like Kipling around today." (08:47 - Ezra Levant)
• "America’s military will kill you. Canada’s military will apologize to you." (15:15 - Ezra Levant)
• "To have that aspersion dumped on Remembrance Day would be like... It reminds me a tiny bit of [the] Westboro Baptist Church... it feels like not the place to take care of other political business." (24:15 - Ezra Levant)
• "The general consensus seems to be that this is a distraction and they would prefer to see less of these performative types of actions and kind of a return to a focus on the core what this day is about or what it's always been about." (25:49 - Karima Saad)
• "On the other hand, when you're walking into a Jewish neighborhood because it's a Jewish neighborhood and your goal is to antagonize and harass, I don't know, but that seems to be like it's coming up on harassment now." (32:06 - Ezra Levant)

Key Takeaways

• Erosion of Tradition: Ezra is deeply troubled by what he perceives as Canada’s loss of identity, memory, and moral clarity, especially on solemn occasions like Remembrance Day.
• Poetry and Perspective: The recitation of "Tommy Atkins" serves as an emotional anchor for reflecting on how societies treat their soldiers.
• Controversial Military Proposals: The plan to have public servants as military reservists is seen as unserious and potentially damaging to military morale and reputation.
• American Military Contrasted: The U.S. military’s messaging is portrayed as the antithesis of Canada’s, focusing on pride, strength, and clarity.
• Ceremonial Disruptions: The addition of land acknowledgments and references to the slave trade at Remembrance Day ceremonies is critiqued for distracting from the intended focus on veterans, with public disagreement evident.
• Social Tensions: The ongoing Israel–Palestine protests in Toronto neighborhoods highlight challenges around protest rights, targeted harassment, and appropriate public behavior.

This summary captures the episode’s key narratives and offers accessible entry points for those who did not listen, preserving the tone, language, and core commentary of the speakers.