Podcast Summary: Rebel News Podcast

Episode: EZRA LEVANT | What’s the real problem in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.?

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Ezra Levant
Guest: Melanie Bennett (Juno News)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Ezra Levant Show dissects the recent mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Focusing sharply on the media narrative, Ezra scrutinizes how mainstream outlets and officials handled the identity of the shooter, the discussion surrounding gender identity, mental health, and policing failures. The second half features an interview with journalist Melanie Bennett, expanding on controversies in Ontario’s anti-Semitism curriculum and the influence of Islamist groups in Canadian institutions.

Tone:

Incisive, satirical, and combative, in keeping with Ezra Levant’s typical style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disinformation and Media Coverage of the Tumbler Ridge Shooting

• Media’s Obscuration of Facts:
  Ezra opens by condemning what he labels as "disinformation" from official sources and "regime media" regarding the Tumbler Ridge shooter’s gender identity, suggesting a deliberate effort to obscure uncomfortable facts. He criticizes the refusal of police and media to use male pronouns for the perpetrator or to explain the suspect’s transgender identity.

  • “Are they really giving you the information or are they…doing the complete opposite…trying to obscure information, to hide the truth from you, trying to lie to you?” (06:37)

• Satire as Commentary:
  Ezra prefaces with Norm MacDonald jokes to underline the absurdity of focusing on tangential issues rather than the core crime, applying this logic to the Tumbler Ridge shooting.

  • “If you missed it, the real problem with ISIS dropping a dirty bomb over New York isn't the political blowback on Muslims, it's that ISIS dropped a dirty bomb over New York. ...The real problem with Bill Cosby raping women isn't the hypocrisy, it's the raping.” (03:14)

• Critique of Police & Institutional Response:
  Ezra highlights reporting that police interacted with the shooter dozens of times over the years, but, he alleges, failed to take preventive action out of fear over misgendering or political controversy.

  • “Police are so afraid of even misgendering him. Were they also afraid politically to arrest him...?” (09:23)
  • “If you're afraid to call a guy he instead of she, you're probably afraid to arrest him.” (09:32)

• Criticizing Language Choices:
  Ezra lambastes police and media for using passive or neutral language (e.g., “female in a dress with brown hair,” “gun person”) and refers to the inconsistent use of the shooter's name.

  • “It would be like saying Adolf instead of Hitler...so gross. Why are they doing that? You know why they're doing that.” (12:25)

• Independent Journalism vs. Mainstream:
  Praises Juno News for investigative reporting work that uncovered the shooter’s actual gender identity, suggesting mainstream outlets were more concerned with narrative management than truth.

  • “Juno News...didn't wait until some government office told them they could publish it. They called around and found out.” (10:22)

2. Examination of Broader Media and Political Narratives

• Toronto Star Analysis:
  Reads portions of a Toronto Star article, criticizing its portrayal of conservative coverage as “inflammatory,” and for focusing on whether discussions of transgender violence were justified, rather than the killings themselves.

• Distrust of Fact-Checking and Official Confirmation:
  Pushes back against the idea that facts must be “officially confirmed” by authorities before being reported, calling it antithetical to journalism.

  • “What does it mean officially confirmed? Do we have to wait for someone official to tell us now it's okay to publish the truth?” (10:44)

• Follow-the-Government Journalism:
  Suggests mainstream journalists practice journalism “by permission,” as opposed to proactive, independent reporting.

3. Mental Health, Gender Identity, and Violence

• Raises issues about the shooter’s long history of mental health problems, police interactions, and hormone treatments, suggesting a nexus between policing failures, drug treatments, and violence.
• Challenges current data on transgender incidence in violent crime, suggesting that historical statistics miss recent trends due to a rise in gender-transitioning and hormone use.

4. Interview with Melanie Bennett: Schools, Anti-Semitism, and Islamist Influence

Ontario's Anti-Semitism Curriculum

• Contracting ‘Independent Jewish Voices’ (IJV):

  • Ontario’s largest teachers union hired Independent Jewish Voices, an anti-Zionist group, to write antisemitism training materials for teachers.
  • Mainstream Jewish organizations (e.g., CIJA, B'nai Brith) were not consulted; both objected to the union's choice.
  • Melanie: “It's interesting that the ETFO...chose a fringe group of radicals to provide resources.” (22:55)

• Ezra’s Analogy:

  • “To choose this self-loathing group to teach Ontario children about antisemitism is pure malice. It would be better not to teach them anything at all than to allow these saboteurs in.” (24:04)
  • He compares it to having trans activists teach about women, noting the confusion sowed by identity politics.

Investigating Islamist Advocacy in Canada

• Muslim Brotherhood & Parliament:

  • Melanie outlines that the Muslim Brotherhood is less an organization than an ideology, present in various groups worldwide. Banned in some Middle Eastern countries, she voices concern over its influence in Canadian institutions, including education.
  • “It is a sort of supremacist Islamic ideology...banned in several Middle Eastern countries...In the west, we haven't been as forthcoming with that.” (27:21)

• National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM):

  • Discusses NCCM’s roots in CARE-Can and its links (per CRA audits) with Muslim Brotherhood ideology.
  • Notes that NCCM and allied groups have access to the highest levels of Canadian government, even as some charities faced audits for possible radical associations.

• Government Engagements:

  • Details recent meetings between Parliamentarians, the Prime Minister, and leaders of these Islamic advocacy groups, despite concern from reporting and audits.

Political Implications and the ‘Islamo-Leftist Alliance’

• Avi Lewis and NDP:
  Ezra discusses the possible coalition between far-left Jewish activists and Islamist interests in electoral politics, referencing similar developments in the UK’s Green Party.

  • “It's a very strange combination of self-loathing Jews, environmental extremists and Islamic extremists. It's quite something.” (34:52)

• Bennett’s Warning:

  • Points to historical examples where such alliances fracture, leaving the far left ousted by their more authoritarian partners, as in post-revolutionary Iran.
  • “Ultimately there's a danger to that because again in Iran, once the revolution is over, this alliance cannot stand and so somebody is going to be eliminated and that somebody is going to be the leftists.” (36:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Norm MacDonald Parallels:

  • Ezra repeatedly invokes Norm MacDonald jokes to highlight misplaced priorities in media narratives.
    • “If you missed it, the real problem with ISIS dropping a dirty bomb over New York isn't the political blowback on Muslims, it's that ISIS dropped a dirty bomb over New York.” (03:14)

• Reflections on UK Politics (Nigel Farage, Demographics):

  • Segment on UK immigration debate, with Farage audio included in the podcast.
    • “One million people living in this country [UK] don't speak any English at all...I believe firmly that Jim Ratcliffe is right keen to know what you think.” (38:18, Farage)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening, Disinfo & Media Satire: 00:00–04:10
• Sky News & Media Critique: 04:10–08:45
• Toronto Star & Gender Politics Analysis: 08:45–13:14
• Praise for Independent Journalism (Juno News): 16:48–17:40
• Melanie Bennett on Ontario Schools/Antisemitism Curriculum: 21:44–24:30
• Muslim Brotherhood & NCCM Discussion: 26:26–33:27
• Far-Left/Islamist Political Alliances: 34:52–36:29
• Nigel Farage/UK Segment: 37:27–39:30
• Letters & Listener Feedback: 41:52–End

Summary Takeaways

• Ezra Levant aggressively critiques mainstream media and police for what he perceives as dishonesty and political correctness in their coverage of the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
• The episode focuses substantially on transgender issues, media language, censorship, and failures in policing mental health red flags.
• Interview with Melanie Bennett broadens the discussion to anti-Semitism education in schools, the rise of fringe or radical identity groups, and the influence of Islamist organizations in Canadian civic life.
• The episode closes with concerns about demographic shifts, political coalitions, and the state of conservative journalism in Canada compared to the UK.
• Throughout, the tone is antagonistic towards mainstream narratives, and supportive of “independent” right-leaning journalism as a corrective force.