Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show – "Free Canada!"

Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests: Ezra Levant (Rebel News, Canada), Citizen Kane (Citizen Free Press)
Release Date: November 26, 2024

1. Introduction and Overview

In the episode titled "Free Canada!", host Charlie Kirk delves into the pressing issues surrounding Canada's political climate, focusing on free speech infringements, the impact of U.S. politics on Canada, and the broader implications for freedom in North America. The show features prominent guests Ezra Levant from Rebel News and Citizen Kane from Citizen Free Press, who provide firsthand accounts and analyses of the current state of affairs in Canada.

2. Canadian Free Speech Issues

Ezra Levant opens the discussion by highlighting alarming incidents that signal a decline in free speech within Canada. He recounts a disturbing event in his North Toronto neighborhood, where pro-Hamas extremists erected a display replicating the final moments of Yahya Sinwar, a deceased Hamas leader. Levant's attempt to photograph the display led to his arrest by Canadian police, who cited his presence as "causing a disturbance and inciting the crowd" (01:40).

Ezra Levant [01:40]: "If you don't hold tight to your constitutional freedoms, especially your First Amendment, you will go down the path like Canada and the United Kingdom."

Levant criticizes Canadian law enforcement for overstepping their bounds, effectively acting as "Sharia police" rather than protecting citizens' rights. He emphasizes that such actions are not isolated, citing multiple instances in 2024 where journalists were arrested simply for performing their journalistic duties.

Ezra Levant [05:19]: "The police know us because we have interacted with many of them before. ... These cops are acting like Sharia police instead of Canadian police, Charlie."

3. Impact of Trump’s Victory on Canada

Charlie Kirk and Ezra Levant discuss the potential repercussions of Donald Trump's presidency on Canada. Levant expresses concerns that Trump's policies, particularly mass deportations of illegal immigrants, could lead to increased border crossings into Canada, straining its resources and potentially exacerbating existing issues related to immigration and free speech.

Charlie Kirk [08:06]: "President Trump is sworn in on January 20th. If this continues, President Trump should just tell Canada, I'm doing a 10% tariff on all lumber coming into America."

Levant suggests that American support and moral pressure could play a crucial role in influencing Canadian policies towards greater freedom and less censorship.

Ezra Levant [08:48]: "Elon Musk certainly, who is in a way a proxy for Trump, has just been smashing their censorship."

4. Canadian Political Landscape and Future Elections

The conversation shifts to the current political landscape in Canada, with Ezra Levant providing a bleak outlook on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's governance. He attributes Trudeau's oppressive policies to his leadership style and policies, including mass immigration, which Levant believes undermines Canada's traditional values of free speech and Western ideals.

Ezra Levant [11:28]: "Trudeau takes a lot of the blame for this because he has really gone to war against freedom of the press."

Levant discusses the polling data suggesting Trudeau's declining popularity, with current polls indicating support in the low 20% range. He highlights the rise of Conservative opposition leader Pierre Polaver, who leads the polls with 41.2% support, signaling a potential shift in Canadian politics in the near future.

Citizen Kane [14:42]: "Conservative Party, led by Pierre Polaver with 41.2%."

5. Trump Administration's Cabinet Picks and Confirmation Challenges

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the Trump administration's transition and the confirmation of key cabinet nominees. Citizen Kane provides insights into the approval ratings of Trump's transition efforts, citing a Harvard Harris poll showing 54% approval and a CBS poll indicating 59% approval of Trump's cabinet picks.

Citizen Kane [19:31]: "The Harvard Harris poll last week showed him at 54% approval in the transition."

The discussion covers prominent nominees like Bobby Kennedy, Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth, exploring the likelihood of their confirmation amidst strong opposition from Democratic senators. Kane anticipates intense confirmation hearings, likening them to high-stakes political spectacles reminiscent of the Jeff Sessions hearings in 2017.

Citizen Kane [24:37]: "I believe they're going to be confirmed all three. I think Kennedy's going to get it. I think Tulsi's going to get it. And Hegseth, I really believe, is going to be the toughest one."

Conservative Senator Rand Paul weighs in on Pete Hegseth's qualifications for the Pentagon role, asserting that merit-based appointments resonate with the American public's desire for competent leadership.

Senator Rand Paul [25:16]: "They want people to be picked on merit, not on racial characteristics."

6. Democrat Party’s Future and Republican Strategies

The episode transitions to discussing the future trajectory of the Democratic Party and strategies for Republicans to maintain and expand their influence. Citizen Kane emphasizes the importance of Turning Point USA's role in mobilizing activists to support Republican senators who align with Trump's agenda.

Citizen Kane [30:53]: "We've been able to build an army of our own activists, in a sense. And it's not the same old Republican Party."

He also addresses the Democratic Party's potential strategies, including Kamala Harris's possible run for presidency in 2028 and the party's reliance on mass immigration to sustain its ideological bent.

Citizen Kane [30:53]: "Kamala is already telling her staff not to stray too far because she's not ruling out Iran again in 2028."

Kane and Kane discuss the importance of Republicans securing victories in upcoming elections to prevent the Democrats from gaining more power, stressing the need for continued activism and strategic campaigning.

7. Conclusion

In wrapping up, Charlie Kirk and his guests underscore the critical state of freedom in Canada as a cautionary tale for the United States. They advocate for vigilance in preserving constitutional rights and leveraging political influence to support like-minded leaders both domestically and internationally.

Charlie Kirk [35:05]: "We will get rid of you and we won't show mercy."

The episode serves as a rallying cry for conservative activists to remain engaged and proactive in defending freedom against rising authoritarian tendencies, both in Canada and within the broader global context.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ezra Levant [01:40]: "If you don't hold tight to your constitutional freedoms, especially your First Amendment, you will go down the path like Canada and the United Kingdom."

• Ezra Levant [05:19]: "The police know us because we have interacted with many of them before. ... These cops are acting like Sharia police instead of Canadian police, Charlie."

• Charlie Kirk [08:06]: "President Trump is sworn in on January 20th. If this continues, President Trump should just tell Canada, I'm doing a 10% tariff on all lumber coming into America."

• Ezra Levant [08:48]: "Elon Musk certainly, who is in a way a proxy for Trump, has just been smashing their censorship."

• Citizen Kane [14:42]: "Conservative Party, led by Pierre Polaver with 41.2%."

• Citizen Kane [19:31]: "The Harvard Harris poll last week showed him at 54% approval in the transition."

• Senator Rand Paul [25:16]: "They want people to be picked on merit, not on racial characteristics."

• Citizen Kane [30:53]: "We've been able to build an army of our own activists, in a sense. And it's not the same old Republican Party."

• Charlie Kirk [35:05]: "We will get rid of you and we won't show mercy."

Conclusion

"Free Canada!" offers a comprehensive examination of the challenges facing Canada’s freedom of speech and the potential repercussions for the United States. Through the insights of Ezra Levant and Citizen Kane, Charlie Kirk emphasizes the importance of safeguarding constitutional rights and preparing for political shifts that could impact the landscape of freedom in North America. The episode serves as both a warning and a call to action for conservative activists to remain vigilant and engaged in the fight for liberty.