The End of Justin Trudeau’s Canada

Summary

Summary of "The End of Justin Trudeau’s Canada" – The Daily, The New York Times (January 8, 2025)

Hosts: Natalie Kitroeff and Matina Steves Gridneff

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1. Introduction

In this episode of The Daily, Natalie Kitroeff and Matina Steves Gridneff delve into the dramatic resignation of Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister of Canada. Once heralded as a global icon of progressive politics, Trudeau's downfall marks a significant shift in Canadian and global political landscapes. The hosts explore the multifaceted reasons behind his collapse, the rise of his potential successor, and the broader implications for Canada and international relations.

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2. Trudeau's Rise to Power

Matina Steves Gridneff outlines Trudeau's ascent in Canadian politics, highlighting his strategic moves to reshape the Liberal Party. Trudeau revitalized a struggling party, leading it to a sweeping victory in 2015. His charismatic persona and progressive platform resonated both domestically and internationally.

Notable Quote:

"I got elected on a platform of openness, of transparency, of engagement, of listening to Canadians, of trusting people with real answers to tough questions, a level of respect for citizens that, for me, is at the heart of what a 21st century democracy looks like."
— Justin Trudeau [05:39]

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3. Trudeau's Global Popularity

Trudeau's image extended beyond Canada's borders, earning him accolades from global media and being compared to political figures like Barack Obama. His progressive stance on issues such as climate change, indigenous reconciliation, and refugee support solidified his status as a forward-thinking leader.

Notable Quote:

"It really does take you back to this era where that brand of progressive politics was just in. And Justin Trudeau is a global poster boy for those ideals."
— Matina Steves Gridneff [07:28]

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4. Scandals and Policy Failures

Trudeau's tenure was marred by several scandals that eroded public trust. Key incidents included:

• Blackface Revelation:
  Trudeau publicly apologized for past instances of wearing blackface, damaging his progressive image.
  Quote: "This is something that I deeply, deeply regret."
  — Justin Trudeau [10:01]

• Carbon Tax Controversy:
  The implementation of a convoluted carbon tax policy faced backlash for its complexity and economic impact, becoming a significant point of contention.

• Freedom Convoy Movement:
  Post-pandemic restrictions sparked nationwide protests, culminating in the "Freedom Convoy" that paralyzed vital trade routes and showcased widespread dissent against Trudeau's governance.
  Quote: "For days, we've seen chaos in Ottawa."
  — Justin Trudeau [12:00]

These issues, combined with economic strains like rapid inflation and labor shortages, led to a significant decline in Trudeau's popularity.

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5. The Downfall: Public Opinion and Party Pressure

As Trudeau's policies faltered, his standing within the Liberal Party and among the Canadian public deteriorated. Polls consistently showed a desire for his resignation, and internal party pressures intensified.

Notable Interaction:

Matina Steves Gridneff [15:27]: "It's time for him to go."
Justin Trudeau [16:36]: "I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister."
— Addressing growing demands for his departure.

Trudeau's acknowledgment of policy failures, especially his immigration strategy that inadvertently exacerbated housing and healthcare crises, further alienated voters.

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6. The Conservative Party and Pierre Poilievre

With Trudeau stepping down, attention shifts to Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party. Poilievre positions himself as a populist alternative, promising to rectify Trudeau's policies through measures like cutting taxes, reducing government bureaucracy, and emphasizing traditional family values.

Key Attributes of Poilievre:

• Populist Rhetoric: Utilizes slogans such as "axe the tax" and "stop the crime."
• Economic Focus: Advocates for deregulation and addressing inflation by curbing government intervention.
• Social Policies: Balances conservative ideals with a nuanced stance on immigration, avoiding overt anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Quote Highlighting Poilievre’s Strategy:

"Common sense, which is what I represent."
— Brian [20:10]

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7. Implications for Canada-US Relations

The transition of power in Canada comes at a tumultuous time in US-Canada relations, especially with the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who has expressed contentious views towards Canada. Key issues include:

• Trade Disputes:
  Trump threatened a 25% tariff on Canadian exports, aiming to address the trade surplus and bolster US economic interests.

• Immigration and Security:
  Discussions on securing the border and managing immigration flows remain critical, with Poilievre needing to navigate these challenges effectively.

The potential alignment between Poilievre and Trump is debated, with comparisons drawn to their shared conservative values, though uncertainties remain regarding their personal and diplomatic chemistry.

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8. Global Context of Anti-progressive Sentiment

Trudeau's resignation is emblematic of a broader global trend where progressive leaders are being ousted in favor of more conservative, populist figures. Factors contributing to this shift include:

• Economic Frustrations:
  Persistent inflation, unemployment, and cost-of-living crises have fueled dissatisfaction with incumbent governments.

• Cultural Backlash:
  Anti-immigrant sentiments and resistance to progressive social policies have gained traction among certain voter segments.

Matina Steves Gridneff reflects on this trend, noting that Trudeau's fall signifies the end of an era for progressive politics, raising questions about the future trajectory of centrist and center-left parties worldwide.

Insightful Observation:

"This era of the growing popularity of progressive politics, the vision and the hope and the dream around it that Trudeau was an icon for. And that era is very clearly coming to an end."
— Matina Steves Gridneff [26:48]

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9. Conclusion

Justin Trudeau's departure marks a pivotal moment in Canadian politics, illustrating the volatile nature of voter sentiments and the challenges faced by progressive leaders in maintaining public trust amidst economic and social crises. As Pierre Poilievre steps into the spotlight, the future of Canada hangs in balance, with significant implications for its domestic policies and international relations, particularly with the United States. This transition also mirrors a global shift towards populism and conservative governance, prompting a reevaluation of political strategies and ideologies on the world stage.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Justin Trudeau [04:30]: "I proved that a Liberal can take a punch. I proved that we're not people who can be counted out..."
• Justin Trudeau [08:04]: "Diversity is our strength. Welcome to Canada."
• Justin Trudeau [10:07]: "This really shocked people because, remember, Trudeau's whole thing was that he was a very progressive politician."
• Matina Steves Gridneff [15:27]: "The Prime Minister needs to step down. He needs to step down immediately for us to have any chance in the next election."
• Justin Trudeau [16:36]: "I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister."
• Matina Steves Gridneff [26:48]: "This era of the growing popularity of progressive politics... is very clearly coming to an end."

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This summary provides an in-depth overview of the episode, capturing the essential discussions, insights, and conclusions presented by the hosts. For a comprehensive understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Natalie Kitroeff]

I'm Natalie Kitroweff, and this is the Daily this week, Justin Trudeau said he'd step down as prime minister of Canada. That marked the stunning downfall of a man who was once seen as a global icon of progressive politics. Today, my colleague Matina Steves Gridneff explains the forces that led to Trudeau's collapse, and she talks about the populist leader who could replace him just as Donald Trump returns to power. It's Wednesday, January 8th. Mattina for me, and I think for a lot of people, when we heard Justin Trudeau was stepping down, it felt like a pretty remarkable moment, partially because he's been in power for so many years, almost a decade, and he'd really become something of a fixture in global politics, but also because of the way that he was doing it, the way he was resigning, not finishing out his term, choosing to just kind of exit the political stage. You cover Canada. What did you make of that moment?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I mean, I know what you mean, Natalie, but honestly, he resigned, but I really don't think it was much of a choice. Yes, he had been around for a really long time. It's almost kind of hard to remember a time when he wasn't Canadian prime minister. But if you've been following Canadian politics, you would know this was a really long time coming and for many Canadians, well overdue. He had been under tremendous pressure from within his party to step down, and the public had made it abundantly clear that they were no longer supporting him. His popularity was at historic and eventually the growing calls from within his party for him to step down showed him the exit.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Well, okay, so tell me, how did he get to that point where he really didn't have a choice but to do what he did?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I mean, broadly speaking, the arc of Justin Trudeau's narrative is one of rapid and spectacular rise and slow and steady decline. And really that rise kind of almost started from his birth. He was born while his father was in his first term of being prime minister of Canada, his late father, Pierre Trudeau, and Justin Trudeau is born in the spotlight and raised in the trappings of Canadian political power. But when he decides himself as a young man to enter politics, running for Member of Parliament in the late 2000s with the Liberal Party, his father's party, he's sort of. Sort of seen as this wimp or kind of weak from a character perspective. So despite his background, he's definitely not automatically commanding the respect of the political establishment in Canada. It is now time for your main event. Please welcome Justin Trudeau. And one of the first things I think he did to dispel that notion was that he literally participated in a charity boxing match against a very serious Conservative politician who had a black belt in karate.

[Narrator]

Trudeau walking in, he's got a determined look on his head.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And of course, people anticipated Trudeau to get destroyed, but he wasn't. He actually hung in there.

[Brian]

Today, he becomes a man.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Brian.

[Narrator]

Oh, he's just railing.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And he won the match.

[Justin Trudeau]

I proved that a Liberal can take a punch. I proved that we're not people who can be counted out, even though we seem nicer and a little more touchy feely, and we believe in things and we believe.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I know it sounds really basic, but people started calling him a fighter after.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

That, so it's fair to say this is actually good for his image. While it may seem kind of gimmicky, it worked.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Oh, absolutely. And within a year, Trudeau becomes the leader of the Liberal Party. Now, to be clear, the Liberal Party was a disaster when Trudeau became its leader in 2013. And Justin Trudeau quickly resuscitated it, brought it back from the dead, and by 2015, had done such a good job putting the party back together and bringing it back to strength that he sweeps into government and becomes Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau]

I got elected on a platform of openness, of transparency, of engagement, of listening to Canadians, of trusting people with real answers to tough questions, a level of respect for citizens that, for me, is at the heart of what a 21st century democracy looks like.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And he's obviously popular in Canada. He's just won this very important election, but, boy, is he popular globally. He just explodes on the global political scene like a rock star.

[Narrator]

It's no secret that Canadian Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau]

Justin Trudeau is hot and smoldering.

[Narrator]

But would you be surprised to learn.

[Justin Trudeau]

That when Justin was younger, he was even hotter and smoldier? Oh, Canada.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

The global press is fawning over him. From the broadsheet serious papers to the glossy women's magazines. Vogue declares him one of the unconventional, hotties of the year. It's. It's really a phenomenon. And I think he was seen by a lot of people as a sort of successor to the Obama progressive dream. Remember, this is the tail end of the second Obama presidency. And here's this younger guy in Canada who seems to stand for sort of the same principles, the same values, and have that same sort of sunny, hopeful outlook.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Right. It really does take you back to this era where that brand of progressive politics was just in. And. And Justin Trudeau is a global poster boy for those ideals.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Absolutely. He declares himself a feminist. He also pursues policies that we identify with progressive politics, such as, like climate change related policies, reconciliation with indigenous communities in Canada, and a very pro refugee stance in the middle of the Syrian civil war.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Right. And then I remember Trump gets elected the next year, and Trudeau really kind of takes on this role as a counterweight to him and his approach to immigration writ large.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Absolutely. The world projects on him expectations of being the antithesis of Trump. And Trudeau really leans into the idea that he's the opposite of Trump. In fact, he takes the opportunity to showcase that straight off the bat. Soon after Donald Trump is inaugurated, he announces a major policy known as the Muslim ban. And in response to that, Trudeau goes to what was then still known as Twitter and says to those fleeing persecution, terror, and war, Canadians will welcome you regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength. Welcome to Canada. Is there a more anti Trump message than that in that moment? I don't think so.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

I remember at the time, for liberals in the United States, he was this ideal leader. I mean, I remember there was talk of how they were all going to move to Canada.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Yeah, totally. It was a whole thing. And, you know, he really relished that reputation. And it had staying power on the global stage. But at home, his star started to dim around that time.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Tell me about that. What happened?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Well, there were a series of what we would call scandals.

[Justin Trudeau]

As I said, this was a personal family vacation where we visited someone who I have known pretty much all my life.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

He accepted this luxurious holiday on a private island as a gift. And. And many people saw it as deeply inappropriate and a conflict of interest. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he deeply regrets wearing blackface. In a resurfaced photo, photos of him from his student days wearing blackface emerged.

[Justin Trudeau]

This is something that I deeply, deeply regret.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And this really shocked people because, remember, Trudeau's whole thing was that he was a very progressive politician.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

So you start to see this shine come off of the image at least of this golden boy of politics who at one point really seems to have it all. I'm now wondering about his track record of actually governing. How are his policies going over with voters?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Look, he definitely scores a few wins, but he very quickly gets into trouble and starts struggling in that department as well. I think a good example of that is this policy known as the carbon tax that he launches. And it just becomes deeply unpopular. It's convoluted, it's complicated. The opposition paints it as this huge burden on Canadians, and he continues to struggle to sell it as a success. But where his problems and his troubles with the Canadian public really start to compound is when the pandemic hits. And as vaccine mandates and protracted restrictions on movement and social interactions and the economy really take their toll on Canadian society, a lot of people start more directly turning against him. I have actually been out here since last Saturday. Monty, who did not want to share his last name, is one of hundreds of truckers blocking the roads around Parliament in Canada's capital city demanding an end to vaccine mandates. And there is a small but very vocal minority in Canada that really erupts in protest against these restrictions, also known as the Freedom Convoy.

[Narrator]

The Freedom Convoy, that's what they call themselves.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

It's snowballed now to sort of blockade in Canada.

[Justin Trudeau]

For days, we've seen chaos in Ottawa.

[Lori Leibovich]

It started as a protest against vaccine.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Requirements for lorry drivers, but it's mushroomed to an anti government movement which has paralyzed not only this capital city, but vital trade routes between Canada and the US and it sort of grew into a broader protest movement against Justin Trudeau and the things he stood for. And of course, coming out of the pandemic, Canada's economy, like so many other economies around the world, is really crippled. It's facing rapid inflation and labor shortages. So you have all these economic problems starting to stack up. And I think this brings us to one of the biggest policy failures for Trudeau, which has been his immigration policy in response to those post pandemic labor shortages. And in order to get Canada's economy going again, the Trudeau government decides to bring in millions of temporary foreign workers to fill in jobs that they're saying Canadians won't do. And the result for that is that within two and a half, three years, the country adds more than 3 million people in its population. It goes from 38 million total population to more than 41 million.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Wow.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And while that actually does do some good things for the economy, the addition of millions of of new people in Canada stretches resources that were already quite thin. And it compounds the housing crisis and an access to healthcare, crises that were already brewing since before the pandemic. Ultimately, Mr. Trudeau acknowledged that this policy had created serious problems and announced that it needed to be rapidly curtailed. But the damage had been done to his reputation and to the trust that the electorate showed him. And Trudeau sees his popularity plummet to historic lows. He becomes frankly loathed among Canadians who poll after poll for several months say they want him out. Giving his opponents, the Conservative Party, a double digit lead coming to the end of 2024, a 25 point lead over the Liberals.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Wow. So what's the response from the party?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

The Liberal Party doesn't have a formal mechanism to get rid of Trudeau, and it's also Trudeau's party. Remember, the party was crushed and he brought it back from the dead. So it becomes really hard to separate the party and the man. And yet calls are growing ever louder for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to quit on a recent call involving a third of its Liberal Party's members of Parliament. They all agreed that it was time for the PM to go. Starting from members of Parliament. And growing voices within the party start to ask him to leave and let someone else lead the party and the country. The Prime Minister needs to step down. He needs to step down immediately for.

[Justin Trudeau]

Us to have any chance in the next election.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I'm here to repeat the message that.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

I delivered to the Prime Minister that I believe he needs to step down.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And call a leadership race. The message that I've been getting loud and clear and more and more strongly as time goes by, is that it's time for him to go. And I agree. But Mr. Trudeau appears completely attached to his position. He says I am not going anywhere until in December, one of his most important allies, the country's deputy Prime Minister, a woman named Christia Freeland, resigns in and indicates that she can no longer support him. She says Trudeau has been governing the country with a narrow political gain in mind rather than having the best interest of Canadians at heart. And this is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

[Justin Trudeau]

So I thought it might be fun for us to do this again.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Justin Trudeau takes the holiday season to reflect on his future. And then on Monday, he finally addresses the nation.

[Justin Trudeau]

I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And announces that he intends to step down as Prime Minister and as Liberal Party leader.

[Justin Trudeau]

We were elected to strengthen the economy post pandemic and advanced Canada's interests. In a complicated world. And that is exactly the job that I and we will continue to do for Canadians. Merci, vous commiss amis.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And in doing so, he puts the country on course for a lengthy, messy, chaotic transition, at the end of which a new leadership could put Canada on a completely different course to the one it's been on for the last 10 years.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

We'll be right back.

[Narrator]

This podcast is supported by the International Rescue Committee. When conflict and disaster strike, the IRC is ready to help families immediately after an emergency occurs and long term with health care supplies, clean water and other critical aid as crises continue in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and around the world. The IRC is committed to ensuring families can survive, recover and rebuild their lives for a limited time. All donations are doubled to help the IRC meet this moment of unprecedented need. Make your matched [e-mail] rebuild. This podcast is supported by Focus Features Presenting Conclave for your awards consideration. Brilliantly directed by Edward Berger, Deadline raves Conclave is a stunning cinematic achievement. And now Conclave has received 11 Critics Choice Awards nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, and six Golden Globe Awards nominations, including Best Picture. With its astonishing performances from Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, Conclave is impeccably crafted and a masterclass in classic filmmaking. This year, your choice changes everything. Conclave in theaters now.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Hi, this is Lori Leibovich, editor of well at the New York Times. Everything that our readers get when they dig into a well article has been vetted.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Our reporters are consulting experts doing the.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Research so that you can make great.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Decisions about your physical health and your mental health.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

We take our reporting extra seriously because we know New York Times subscribers are counting on us.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

If you already subscribe, thank you.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

If you'd like to subscribe, go to nytimes.com subscribe.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

So Mattina, now that Trudeau has announced that he's stepping down, what happens next? Where does this messy, chaotic transition that you mentioned, where does it go from here?

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Well, practically speaking, the Liberal Party will take the next few weeks to elect a new leader and that person will automatically become the prime minister. But I think that will be very short lived. I think as we go into the spring, the country will hold general elections. And even though a new Liberal leader could rapidly transform the fortunes of the party, polling does suggest that the Conservative Party of Canada and its leader, Pierre Polievre, a 45 year old career politician, are going to be winning or likely winning the next federal election.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Okay, so tell me about him, this potential new leader.

[Brian]

After nine years of this prime minister, everything is broken. 25% of Canadians are now living in poverty. 2 million lined up at food banks. 38% more people are homeless. Housing costs have doubled. It wasn't like this before this Prime Minister and it won't be like this after he's gone.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

So Pierre Poillier presents as a pretty mainstream, populist, 21st century right wing leader.

[Brian]

Capping spending, cutting waste to bring down inflation and interest rates by removing bureaucracy to build more affordable homes.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And his message tends to be short, pithy. He loves slogans like axe the tax, stop the crime. He endorses traditional family values, he believes in the nuclear family, and so on. And I think a lot of his messaging is fairly textbook conservative. He believes, for example, in the deregulation of the economy, getting the government out of the way of people's lives, of businesses, cutting red tape. Same things that we're hearing from Conservatives in other parts of the world. But Mr. Poiev is also someone who has been very smart about harvesting this moment of anti progressive politics that are really rising right now. Some people might call it anti woke. And he has been able to make that part of his brand.

[Brian]

The Prime Minister has no business in decisions that should rest with provinces and parents. So my message to Justin Trudeau is butt out and let provinces run schools and let parents raise kids.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

And his promise to Canadians is to frankly be the opposite of Justin Trudeau.

[Brian]

This is the consequence of Trudeau, NDP policies and Canadians across the country, but especially right here in the South Okanagan, are demanding common sense, which is what I represent.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

It sounds like he's someone who may be more potentially aligned with Trump than Trudeau. Right.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I sort of think of polievor and Trump as ideological cousins. I think there's a lot of overlap in some of the core traditional conservative ideas that both leaders espouse. And those are again, quite textbook. They're not particularly fresh or new. I think too that Mr. Polievre is very smart about using social media in his favor. Of course, this is a moment with Elon Musk and Ex that is playing in Mr. Poliev's favor, and he really knows how to use that. He has been a strong communicator, experts say, the strongest communicator Justin Trudeau had ever had to face. And Justin Trudeau was considered a very strong communicator. And so, yes, there are several similarities with Trump. Nonetheless, Mr. Poilievre is also very Canadian. You will hear him talk about really curbing the immigration program that Mr. Trudeau ushered in, which backfired. But you will never really hear him say things that are profoundly anti immigrant. And so there are still many elements of Mr. Polievre that are, you know, unique to. To this country and unique to Canadian conservatism. I think. So.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

I mean, the results of these elections are not a foregone conclusion by any stretch. But it sounds like if Poliev takes the reins of government in Canada, Trump would be facing a very different situation in Canada than the one that he had when he first came to office. I mean, we're talking about a potential, as you said, ideological cousin versus what he had in Trudeau, which was someone who was opposed to him ideologically.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I agree. I mean, it will definitely be different. We don't have enough information right now to know what polievor plans to do when it comes to actually sitting down with Donald Trump. And I would add here that just from observation, political affiliation does not necessarily mean that you get a good deal from Donald Trump. So much of what transpires when leaders meet with Donald Trump trying to advance their country's agenda comes down to tactics and personal chemistry. And this is a personal chemistry that's completely untested, as opposed, for example, to the Trudeau Trump chemistry, which we watched play out for several years. And it's not just about getting along. Right. Canada and the United States are each other's closest allies and biggest trading partners. And Mr. Trump has beef with Canada. He has Canada in his crosshairs. He has talked about wanting to close the trade surplus that Canada has over the United States. He wants Canada to do a better job protecting the joint border between the two countries. And he has, very importantly, threatened to slap a 25% tariff on Canadian goods imported into the United States, a tariff that would crush the Canadian economy and send it into a recession. So these are very serious issues that the new leader of Canada will need to negotiate over with Mr. Trump. And yes, potentially being ideological cousins could be an advantage for Mr. Polievre if he is that leader. But it's not a foregone conclusion that the two men would see eye to eye. It would be a new relationship that would have to be built up and tested.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Mattina, just reflecting on the larger story you've been telling us, and you alluded to this earlier, the fact that there has been this larger anti incumbency movement across the globe, specifically against liberal incumbents in many countries. You have this mix of anti immigrant sentiment and economic frustrations that have really spelled trouble for progressive political parties. And I'm wondering what you think the fall of Trudeau signifies for the world.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

I mean, Natalie, I think first of all, the end of the Trudeau era here in Canada certainly fits that trend that you've described, the rise of voters against incumbents, particularly liberal governments that were in power during the pandemic. People around the world, we've seen it in the United States and in Europe, have become deeply disenchanted with the way progressive politicians manage the economic fallout as well as other elements and facets of their lives in the course of the last few years and are just voting them out one by one. And Justin Trudeau certainly fits that pattern. And I think there is a sort of, you know, poetry to it. Not to be all romantic in a tragic way, but, you know, this is an era of the growing popularity of progressive politics, the vision and the hope and the dream around it that Trudeau was an icon for. And that era is very clearly coming to an end, a crushing end. And it almost feels inevitable that with it, Trudeau's career would also end and mark a sort of bookend to that period of progressive politics. And what will come next for centrist or center left political parties in the developed world is up for debate. But whatever Justin Trudeau stood for as a symbol in the past, I think we can safely say that that's.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Mattina. Thank you so much.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Thank you, Natalie.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

We'll be right back.

[Narrator]

This podcast is supported by Focus Features presenting Conclave for your awards consideration. Brilliantly directed by Edward Berger, Deadline Rave's Conclave is a stunning cinematic achievement. And now Conclave has received 11 Critics Choice Awards nomin including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor and six Golden Globe Awards nominations, including Best Picture. With its astonishing performances from Ralph Fine, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, Conclave is impeccably crafted and a masterclass in classic filmmaking. This year, your choice changes everything. Conclave in theaters now.

[Lori Leibovich]

This episode is supported by Wealthfront. Your cash could earn 4% APY from partner banks until the moment you need it, with free instant withdrawals to eligible accounts every day. Go to wealthfront.comthedaily for a free $50 bonus with a $500 deposit when you open your first cash account. That's wealthfront.comthedaily this has been a paid ad from Wealthfront Cash account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage, LLC member FINRA SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage isn't a bank. The APY on cash deposits as of 12-27-2024 is representative, subject to change and requires no minimum. Funds in the cash account are swept to partner banks where they earn a variable apy you're taking a late afternoon scroll from outfits to sports high to wedding pics. A New York Times cooking post stops you in your tracks. The most delectable ragu dish you've ever seen. Sadly, life gets in the way. The grocery lines, the cars, in the shop that show is on, but on the recipe you see a button that changes everything. Shop ingredients on Instacart music to your taste buds. Get ingredients delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Learn more at.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Here's what else you should know today.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Canada and the United States. That would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like and it would also be much better for national security. Don't forget we basically protect Canada in.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

An hour long news conference from Mar a Lago on Tuesday, President elect Donald Trump repeated his threats to take control of Canada and said he told hockey legend Wayne Gretzky to vie for the prime ministership.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

Canada is subsidized to the tune of.

[Justin Trudeau]

About $200 billion a year, plus other things.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Trump criticized Canada, saying it should become a US State because of the financial support the United States provides the country. Can you assure the world that as.

[Matina Steves Gridneff]

You try to get control of these areas, you are not going to use military or economic coercion?

[Justin Trudeau]

No.

[Natalie Kitroeff]

Can you tell us? Trump also refused to rule out using military force to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and to retake the Panama canal, which the US ceded to Panama by treaty in the late 1990s. The president elect threatened to, quote, tariff Denmark at a very high level if it doesn't give Greenland to the US Firing back. Justin Trudeau said there, quote, isn't a snowball's chance in hell of joining Canada in the U.S. danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Greenland's prime minister was very clear that, quote, Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future. And the Panamanian foreign minister said, quote, the canal belongs to the Panamanians and it will continue to be that way. And a wildfire broke out in Southern California on Tuesday morning and rapidly grew in intensity. The blaze destroyed homes and forced tens of thousands of residents to flee. By Tuesday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. As the wildfire continued to rage, officials warned that the worst was yet to come. Today's episode was produced by Carlos Prieto Diana Wynne and Michael Simon Johnson. It was edited by Maria Byrne and Devin Taylor. Fact Checked by Susan Lee contains original music by Marion Lozano, Diane Wong and Elisheba Itup and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly. That's it for the Daily I'm Natalie Kitroeff. See you tomorrow.

[Narrator]

John Grisham explores the dark side of the criminal justice system in his number one New York Times bestseller written with innocence advocate Jim McCloskey, 10 True Stories of Innocent People Framed for Murder. In Framed, you'll be astonished as you witness the incompetence, racism and corruption that all play a part in the miscarriage of justice. And you'll be inspired as you witness these wrongfully convicted people fight for freedom against all odds. Read Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey in stores now. Also available as an audiobook.