
Carney looks east, Trump looks north | Paul Wells
15/01/2026 | 23 mins.
As Mark Carney heads to China and Donald Trump talks tough about Greenland, Canada’s place in a shifting world order feels constantly fragile. Veteran columnist Paul Wells and POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent Phelim Kine join Playbook Canada to unpack what’s at stake — and how closely Washington and Beijing are watching. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Phelim Kine is POLITICO’s China and Indo-Pacific affairs correspondent Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Pipelines 'north, south, east and west' | Danielle Smith
18/12/2025 | 25 mins.
Another floor-crosser brings Mark Carney within one vote of a majority, leaving Pierre Poilievre scrambling for a defense as questions mount about his grip on the Conservative caucus. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins the Playbook Canada podcast to talk pipelines “north, south, east and west” and her relationship with Carney and the broader Conservative moment. Plus, Mickey shares details from a rare interview with Kevin Brosseau, Carney’s fentanyl czar, on what Trump gets right about fentanyl and how Ottawa is responding. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Trump’s man in Ottawa takes questions | Pete Hoekstra
11/12/2025 | 22 mins.
Parliament may be heading into winter break, but a wave of ambassadorial openings in Washington, London and Brussels could upend the fragile political math for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government. Nick and Mickey also track Steven Guilbeault’s decision to break with Liberal policy — while sticking around as a Liberal MP; the Conservatives’ recent momentum; and interview U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Marc Miller tests Carney’s rules | R.J. Simpson
04/12/2025 | 22 mins.
Mark Carney battles pipeline fallout and adds a new and potentially disruptive face to his Cabinet: Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller. Then, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson joins the Playbook Canada podcast. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.

Will Ottawa and Alberta call a truce? | Ryan Jespersen
27/11/2025 | 25 mins.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have come up with an energy deal that could reshape the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa. Playbook’s Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric break down what’s really driving their tentative alliance — and whether it marks the dawn of a new era in Canadian politics. Meanwhile, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has brought in Steve Outhouse to replace longtime campaign chief Jenni Byrne, raising fresh questions about the direction Poilievre is headed next. And political analyst and podcast virtuoso Ryan Jespersen joins for a 200-second interview. Nick Taylor-Vaisey is POLITICO’s Ottawa bureau chief and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Mickey Djuric is a reporter and co-author of POLITICO’s Canada Playbook newsletter Alex Keeney is Playbook Canada's executive producer Steve Bone composed the music used in Playbook Canada.



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