The Curious Task

In this episode, Matt speaks with Sean Speer about the rise of the so-called “New Right” and the growing tension between conservatism and classical liberalism. Speer defends a fusionist vision rooted in ordered liberty, pluralism, and institutional restraint, arguing that attempts to use state power to impose cultural outcomes misunderstand how culture actually evolves. Together, they explore elite anxiety, civil society, immigration, and why liberal means remain essential even for those with conservative ends. References Sean's author page at The Hub: https://thehub.ca/author/seanspeer/  What Is Conservatism? — edited by Frank S. Meyer https://a.co/d/5suzcP4  The Road to Serfdom — F. A. Hayek https://a.co/d/evGqw3L  The Crooked Timber of Humanity — Isaiah Berlin https://a.co/d/4PuAvLB  Bourgeois Dignity / Bourgeois Equality — Deirdre McCloskey https://a.co/d/8B7qlQV  The Anywhere vs Somewhere Divide — David Goodhart (interview) https://www.commonplace.org/p/somewheres-and-anywheres-with-david  --- Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask 

In this episode, Alex speaks with Abraham Singer about his book Everyone’s Business, exploring why businesses and other private organizations should be understood not only as economic entities but as political communities that shape power, responsibility, and moral life. Singer explains how firms structure our choices, why classical liberals must take internal organizational governance more seriously, and what it means to treat workplaces as sites of real political and ethical significance. References Everyone’s Business: Toward a New Understanding of How Organizations Shape Our Lives - Abraham Singer https://a.co/d/iz5yWEU  “The Form Of The Firm” - Abraham Singer https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-form-of-the-firm-9780197586860?cc=ca&lang=en&  Abraham's Scholarly Articles https://abrahamsinger.weebly.com/research.html  “The Political Nature of the Firm and the Cost of Norms” - Abraham Singer https://www.jstor.org/stable/26550924  Private Government - Elizabeth Anderson https://a.co/d/gNrwGK2  The Nature of the Firm - Ronald Coase https://www.jstor.org/stable/2626876  --- Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask 

In this episode, Alex speaks with constitutional scholar Leonid Sirota about the notwithstanding clause—what it does, how it functions within Canada’s constitutional architecture, and why its routine use undermines the very rights the Charter is meant to protect. Drawing on arguments from his National Post piece and earlier writing, Sirota explains why Section 33 was intended as an exceptional political safeguard, not a convenient escape hatch for governments, and why treating it as a routine tool erodes constitutionalism, weakens judicial oversight, and shifts the balance of power away from individuals and toward the state. References Leonid Sirota, “Yes, the notwithstanding clause overrides rights. No, it isn’t defensible.” — National Post https://nationalpost.com/opinion/leonid-sirota-yes-the-notwithstanding-clause-overrides-rights-no-it-isnt-defensible “The Case Against the Notwithstanding Clause” — Leonid Sirota (Double Aspect) https://doubleaspect.blog/2018/10/04/the-case-against-the-notwithstanding-clause/ “Notwithstanding Myths” — Leonid Sirota (Double Aspect) https://doubleaspect.blog/2025/11/10/notwithstanding-myths/  Peter W. Hogg, Constitutional Law of Canada  https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/faculty_books/219/  The Constitution Act, 1982 (Section 33 — the Notwithstanding Clause) https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art33.html  Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

In this episode, Matt interviews Karen Restoule on the challenge of Indigenous reconciliation in Canada. Restoule stresses that true reconciliation must begin by re-embracing the vision of coexistence enshrined in early agreements such as the Treaty of Niagara — a relationship based on mutual respect and shared sovereignty — and not merely through state apologies or symbolic gestures. References Karen Restoule: Reconciliation requires looking back to move forward — The Hub (2025) https://thehub.ca/2025/09/30/karen-restoule-reconciliation-requires-looking-back-to-move-forward/ Karen Restoule — profile and bio (Macdonald-Laurier Institute) https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/cm-expert/karen-restoule/ “’The best is yet to come’ for Indigenous peoples: Karen Restoule on why reconciliation is a tangible goal and not a romantic notion” — Hub Dialogues (podcast) https://thehub.ca/podcast/audio/karen-restoule-on-why-reconciliation-is-a-tangible-goal-and-not-a-romantic-notion/ “An Overview of the Indian Residential School System” — Union of Ontario Indians / research compiled by Karen Restoule (PDF) https://www.anishinabek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/An-Overview-of-the-IRS-System-Booklet.pdf Reconciliation Canada — about the non-profit working on reconciliation history & public awareness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_Canada “The Baroness von Sketch Show” — sketch series (mentioned in episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlG17C19nYo Karen’s social media post with the map referred to in the episode: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7394536450693718016/ Amber Midthunder’s guest appearance on Reservation Dogs (mentioned in episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8UpKVImNcU Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

In this episode, Matt digs into modern Hungarian politics with Zoltan Kesz, exploring how Viktor Orbán evolved from a young liberal reformer into an illiberal, Putin-aligned strongman presiding over a reactionary kleptocracy. Zoltan breaks down how Orbán consolidated power, manipulated institutions, reshaped the media, and abandoned liberalism while Hungary’s economy and democratic norms declined. References: Zoltan at LibertyCon: https://libertycon.net/speaker/zoltan-kesz/  Zoltan at Emerging Europe: https://emerging-europe.com/author/zoltan-kesz/  BBC's Analysis of Viktor Orban: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67832416  "How Viktor Orban Wins" at Journal of Democracy: https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how-viktor-orban-wins/  --  Thanks to our supporters—including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask