The Strategists

Canada’s sharpest political insiders break down power, strategy, and the people who actually run the country.

Public episode
Episode 1293: Julienne fries
March 19, 2024
The gang assemble to talk about Pierre Poilievre's t-shirt choice, plus other matters of slightly more substance.Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the growing opposition...
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Episode 1292: Stephen and Corey present Carter and Hogan in “Purple Reign”
March 15, 2024
After four minutes of getting their concerns with the Nenshi candidacy for Alberta NDP leader out of their system, Stephen and Corey buckle down and do the strategy work:...
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Episode 1291: The Royal We
March 13, 2024
The gang get together to discuss the purple elephant in the room.Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Kate Middleton, institutional communications and crisis management at...
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Episode 1290: Cold water
March 8, 2024
The gang discuss Stephen's new purchase and Zain's junk drawer, with a healthy dose of strategy in between.PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss Biden,...
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You The People Article 4: Super Tuesday Preview Show
March 7, 2024
Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan talk two Trump-friendly decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, Super Tuesday, the state of polling and what the actuarial tables say about being 81...
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Episode 1289: Sell me this budget
March 4, 2024
Zain. Stephen and Corey get together to talk about the Durham by-election, the Alberta Budget and how two out of three of them had brunch yesterday.Corey Hogan and Stephen...
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Episode 1288: Immaculate contraception
February 26, 2024
Zain Velji has an existential crisis. Stephen Carter has an upcoming nap. In between, the gang talk religious or cultural groups wielding their political power, national...
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Episode 1287: Hard outs
February 23, 2024
[AUDIO FIXED] The gang assemble on a Friday morning, bringing that Friday morning Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen energy. Various businesses in Sherwood Park guest star.PATREON...
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Episode 1286: The only poll that counts
February 20, 2024
The Liberal Party of Canada and PMO's former pollster, Dan Arnold, joins the gang to go over the results of an exclusive poll on the state of the Alberta NDP leadership race....
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Episode 1285: Flag Day Special
February 16, 2024
Every year after Valentine's Day the gang get together for the traditional "Love/Bug" segment. This year, of course, is no different.PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen...
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You The People Article 3: Useful idiots
February 14, 2024
PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan talk Tucker Carlson's Russian vacation, Donald Trump's NATO desertion, Nevada pronunciation and legal tribulation. Join us at...
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Episode 1284: Tattoos and email services
February 12, 2024
The gang assemble on Superbowl Sunday to talk about the big game, which is of course the Alberta NDP leadership launch week. Launch strategies, "air war vs ground war" and more...
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You The People Article 2: Abandon all hope, ye who podcast
February 7, 2024
Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan return to discuss the South Carolina Primary, the law applying to Presidents and an overly compliant Congress. Join them on a thirty-minute...
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Episode 1283: You don't pick your family
February 5, 2024
Are political staff and advisors fair game? Should they be? And how did Stephen Carter get into such a flow state of strategic advice? This and more, tonight.Corey Hogan and...
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Episode 1282: Three rooms
February 2, 2024
Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the new Alberta transgender youth policies through the lens of three groups: Alberta NDP leadership hopefuls, Take Back Alberta and a...
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Episode 1281: "Appointment" Viewing
January 29, 2024
It's the return of "Fine, Fabulous, or F--ked"! The gang unpack strategy. Zain learns how to use quotes.Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the role of strategy in getting a...
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Episode 1280: Rules for rules
January 23, 2024
Using the Alberta NDP contest as a launching off point, the gang discusses how leadership rules are formed - and what leadership camps can and should do to shape them.Corey...
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You The People Article 1: The Iowa Caucasus
January 17, 2024
The podcast-within-a-podcast, You The People, returns for a second season. We start, like all good American elections, with the Iowa Caucus and how it leads into New Hampshire....
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Episode 1279: Sit there and be sad
January 15, 2024
It continues to be too damn cold in Alberta. The gang react to - and discuss the politics of - a text they and their fellow Albertans got asking them to conserve power on...
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Episode 1278: Another Hour on the Alberta NDP Leadership Race
January 12, 2024
PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss a "Let Me Introduce Myself" video from Alberta NDP leadership hopeful Kathleen Ganley to discuss the strategic...
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Episode 1277: Holiday Spectacular
January 8, 2024
Break out the Karavaki and dress up in your finest sweaters and scarves because it's time again for The Strategists to unpack the year that was in their annual Holiday...
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Episode 1276: Canned lines
December 22, 2023
New Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie described attack ads aimed at her as showing a "lack of civility". She also claimed she hadn't seen them. Zain demands to know: why do...
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Episode 1275: Two Hours on the Alberta NDP Leadership Race
December 18, 2023
A column by CBC's Jason Markusoff on what to expect from an Alberta NDP Leadership Race becomes all that Zain, Stephen and Corey need to give every opinion they have on the...
Public episode
Episode 1274: Good COP, Bad COP
December 15, 2023
Stephen returns full of stories and hot takes.PATREON EXCLUSIVE. Corey Hogan and Stephen Carter discuss the value of Op-Eds in 2023, COP28 ending with a call to transition away...