In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 24th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a plug for their ongoing fundraiser. Day three is off to a great start, but we haven't hit our target yet. If you can help us out, please go here. Every dollar counts. The Line accepts no bailouts and no subsidies, and competes against much larger outlets that have gladly (or even reluctantly) taken the government money. We need your help to compete. Please give what you can by going to Donorbox.org/hold-the-line-928062.

Having gotten the telethon out of the way, for the rest of the segment, they run through the latest developments in the Canada–U.S. trade dispute. Jen wonders why there’s suddenly so much activity, and Matt offers a surprisingly mundane answer: we’re running out of time before the deal runs out. They assess the credibility of both sides in the negotiations and, in a move that may frustrate some listeners, also take a look at comments made by Pierre Poilievre this week. Jen suggests he's living in a fantasy, and Matt explains what he thinks he's doing when he attacks Mark Carney for not wanting a deal. Matt broadens the lens to include the opposition in the United States as well, and warns that if Canada’s strategy is simply to rag the puck until the midterms, it may be time to rethink the plan. The Democrats may be more predictable, but they're not necessarily going to be much friendlier on the trade front. Trump, and MAGA, have moved the needle on that one. Probably for a generation.

Next, Jen discusses her latest column, which leads to a longer conversation about Canadian complacency and the difficulty of reforming a country that places such a high premium on avoiding hurt feelings. Matt notes that her argument aligns closely not only with his recent writing on the collapse of Canadian accountability, but also with something he wrote years ago — a piece about expectations, and how they can be a problem.

They wrap up with a quick, and somewhat frustrated, update from their respective home provinces. As Matt puts it, we’re not sending our best.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. And if you like what you heard, don't forget to go to Donorbox.org/hold-the-line-928062 to help us hold the line.

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