# Elbows…up? Looking back at Canadian politics in 2025 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa0FhzCu_dE Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Fa0FhzCu_dE Generated: 2025-12-19T21:34:49.811+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The Breach Show hosts review the political landscape at the end of 2024, concluding that while Justin Trudeau's political maneuvering protected him from immediate downfall despite scandals like the Blackface incidents and the handling of the Trans Mountain pipeline, his party (LPC) has been weakened, potentially setting up a major political shift or reckoning for the Liberals in the upcoming 2025 election, especially given the rise of conservative/populist sentiment and the NDP's strategic positioning. **Key Points:** - The discussion centers on Canadian politics at the end of 2024, specifically analyzing Justin Trudeau's political standing despite past controversies like the Blackface incidents and the Trans Mountain pipeline. - Martin Lukacs predicts that Trudeau's government will face a reckoning in the 2025 election due to populist sentiment and the perceived failure of the Liberals to address economic issues like the cost of living. - El Jones notes that while Trudeau survived the Blackface scandal, his party's actions (like supporting the Trans Mountain pipeline) alienated potential progressive support, leading to a shift toward the right or simply disengagement. - The hosts discuss the ongoing legal scrutiny of Canadian corporations using AI tools to track/influence Indigenous communities and the failure of the media to cover these issues sufficiently. - The hosts reflect on the NDP's role, noting that while they are far from the Liberals in seats (LPC at 22 vs NDP at 0 in the graphic), they are poised to benefit from Liberal weakness. - Desmond Cole mentions giving away Breach Show tote bags for yearly donations of $100 to support transformative journalism. - The conversation concludes with a prediction that Trudeau's recent political maneuvers, though successful in the short term, have created a precarious political situation for the Liberals heading into 2025. ![Screenshot at 00:06: Host Desmond Cole introduces the segment of The Breach Show, featuring himself, El Jones, and Martin Lukacs, to reflect on Canadian politics at year's end.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-00-06.png) **Context:** The Breach Show hosts, Desmond Cole and El Jones, are joined by guest Martin Lukacs to review the political events of 2024 and look ahead to the 2025 Canadian federal election. The conversation focuses heavily on the perceived political weakness of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party (LPC) following various controversies, including the Blackface scandal, trade disputes with the US, and issues surrounding Indigenous rights and resource development like the Trans Mountain pipeline. ## Detailed Analysis The Breach Show hosts—Desmond Cole, El Jones, and Martin Lukacs—begin by reflecting on the year in Canadian politics, specifically focusing on Justin Trudeau's political survival despite numerous controversies. Desmond Cole reminds listeners about the Liberal Party's (LPC) current seat count (22 seats reported in the graphic at 09:14) compared to the NDP (0 seats), while Martin Lukacs suggests that Trudeau's political maneuvering, though currently keeping him in power, has relied on cynical tactics like the 'shock doctrine' rhetoric against opponents and courting corporate interests. El Jones points out that despite Trudeau's survival of the Blackface scandal, his actions, such as supporting the Trans Mountain pipeline and trade tariffs against the US, alienated progressive voters, leading to a palpable sense of disillusionment. Lukacs predicts that the cost-of-living crisis and the failure of the Liberals to address it will continue to harm them politically, potentially leading to a shift toward the NDP or a general disenchantment among the left base. Jones notes that while the NDP isn't close to winning yet (only 2 seats for the BQ are shown in the election graphic), the Liberals' weaknesses create an opening. The conversation touches on specific issues like the failure to gain ground on Indigenous issues or the Trans Mountain pipeline despite promises, and the media's complicity in covering up the extent of Trudeau's political missteps. The segment closes with Cole promoting a year-end fundraising campaign for The Breach, highlighting that their independent journalism is necessary because mainstream media often fails to critically cover these political realities. ### Year-End Political Review - The discussion reviews the political year, focusing on Justin Trudeau's survival despite scandals (Blackface, Trans Mountain pipeline) and his political style, which is characterized as cynical and courting corporate elites. ### NDP and Liberal Positioning - Martin Lukacs predicts that the NDP, despite low seat numbers (2 seats shown for BQ, 0 for NDP in graphic at 09:14), is well-positioned to gain from Liberal weakness and disillusionment among progressive voters. ### Key Controversies Discussed - Topics include Trudeau's handling of the Trans Mountain pipeline, the trade war with the US, the Blackface revelations, and the perceived failure of the Liberal government to improve cost-of-living issues for working-class Canadians. ### Media Complicity - Desmond Cole and El Jones criticize the Canadian media (specifically citing CBC) for running narratives that favor the Liberals, such as downplaying the seriousness of Trudeau's actions or ignoring the difficulties faced by Indigenous communities. ### Activist Organizing - El Jones highlights positive organizational victories, such as successful union strikes and activism supporting Palestinian rights, as crucial counterpoints to the political narrative. ### Fundraising Appeal - Desmond Cole concludes by asking listeners to support The Breach with yearly donations ($100 tote bag promotion) to fund investigative journalism that holds power accountable. ![Screenshot at 00:01: Opening title card for "The Breach Show" with a stylized logo featuring a leaping whale.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-00-01.png) ![Screenshot at 00:07: Host Desmond Cole introduces the show segment, sitting in front of a bookshelf, wearing headphones.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-00-07.png) ![Screenshot at 00:47: The panel is introduced, showing El Jones \(Poet and Activist\) joining Desmond Cole, with Martin Lukacs appearing shortly after.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-00-47.png) ![Screenshot at 00:52: A real-time election graphic is displayed showing party seat counts: CPC 10, NDP 0, BQ 2, LPC 22, GP 0, with 61.84% of polls reporting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-00-52.png) ![Screenshot at 01:12: Desmond Cole appeals to listeners to sign up for a yearly donation of $100 to support transformative journalism and receive a tote bag.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fa0FhzCu_dE/00-01-12.png)