Serious political discourse for the rest of us.

The Backbench

Hosted by Mattea Roach

Your Twitter feed is a dumpster fire, and dinner table discussions aren’t exactly what they used to be. That’s why in 2024, The Backbench is going to bring the issues that matter into focus — and have fun doing it.

With the next federal election looming, host Mattea Roach (Jeopardy! Super Champion) and featured guests will help you make sense of Canadian politics with a mix of engaging, myth-busting, rug-pulling analysis and personal stories straight from the mouths of those caught in the crosshairs.

Latest Episodes Most Popular

#85 The Hate U Post

Richard Warman used to take neo-nazis he found online to the human rights commission. He used an obscure provision called Section 13, which was repealed in 2014. 
March 12, 2024

#84 Failing Universities 101

Canadian universities are barely scraping by. Queen’s is in a whole lot of debt, Laurentian declared insolvency in 2021, Alberta universities are slashing budgets, and McGill and Concordia are in danger over an out-of-province tuition battle.
February 27, 2024

#83 Why Are Conservatives Obsessed With Trans People?

Alberta Premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith has unveiled what many are describing as some of the strictest anti-trans policies in the country.
February 13, 2024

#82 Could Canada Be Complicit in a ‘Plausible Genocide’?

The ICJ court ruled that Palestinians in Gaza face a “real and imminent risk” of genocide, and laid out the provisional measures Israel must take in order to prevent it.
January 30, 2024

#81 Selling Sunset, Buying Stress

How the hell do we get out of this crisis while still being able to sip on our $5 coffees? 
January 16, 2024

#80 2023 Was the Year of Political Nonsense

This year has been one hell of a political rollercoaster.
December 26, 2023

#79 The Food Bank Industrial Complex

We’re bringing you a special episode from the Canadaland feed.  
December 12, 2023

#78 Roots of Tension in Canada’s Israel-Palestine Discourse

In Canada, the political discourse on the news coming out of Israel and Palestine has given Backbench host, Mattea Roach, some “serious whiplash.”
November 28, 2023
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