The Line

The Line

Share this post

The Line
The Line
Matt Gurney: In New York, the prime minister finds a safe space
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Matt Gurney: In New York, the prime minister finds a safe space

A U.S. talk show is a place where the PM still gets credit for what he says, and not what he's done — and left undone.

Matt Gurney's avatar
Matt Gurney
Sep 24, 2024
∙ Paid
149

Share this post

The Line
The Line
Matt Gurney: In New York, the prime minister finds a safe space
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
95
2
Share

By: Matt Gurney

I originally didn’t plan to write about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I didn’t even tweet about it. And I didn’t really want to say anything about it because I don’t think it matters. Big fans of the prime minister might get excited about him appearing on a high-profile stage. Detractors will roll their eyes at yet more evidence that Trudeau loves the sound of his own voice. To me, the whole thing was a nothingburger. I don’t expect it to move a single vote in this country. And I think, in terms of analyzing our politics these days, that’s about all that matters.

So yeah, I didn’t stay up to watch it. I had no intention of watching it. And then a funny thing happened. I ended up watching it. Blame my son's early morning hockey schedule. Sitting in a freezing Toronto rink at oh-my-god-o’clock and with little to do, I ended up watching the thing on my phone.

And I still don’t think it matters politically. But something did occur to me. And in terms of understanding our prime minister’s state of mind, maybe it’s worth reflecting on for a moment.

Is New York one of the last places left where the PM gets to enjoy the good-old sunny ways days, where people still cheer him on and he gets full credit for his words, with little focus on his actions?

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Line Editor
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More