With Jen Gerson off this week, Matt Gurney is joined by Line contributor, columnist, author, and McGill professor Andrew Potter for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of Canadian politics — and the unsettling sense that very few people seem to be taking things seriously.
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They start at the federal level, where neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives appear especially motivated to do much of anything. There’s drift, inertia, and a general absence of urgency on all sides. Potter explains why he thought Matt was being too hard on Carney in his latest column, but is now starting to change his mind. They also talk about belated signs of life from the CPC, but only in very tiny little blips. It’s August, yes — but still.
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Things aren’t much better in the provinces. The same political stagnation seems to be seeping through every level of government, and Andrew shares a particularly sharp metaphor for how things get — or don’t get — done in this country. The guys also discuss a new Quebec survey that ought to be triggering national alarm bells. It isn’t. Because it’s August. And no one’s paying attention.
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In the final segment, a shift in tone as Matt and Andrew unpack new data out of the U.S. on how young adults are faring — and the picture isn’t pretty. Rising rates of dysfunction, isolation, and distress suggest something deeper is going wrong. They’re careful not to bash an entire generation (that's Jen's job), but the numbers point to a growing generational divide with serious long-term implications. The solution probably involves all of us putting down our phones.
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The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: lineeditor@protonmail.com.
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