Off the Hill: Analyzing the NDP leadership race
rabble radio
The NDP will pick their new leader at the end of March. rabble’s Off the Hill political panel took a look at the race and broke down the major issues, endorsements, and events of the campaign so far. This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was ‘Analyzing the NDP leadership race.’ Our panel featured Libby Davies, Judy Rebick, James Adair and Karl Nerenberg. About our guests Libby Davies is a former NDP deputy leader and former co-host of Off the Hill. Davies has expressed her support for Avi Lewis in...
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Best of rabble radio 2025
rabble radio
It has been a very eventful year in Canada, to put it simply. As rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian noted on last week’s show, Canadian politics went through one of its most dramatic periods in recent memory—including a federal election that reshaped the national conversation. And politics were only part of the picture. Environmental challenges, major labour actions, and Canada’s shifting role on the international stage all kept the news cycle moving. Throughout it all, rabble’s reporters and freelance writers worked to make sense of these developments on our site...
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Reviewing 2025: A mercurial year in Canadian politics
rabble radio
This week on rabble radio, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and rabble editor Nick Seebruch discuss the major news in Canadian politics of 2025; including the resignation of Justin Trudeau, to now-Prime Minister Mark Carney—and his first months as leader, his budget and pipeline plans; the NDP leadership race; and more. This marks our final interview of the year! Next week on the show, we’ll feature a collection of our favourite interviews of 2025 in the yearly fashion of the “best of rabble radio” episode. Tune in next week to see if your favourite interview made the...
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Examining the federal government’s 2.7 billion in cuts to foreign aid
rabble radio
In its newly tabled budget, the federal government announced that over the course of four years there would be a $2.7 billion reduction in international assistance. in her November 13th piece on rabble.ca, this announcement has drawn the ire of NGOs who warn it could cause long-term, irreversible harm leaving vulnerable communities without essential medical care, food, and protection at a time when global needs have dramatically risen. This week on rabble radio, we tune in to her conversation with the director of policy and advocacy with Cooperation Canada, Paul Farran. Cooperation...
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Support for the NDP is declining. What can be done?
rabble radio
The New Democratic Party of Canada is currently looking for its new leader after the resignation of Jagmeet Singh and a colossal decline in support in the most recent federal election. It seems the NDP’s reduced support stems from competition with the Liberals, strategic voting, demographic shifts, and difficulties uniting diverse voter groups across Canada. The new leader of the NDP must unite the party’s diverse voter groups, rebuild national support and clearly differentiate the NDP’s vision from its rivals. But how can this be done? rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and...
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Family law in Canada: What it gets right and where it fails
rabble radio
Content warning: This interview centers around domestic violence. Please listen with care and sensitivity. Family and child protection lawyer Bobbi Olsen joins rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian to talk about the legal systems in Canada which handle issues of domestic and family violence. The two explore what is working and what needs to be improved. About our guest Bobbi Olsen is a dual-call (Ontario and Alberta) high conflict family and child protection lawyer who has practiced in Toronto for many years, and now practices with MD Law Group in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to her LL.B.,...
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Considering sectoral bargaining in Canada
rabble radio
This week on rabble radio, we’re looking at how unions and employers bargain in Canada and whether it’s time for a new approach. Right now, most unions negotiate with one employer at a time, which can make it tough to raise standards across an industry. Some experts are calling for sectoral bargaining which may help create fairer pay and conditions for everyone. Today on the show, we’re joined by Dr. Adam King, assistant professor in Labour Studies at the University of Manitoba, to talk about what a move toward sectoral bargaining could mean for workers and the future...
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Carney’s 'generational' budget falls short of expectations
rabble radio
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney shared Budget 2025: a budget that Carney says is “to build Canada strong.” The budget emphasized the importance of investing over spending—but what does that really mean? Here to break it down is economist Jim Stanford. About our guest Jim Stanford is economist and director of the Centre for Future Work, a progressive labour economics institute based in Vancouver. He has a PhD in economics from the New School for Social Research in New York, and also holds economics degrees from Cambridge University and the University of Calgary. He is...
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Reviewing Muslim representation in Canadian media
rabble radio
It’s Islamic History Month in Canada; and this week on the show, we’re joined by Sadaf Ahsan and Sarah Sahagian to discuss Muslim representation in Canadian pop culture. In this conversation, the two explore common trends and stereotypes surrounding Muslim characters in the media, discuss the figures who are offering more nuanced and multifaceted representations, and share some of their favourite books, musicians, television shows and films that showcase Muslim talent. About our guest Sadaf Ahsan is the senior editor at 3 Magazine, co-host of Frequency Podcasts’ The Reheat, columnist at...
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What are the priorities in these early days of the NDP leadership race?
rabble radio
The New Democratic Party of Canada will select its next leader at the Winnipeg Convention in March next year. As of now, there are five officially approved candidates seeking the leadership of Canada’s NDP. They are: Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and Tony McQuail. This week on rabble radio, rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian sit down to discuss the federal NDP leadership race. The two weigh in on the “insiders” and “outsiders” of the race, the concept of political “purity tests” and the importance of English-French...
info_outlineContent Warning: This interview includes personal accounts of homophobia and experiences of violence. Please listen with care and sensitivity.
It’s Pride Month, and while advocating for queer and trans rights is a year-round commitment, this June feels especially urgent. Countries once considered relatively safe—like the UK and the US—are rolling back protections and adopting increasingly hostile policies.
And in many parts of the world, same-sex relationships are criminalized, people who defy gender norms face punishment, and simply living authentically can put someone’s life at risk.
An organization that works to protect queer and trans lives globally is Rainbow Railroad.
In 2023 alone, Rainbow Railroad received more than 15,000 pleas for help from LGBTQI+ individuals facing life-threatening danger. While not everyone can be relocated, the organization works with global partners to get those at risk to safety.
This week on the show, we’re joined by: Devon Matthews, the head of programs at Rainbow Railroad to discuss the important work the organization is doing to support 2SLGBTQIA folks across the globe; and also Rahma Esslouani, a newcomer to Canada originally from Morocco.
Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. Based in the United States and Canada, they are an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a time when there are more displaced people than ever, LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or prevent them from escaping harm.
About our guests
Devon Matthews (she/they) is the Head of Programs at Rainbow Railroad, where they lead global initiatives to support LGBTQI+ individuals facing persecution. Since joining the organization in 2018, Devon has led the organization through numerous major international emergency responses, helping to deliver life-saving support to thousands of queer and trans people at risk. She holds a BA (Hons.) from Dalhousie University and an MA at the University of London under the Refugee Law Initiative.
Rahma Esslouani is a newcomer who relocated to Toronto, Canada, from Morocco via Turkey.
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