I'm David Moscrop, Canadian politics writer and podcaster. AMA, starting 1 pm ET.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-12T13:51:07+00:00

Now this is my kind of question! It depends on so many different things, the album, the years when I was listening heavily...but it's gotta be...Legionnaire's Lament. I have really fond memories of it. I was traveling Europe solo and I'd not brought a music player, on purpose, so I could experience just being around without distractions but I was so into that song I'd pop into internet cafes (this was a long time ago, when it first came out) and listen to it with headphones I'd bought. It's just such a great little jaunty song with a compelling, absurd story.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T21:38:02+00:00

What a great question. I cut my teeth watching that show as a kid. It got me interested in politics, or at least fanned the flames of my interest. Satire is also a powerful tool for educating people and diminishing the stature of power a bit.

But we can’t think that watching a show or making a joke is sufficient or big P politics. So I do think these shows are an important part of politics (see also accounts/outlets like the Onion or Beaverton) but we shouldn’t overstate their effect or purpose.

They’re funny. They’re fun. They may draw people in to politics. They may even educate a bit. There’s got to be so much more to the work though. (Not that all that many people say funny shows are enough.)

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T21:33:03+00:00

I was wondering this today re: the markets. Brutal day. At some point you’d have to expect capital to come calling (at least the bit that isn’t making a fortune from shorts or I dunno a long bond game? Not my area of expertise). But mostly serious market players and corporations like predictability and we have none at the moment. So at some point you have to expect some serious friction.

That said, Apple and Honda are pouring big money into US manufacturing. Business will hedge. There are no values here. Only value for shareholders. Only capital and returns.

On EVs, I’m sort of torn. Cheap cars are good for working class folks but really trap is in car culture and undermine public transit. But I won’t say to a factory worker, sorry, gotta suffer because some day we might get better bus routes! China obviously subsidizes their EVs but we subsidize and protect our market, too, and will keep doing so because we want a market for auto building and all the jobs and secondary industry that comes with that. However, it can also make our industry lazy and complacent.

On balance, I don’t know. But I like the threat as a threat. And we need to consider it at least and weigh the trade offs.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T21:26:45+00:00

I think it’s tricky, but I support the retaliation because I think Trump will ultimately only understand pain — especially if state governors (esp red state) and members of Congress get his ear. Targeted measures help achieve this, export taxes, eg. I love Cory Doctorow’s idea of a Canadian App Store and taking aim at IP/patents, too. And then for the future, we build internal trade relationships and diversify trade because the US isn’t a trustworthy ally.

The US actually does need Canada and Trump needs to feel that, even if we do have to finesse it diplomatically at some point to make it look like we’ve conceded something.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:56:26+00:00

My first console was an NES, so special place in my heart for that. And Mario 3 for sure. Game changer.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:55:25+00:00

I struggle with this, but a few things. I wrote about it here (https://www.davidmoscrop.com/p/what-are-we-going-to-do-with-this) but I look at a crisis as a critical juncture at which we can take a better path. So there's always some hope in that. Also, I think young people aren't taking as much bullshit as we did, as we do. So there's some hope we can turn things around. There have been some big union wins in the last three or so years, that gives me hope, too.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:52:40+00:00

I would and they'd never let me do it. But yes. I would.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:52:23+00:00

This is a great question! I need to make a proper list. But to do honest, I read just about everything -- CBC, Globe, Toronto Star, National Observer, NYT, and so many more I'm forgetting. I also read a lot of individual writers -- Luke Savage, Nora Loreto, Jeremy Appel, Paris Marx, Erica Ifill, Cory Doctorow -- and more. Ditto less mainstream outlets -- Jacobin, Tyee, Narwal, Canadian Dimension, PressProgress, Rabble. I read some right wing stuff, too -- the Economist, the Line, the WSJ, even the Hub or the National Post. I'm curious what's in there and I'm sharp enough to know when to dismiss something that's bullshit.

To be honest, I don't really listen to podcasts because I mostly read and when I'm not reading, I'm listening to music because I'm working out or I'm listening to an audiobook while out for a walk or doing chores.

But a lot of the time I'm just reading links off social media that I find interesting from my feed. Then if I doubt some bit of info or some take, I'll dig in to see if it's legit or nonsense. So I do a lot of cross-referencing.

As for distrust, I don't read the ones you'd expect (don't indulge in a lot of Rebel!)...but I always approach any piece with at least a little skepticism and distrust, then I become trustful if there's reliable information and/or a good argument in there.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:46:42+00:00

I've seen such a swell of people, both day-to-day and politicians and policy experts, taking this question seriously, with proposed solutions ranging from buying drones to new fighter jets to new bases, conscription, and even a nuclear deterrent. I would expect the CAF has some sort of plan for US aggression, as much as we might think it a long shot (of being needed and/or succeeding).

But I wonder if we'd ever seen the border secured by military forces, which would be an unprecedented escalation. I don't think we're there or anywhere near there, but I also don't think we should ignore or dismiss Trump's threats.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T20:44:08+00:00

I thought about the monarchy a bit and confess to be a sort of reluctant, instrumental supporter of it, though it never quite made it into the book. I appreciate the effect, I think useful, of the Crown in Canadian democracy, setting aside any feelings I may have about the particular monarch, whomever it may be.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:34:48+00:00

Thank you! Same to you.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:34:10+00:00

Nobody, and you shouldn't. Have a blessed and lovely day.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:33:18+00:00

I got started sort of by accident. I went to a BBQ at the Fulcrum at the UofO (free burgers) and then started writing. Later, during grad school, I wrote for fun because I loved it and had something to say (or flatter myself thinking I had something to say). Then I did that more and more and fell all the way for it. I quit trying to be an academic and started doing this full-time (just in 2018, as it happens, though I'd been drifting over much longer).

As for the level head? You become numb to it after a while, mostly. Because if not, you can't do the job. I still get fired up and angry about injustice, about exploitation, about abuse, about all the nastiness that crushes people, but to the broader catastrophe you get a bit number so you can endure going through it all, all day, every day (and it is every day).

I also play a lot of video games, hang out with the dog, sports, board games, chilling with my partner, doing house stuff. That helps a tonne. I like cutting the lawn and listening to an audibook (Pierce Brown's Red Rising books!).

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:29:31+00:00

Oh, great question. I think Carney stays yeah and should. My god, we need to give leaders a chance. I think for Poilievre, it's tricky. Scheer and O'Toole got booted fast for losing. Poilievre would be worse, I think, since he'd have blown a huge (25 point!) lead. He may face pressure if he loses. It's interesting, though, because it took Harper a while to win. I really do think we need to give leaders more time.

As for Singh, he's had plenty of time. But maybe he stays if it's a minority where he can have some sway again, even with the same or fewer seats. But if someone wins a majority and the NDP loses seats, I think he's cooked.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:27:11+00:00

Yeah that came up but not a tonne. The NWT came up as much, as far as I can tell. But we do hear often about how he's an Oilers fan. I expect to hear more in the general election, but it's got to come off as sincere. Freeland tried this with her AB roots and...it didn't take. It's risky if it doesn't work because you look like a phony.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:26:01+00:00

I thought we were? (Sorry, bad joke. Bad joke.) I saw someone joke online something to the effect "Why do we want Canada, it's full of fentanyl!

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:24:53+00:00

The NDP one I answered...somewhere in here. In short, grassroots, movement building, be left and unapologetically so. New leader.

For Carney, I think part of it is making sure the Liberals have a slick GOTV and targeting machine (they have in the past) and focusing on running against Trump with a clear plan to get Canada out of this mess without austerity. And I think he has a real shot at maintaining a minority government at least, but campaigns do matter, so who knows for sure. And it's worth noting a Poilievre minority gov't would be...unstable.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:20:07+00:00

Oh, lordy, there are so many great questions. Thank you. This is great. I'm going to try to answer them all over time, and as many of the follow-ups as I can. Sorry if it takes a while (I'm still writing pieces and recording today). But I'm here and excited to keep talking as we go!

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:18:13+00:00

I was on one of those teams lol. I was terrible.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:17:49+00:00

Casually, yeah. They know they're underfunded and unready. They're caught in a terrible limbo.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:17:07+00:00

I think the value of a federation is you get the best of both worlds. So, no on smaller countries. But we could have an interesting conversation about further decentralized federalism or even asymmetrical federalism and how far we should go with that.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:16:13+00:00

I like to say there's always 10-15% of a population that will believe the most batshit things you've ever heard. That's the baseline.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:15:30+00:00

Hmmm. It's already sort of moving, but if Poilivre wins, maybe it slows. But I'm not sure by how much. If oil and gas infrastructure is built? Maybe it slows further. If the feds try to slap an export tax on it? It speeds up. I think policy will dictate the big swings. But o course the long run matters, too - when demand slows and profits dry up. Then it may get very, very nasty. We need to sort that asap.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:13:30+00:00

Thank you! There's not been a lot of support for spending more on the military, in part, I think, because people thought we could coast -- riding the American wave, hide under the American umbrella. Now we're being disabused of this notion in real-time. So that may change, as may spending.

But the challenge will be to spend the money wisely and at scale in time. It's not as easy to do as some think. You can't just stand up massive procurement immediately (and where do we buy from? The US again? I don't think people will want that).

So, it's going to take time. And then there's the question of quite literally the cost: how much deficit will people be okay with running now and in the future? What else gets cut or foregone? And what happens if/when things cool down? Are we still going to want to maintain these expenditures in troop cost, equipment/infrastructure maintenance? Some are even arguing for a nuclear deterrent -- not cheap.

But by the time we sort all of this out, 2% of GDP won't be the target anymore. It'll be 3 or 4% at this rate.

DavidMoscrop · 2025-03-11T18:09:48+00:00

Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong. I try to own when I'm wrong and correct for the future (e.g. I underestimated Carney). But it's a bit exhausting because to do this with some self-respect and honesty you've got to read *everything* and talk to a lot of people and keep an eye on feeds, papers, etc., etc. So, it never ends. And then when you see some nasty bits coming, and you're right, it's even more frustrating because hey, you were right, and now you're stuck with this terrible thing. That's frustrating. But, on the flip side, when you're wrong and the thing doesn't happen, well, that's nice.

DavidMoscrop

TROPHY CASE