A political podcast for people who know politics isn’t polite. We talk about who holds power, how it’s used, and why the process can make even reasonable people swear. Serious conversations with real-world stakes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What happens when a seat everyone assumed was safely Conservative suddenly flips?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down the Calgary-Shaw by-election upset, what actually drove the result, and why everyone seems to be taking a different lesson from the same vote.First: the shock. The NDP wins a seat it had no business winning based on recent history, without an obvious right-wing vote split. Was it candidate quality, ground game, referendum anger, dissatisfaction with the UCP, or some combination of all of it?Then: what the result means for Calgary politics. The panel looks at Kyle Campbell’s appeal, the role of healthcare, schools and affordability, whether the referendum actually moved votes, and why “no safe Conservative seats in Calgary” is suddenly a much more credible political message.Plus, for Patreon subscribers: the campaign mechanics behind the result. Why advance voting is changing how campaigns organize, how parties pull identified supporters to the polls early, and whether the UCP simply got out-organized on the ground.Calgary-Shaw, candidate recruitment, referendum politics, Nenshi momentum, ground game, and what happens when a supposedly safe seat stops looking safe.Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.caJoin the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended episodes and ad-free listening:https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
9 Sept 2026
Pull the Fire Alarm
What happens when the agency responsible for running Alberta’s referendum is already warning that it is stretched too thin?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips look at growing concerns around Elections Alberta, the referendum process, and what happens when public confidence starts to erode before voting day even arrives.First: referendum watch. With hundreds of thousands of special ballots already requested, confusing paperwork in the mail, and Elections Alberta itself warning about chronic understaffing, does the agency have the resources it needs to administer one of the biggest votes in Canadian history?Then: the trade war enters a new phase as Canadian counter-tariffs take effect. Mark Carney is leaning into a new style of direct-to-camera political communication, while Leah and Shannon argue that Ottawa still has much more work to do to protect workers if the economic pain deepens.Plus, for Patreon subscribers: Calgary city hall erupts over a confidential budget leak, Jeremy Farkas calls bullshit, and the panel asks what happens when politicians decide the rules no longer apply to them.Elections Alberta, special ballots, public trust, tariffs, EI reform, and whether it’s time to pull the fire alarm.Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca (mailto:suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca)Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to extended episodes of Balance of Power:https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod (https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Sept 2026
You Can’t Half-Win This
What does it mean to win a referendum if the result still leaves the separatist movement alive and kicking?This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips look ahead to Alberta’s referendum and ask what a decisive federalist victory would actually have to look like.First: turnout. More than 200,000 Albertans have already requested special ballots, but does that tell us anything about who is motivated, which side has the advantage, or how ugly election day could get with ten separate questions on the ballot?Then: Shannon argues that simply winning is not enough: if separatists come out of the referendum with 30 or 35 per cent support, does Alberta really get to move on, or does the issue dominate provincial politics for years to come? Plus, what AOC’s social media series says about reproductive health, political communication and reaching audiences far beyond the usual political conversation.Plus, for everyone: the long-awaited return of the Balance of Power Quarterly Report, with what Annalise, Leah and Shannon have been reading, watching and obsessing over lately. And a reminder that Patreon subscribers get extended episodes and no ads.Turnout, separatism, healthcare, affordability, AOC, books, and why sometimes winning isn’t enough.Welcome to Balance of Power.Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.caAnd if you like the show, join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for extended episodes and no ads:https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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