Late-night is dying. The CBC might be, too.

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded July 18, 2025, your hosts tackle three big themes across Canada, the U.S., and the media world.

First up, Matt and Jen talk sovereignty — and why every time Canada tries to build domestic industrial capacity (in defence, tech, food, etc.), it seems to end in scandal or failure. Or even just massively inflated costs and huge delays. We say we want domestic capability. So why can’t we build anything without it turning into a boondoggle?

This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it requires actionable steps, including giving adult smokers the information they need to choose potentially less harmful alternatives. Learn more at Unsmoke.ca.

After that, we cast our eyes south. In the U.S., The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been cancelled. Jen sees it as a classic case of going broke by going woke. Matt agrees partly — but argues the real story is the end of mass culture. We also discuss this week’s Epstein revelations and why the public response feels eerily familiar to past panics and conspiracies. And they wonder if this might actually crack the MAGA movement. (They have doubts.)

This episode of The Line Podcast is also brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canadian forestry supports 200,000 workers, generates $87 billion in annual revenue, contributes $21 billion annually to our nation's economy, and provides the products we need to build homes and drive economic growth. While trade barriers from the U.S. are siphoning jobs and investment away, Canada’s own approval processes and regulations are preventing critical projects that both prevent wildfires and boost our economic self-reliance.We can and should have programs that expand domestic wood use, advance biomass use and pulp market opportunities, and cut red tape and regulatory barriers. The government of Canada has a clear opportunity to stand up for Canadian forestry at a time of growing global uncertainty. We need real action that puts Canadians first — supporting employees and their families, securing stability for our businesses, and protecting the long-term potential of our sector and its people. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.

And finally, more turmoil at the CBC as anchor Travis Dhanraj announces his resignation — and the corporation refuses to accept it. What’s going on inside Canada’s public broadcaster?

This episode is also brought to you by Airbnb. Last week, we talked about how the number of Airbnbs that could be homes accounts for only 0.6 per cent of Canada's housing stock. Everyone knows that you can’t solve a crisis with less than one per cent of a solution. But did you know that Airbnbs actually play a critical role in helping Canadians navigate affordability? Seventy seven per cent of Airbnb hosts say that renting their homes helps them cover the rising cost of living.

Learn more at Airbnb.ca/closerlook.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast. Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca, follow us on YouTube or your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:33 The Progressive and Feminist National Strategic Boondoggle Program
• 29:55 Drama from the south
• 56:34 And some at the CBC, too