Canadian power, questioned directly.
The gist
Full Comment tracks Canadian politics, courts, defence, media, the economy, and foreign affairs through pointed conversations with guests. It suits listeners who want argument, context, and blunt institutional criticism in one place.
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About Full Comment
Full Comment is a Canadian politics and public-affairs interview show built around direct questions and strong institutional skepticism. It looks at power where it actually operates. That means cabinet priorities, parliamentary committees, Supreme Court reasoning, public broadcasting decisions, defence procurement, economic policy, and foreign-policy pressure. Brian Lilly frames each episode with a pointed thesis, then brings in guests to test it against law, politics, economics, or military reality. The pace is brisk. Recent conversations move from NATO spending claims to F-35 procurement, from Mark Carney’s economic report card to the political implications of Avi Lewis leading the NDP. The show is especially interested in whether governments say one thing and build another. Defence announcements are treated as questions of strategy, not only dollars. Court cases become arguments about who has the final say over rights. CBC controversy becomes a window into booking control, political access, and internal pressure. Indigenous title disputes are discussed through the uncertainty they may create for homeowners, businesses, and governments. The show also follows Canada’s position in a harsher world, including Donald Trump, Iran, Israel, China, tariffs, and the challenge of negotiating with the United States. It does not soften its judgments. Still, the format depends on guests with defined experience. Episodes often land in the uncomfortable middle, where two bad options remain and voters still need to understand the choice. Full Comment suits listeners who already care about Canadian politics and want a sharper account of what institutions are doing behind the official language.
Made for: For listeners who follow Canadian politics, courts, media, defence, and the economy closely enough to want names, mechanisms, and consequences. It is best suited to people who prefer argument and policy detail over neutral headline recap.
What sets it apart: Full Comment pairs partisan heat with procedural specificity, moving from political claims into procurement decisions, committee math, Charter sections, and institutional incentives. Its strongest episodes make Canadian power feel concrete rather than abstract.
In their own words
Full Comment is Canada’s podcast for compelling interviews, controversial opinions and fascinating discussions. Hosted by Brian Lilley. Published by Postmedia, new episodes are released each Monday.
As heard by us
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Brian Lilly connects Canadian political arguments to the institutional choices, strategic pressures and practical consequences beneath them.
Full Comment turns Canadian political disputes into pointed conversations about power, policy and institutional choices. Brian Lilly sets a clear argument at the outset, then presses guests on the practical questions beneath it: what defence spending produces, how Canada should…
Why you'd press play
A NATO spending claim meets Brian Lilley's inconvenient follow-up: what is Canada's military actually for?
Press play if you want
- to hear a Canadian MP pressed on what his Washington meetings accomplished
- to get past the defence spending target and into the F-35 decision
Talks about
Podcasts like Full Comment
Episodes
- 1
The man who saved Canada’s Conservatives from political irrelevance
·51m - 2
Mark Carney is about to get hammered left and right by populism
·1h - 3
Say hello to the new Liberal-NDP alliance
·54m - 4
Bonus episode: Pierre Poilievre gets personal
·42m - 5
Mark Carney’s brittle image is cracking
·55m - 6
The Supreme Court will just make stuff up to subvert the notwithstanding clause
·50m - 7
What happened to the Mark Carney who promised to make things better?
·56m - 8
The former CBC host blowing the lid off its bias and dysfunction
·59m - 9
Your private property may not be safe from Aboriginal-title court cases
·50m - 10
Trump’s Iran attack is also aimed at China
·52m - 11
Canadian politics plays right into the Carney Liberals’ hands
·56m - 12
Why are Liberals attacking efforts to end Trump’s tariff war?
·1h 8m - 13
Carney's China deal is deeper and more dangerous than tariffs
·38m - 14
The Conservatives’ plan to outflank Carney in a snap election
·47m - 15
Fighting with Trump is a Liberal strategy for a fresh election
·55m - 16
The activist class is conspicuously quiet about Iran
·49m - 17
What Venezuelans say about Trump’s incursion isn’t what we’ve been told
·59m - 18
How the CBC lost its purpose
·45m - 19
BEST OF 2025: Don’t let police take away your right to self-defence
·57m - 20
BEST OF 2025: How a few rich dairy farmers are sabotaging Canada’s big, beautiful trading future
·57m - 21
Carney helps Chinese interference make a comeback
·50m - 22
Say hello to pro-pipeline First Nations in B.C.
·39m - 23
No Western country seriously wants Ukraine to win
·44m - 24
Liberals are playing silly games with the military again
·54m - 25
Conservatives lived through this same party drama before and emerged victorious
·51m - 26
Mark Carney shoots blanks, again
·48m - 27
Cautionary tales from a refugee of NDP and Green party ecopolitics
·49m - 28
The epic trolling behind Trump’s ad-trashing trade tantrum
·52m - 29
How Qatar supports terrorists and still enjoys vast western influence
·1h 1m - 30
The many deceptions of the Liberals’ gun ‘buyback’
·56m - 31
It’s now thinkable that Carney and co. don’t want Israel to win
·1h 8m - 32
Carney’s high-flying promises come crashing back to earth
·1h - 33
Think runaway immigration is being fixed? Think again
·50m - 34
Don’t let police take away your right to self-defence
·55m - 35
The rich, populist Republican radical who paved the way for Trump
·54m - 36
They crushed our rights for COVID. We still haven’t won them back
·49m - 37
Poilievre built a new Conservative party. He’ll need to build another
·56m - 38
The Conservatives’ post-election power struggle has begun
·47m - 39
The Conservative gains the Liberal-led polls could be missing
·58m - 40
Conservatives are caught in a perfect electoral storm, but aren’t blown away yet
·52m - 41
We’re still being deceived about the carbon tax
·44m - 42
Trump seems ready to settle this trade war
·50m - 43
How Canada turned itself into a fentanyl playground
·45m - 44
Why Doug Ford keeps steamrolling his Ontario election critics
·55m - 45
Here in Washington, the Trump vs. Canada reality isn’t what we think
·45m - 46
Why Trump isn’t just joking about taking over Canada anymore
·30m - 47
Trump has already changed everything in the Middle East
·55m - 48
The reason Trump plans to crush Canada that our politicians just don’t get
·52m - 49
The dirty fight shaping up between Carney and Freeland
·53m - 50
Paul Godfrey wants to make Toronto pretty good again
·47m - 51
BEST OF 2024: The COVID lies they told us continue to warp our lives
·36m - 52
BEST OF 2024: Jordan Peterson on why everyone should be afraid of what happened to him
·41m - 53
Trudeau’s taking you all down with him
·52m - 54
You won’t believe how badly your bank is fleecing you
·38m - 55
John A. helped Indigenous people, Riel didn’t, and other unpopular realities
·50m - 56
Trudeau did ‘almost everything wrong’ on immigration. It’s about to get worse
·47m - 57
They call us ‘settlers’ because they’re planning to kick us out
·39m - 58
The Trump train is bearing down on Trudeau
·47m - 59
Revenge of the normal people, from Trump to Canada
·50m - 60
If Trump is a ‘garbage’ candidate, Harris is a ‘vacuous sociopath’
·53m - 61
Trudeau survived. He’s still screwed.
·53m - 62
The underqualified, anti-racist activist doctor will see you now
·32m - 63
David Eby is pivoting in panic away from the NDP’s unpopular policies
·42m - 64
Alberta finally builds its ‘firewall’ to keep Ottawa out
·31m - 65
We know the UN is immoral. This guy rubs it in their face
·50m - 66
Trudeau belongs to the Bloc separatists now
·53m - 67
‘Wokeness’ is a mind disease…but it can be beaten
·50m - 68
Jagmeet Singh faces demolishing what’s left of his credibility
·45m - 69
Now we’re ‘racist’ if we don’t give people free heroin
·50m - 70
The COVID lies they told us continue to warp our lives
·35m - 71
Now the world thinks Canadian social policies are the ‘edge of crazy’
·44m - 72
Get hitched. Have kids. Save society from anti-marriage progressive elites
·45m - 73
Trudeau gazes upon a wasteland of Liberal leadership
·46m - 74
Kamala Harris and J.D. Vance compete on awfulness
·46m - 75
Behind Canada’s ‘moral panic’ around suspected graves at residential schools
·41m - 76
One province is still fighting Trudeau’s carbon taxes—and winning
·49m - 77
Here’s what it’s like living under Hezbollah’s constant attacks
·42m - 78
The inescapable implosion of Trudeau’s bizarro Liberal party
·45m - 79
Water rationing could be coming to your city next
·33m - 80
Canada’s biggest superfan says leave your ethnic hatreds at the door
·33m - 81
Liberals have good reason to fear Pierre Poilievre
·48m - 82
Regular-people rules don’t apply to ‘Prince’ Trudeau
·59m - 83
We’re under attack from Chinese electric cars
·52m - 84
It’s too late now for Liberals to replace Trudeau
·44m - 85
Why Carney is blowing trade talks with Trump
A discussion on why Mark Carney's approach to trade negotiations with Trump is failing, featuring insights from former trade minister Ed Fast.
·43m - 86
Liberals can win with Trump’s foreign interference
Discussion on Mark Carney becoming Canada's 24th Prime Minister and the upcoming election, focusing on potential foreign interference by Donald Trump.
·52m - 87
Putin is fighting to stave off Russia’s looming collapse
·52m - 88
Mark Carney falls right into a Hamas trap
·48m - 89
Canada’s justice system is bringing itself into disrepute
·50m - 90
How Canadian fentanyl smuggling to the U.S. really works and who’s behind it
·46m - 91
We have no idea what our federal leaders stand for anymore
·55m - 92
How a few rich dairy farmers are sabotaging Canada’s big, beautiful trading future
·56m - 93
Iran’s ‘mafia’ regime won’t be giving up that easily
·42m - 94
How Canada got on the wrong side in the war against Iran
·53m - 95
What cops ‘covered up’ about the Nova Scotia massacre
·52m - 96
Canada’s on the brink of trade peace with Trump
·41m - 97
Carney projects calm but he’s facing serious trouble
·55m - 98
Making our streets unsafe for Jews is part of the plan
·45m - 99
Mark Carney has already started seriously harming the economy
·57m - 100
It’s not just Alberta flirting with western separatism now
·48m - 101
Canada’s defence is still a mess despite Ottawa’s NATO-spending claims
Hidden gemA panel discussion on whether Canada has actually met NATO's 2% defense spending target and the state of its military investments.
Apr 13, 2026·54m·2 clips - 102
Mark Carney is about to get hammered left and right by populism
Full Comment host Brian Lilly convenes Jenny Byrne, Kim Wright, and Warren Kinsella to assess Avi Lewis’s 78% NDP leadership win and Mark Carney’s expected majority.
Apr 6, 2026·1h·4 clips - 103
The Supreme Court will just make stuff up to subvert the notwithstanding clause
Hidden gemA discussion on the Supreme Court's hearing on Quebec's Bill 21 and the broader implications for the Notwithstanding Clause in Canada.
Mar 30, 2026·50m·2 clips - 104
What happened to the Mark Carney who promised to make things better?
Brian Lilly interviews Bill Robson about Mark Carney's first year as Prime Minister, assessing his economic performance and handling of relations with Donald Trump.
Mar 23, 2026·56m - 105
The former CBC host blowing the lid off its bias and dysfunction
Former CBC host Travis Danrage discusses his testimony about political bias and dysfunction at the state broadcaster.
Mar 16, 2026·59m - 106
Your private property may not be safe from Aboriginal-title court cases
Brian Lilly discusses recent Aboriginal-title court cases and agreements in British Columbia, exploring the uncertainty they create for property owners with law professor Dwight Newman.
Mar 9, 2026·50m - 107
Trump’s Iran attack is also aimed at China
Hidden gemBrian Lilly centers Full Comment on the February 28, 2026 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury,” and the claim that Iran’s nuclear and missile programs remain a regional threat.
Mar 2, 2026·52m·2 clips - 108
Canadian politics plays right into the Carney Liberals’ hands
Hidden gemBrian Lilly opens with Donald Trump’s Supreme Court tariff setback and the claim that the ruling is a “psychological victory” even though Canadian tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber remain.
Feb 23, 2026·56m·2 clips - 109
Why are Liberals attacking efforts to end Trump’s tariff war?
Brian Lilly's Full Comment interview centers on Conservative MP Jamil Giovanni's Washington trip, where he met JD Vance, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Jameson Greer while Canada's July 1 CUSMA review deadline approached.
Feb 16, 2026·1h 8m·4 clips - 110
Carney's China deal is deeper and more dangerous than tariffs
Hidden gemBrian Lilly and Sandra Watson-Parcells examine Mark Carney’s China “strategic partnership,” arguing that its implications extend beyond trade into currency, technology, and national security.
Feb 9, 2026·38m·2 clips - 111
The Conservatives’ plan to outflank Carney in a snap election
Feb 2, 2026·47m - 112
Fighting with Trump is a Liberal strategy for a fresh election
Jan 26, 2026·55m - 113
The activist class is conspicuously quiet about Iran
Jan 19, 2026·49m - 114
What Venezuelans say about Trump’s incursion isn’t what we’ve been told
Jan 12, 2026·59m - 115
How the CBC lost its purpose
Jan 5, 2026·45m - 116
BEST OF 2025: Don’t let police take away your right to self-defence
Dec 29, 2025·57m - 117
BEST OF 2025: How a few rich dairy farmers are sabotaging Canada’s big, beautiful trading future
Dec 22, 2025·57m - 118
Carney helps Chinese interference make a comeback
Dec 15, 2025·50m - 119
Say hello to pro-pipeline First Nations in B.C.
Dec 8, 2025·39m - 120
No Western country seriously wants Ukraine to win
Dec 1, 2025·44m - 121
Liberals are playing silly games with the military again
Brian Lilly discusses the ongoing debate over Canada's fighter jet procurement, criticizing the Liberal government's handling of the F-35 deal and considering the Gripen alternative.
Nov 24, 2025·54m - 122
Conservatives lived through this same party drama before and emerged victorious
Nov 17, 2025·51m - 123
Mark Carney shoots blanks, again
Nov 10, 2025·48m - 124
Cautionary tales from a refugee of NDP and Green party ecopolitics
Nov 3, 2025·49m - 125
The epic trolling behind Trump’s ad-trashing trade tantrum
Oct 27, 2025·52m - 126
Why Carney is blowing trade talks with Trump
Oct 20, 2025·43m - 127
How Qatar supports terrorists and still enjoys vast western influence
Oct 13, 2025·1h 1m - 128
The many deceptions of the Liberals’ gun ‘buyback’
Oct 6, 2025·56m - 129
It’s now thinkable that Carney and co. don’t want Israel to win
Sep 29, 2025·1h 8m - 130
Carney’s high-flying promises come crashing back to earth
Sep 22, 2025·1h - 131
Think runaway immigration is being fixed? Think again
Sep 15, 2025·50m - 132
Don’t let police take away your right to self-defence
Sep 8, 2025·55m - 133
The rich, populist Republican radical who paved the way for Trump
Sep 1, 2025·54m - 134
They crushed our rights for COVID. We still haven’t won them back
Aug 25, 2025·49m - 135
The man who saved Canada’s Conservatives from political irrelevance
Aug 18, 2025·51m - 136
Putin is fighting to stave off Russia’s looming collapse
Aug 11, 2025·52m - 137
Mark Carney falls right into a Hamas trap
Aug 4, 2025·48m - 138
Canada’s justice system is bringing itself into disrepute
Jul 28, 2025·50m - 139
How Canadian fentanyl smuggling to the U.S. really works and who’s behind it
Jul 21, 2025·46m - 140
We have no idea what our federal leaders stand for anymore
Jul 14, 2025·55m - 141
How a few rich dairy farmers are sabotaging Canada’s big, beautiful trading future
Jul 7, 2025·56m - 142
Iran’s ‘mafia’ regime won’t be giving up that easily
Jun 30, 2025·42m - 143
How Canada got on the wrong side in the war against Iran
Jun 23, 2025·53m - 144
What cops ‘covered up’ about the Nova Scotia massacre
Jun 16, 2025·52m - 145
Canada’s on the brink of trade peace with Trump
Jun 9, 2025·41m - 146
Carney projects calm but he’s facing serious trouble
Jun 2, 2025·55m - 147
Making our streets unsafe for Jews is part of the plan
May 26, 2025·45m - 148
Mark Carney has already started seriously harming the economy
May 19, 2025·57m - 149
It’s not just Alberta flirting with western separatism now
Brian Lilly discusses the rising threat of western separatism in Canada, particularly in Alberta and beyond, following a recent election.
May 12, 2025·48m - 150
Poilievre built a new Conservative party. He’ll need to build another
May 5, 2025·56m