Friday Focus: China Protests – Federal Funk

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.  The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  In this week’s edition, Janice and Rudyard take on two stories in the news this week that made headlines. First up, China experiences protests in multiple cities over continued lockdowns and COVID controls that seem to have gotten the regime’s attention. What is really happening here? Are we seeing the signs of genuine, large-scale public opposition to Xi? The donors-only second half of the program explores the two challenges this week to Canadian federalism by the governments of Alberta and Quebec. Is Canadian national unity at a turning point, or is this just another predictable bout of provincial muscle flexing? To access the full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast, consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.