The Backbench
CANADALANDWhen the group chat’s spiraling and your For You Page is a trainwreck, it’s hard to know what’s real — or what matters. Canadaland Politics (formerly The Backbench) cuts through the noise with bold questions, sharp analysis, and the political news you actually need.
Each Tuesday, we’ll ask bold questions and offer sharp analysis, giving you the tools to challenge any perspective — maybe even your ... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 257 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | PoliticsNews CommentaryNews | ||||
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Latest Episodes
The Backbench has moved!
Episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed for a few months now, alongside lots of other great content — from original reporting to media criticism to our brand-new support-only show.
Starting now... more
Since the end of last year, episodes of The Backbench have been available on the Canadaland feed, alongside lots of other great content — oftentimes featuring voices you may be familiar with from The Backbench. Starting in July 2025, The Backbench fe... more
Mark Carney promised one Canadian economy. Now, his signature bill is one step closer to law as Bill C-5 rocketed through parliament with some amendments. The changes haven't quelled concerns from Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who broke ranks in the... more
Canada is hosting the G-7 in Alberta, one of the most consequential meetings yet. Is this Carney’s moment to become a world leader, reorient our economy, and possibly the world order?
With the predictably unpredictable Trump, growing regional wars,... more
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Reviews
- Disappointed
I enjoyed this show but am uninterested in the other offerings from Canadaland. I don’t want my feed consumed by content I don’t want. I’m going to stay followed hopefully you can double post or return here.
Apple Podcasts5Lepageb
Canada3 months ago - Bummer!
I’m wondering if they consolidated the feeds because nobody wants to listen Jesse anymore but the Backbench was doing okay. I know he lost me when he started taking every opportunity he could find to make the slaughter of Palestinians about his feelings. I kept listening to this one but I won’t be going back to his show. It would be implicitly supporting his actions, which - intentionally or not - muddied the waters conflating antizionism with antisemitism (which harms Jews) but more importantly... more
Apple Podcasts5H.a.n.n.a.h.dCanada3 months ago - Great Canadian political podcast
A thorough, often surprising, always fascinating way to stay up to date on Canadian political matters
Apple Podcasts5Pang DynastyCanada5 months ago Generally worth listening to for federal politics or political news that's Ontario-centric. Not as useful for regional happenings or anything requiring investigative journalism. Since switching hosts a few times, the audience being targeted now is obviously very young Canadians. I used to listen weekly, but then they started making factual mistakes, stopped doing in-depth reporting, and started having increasingly shallow conversations.
Podcast Addict38 months agoAurorespera- Mattea was great
I’m happy for Mattea as they move on. However, the two episodes with her replacement have been utter trash. Hopefully, Jessie shows her the door and either retires this series or replaces her with someone better.
So far, it’s just two episodes of why Canada sucks, with griping and whining, and little in the way of thought-provoking discussion.
My paid subscription ends Dec 15. I won’t be renewing as it stands.
Apple Podcasts1SanshinDojoCanadaa year ago
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Backbench
What is The Backbench about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This podcast provides sharp analysis and critical discussions centered around Canadian politics, engaging with current events and significant political developments. The hosts invite expert guests to explore a range of topics, offering listeners insights into the challenges and shifts within the political landscape. Notably, the podcast emphasizes empathy in discussions about political disagreements and balances serious analyses with lighter conversations about local culture. This blend of in-depth examination and relatable dialogue makes it an appealing resource for those wanting to stay informed on Canadian political affairs and societal issues.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Backbench?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Backbench. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Backbench and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Backbench get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Backbench?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Backbench, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does The Backbench have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Backbench has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to The Backbench?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Backbench:
1. CANADALAND
2. The House
3. Front Burner
4. At Issue
5. The Paul Wells Show
How many episodes of The Backbench are there?
The Backbench launched 8 years ago and published 257 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The Backbench?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Backbench?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Backbench from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Backbench?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Backbench. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on The Backbench?
Recent guests on The Backbench include:
1. Nate Erskine-Smith
2. Matthew Holmes
3. Adam Sadinsky
4. Ryan Broderick
5. Heather McPherson
6. Nick Taylor-Vaisey
7. Adelina Iftene
8. Bruce Fanjoy
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.