It's week 5 of our special Saturday podcast where our political insiders break down what the biggest federal election stories actually mean for the campaign...And now we're in our final countdown to election day. This week, former Justin Trudeau adviser Laura D'Angelo, former Harper government staffer Michael Solberg and former Alberta NDP strategist Zain Velji talk platforms -- do they matter, at this stage in the campaign game? And especially for a party like the Conservatives, who keep polling behind the Liberals? Our strategists also have thoughts on tensions between Pierre Poilievre and conservative premiers. Plus: U.S. President Donald Trump once again makes headlines for musing about Canada becoming an American state. And another round of under-the-radar election stories you won't hear on our TV program.

As the federal party leaders enter the final campaign weekend, the Political Pulse panel unpacks their final messages to undecided voters. Plus, CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton discusses what's at stake for each party come Monday.

Party leaders respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's fresh claims on Canada's sovereignty and auto industry. We have the latest from our reporters following Day 33 of the campaign. Plus, how do the platforms compare on housing? We ask two experts for their review. 

There are just five days to go in this federal election campaign. As the race enters its final phase, party leaders are zeroing in on battleground regions and the issues they think matter most to voters. Two party insiders discuss the final days of the campaign: Fred DeLorey, former campaign manager for the Conservatives under Erin O’Toole, and David Herle, former chief campaign strategist for the Liberals under Paul Martin and host of The Herle Burly and Curse of Politics podcasts. Plus, we have the latest from our reporters following each campaign.

With six days until the election, we finally have platforms from the major parties which include some big promises. Power & Politics hears from former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page on how well the numbers released by the parties actually add up. Plus, we have the latest from our reporters following each campaign.

Canada's leaders paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died at age 88, on Monday morning. Power & Politics hears from the former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations on Francis's legacy in Canada, including an apology to residential school survivors on behalf of the Catholic Church. Plus P&P brings you more from the federal campaign trail, with only seven days until the election.

It's week 4 of our special Saturday podcast where our political insiders break down what the biggest federal election stories actually mean for the campaign. This week, former Justin Trudeau adviser Laura D'Angelo, former Harper government staffer Michael Solberg and former Alberta NDP strategist Zain Velji give us a debates debrief. As the frontrunner in the polls, Liberal leader Mark Carney faced attacks from all sides -- how did he perform in his first two debates? And how many points did the other leaders score? Off-camera, tension behind the scenes threatened to overshadow the debates themselves -- and our panel has thoughts on how the Leaders Debates Commission handled the situation. Plus: another round of under-the-radar election stories you won't hear on our TV program.

Advanced polls have opened across the country, marking the first day of large-scale voting in the race to be prime minister. Plus, the two debates of the campaign are done, but did they change anything? We’ll ask our panel of party insiders. And, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is one of 91 candidates running in an Ottawa riding. We'll tell you about the movement behind one of the longest ballots in Canadian history.

Four federal leaders face off in the second, and final, debate of the campaign. But after one leader was uninvited at the last minute, the commission responsible for the debates is a point of focus. We speak with the executive director of the Leaders' Debates Commission. Plus, the Power Panel dives into what's at stake for the parties in the debates. And English-language debate moderator Steve Paikin tells us what he's expecting and how he prepared.

Four federal leaders face off in the only French-language debate of the campaign, as the Montreal Canadiens face off for a spot in the NHL playoffs. Plus, the Green Party was ousted from the debate for failing to meet the participation requirements. The Power Panel dives into what's at stake for the parties. And U.S. Sen. Peter Welch joins us in Montreal to discuss tariff and 51st state threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The French-language federal debate is moving from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, to limit the overlap with a Montreal Canadiens game that could decide whether the team makes the NHL playoffs. The Power Panel discusses whether a debate about Canadians' future should have been moved for hockey, and analyzes the strategy behind the NDP and Bloc calling for the move. Plus, the White House says that U.S. President Donald Trump still wants Canada to become the 51st state. 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to use the notwithstanding clause to ensure multiple-murderers die in jail, which would make him the first prime minister to invoke the clause to override Charter rights. The Power Panel debates whether the proposal is tough on crime or legally and politically dangerous. Plus, Liberal Leader Mark Carney apologizes after Liberal operatives planted 'stop the steal' buttons at a conservative conference. 

Today we bring you a bonus episode from our friends at House Party, a pop-up election podcast answering one big, burning question every week.  This week: The West wants out, Quebec wants in, and Canadian unity turned into a campaign issue this week after former Reform Party and opposition leader Preston Manning claimed increasing numbers of Westerners — particularly Albertans — may see secession as the only option if the Liberals win. Yet in Quebec, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet took the opposite tack, downplaying separatist sentiment and arguing Canada needs to be united in its response to Donald Trump’s tariffs.  So is separatism really a ballot box issue this time around? Catherine Cullen in Ottawa, Jason Markusoff in Calgary and Daniel Thibeault in Montreal try to unite their three solitudes with an answer.  Find more episodes of House Party here: https://link.mgln.ai/hpxpowerandpolitics 

It's week 3 of our special Saturday podcast where our political insiders break down what the biggest federal election stories actually mean for the campaign. This week, former Justin Trudeau adviser Laura D'Angelo, former Harper government staffer Michael Solberg and former Alberta NDP strategist Zain Velji talk about a battle between what the polls suggest, and what the pictures on the campaign trail show. While all major polls point to a Liberal lead, the Conservatives have been drawing huge crowds at rallies -- and leader Pierre Poilievre sparred with a journalist about that. Meanwhile, Liberal leader Mark Carney held his own rally in the Conservative heartland of Alberta. And the NDP's Jagmeet Singh and the Green Party's Jonathan Pedneault admitted that their parties won't be forming government, but they do still have a pitch for your vote. Plus: another round of under-the-radar election stories you won't hear on our TV program.

Canada-U.S. relations council member and former Quebec premier Jean Charest discusses where negotiations with the U.S. stand, after Prime Minister Mark Carney emerged from today's council meeting saying he'd leave instructions to help the 'next government' prepare for talks with the U.S. President Donald Trump in early May. Plus, Unifor president Lana Payne discusses how much U.S. tariffs and retaliatory tariffs factored into the halt in production at an Ontario GM plant that's laying off hundreds of workers. 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney have both descended on the province with the most seats, making duelling pitches for housing and crackdowns on crime. Liberal candidate Bill Blair defends his party's proposal for raising bail standards. Plus, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee, Jeanne Shaheen, discusses bipartisan efforts to assert lawmakers' control over tariffs, and why she believes tariffs are 'driving some of our longtime allies into China's arms.'

U.S. President Donald Trump announced 125 per cent tariffs on China and a sudden 90-day pause for new tariffs on other countries — with Canada unaffected. CBC's Katie Simpson and Peter Armstrong sort through the confusion after the U.S. treasury secretary erroneously said Canada would face broad 10 per cent tariffs, and the Power Panel grades Trump's trade and economic performance during this 'reciprocal tariff' saga. Plus, the co-leaders of the Green Party argue against a 'two-party binary choice' between the Liberals and Conservatives, and say that proposals for fossil fuel development with net-zero emissions progress are 'not possible.'

As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accuses his Liberal opponent of being 'not a businessman' but 'a political grifter,' Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl breaks down how Poilievre's own favourability polling could represent an obstacle for a comeback. Plus, economists Jimmy Jean and Jim Stanford discuss how U.S. tariffs, Canadian retaliation and global trade interruptions will impact the outlook for Canada's economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump is defending his tariffs and threatening increases despite a manic Monday for stock markets and roughly $10 trillion US in value wiped out since 'Liberation Day.' CBC reporters and the Power Panel have the latest on how party leaders are pitching themselves as Canada's best option to tackle the growing global uncertainty. Plus, Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi says he doesn't 'know how we would avoid' a global recession by this summer if Trump's full tariff regime remains in place.

It's week 2 of our new Saturday podcast where our political insiders break down what the biggest federal election stories actually mean for the campaign. This week, former Justin Trudeau adviser Laura D'Angelo, former Harper government staffer Michael Solberg and former Alberta NDP strategist Zain Velji talk 'Liberation Day' tariffs that liberated the world from a LOT of wealth. Next, they analyze NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's change in messaging about running for the Prime Minister's seat -- and whether he should really be setting his sights on keeping party status. Plus, another round of under-the-radar election stories you won't hear on our TV program.