ICYMI: May 28 - June 3
What I wrote and read this week.
What I’ve been reading
Alberta
Smith triumphs but with thin majority and severe big-city weakness; Notley vows to stay on, Don Braid, Calgary Herald (May 30)
What Danielle Smith’s remarkable comeback means for Canada, Lisa Young, The Conversation (May 30)
The Alberta NDP made gains, but remains in Opposition: What happens next? Janet French, CBC News (May 30)
What Alberta’s new UCP government means for the environment, Drew Anderson, The Narwhal (May 30)
Calgary's ousted UCP candidates fell victim to anti-Smith vote: pollster, Josh Aldrich, Calgary Herald (May 30)
Smith won an election that Kenney couldn't, exit poll suggests, Bill Kaufmann, Calgary Herald (May 31)
The NDP turned blue(ish) to woo conservative voters. It didn't deliver a victory, Elise von Scheel, CBC News (June 1)
Suncor to cut 1,500 jobs by end of year, employees informed Thursday, Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian Press (June 1)
Cutting corporate taxes in Alberta didn't trickle down, Jim Stanford, Edmonton Journal (June 1)
Concordia University of Edmonton faculty pass non-confidence vote in school's president, Madeline Cummings, CBC News (June 2)
Take Back Alberta hurts in Calgary, UCP campaigner speaks out, Rick Bell, Calgary Sun (June 2)
Canada
The Horrifying Consequences of Anti-Trans Attacks, Fae Johnstone, The Walrus (May 29)
It’s time to abolish the Catholic school system in Ontario, David Moscrop, TVO (May 31)
Canada Restores Relations With Saudi Dictatorship While 'Callous' Executions Continue, Alex Cosh, The Maple (June 1)
Groups file court application over whether Canada's laws allow entry of former Israeli PM, Jorge Barrera, CBC News (June 2)
Toronto Mayoral Candidate Denounced ‘migrants with high birthrates’, Mitchell Thompson, PressProgress (June 2)
World
NATO should tread carefully in Southeast Asia, where memories of colonialism linger, Shaun Narine, The Conversation (May 29)
Sacklers Can Be Shielded From Opioid Liability, Appeals Court Rules, Jan Hoffman, New York Times (May 30)
Nikki Haley slams foreign lobbyists while fundraising from them, Soo Rin Kim, ABC News (May 31)
Why Are We in Ukraine? Benjamin Schwarz and Christopher Layne, Harper’s (June 2023)
Ted Koppel on Covering—and Befriending—Henry Kissinger, Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker (June 2)
Pop Culture
Succession ends where it started: with scheming Roy family getting triple-played, Jenna Benchetrit, CBC News (May 28)
How “Barry” Went from Hollywood Satire to Existential Epic, Inkoo Kang, New Yorker (May 29)
The Self-Delusion at the Heart of Barry, R.E. Hawley, Slate (May 29)
‘Oppenheimer’ Earns R Rating, Imax Film Prints Are 11 Miles Long and Weigh 600 Pounds, Zack Sharf, Variety (June 1)
David Byrne’s Musical Opposed By Broadway Musicians Union, Faith Logue, NYS Music (June 1)
The A/V Corner
Listen: I went on Conspirituality to talk about Alberta premier-elect Danielle Smith’s history of embracing alternative health quackery and her uneasy relationship with the religious right.
Listen: Duncan Kinney and I unpack the Alberta NDP’s election loss and the delusions of the party’s most fervent supporters on The Progress Report.
Listen: Daveberta himself,
, went on Rabble Radio to dissect the results of the 2023 Alberta election. I don’t agree with everything Dave says here, but his analysis is always worth hearing.