Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Another wild week in Alberta politics, as Premier Danielle Smith's government introduces sweeping changes to how city and town councils are elected, operate, and are held accountable. The UCP's Bill 20 opens the door for municipal political parties, restores union and corporate donations, and empowers the province to r

Are you better off with partisan politics at the local level? Will Alberta benefit from its provincial government inserting itself into funding agreements between municipalities and the feds? As Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government rolls out Bill 18 - the Provincial Priorities Act - and opens the door for municipal

Claire Porter Robbins is just back from Jerusalem, where she's been covering the Israel-Hamas war for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Globe & Mail. Prior to that, she worked for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza.  2:15 | Claire tells us about the grim state of healthcare in Gaza, including reports of mass graves at

All eyes are on Grande Prairie as the northern Alberta city bids adieu to the RCMP and welcomes its own municipal police service. "GP" becomes the first Alberta city since Camrose in 1956 to introduce a new police service, and both proponents and critics of Premier Danielle Smith's plan to establish a provincial police

When you think of the state of Planet Earth, do you feel optimism or dread? We couldn't blame you for having a bit of a pit in your stomach, considering everything we see in the news. We humans are tough on our home planet. Is it possible to reverse the negative impacts we create, and preserve a healthy future for gene

Dwayne says Danielle Smith is a threat to medical research in Alberta, KP and Rene say Premier Smith's bang on with Bill 18, and Gabe has a bone to pick with Charles Adler. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!  FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com  When you vi