And @mark-carney.bsky.social got greedy. Good chance he’ll get his majority this week without having to bring in repugnant MPs. She was against banning forced conversion therapy fer gawdsake! Hideous. Politically dumb move for Carney too. This stink won’t wash off and was likely totally unnecessary.

@mark-carney.bsky.social had a choice to make and he chose to welcome Marilyn Gladu who is a bigot, homophobic, anti-Trans, anti- women’s right to chose MP who is too right wing for PP on some issues. Shameful opportunism. Liberal brand’s progressive claims smashed by this disgraceful act.

The Ford’s are not a Toronto Royal Family, they are a scourge that seeks to destroy this city and who hate a downtown they barely understand. Absurd that nepo slug Mike Ford thinks his name buys him anything but scorn in this City. Sure, run l’il fella and split that right wing vote some more.

Bad Brad Bradford will do and say anything to chase votes including tossing free speech in the garbage to suck up to pro-Israel voters by trying to ban annual local Al-Quds rally in support of Palestine. As Gaza and occupied West Bank under assault like never before, not time for silence. Shameful.

Doug Ford sounds more like his one time hero down south every day and his expropriations sound a lot like Cheetos beloved executive orders. Ford sounds more like Trump every day right down to his attacking students as basket weaving bums who don’t pay their share. Just more likable for some reason.

@torontostar-rss.bsky.social managed to send actual reporter to @torontosceptres.bsky.social packed home game Sunday. Women’s Day after all. But the story was buried at bottom of an inside page and Star still cheaped out. Sent no photographer, used wire service pic. Women’s sports deserve better.

Nepo baby Doug Ford wants a generation of working class kids who manage to get into university to graduate carrying massive debt while his and his pals kids are launched debt free into a life of privilege.

After covering women’s sports somewhat diligently during the Olympics @torontostar-rss.bsky.social scores own goal by NOT sending a reporter to cover Toronto Sceptres first post-Olympic home game packed with Olympic stars. They used CP wire copy instead— for local game. No wonder readership is down.

If you’re just getting your news on Israeli-US attack on Iran from western news channels you need to add Al Jazeera to the mix to get important perspective. You can add it to your cable or watch live for free www.aljazeera.com/video/live

201 Iranians already dead including schoolchildren in Trump’s war to distract from Trump-Epstein Files. And Carney supports this cynical brutality.

@mark-carney.bsky.social’s “winning streak “ officially over as he falls in line with war mongers in supporting US and Israel’s unjustifiable attacks on Iran.

The stink of Danielle Smith’s immigrant blaming forcthe mess that is Alberta is shameful and has no place in Canadian politics. Alberta screwed up betting everything on oil and Tory governments routinely squandered the cash from oil’s glory days. Alberta’s challenges are home grown not imported.

Director @bazluhrmann has created a characteristically gorgeous, surprisingly intimate performance-based celebration of the King of Rock ‘n’ Rock in his latest film @epic.themovie that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen. Check out our 5-N review here: nextmag.ca/review-baz-l...

Post-secondary students are an asset to any country and creating financial barriers is short sighted as well as unfair. Shameful backsliding in Ontario with tuition hikes and grant cutbacks. Why do we continue to let Doug Ford deconstruct Ontario? Tuition free in smart countries.

Blown away by legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb @hughsroomlive.bsky.social Tuesday night. Mesmerizing master class in songwriting. He’s back there Thursday but sold out.

Matt Johnson’s and Jay McCarrol's hilarious new film, “Nirvanna the Band, the Show, the Movie” is the best comedy of the year and one of 2026’s best films. I can’t recommend it enough! I speak with the talented filmmakers for @nextmagcanada here: nextmag.ca/interview-ni...

Only two seats total sold for four screenings today in Toronto. Smart film goers in this town not taking the bait.

“Melania” is even worse than expected— and I expected it to be horrible. This appalling infomercial for fascist royalty feels like it could have been made by Marie Antoinette in last days of Louis XVI’s despotic regime. Our first zero N review @nextmagazine.bsky.social: nextmag.ca/review-melan...

Toronto’s @thepwhl.com team @torontosceptres.bsky.social play a rare game Scotiabank Arena, a major event and @torontostar-rss.bsky.social doesn’t even send a reporter, they use Canadian Press coverage instead. Pathetic! And then they wonder why readership in decline. Do the work!

Time for @maritstilesndp.bsky.social to seize the moment. Liberals leaderless, adrift and will be for a while and Ford fatigue is inevitable especially as his possibly criminal actions become clearer. Stop playing it safe. Present a real progressive choice and shoot from the hip. People are ready.

Handsome Ned was King of Queen Street in the 1980s until his death from a heroin overdose, 39 years ago on January 10. “You Left Me Blue: The Handsome Ned Story” screens at the Paradise on the anniversary of his death. My feature on brilliant artist, gone too soon here: nextmag.ca/preview-musi...

Meeting with the @northby.bsky.social programming team as we begin booking bands for our 31st festival this June. I love this part of the job. Still find it thrilling to hear undiscovered gems among thousands of applications. So much talent. Can’t wait to share these acts with the world June 10-14.

A new year is like a fresh sheet of ice, full of amazing potential. Wishing you all a spectacular 2026.

CBC’s Here and Now were stooges for last mayoralty election’s joke candidate Brad Bradford getting quotes from him on today’s newscast like he’s voice of civic opposition. He’s not, he’s a shape shifting opportunist who’s stopped working for his constituents while he jumps gun on election campaign.

Hadn’t opened my X account in months. What a cesspool, wont be going back any time soon.

Doug Ford likes to engage in shadow boxing with Trump but at heart he’s a Trumper and shares his comfort with lying, creating false “enemies” as well as commitment to serving his One Percent buddies while pretending to serve “Common Man”. “Hates” drunk drivers but endangers school kids, cyclists.

Great to see @maritstilesndp.bsky.social finally dropping the gloves and going on attack against corrupt Doug Ford. Voters will respond to someone ready to fight for them as Premier deconstructs the province.

Neil Young 80th birthday celebration @masseyhall.bsky.social saw some of Canada’s best musicians showcase all sides of their hero’s songbook. Check out my 5-N @nextmagazine here: nextmag.ca/live-review-...

Neil Young 80th Birthday celebration @masseyhall.bsky.social is killing it. Great pacing, great song selection, great artists. great show. @nextmagazine.bsky.social review coming soon.

Canadian Progressives should learn from Mamdani victory that people are ready for bold ideas. Time to start running to win rather than not to lose. Reaching for the mushy middle mobilizes no one. Time for real change.

So King Donald ordered @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social to spend more on the military — and he did, at the expense of many programs Canadians cherish. So much for Elbows Up. Well, our banker PM wont have to issue another apology to the American King for this compliant budget. Off your knees Mark.

Get ready to see another Canadian tradition as @mark-carney.bsky.social does classic Liberal move as he releases an austerity budget as Liberals, as always, will have campaigned Left and govern Right. Why do we fall for this scam every election as Liberals play Progressives for suckers yet again.

Somebody’s got to lose but it sure was a fun ride!

Watching even some progressives warming up to disastrous Premier @fordnation.bsky.social for his “tough guy” stance with King DT should remind the Left to stop playing it safe. People like passion, commitment and feistiness. No more tip toeing and soft pedaling. Passionate Progressive power please.

Had a cool conversation with Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater and Bobby Cannavale about their new film "Blue Moon" where Hawke plays doomed songwriter Lorenz Hart. Check out my @nextmagazine.bsky.social here: nextmag.ca/ethan-hawke-...

King Donald’s recent use of tariffs against Canada and Ontario just underlines US as unreliable trading partner and should hasten our process of building new trading relationships. We get the message loud and clear. Buh bye.

Loved David Byrne @masseyhall.bsky.social. A night of joy and invention. My 5-N review from @nextmagazine.bsky.social nextmag.ca/review-david...

Had a great chat with Jeremy Allen White about his new film "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" for @nextmagazine.bsky.social in the perfect setting, The Stone Pony club in Asbury Park, NJ. Also spoke with writer/director Scoot Cooper. Check out the story here: nextmag.ca/jeremy-allen...

@nextmagazine review coming but quick hit, David Byrne at @masseyhall.bsky.social is superb. A celebration of joy. Two shows left. Go. 5-Ns of course.

Starting to listen to @northbymichael.bsky.social band applications, great part of job since 1995. Applications up 100 per cent. Remembering reaching into stacks of mail bags to fish out tapes in 90s. Hearing local band Len’s “Steal My Sunshine” for first time. Thought, promising. Now ubiquitous.

So impressed with my Billboard Canada colleagues and their spectacular Women In Music celebration Wednesday night at Rebel. Superb broadcast level production, massive positive vibe, inspiring night for all who attended. So much talent in this country.

Just did sit down interview with @jeremyallenwhitebr.bsky.social and director Scott Cooper about their excellent new film “Deliver Me From Nowhere”. Cool to do it at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, The Boss’s favourite. @nextmagazine.bsky.social feature coming soon.

Greetings from Asbury Park — working on something big.

Really enjoyed speaking wth Scarlett Johansson about her directorial debut helming the excellent new film "Eleanor the Great", Check out my @nextmagazine.bsky.social feature here. nextmag.ca/first-time-d...

Absolutely loved Paul Thomas Anderson's latest, "One Battle After Another". Superb filmmaking that justifies its massive run time of almost three hours. My 5-N @nextmagazine.bsky.social review here: nextmag.ca/review-phill...

They're turning people away at packed Toronto launch event for @avilewis.ca for NDP leader campaign tonight at Tranzac club. Very encouraging. I've known and respected Avi for decades and he would make an excellent prime minister. An accomplished communicator with exciting ideas, how's his French?

Ashamed to see my country follow Trump and America down road of authoritarianism by banning Kneecap. How about REALLY banning weapons sales to Israel and letting free speech thrive in Canada. Let Kneecap speak.

Yves Jarvis picked up top prize @polarismusicprize Tuesday night at @masseyhall in a show with great music and terrible pacing despite a great host @haviahmighty. As Polaris reaches out to become a public celebration, it must tighten up the pacing. My 4-N review here: nextmag.ca/review-yves-...

Time to cancel Disney+. Dark days in America. This is what fascism looks like.

Can’t wait to finish the so-far-disappointing new series The Paper so I can cancel atrocious Slack-TV. So many ads may as well be broadcast. Horrible service.